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Air Canada is offering new deals for customers after the possibility of a pilots’ strike forced many to change travel plans.
On its website, an offer for customers to save 25 per cent on all destinations around the world is being promoted for bookings made today. The travel period must be between Sept. 18 and May 31, 2025. In addition, customers can earn 2,500 bonus Aeroplan points for travel periods starting on Sept. 28 until May 31, 2025.
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The 25 per cent discount applies to economy (standard only), and select premium economy lowest and business class lowest, undiscounted Air Canada-published base fares only, per the website. Certain dates are exempt from the deal.
Air Canada offers 42% raise to pilots, averting strike
In late August, the airline’s pilots, who are part of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) union, voted in favour of a strike for fair pay, better retirement benefits and quality-of-life improvements, according to a news release. Air Canada and its pilots reached a tentative deal by mid-September.
“After several consecutive weeks of intense round-the-clock negotiations, progress was made on several key issues including compensation, retirement, and work rules,” said chair of the Air Canada ALPA MEC First Officer Charlene Hudy.
“This agreement, if ratified by the pilot group, would officially put an end to our outdated and stale decade-old, ten-year framework.”
Customers who changed flights that were booked between Sept. 15 and Sept. 23 to another date before Nov. 30 can switch back to their original booking free of cost if seats are available, Air Canada said in a news release.
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While pilots were on the picket line, some customers struggled to reschedule plans and rebook flights. In case a strike did happen, Air Canada started to wind down some of its services, like Air Canada Cargo and vacation packages, the Canadian Press reported on Sept. 12.
As the strike deadline approached, some people took to social media to plead with the airline.
“I’m begging you to please not strike,” wrote on person on X with the handle @otchere_rachel.
With the announcement that a tentative deal had been reached, one customer said they were “glad for the pilots” but upset as a customer.
“Deeply disappointed as a passenger who made the tough call to cancel a wonderful vacation. Shame on you Air Canada for waiting nearly a year to get an agreement. Think I’m about done with you guys,” wrote the person on X with the handle @CurtisD71808722.
Customers are not the only ones who may still take issue with the airline. One expert told CP that the entry-level pay pilots receive in their first four years, before a larger wage increase in year five, might be a problem.
Out of the 5,200 pilots who went on strike, around 2,000 of them could be earning entry-level wages, McGill University’s John Gradek said, CP reported. Gradek is a faculty lecturer and academic program coordinator who teaches aviation management.
There could be “pushback from rank-and-file flight crew” after the failure to ditch pay grade restrictions that could put the deal in jeopardy, he said.
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