Many British Columbians are on edge as looming job action at WestJet threatens to put a wrench into their travel plans.

Some travellers at Victoria International Airport said they have changed their plans as more than 1,800 pilots at WestJet and its Swoop subsidiary are poised to potentially walk off the job as of midnight tonight.

Mila Main flew from Victoria International Airport to Las Vegas on Wednesday (May 17). She has booked a second flight back on Southwest Airlines after speaking with her friend, who is a WestJet pilot.

害羞草研究所淗e said there害羞草研究所檚 a good chance they害羞草研究所檙e not going to settle before we get home,害羞草研究所� Main said. 害羞草研究所淭he second flight is refundable but going to pay double on the way home if they strike. It害羞草研究所檚 a little stressful so we did this as a precaution. A lot of people are going to be stranded.害羞草研究所�

Brian Kennedy and Lee Prouten flew on a WestJet flight from Victoria International Airport to Regina Wednesday and said they were nervous this week.

害羞草研究所淲e thought we might get stuck which would be an expensive proposition for us,害羞草研究所� Prouten said. 害羞草研究所淲e tried to cancel, but we got a cheap rate with no cancellation. We were sweating it. The other consideration for me was that it would be crowded on the plane because I suspected that they would be amalgamating people.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e have been on the edge of our seats,害羞草研究所� Kennedy added.

In recognition of that uncertainty, the airline is offering refunds to passengers who cancel flights scheduled until May 21, and fee-free changes to bookings within the same period.

The union says the issues at stake revolve around better job protection, wages, and work schedules, which resulted in some 340 pilots leaving the airline in search of better job opportunities.

In a tweet, WestJest CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech mentions that: 害羞草研究所渢he union maintains unreasonable expectations we see no alternative than to lock them out.害羞草研究所�

The carrier argues that its pilots are among the best paid in the nation, but that a contract on par with those recently settled by some U.S. pilot unions would be financially illogical, putting the company害羞草研究所檚 future in jeopardy.

The dispute is proving to be a gut-wrenching experience for Shoshana Sahota.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 my daughter害羞草研究所檚 first time flying by herself and I had felt secure about it because I knew she was gonna go there and come back and there was no in-between,害羞草研究所� said Sahota, after helping her daughter check in for a flight out of the Comox Airport on Tuesday (May 16). 害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 dyslexic and she can害羞草研究所檛 read or maneuver airports. She can害羞草研究所檛 go through another airport, get on a plane, and come back.害羞草研究所�

For others, the uncertainty of a strike and its possible extension is a source of anxiety.

害羞草研究所淚t is a bit stressful because my booking has already been changed once due to their scheduling changes,害羞草研究所� said WestJet passenger Ken Bryla. 害羞草研究所淭his would be the second time I害羞草研究所檝e had to re-book with WestJet.

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e not guaranteeing me that they害羞草研究所檙e not going to charge me for those re-bookings. They may charge the difference in fare because the fare has gone up since I booked the flight.害羞草研究所�

Spokesperson for Comox Airport Erin Neely highlights that not all WestJet flights will be affected in the eventuality of a strike.

害羞草研究所淎s always, we recommend that passengers check with their airlines for flight status,害羞草研究所� said Neely. 害羞草研究所�(It is important to) remind those travelling on WestJet Encore and WestJet Link that these carriers are not part of the current negotiations.害羞草研究所�

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brendan.mayer@blackpress.ca
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