Possible WestJet strike leaves dog competitor out thousands in rebooking fees

A looming strike at WestJet has forced an Edmonton businesswoman to spend thousands of dollars rebooking flights, jeopardizing her participation in a national dog agility competition. Anneli Hilton, owner of See Spot Run Doggie Daycare & Training Inc., faced a difficult decision as the threat of job action by flight attendants loomed.

Hilton, who travels with her dogs for agility events, was scheduled to fly from Edmonton to Ottawa on August 5 for the 2026 Agility Association of Canada National Dog Agility Championships in Brome, Quebec. Concerned about potential disruptions, she contacted WestJet, only to be told she would receive a credit or flight change, not a refund.

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Extended hotel stay, that’s another $1,000-$1,500. Car rental is double the price. And there was no cars available because it’s the long weekend.

After six hours on the phone, Hilton re-booked her flights to depart four days earlier, coinciding with a long weekend. This change significantly increased her expenses, adding an estimated $1,000-$1,500 for an extended hotel stay and doubling car rental costs. "I don't have lots of money," Hilton stated, expressing the financial strain.

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If the airline doesn’t meet its legal obligation, then you have the ability to do the same things as this lady did, but then you can send the bill to WestJet and hold WestJet accountable.

Air passenger rights advocate Gabor Lukacs suggests a different approach, advising travelers to wait for airlines to cancel flights, which then places the re-booking responsibility on the carrier. "If the airline doesn’t meet its legal obligation, then you have the ability to do the same things as this lady did, but then you can send the bill to WestJet and hold WestJet accountable," Lukacs explained.

WestJet had not responded to inquiries from Global News regarding the situation as of publishing. Hilton remains hopeful she will reach the national championship, despite the added stress and financial burden.

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I don’t have lots of money.