Holiday plans ruined after Sunwing cancels Sask. service

Sunwing’s flight cancellations have left some Saskatchewan travellers with not-so-sunny dispositions.

On Thursday, Sunwing Vacations announced the cancellation of all its services from Saskatoon and Regina until after February 3. While those with upcoming flights booked will automatically get a refund, the airline advised travellers stuck at their destination to wait for more information.

The move left some vacationers confused and stressed out as they try to navigate the cancellations.

Kelly Hunt from Saskatoon said she was supposed to fly to Puerto Vallarta on Jan. 20 for her dream wedding. When a friend informed her that Sunwing’s flights were cancelled, she said she first thought it might be a hoax or a joke, but reached out to her travel agent for answers.

“That’s where I broke down,” Hunt said. “What am I supposed to do?”

Rescheduling a wedding booked for 19 people is no small task, Hunt said. The bride said the earliest flight available is scheduled for Feb 5, but even with the date pushed back, some of her guests would likely not be able to make it.

“We were supposed to get married on the day we met, and now if I want that date I have to wait a year,” she said.

While refunds are expected to be issued within 30 days, Hunt said she isn’t able to book the new flights until after she receives the refund. Hunt is on the fence about booking with the airline again.

“It’s so hard to put your whole wedding in a company’s hands,” she said.

Magaly Falcon from Saskatoon and her siblings had booked a trip for their parents to Cuba which was set to depart Jan. 17.

“It’s a funny and sad story at the same time,” she said.

After receiving an email from her travel agent notifying her that the trip was cancelled, Falcon said she was devastated, as her family had arranged for child care and had even contacted their dad’s boss for vacation time.

Falcon said instead of booking new flights, she will accept the refund and give the money from the trip to her parents directly.

“It was a very exciting moment for them to find out, but now we have to tell them ‘Yeah, never mind,’” she said.

Travel agencies are also feeling the pressure following the airline’s announcement.

The situation has been “hectic, to say the least,” according to Terry Kaszas, the general manager of travel services for CAA Saskatchewan.

He said many travellers are booking new flights, but “not everybody, sadly, has the ability to pick up and take off.”

Throughout his 30 years in the travel industry, Kaszas said he’s seen airlines cancel services like this in the past on a few occasions. He said he suspects Sunwing’s cancellations could have started with the severe weather that hit Vancouver recently, and that crew and pilot availability were also probably a factor.

“Once those logistics get affected, it hurts all of the departure cities,” he said.

Kaszas said he’s hopeful that Sunwing flights in Saskatchewan will be operating again in the new year.

“I don’t think things will be pushed back any further than they are right now,” he said.

For those hoping to hit the beach soon, Kaszas’ advice was not to hold off, as flights are still filling up.

To avoid a future headache, he said it’s best to book through a travel agent.

“We’re gonna be here every step of the way and look after you,” he said.

Sunwing’s cancellations also drew criticism from Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, who called the move “very irresponsible.”

Michael Sotropa, from Regina, was planning to go to Varadero in Cuba with his girlfriend on Tuesday. They were supposed to return Jan. 3.

Persistent delays at the airport prevented the two from leaving, and their departure was re-scheduled to Thursday, the same day Sunwing announced the cancellations.

The couple decided to cancel the trip, and did so just before the announcement was made.

“It’s probably best case scenario that Sunwing decides to cancel everything and regroup, because the priority should be getting those people (who are stranded) home, rather than sending more people out there,” he said.

“Our concern was that even if we got on this plane, that we would be stranded in Cuba on the way back. That’s part of the reason we decided to cancel. We just didn’t feel the risk was worth it.”

–With files from Daniel Reech.