Quick Take: WestJet and the union representing its mainline cabin crew issued 72-hour strike and lockout notices on July 30, 2026. A work stoppage could begin as early as August 2 at 12:01 a.m. Mountain Time, although flights are operating and negotiations are continuing. Travelers booked from July 30 through August 4 can currently make one change or cancellation without a fee. WestJet Encore Q400 flights and flights operated by airline partners aren’t expected to be affected by a cabin-crew work stoppage.
If you’re booked on WestJet this weekend, you don’t need to sprint to the airport or cancel everything this morning. You do need to know what kind of flight you have, what WestJet is offering and what you’ll give up if you make a voluntary change before the airline changes anything.
WestJet’s mainline flight attendants, represented by CUPE 8125, issued a formal 72-hour strike notice on July 30. WestJet responded with its own lockout notice. Both sides say negotiations are continuing, so a deal could still prevent a shutdown.
That leaves travelers in an uncomfortable middle ground: there’s a real deadline and a real possibility of cancellations, but no work stoppage is underway yet.
When a WestJet Work Stoppage Could Begin
The earliest stated start time is August 2, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. Mountain Time. A notice isn’t the same thing as a strike or lockout beginning. It starts the countdown and gives the airline time to reduce its schedule, move aircraft and crews, and warn affected passengers.
WestJet says it’s preparing to operate a reduced schedule if necessary and may begin making proactive changes or cancellations before the deadline. That matters because a flight scheduled before August 2 could still be adjusted as the airline tries to avoid stranding aircraft and crews.
CUPE represents approximately 4,400 WestJet mainline flight attendants. The union says unresolved issues include compensation for time spent working outside traditional flight-hour calculations. WestJet says it remains at the bargaining table and believes an agreement is still possible.
Which WestJet Flights Could Be Affected?
The potential work stoppage involves WestJet mainline cabin crew. WestJet says its Encore flights operated with Q400 aircraft and flights operated by airline partners wouldn’t be affected by this labour action.
Don’t rely only on the WestJet flight number. Look for the words “operated by” in your confirmation or flight details. A ticket sold by WestJet may contain a segment operated by Delta, another partner or WestJet Encore. Those segments can have a different risk than a WestJet mainline-operated flight.
If your itinerary combines mainline and partner-operated segments, one unaffected flight doesn’t protect the entire trip. A cancellation on the WestJet-operated portion can still break the connection or make the itinerary unusable.
WestJet’s Flexible Change and Cancellation Policy
WestJet’s current travel advisory covers travel scheduled from July 30 through August 4, 2026. Eligible travelers can make one change or cancellation without the usual fee, including customers holding restrictive UltraBasic tickets.
For a change, WestJet says the fare difference is waived unless you change the fare type, cabin or destination. The replacement trip must be completed within 60 days of the original departure, and the change generally needs to be made more than two hours before departure.
A fee-free cancellation doesn’t automatically mean cash back. The form of refund follows the ticket’s fare rules. Some customers may receive money back to the original payment method, while others receive a Travel Bank credit. WestJet says UltraBasic cancellations under the advisory receive a Travel Bank credit valid for 12 months.
Don’t cancel on autopilot: A voluntary cancellation under the travel waiver is different from WestJet cancelling your flight. Before accepting a credit, confirm whether you’d rather preserve the airline’s rebooking and refund obligations if your flight is ultimately cancelled. Screenshot the exact options and terms shown before submitting any change.
Bookings made through a travel agency or online travel agency generally need to be handled through that seller. WestJet Vacations, Sunwing Vacations and Vacances WestJet Québec customers should follow the instructions from their vacation provider.
If WestJet Cancels Your Flight
The Canadian Transportation Agency classifies a labour disruption as outside the airline’s control under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations. That means the normal fixed compensation for inconvenience generally isn’t due solely because of the strike-related cancellation, but rebooking and refund obligations still apply.
WestJet is considered a large airline. For an outside-control disruption, it must first try to rebook you free of charge on its next available flight or a flight operated by an airline with which it has a commercial agreement, departing within 48 hours of your original time.
If it can’t do that within 48 hours, the agency says WestJet must offer either a refund or alternate travel arrangements free of charge. For a large airline, those alternate arrangements can include another airline and, when practical, a nearby airport.
A refund can be the wrong choice when you still need to reach the destination and replacement tickets have become expensive. Ask what rebooking options are available before giving up the reservation. If you accept a refund and buy a new ticket yourself, you may be left paying the difference.
What Happens to Points and Companion Vouchers?
WestJet says points, Travel Bank credits and companion vouchers used on an eligible booking are returned when a reservation is cancelled under its flexible policy. Still, the timing and exact result can depend on how the ticket was issued.
If you used another airline’s miles to book a WestJet-operated flight, deal with the loyalty program that issued the ticket. That program controls the award reservation, point redeposit and replacement options. WestJet may control the disrupted flight, but it usually can’t directly redeposit another program’s miles.
Before cancelling an award, verify whether the program can protect you on another carrier or whether it will simply return the miles. Scarce award space may disappear long before the points return to your account.
Should You Change the Trip Now or Wait?
There isn’t one correct answer. If you’re traveling for a cruise, wedding, tour or other event you can’t miss, using the waiver to move a day earlier may be worth the inconvenience. If your plans are flexible and replacement flights are expensive, waiting for WestJet to make the first move may preserve more useful options.
Either way, build a backup plan now. Check alternate airlines, nearby airports and the last flight that would still get you to the destination on time. Don’t transfer flexible points or book a nonrefundable replacement until you’ve confirmed that it solves the entire itinerary.
The thePointsPage Travel Planning Checklist can help organize flights, hotels, transfers and cancellation deadlines. The Tools of the Trade guide includes resources for checking alternate award availability before you move points.
Check Your Travel Insurance Before Assuming You’re Covered
Travel insurance and credit card coverage for strikes can depend on the policy, the reason for the loss, when the coverage was purchased and when the labour disruption became foreseeable. A card that covers some common-carrier delays may still exclude a known or threatened labour action.
Review the travel protections attached to the card you used, then compare potential gaps with the Travel Insurance Fit Check. Neither tool is a coverage determination, so confirm the exact language with the benefit administrator or insurer before relying on reimbursement.
If the trip is disrupted, keep the original itinerary, cancellation notice, rebooking messages, receipts and screenshots of the airline’s available options. Good documentation won’t create coverage, but it can make an airline request or insurance claim much easier to support.
Getting to the Point(s)
WestJet flights are still operating, and the strike and lockout notices don’t guarantee that a work stoppage will happen. The meaningful deadline is August 2 at 12:01 a.m. Mountain Time, with negotiations continuing in the meantime.
If you’re booked between July 30 and August 4, start by checking the operating carrier. WestJet Encore Q400 flights and partner-operated flights aren’t expected to be affected by this specific dispute. Mainline travelers have a one-time fee-free change or cancellation option, but the best choice depends on the trip and the refund form attached to the fare.
Don’t panic, but don’t ignore it. Confirm your contact details, monitor the official advisory, know your backup flights and understand the difference between choosing to cancel and having WestJet cancel for you.
Keep Up With Fast-Moving Travel Disruptions
Labour negotiations can change quickly. The Runway gathers current points-and-miles and travel headlines in one place, while the thePointsPage Community is a useful spot to compare real rebooking experiences and new data points.
Sources & Further Reading
- WestJet — Response to the Strike Notice and Lockout Notice
- WestJet — Current Travel Advisory
- WestJet — Flexible Change and Cancellation Policy Announcement
- CUPE — WestJet Flight Attendants Issue Strike Notice
- Canadian Transportation Agency — Airline Labour Disruptions
- Canadian Transportation Agency — Rebooking, Refunds and Compensation
- Associated Press — WestJet Flight Attendants Threaten to Strike
This article reflects information available on July 31, 2026. Labour negotiations, flight schedules, waiver terms, passenger rights and insurance coverage can change. Review WestJet’s current advisory and the exact terms attached to your booking before changing or cancelling travel.
