WestJet has introduced a flexible travel policy for passengers booked to fly between July 30 and August 4 as negotiations with its flight attendants continue ahead of a potential strike.
Eligible travelers can now make a one-time flight change or cancel their booking without paying a fee, giving customers greater flexibility while uncertainty remains over the ongoing labour dispute.
The move comes after CUPE Local 8125, representing approximately 4,400 WestJet flight attendants, voted 99.4% in favour of strike action earlier this month. If no agreement is reached, union members could legally begin strike action as early as August 2.
Despite the preparations, both the airline and the union emphasize that a strike is not inevitable. WestJet says it remains optimistic that an agreement can be reached without disrupting passengers, while union president Alia Hussain described the flexible booking policy as a responsible step to reduce uncertainty for travelers rather than an indication that a strike is certain.
The negotiations remain focused on wages, compensation, scheduling, work-life balance, working conditions, and claims of unpaid work under the current credit-hour pay system. The union argues flight attendants perform significant unpaid duties on the ground, claiming crews average 35 unpaid hours per month. WestJet strongly disputes this, with CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech stating that cabin crew are compensated for every hour worked and that the airline’s credit-hour model is the industry standard across North America.
The two sides also disagree over whether some schedules effectively result in earnings below Canada’s federal minimum wage. With the previous collective agreement having expired at the end of 2025, negotiations remain ongoing as the August 2 strike deadline approaches.
Passengers traveling during the affected period are encouraged to monitor their flight status and consider using WestJet’s flexible rebooking option while talks continue.
