The short-lived strike by WestJet’s flight attendants has led to big impacts for some people travelling in and out of Winnipeg.
WestJet and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) said they reached a tentative deal early Monday, ending the flight attendant strike that began early Sunday.
The stoppage led to hundreds of flight cancellations for the country’s second-largest air carrier over the weekend, including in Winnipeg.
CBC News spoke to some travellers waiting around for answers at Winnipeg’s Richardson International Airport on Monday.
Evan Muzychuk said he and his wife cancelled hotel and car reservations for their trip to the Canadian Maritimes.
“Our flight is supposed to leave in four hours,” he said Monday. “So, here we are today, unable to get through [to WestJet] on the phone or computer.”
Muzychuk is waiting for a refund but said he had no issue with the flight attendants who went on strike.
“The issue is getting through to WestJet so that we can get our money back.”
‘I see a lot of people crying’: Travellers stranded in Winnipeg amid WestJet strike
Some WestJet flights started taking off again from Winnipeg’s airport, with the airline saying travellers impacted by the strike will be refunded or re-accommodated. Travellers also have until Thursday to make a one-time change or cancellation.
But Muzychuk said he regrets not cancelling his flight earlier and wishes that the airline had worked out a solution with its flight attendants sooner.
“I think it was handled poorly. I think this could have been avoided,” he said. “It’s just a colossal screw-up.”
Kurt Myskiw, who’s stuck in London, England, says he found out his Saturday flight to Winnipeg was cancelled. Two hours later, he got a notification about an updated itinerary.
“Then, that trip disappeared from our itinerary as well,” he told CBC News on Monday. “I can’t tell what’s going on, because there’s simply no way to contact WestJet.”
With no luck reaching WestJet online, by phone or in person, Myskiw bought tickets on a different airline.
“$4,800 each to get home, and then we’re going to have to present the bill to WestJet,” he said.
“[It’s a] real gut punch when I think about the amount of money that I’m going to have to battle a giant corporation over for the next year, probably. It’s stressful.”
He says the airline will be near “the bottom of the list” for future trips.
“They’re obligated to find us a flight home within 48 hours of cancelling our flight and they’re not doing that.”
Kennedy Gudu was supposed to be on his way to Zimbabwe on Monday to spread a friend’s ashes, but was also at the airport Monday to look for answers.
He was told he may be able to rebook his flight.
“They actually told us the waiting time is up to seven hours right now. So, it might never happen.”
Strike ends, but scramble continues for WestJet travellers in Winnipeg
Tahnee Prior was waiting at the airport on Monday to see whether a 1 p.m. flight back home to Halifax would materialize.
“We’re anticipating it’s going to get cancelled, but yeah, they’re saying it’s 50/50.”
Prior said calling customer service was pointless due to a call backlog.
“No one has answers,” she said. “All the flights around ours are cancelled, so we’ll see.”
WestJet, union reach tentative deal to end strike by flight attendants
Although Prior has family to crash with in Winnipeg, she booked a second ticket home with another airline on her own dime.
“Probably won’t get that back,” she said. “We need to get home.”
Prior said she also supports the flight attendants and hopes they can get a fair deal with WestJet.
“We want everyone to get the best result possible, and that includes us getting home.”
