If your WestJet flight books for this weekend, here's what to know about coverage and refunds
Travel insurance may cover cancellations if you bought it before the strike became a 'known event.' Here's how to protect yourself.
Sources · local media reports
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Passengers scrambling to rebook WestJet flights for the August long weekend face a critical question: will your travel insurance cover losses if the strike happens?
The answer hinges on timing. Travel insurance typically does NOT cover cancellations from strikes if you bought the policy after the labour threat became public knowledge — what insurers call a "known event."
Will McAleer, spokesperson for the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada, outlined three steps Friday for anyone flying WestJet between July 30 and August 4:
Start with WestJet. Contact the airline directly for information on refunds or rescheduling. The airline has posted updates and is allowing one-time changes or cancellations with no fees. Rebooking your travel or cancelling early might be your best bet if you can get through — reports indicate heavy call volumes.
Check your travel insurance policy. If your policy covers trip cancellation, interruption, delay, or missed connection, and the policy explicitly lists strikes as a covered reason, you may be reimbursed for prepaid travel costs that WestJet won't refund. Carefully read the fine print.
Check the "known event" date. This is the critical factor. Once a union formally notifies the airline of a potential strike, it becomes a known event. Policies purchased before that date may include coverage; policies bought after typically exclude the strike. McAleer stressed that for passengers who booked flights in July, this timing matters enormously.
"Once the union puts the airline on notice, it's then a known event, and it's no longer an unforeseen type of event," McAleer said.
Air Canada says it will try to accommodate WestJet passengers attempting to rebook, though little space may be available on an already busy long weekend. You can also check departures and arrivals at Vancouver International Airport for real-time updates.
McAleer emphasized that this strike underscores a broader lesson for Canadian travellers: "if you want to protect themselves against what we're now seeing is a growingly disrupted world from a travel perspective," book travel insurance early, before any labour threat emerges.
By the numbers
What dates does the WestJet strike threat cover?
The potential strike affects WestJet flights between July 30 and August 4, 2026.
When does travel insurance stop covering strike-related cancellations?
Travel insurance typically excludes strike coverage for policies purchased after the union formally notifies the airline of a potential strike, which becomes a 'known event.'
