General Information

Flight cancelled, now what?

Strike = situations outside carrier’s control (Section 10(1)(j) of Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations). In that case, here are the airline’s obligations :

Obligations 10 (3) When there is delay, cancellation or denial of boarding due to situations outside the carrier’s control [like a strike], it must : (a) provide passengers with the information set out in section 13; (b) in the case of a delay of three hours or more, provide alternate travel arrangements or a refund, in the manner set out in section 18, to a passenger who desires such arrangements; (c) in the case of a cancellation, provide alternate travel arrangements or a refund, in the manner set out in section 18; and (d) in the case of a denial of boarding, provide alternate travel arrangements in the manner set out in section 18.

What are your rights?

Once flight is cancelled, here is what the airline must do

Offer Initial Rebooking (18(1)): Provide a confirmed reservation, free of charge, on the next available flight operated by the original carrier or a commercial partner. The flight must follow a reasonable air route from the passenger's current airport to the original destination and depart within 48 hours of the original scheduled time.
Check Rebooking Success: (18(1.1)) If a carrier cannot provide a confirmed reservation in accordance with subsection (1), it must, at the passenger’s choice, refund any unused portion of the ticket OR provide the following alternate travel arrangements, free of charge :
- For large carriers (e.g., Air Transat): Confirmed flight on any carrier via reasonable route; includes transport to nearby airport if needed.
- For small carriers: Limited to original carrier or commercial partners on reasonable route.
Handle Refund Requests (18(1.3)): Allow passengers eligible under (1.1) to choose refund at any time before receiving a confirmed reservation.

Special Case: Return to Origin (18(1.2)): If passenger selects refund, is no longer at original point of origin, and travel no longer serves purpose due to disruption, refund the ticket AND provide free confirmed flight back to origin accommodating their needs

Should you take the credit? NO!

If they cancel the flight, Canada’s air passenger protection rules require Air Transat to reimburse the ticket with cash, not in credit.

Then by the application of 10(3)(c), section 18.2(1) applies, therefore : all refunds must be paid to the person who purchased the ticket "using the method used for the original payment"

18.2 (1) All refunds provided under these Regulations must be paid to the person who purchased the ticket or additional service and must be paid using the method used for the original payment, unless : […]

Read full rights available under section 18 here : https://canlii.ca/t/97f2#sec18

Legal Action Information

If you want to start legal action, here's your person : https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-lemieux-5b22a19/ (valerie.lemieux@transat.com) also, you can also file a compaint here : https://rppa-appr.ca/fra/plaintes-relatives-transport-aerien