Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[MoneyGuy]

Flying Westjet in 18 days. Fingers crossed but we’ll stay in touch with our travel agent.

[Johnny199r]

Originally Posted by chemgear

It's been a long while since pilots actually reached striking in Canada right? What do people figure will happen this go around?

I don’t think they will resolve for a while. The WJ pilots are demanding a “North American standard” contract - ie demanding they make the same money as big American airline pilots (who incidentally just got huge raises - Delta)

The CEO of WestJet is saying if they want an American salary, they should go live in America.

FYI, I was speaking to some pilots the other week, they said pilots aren’t able to move to America for work the way Canadians in other professions can due to their job classification from an immigration/work permit standpoint. If they could, many of them would move there. So the idea of losing pilots to the US isn’t really a thing.

[Fuzz]

I think it's ridiculous for them to look at US pilots and say "we deserve that". I've never heard a health worker negotiation do that. Most Canadians make less than their US counterparts. But it's also cheaper to live in the US, and they have healthcare costs to consider as well. Plus they have a bigger market, and pilots have more airlines to choose from.


Increasing pilot salaries will also motivate airlines to pressure regulators to allow one pilot cockpits starting with short haul flights. I'm not saying this will be really soon, bu I'm sure they are looking for ways to do it.

[Johnny199r]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I think it's ridiculous for them to look at US pilots and say "we deserve that". I've never heard a health worker negotiation do that. Most Canadians make less than their US counterparts. But it's also cheaper to live in the US, and they have healthcare costs to consider as well. Plus they have a bigger market, and pilots have more airlines to choose from.


Increasing pilot salaries will also motivate airlines to pressure regulators to allow one pilot cockpits starting with short haul flights. I'm not saying this will be really soon, bu I'm sure they are looking for ways to do it.

Somehow I doubt they are using Mexican pilots salaries as a comparison for the “North American Standard”.

[Fuzz]

Upper North America.

[Slava]

Could they be mandated back to work as essential employees?

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Slava

Could they be mandated back to work as essential employees?

They definitely could but Trudeau didn't interject with the recent PSAC strike so I don't know if they would want to step into a pilot strike

[Slava]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

They definitely could but Trudeau didn't interject with the recent PSAC strike so I don't know if they would want to step into a pilot strike

Just wishful thinking on my part as I’ve got a flight planned late next week!

[Ozy_Flame]

Anyone know if this is an "all flights are affected" strike or only certain ones, like domestic? I have a flight to the US next week but I haven't gotten any notice about a strike from Westjet (yet).

[Ryan Coke]

It would be all flights.

[Johnny199r]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Anyone know if this is an "all flights are affected" strike or only certain ones, like domestic? I have a flight to the US next week but I haven't gotten any notice about a strike from Westjet (yet).

Westjet claims they are going to triage in the event of a strike. No rhyme or reason as to how they do it.

I would bank on cancelled flights and be shocked if your flight actually goes.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Johnny199r

Westjet claims they are going to triage in the event of a strike. No rhyme or reason as to how they do it.

I would bank on cancelled flights and be shocked if your flight actually goes.

Sigh. At least Porter flies out of Toronto.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Anyone know if this is an "all flights are affected" strike or only certain ones, like domestic? I have a flight to the US next week but I haven't gotten any notice about a strike from Westjet (yet).

It will be a full shutdown almost certainly.

I would also think we will start to see cancellations of outbound flights prior to the strike/lockout date to avoid having aircraft stranded out of country.

I'm trying to recall the last Air Canada pilot strike and whether the Feds mandated them back to work ?

[looooob]

so many upcoming West jet flights...sigh.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Lubicon

It will be a full shutdown almost certainly.

I would also think we will start to see cancellations of outbound flights prior to the strike/lockout date to avoid having aircraft stranded out of country.

I'm trying to recall the last Air Canada pilot strike and whether the Feds mandated them back to work ?

In the last pilot strike the government did not step in. But in 2012 the cons passed back to work legislation to prevent a strike and flight stoppage at Air Canada when their mechanics and ground handlers, I believe, were going to strike.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Slava

Could they be mandated back to work as essential employees?

How would Westjet pilots fall under the classification of essential employees? They’re not preventing essential services from being performed.

[bizaro86]

We're leaving on Westjet on Thursday to California. I'm mentally prepared to have to buy tickets for the way home on a US carrier.

I feel bad for friends of our who are planning to take their first vacation since before Covid leaving the 21st though, as that's sure not looking good. They got a great seat sale and for them to buy new tickets now would be $$.

[topfiverecords]

Westjet is claiming in the news that other carriers will be able to handle the passenger load and being rebooked on other flights will be just fine. We all know it won't be. I have a flight to Regina, where no other airline flies now. I look forward to my rebooked AC/Flair/Porter YYC-YHM-YHZ-YYZ-YQR that lands after my event and just in time to catch a reverse flight home.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

I have a flight on WestJet in July. Already booked a refundable airfare on Air Canada as a backup just in case.

[MoneyGuy]

Shaye Ganum had a pilot from another airline on this morning. I came in half way through but what I heard was interesting.