Air Canada ticket and reservations agents walked out in a strike action against the company on 14 June. The airline insists that it will operate a normal schedule and will treat any disruptions as it would a bad winter storm.

Air Canada's 3,800 customer service employees have walked out in a dispute over pension cuts but the airline continues to fly what it calls a normal schedule. There were reports of a few delays at the onset of the strike but the airline has prepared for the walkout by enlisting managers to help passengers check in and by hiring an outside company to assist passengers at airport kiosks. For their part, striking workers warn that the early Tuesday morning good start for the airline may be short-lived as busy afternoon and evening activity will test the contingencies the airline has put in place.

If you're flying on Air Canada soon, you may be relying on technology more than ever. Air Canada passengers are being advised to arrive early for their flights as kiosks will be busy. The airline is encouraging passengers to check in online 24 hours before their flights and to arrive at the airport earlier than normal. The wait for kiosks may be the most substantial delay encountered, but passengers should be able to complete their entire check-in, including tagging their checked bags, at the electronic stations. Air Canada is asking passengers to avoid checking luggage if at all possible to minimize wait times at the airport. The airline says that it is also consolidating flights in some markets with greater flight frequencies to reduce the number of departures while honoring all bookings. Passengers should expect very full flights on these routes as multiple flights are joined into fewer departures.

Air Canada has posted answers to some frequently asked questions about the strike on their web site. The strike has affected nine airports in Canada: Vancouver; Calgary; Edmonton; Winnipeg; Toronto (Pearson); Montreal; Ottawa, Halifax; and St. John's.

Air Canada had scored high marks in a recent J.D. Power and Associates passenger satisfaction survey, particularly over aircraft quality, in-flight services, costs and fees. There's nothing like being ranked highly in a recent customer satisfaction survey then having your reputation tested almost immediately. The next big test may come from passionate ice hockey fans traveling to Vancouver for the 7th and final game of the Stanley Cup Finals featuring the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins. For hockey fans, messing with their ability to witness the winning of Lord Stanley's Cup would simply be unforgivable. Let's hope they too have contingency plans.

Update (17 June): Air Canada and the Canadian Auto Workers union representing 3,800 workers who went on strike on 14 June have reached a tentative agreement, ending a three-day walkout.

Update (15 June): The Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks to win their first Stanley Cup title since 1972.