
Summer is in full swing at Sunwing Vacations, as all customers travel on board WestJet-operated flights starting today, with vacation packages to 13 popular sun destinations
TORONTO, May 29, 2025 /CNW/ – Sunwing Vacations is pleased to share that, effective today, all vacation package customers will travel on board WestJet-operated flights. This follows on the heels of the final Sunwing Airlines flights taking off yesterday, May 28th, and the last aircraft being fully integrated into WestJet's fleet, bringing a unified airport and onboard experience for all Sunwing Vacations customers.
Key changes to the customer journey take effect today, in alignment with WestJet policies and ancillaries, as noted in Sunwing's initial 2025 summer schedule announcement. These changes include:
Sunwing Vacations package customers will now check in at the WestJet airport counter, or online on WestJet.com or the WestJet App (online and App check-in available 24 hours before departure);
WestJet reservation codes (required for flight check-in) will be available via Sunwing's Manage My Booking five days before departure;
Customers will be entitled to one free personal item and one free carry-on item;
An Early Booking Baggage Incentive is available for Sunwing Vacations customers, where the first checked bag will be free when booking a qualified vacation package at least two months before departure (specific booking and travel windows apply);
Checked bags are also available for purchase for last-minute bookings, starting from $35 per bag;
Customers can select Standard Economy or Exit Row seating starting from $15, with limited Extended Comfort seating available for an additional cost on select flight routes;
Ancillaries including baggage, seat selection and excursions will be available through Sunwing's Manage My Booking or the Sunwing Sales Centre up to 24 hours before departure.
'Today marks a significant milestone, as all Sunwing Vacations package customers will travel on board WestJet flights now that the final Sunwing Airlines aircraft have been integrated into WestJet. This transition is important because it will deliver a unified experience to our guests, both at the airport and in the sky, in addition to enhancing connectivity and allowing us to provide more vacation packages to our valued customers on a year-round basis,' said Andrew Dawson, President of Sunwing Vacations Group.
'I would also like to personally thank everyone at Sunwing Airlines for their incredible service and contributions. As our primary airline partner for more than 19 years, we would not be here today without the dedication of the airline employees who helped us make vacation dreams come true for so many Canadians from coast-to-coast. Thank you for all you have done for our mutual customers.
As we look ahead to this next phase of Sunwing Vacations' growth, I am confident our customers will experience the tremendous value of a Sunwing vacation alongside the enhanced benefits of travelling on WestJet flights, including caring crew, a friendly onboard experience and reliable service.'
This summer, customers can look forward to vacation packages to a variety of trending sun destinations including St. Maarten, Freeport and Panama, as well as longtime favourites such as Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Punta Cana, Montego Bay, Varadero and more.
Sunwing Vacations customers can find helpful information to prepare for their travel journey by visiting the Airline Information section on Sunwing's website. Plus, travellers can book their summer vacation packages on sunwing.ca or by connecting with their local travel advisor.
About Sunwing Vacations
As the leading vacation provider in Canada, Sunwing Vacations offers more vacation packages to the south than any other vacation provider with convenient direct service from cities across Canada to popular sun destinations across the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. This scale enables Sunwing Vacations to offer customers exclusive deals at top-rated resorts in the most popular vacation destinations. Sunwing Vacations customers benefit from the assistance of our trusted partner in destination, NexusTours, whose representatives greet customers upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey. For more information, please visit sunwing.ca.
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New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Air Canada flight attendants vow to defy back-to-work order as strike talks resume
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The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Air Canada strike: CEO cites big gap in pay offer vs union demands
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'At this point in time, the union's proposals are much higher than the 40%. And so we need to find a path to bridge that gap,' Rousseau said, without suggesting what that process would be. 'We're always open to listen and have a conversation,' he said. A leader of the union on strike against Air Canada said on Monday he would risk jail time rather than allow cabin crews to be forced back to work by a federal labor board. Rousseau said he was amazed the union was not following the law. The Canadian Union of Public Employees said the strike would continue until the carrier negotiates on wages and unpaid work, even after the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) declared the strike unlawful. 'If it means folks like me going to jail, then so be it. If it means our union being fined, then so be it. We're looking for a solution here,' said Mark Hancock, CUPE national president, at a press conference after a deadline by the board to return to work expired with no union action to end the strike. The union has said Air Canada's offer only accounts for 17.2% higher wages over four years. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pleaded for a resolution. A domestic tourism boom has helped limit the economic damage from tariffs imposed by Canada's biggest trade partner, the United States, and Air Canada is the country's biggest carrier. 'We are in a situation where literally hundreds of thousands of Canadians and visitors to our country are being disrupted by this action,' Carney told reporters in Ottawa. 'I urge both parties to resolve this as quickly as possible.' Hancock said the union has not heard from the jobs minister or Air Canada since Friday. The third day of a strike by more than 10,000 flight attendants has stranded passengers and led Air Canada to suspend its third-quarter and full-year 2025 guidance, sending shares down nearly 3%. The airline has earned lower profit due to fewer bookings to the United States. The carrier normally carries 130,000 people daily and is part of the global Star Alliance of airlines. Michael Lynk, professor emeritus of law at Western University in London, Ontario, said there are provisions in the Canada Labour Code that give the board and the court the right to issue fines and sanctions against the union and against individual workers. UNPAID WORK Crew are mostly paid when planes are moving, sparking demands by unions in the U.S. and Canada to change the model, and generating some vocal support from passengers on social media. While passengers have largely expressed support for the flight attendants, some are growing weary of the uncertainty. Danna Wu, 35, said she and her husband will have no choice but to drive from Winnipeg to Vancouver if the strike persists for a visa appointment. Although she believes Air Canada should pay its attendants more, the University of Manitoba master's student added, 'It's not responsible to strike and leave thousands of passengers in such chaos.' Air Canada's demands on unpaid work follow gains recently won by flight attendants in the United States. New labor agreements at American Airlines and Alaska Airlines legally require carriers to start the clock for paying flight attendants when passengers are boarding. The government's options to force an end to the strike include asking courts to enforce the order to return to work and seeking an expedited hearing. The minority government could also try to pass legislation that would need the support of political rivals and approval in both houses of parliament, which are on break until September 15, but has so far been cautious. 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The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Air Canada strike leader vows jail over forced arbitration
MONTREAL: A leader of the union on strike against Air Canada said on Monday he would risk jail time rather than allow cabin crews to be forced back to work by a federal labor board, raising the stakes in a battle that has disrupted flights for hundreds of thousands of travelers during tourist season. The Canadian Union of Public Employees said the strike would continue until the carrier negotiates on wages and unpaid work, even after the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) declared the strike unlawful. 'If it means folks like me going to jail, then so be it. If it means our union being fined, then so be it. We're looking for a solution here,' said Mark Hancock, CUPE national president, at a press conference after a deadline by the board to return to work expired with no union action to end the strike. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pleaded for a resolution. A domestic tourism boom has helped blunt the economic damage from tariffs imposed by Canada's biggest trade partner, the United States, and Air Canada is the country's biggest carrier. 'We are in a situation where literally hundreds of thousands of Canadians and visitors to our country are being disrupted by this action,' Carney told reporters in Ottawa. 'I urge both parties to resolve this as quickly as possible.' Hancock said the union has not heard from the federal jobs minister or Air Canada since Friday. The third day of a strike by more than 10,000 flight attendants has stranded passengers and led Air Canada to suspend its third-quarter and full-year 2025 guidance, sending shares down nearly 3%. The airline has earned lower profit due to fewer bookings to the United States. The carrier, which normally carries 130,000 people daily and is part of the global Star Alliance of airlines, had planned to start ramping up operations on Sunday evening, after CIRB ordered the union to return to work and start binding arbitration. In a message to cabin crew on Sunday seen by Reuters, an Air Canada executive told workers they would be accountable for defying the board's order and not returning to work. 'What your union has not explained is that by not returning to work, you are personally accountable for that decision,' said Andrew Yiu, vice president, in-flight service, for Air Canada's mainline and low-cost Rouge service. 'To be clear, there is no lockout in place, and the continued strike is illegal.' The flight attendants, who are pushing for a negotiated contract, are striking for wages similar to those earned by cabin crews at Canadian carrier Air Transat, and to be fully paid for work on the ground, such as boarding passengers. 'I can tell you that if Air Canada thinks that planes will be flying this afternoon, they're sorely mistaken. That won't be happening today,' Hancock said. Michael Lynk, professor emeritus of law at Western University in London, Ontario, said there are provisions in the Canada Labour Code that give the board and the court the right to issue fines and sanctions against the union and against individual workers. UNPAID WORK Crew are mostly paid when planes are moving, sparking demands by unions in the U.S. and Canada to change the model, and generating some vocal support from passengers on social media. While passengers have largely expressed support for the flight attendants, some are growing weary of the uncertainty. Danna Wu, 35, said she and her husband will have no choice but to drive from Winnipeg to Vancouver if the strike persists for a visa appointment. Although she believes Air Canada should pay its attendants more, the master's student at the University of Manitoba added, 'It's not responsible to strike and leave thousands of passengers in such chaos.' Air Canada's demands on unpaid work follow gains recently won by flight attendants in the United States. New labor agreements at American Airlines and Alaska Airlines legally require carriers to start the clock for paying flight attendants when passengers are boarding. The government's options to force an end to the strike include asking courts to enforce the order to return to work and seeking an expedited hearing. The minority government could also try to pass legislation that would need the support of political rivals and approval in both houses of parliament, which are on break until September 15, but has so far been cautious. 'The government will be very reticent to be too heavy-handed because in Canada, the Supreme Court has ruled that governments have to be very careful when they take away the right to strike, even for public sector workers that may be deemed essential,' said Dionne Pohler, a professor of dispute resolution at Cornell University. The previous Canadian government intervened last year to head off rail and dock strikes that threatened to cripple the economy, but it is highly unusual for a union to defy a CIRB order. 'If you're going to fine us or you're going to try and take us on financially, then you can take us to court, and we can see where that plays out,' said Hancock. - Reuters