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WestJet Air Passenger Rights
Because WestJet is a Canadian airline, your rights will be covered by the Canadian Transportation Agency any time you depart from or arrive in Canada. These regulations protect you whenever you have flight delays, cancellations, and denied boarding situations. They also require WestJet to provide you with care and assistance, refunds, rescheduled flights, and cash compensation depending on the flight disruption.
Here’s a table that explains what you can expect to get from WestJet for each of the flight disturbances we mentioned.
WestJet Flight Delay Compensation
If you’re flying with WestJet and your flight gets delayed, you can claim compensation for the inconvenience, but you’re also entitled to care and assistance if you’re stuck.
According to the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), if your arrival at your final destination is delayed by three hours or more, and the reason is within WestJet’s control (and not for safety), you could be owed:
- $400 CAD (~$290 USD) if your flight arrives 3 to 6 hours late
- $700 CAD (~$510 USD) if you arrive 6 to 9 hours late
- $1,000 CAD (~$730 USD) if the delay is more than 9 hours
To qualify, the delay must be caused by something WestJet could have avoided, like operational issues, staffing problems, or scheduling failures.
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What You’re Entitled to During a Delay
Even if your flight delay doesn’t qualify for financial compensation, WestJet still has a duty to look after you while you wait. If you’ve been delayed by two hours or more, they must offer:
- Meals and refreshments, appropriate to the length of the delay
- Access to communication, like free phone calls, emails, or Wi-Fi
This applies regardless of why the delay happened.
WestJet Cancelled Flight Compensation
Whenever you have a canceled flight, the airline must take responsibility for helping you reach your destination or return home, without extra charge.
What WestJet Must Do If Your Flight Is Canceled
If WestJet cancels your flight, they’re legally required to:
- Rebook you on the next available flight within 48 hours, at no extra cost
- If they can’t get you there with WestJet in that time frame, they must book you on a flight with a partner or even a competing airline
- Offer a full refund if you choose not to travel
- Provide care and assistance, including meals, refreshments, and communication access during the wait
You may also be entitled to financial compensation of up to $1,000 CAD ($730), if the cancellation was within WestJet’s control and not related to safety.
WestJet Under Fire for Failing to Rebook with Other Airlines
In early 2024, WestJet faced public criticism after severe weather caused major disruptions, and the airline reportedly failed to rebook affected passengers on other carriers, as required by law.
CTV News reported that although the weather was the initial cause, many passengers were left stranded when WestJet declined to explore rebooking options with other airlines, despite clear obligations under APPR.
A WestJet spokesperson responded:
We understand how frustrating it is when travel doesn’t go as planned during extreme weather events and are committed to our guests and ensuring their safe and expedient journey. We sincerely apologise to our guests who were impacted by the extreme weather events of the past week, but safety will always be our first priority.
While safety definitely comes first, passenger rights still apply. If your flight is cancelled because of reasons outside WestJet’s control, like severe weather, they must still offer timely rebooking or refunds and provide meals and assistance while you wait.
But if the reason for cancellation is within WestJet’s control (staffing or maintenance issues) you may be owed up to $1,000 CAD ($730 USD) in compensation, depending on how much notice was given.
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How the Timing of Canceled Flight Notification Affects Compensation
If WestJet notifies you more than 14 days before departure, they do not owe financial compensation. However, they must still offer you the choice between:
- A rebooking on another flight (at no cost), or
- A refund of your unused ticket
If WestJet cancels your flight and gives you notice between 7 and 14 days before departure, you may be entitled to compensation if the alternative flight they offer:
- Departs more than 2 hours before your original flight, or
- Arrives more than 3 hours after your scheduled arrival time
Compensation in these cases could be up to $400 CAD if the disruption was within WestJet’s control and not for safety reasons.
If you're informed of a cancellation less than 7 days before your flight, you could be entitled to up to $1,000 CAD ($730 USD), provided:
- The alternative WestJet gives you departs more than 1 hour earlier or
- Arrives more than 2 hours later than your original flight
Again, this applies only when the reason for cancellation is within WestJet’s control and not related to safety.
When You're Notified | Rebooking or Refund Required | Financial Compensation | Conditions for Compensation |
More than 14 days before |
|
| None. WestJet must offer refund or rebooking, but no compensation is owed |
7 to 14 days before |
|
| Compensation applies if your new flight departs >2 hrs earlier OR Arrives >3 hrs late |
Less than 7 days before |
|
| Compensation applies if you new flight departs >1 hr earlier OR arrives >2 hrs late |
Anytime (but outside carrier’s control) |
|
| No compensation if due to weather, security, air traffic issues, or other safety-related reasons |
Yes
NoWestJet Denied Boarding
If you’re denied boarding on a WestJet flight in Canada, the airline must offer you the choice of a rebooked flight or a refund, plus care and assistance based on wait-time at the airport. If your denied boarding incident was the result of a plane being overbooked, then you are also owed cash compensation.
In Canada, the amount you receive for involuntary denied boarding caused by overbooked flights is based on how late you arrive at your destination, as you can see below.
- Less than 6 hours late – $900 CAD (~$660 USD)
- Between 6 and 9 hours late – $1,800 CAD (~$1,320 USD)
- More than 9 hours late – $2,400 CAD (~$1,750 USD)
Missed Connecting Flights with WestJet
If you miss a connecting flight, WestJet is still responsible for getting you to your final destination, especially if the missed connection was caused by a delay or cancellation within their control.
Canada’s APPR rules state that if a missed connection causes you to arrive at your destination three or more hours late, and the root cause is within WestJet’s control and not related to safety, you may qualify for compensation, just like with regular delays.
On top of that, WestJet must offer you alternate travel arrangements at no extra cost. This might mean rebooking you on the next available WestJet flight or even placing you with another airline if it’ll get you there faster.
If the new flight leaves the following day, the airline is also required to provide hotel accommodation plus transport between the airport and hotel.
So even if a delay causes you to miss your connection, WestJet can’t leave you stranded. In fact, they’re obligated to help you continue your journey, keep you comfortable while you wait, and potentially compensate you for the inconvenience.
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All you have to do is submit the application and wait for the compensation to be received
Extraordinary Circumstances
If WestJet tells you that your flight was disrupted because of extraordinary circumstances, they are referring to a situation outside their control. Because they were unable to prevent or avoid the situation, they are not liable for cash compensation.
Some commonly seen cases of extraordinary circumstances are:
- Air traffic control restrictions
- Dangerous weather conditions
- Strikes or other problems at the airport
- Civil unrest
- Security threats
Always remember to ask the airline and airport staff the cause of your flight disruption because this information will support your case if you submit a compensation claim.
You can also let AirAdvisor handle your compensation claim process for you. Our expert legal team will do all the hard work. They’ll even figure out if your delay or cancellation was caused by the airline or by extraordinary circumstances.
Why You Can Trust AirAdvisor
- More than 620,000 passengers have turned to AirAdvisor to get them the compensation they deserve.
- We operate on a no-win, no-fee basis, meaning we only get paid if you get paid.
- We have an outstanding 98% win rate as well as 9 years of experience protecting air passengers’ rights.
You don’t have to fight airlines aloneLet AirAdvisor protect your rights and get you up to $1,000 CAD ($730 USD) in airline compensation.Check Your Flight
People Also Ask
What is the time limit for sending flight compensation claims to WestJet?
Filing deadlines for airline compensation claims can range from 2-10 years depending on where you’re traveling. In the EU, each member state decides their own time frame for compensation submissions. In Canada, you have one year.
Are low cost airlines like WestJet required to pay the same compensation?
Yes! The rules for air passenger rights apply to all airlines. The only exception to this is in Canada where the regulations state that small airlines pay different amounts from their larger counterparts, but WestJet is considered a large airline, so the amounts listed here apply to all large airlines.
Can you get compensated if WestJet loses your luggage?
Yes! WestJet lost, damaged, and delayed baggage is all eligible for cash compensation. If you had a flight cancellation, though - your baggage will most likely be forwarded to your final destination.
Author:
Joanna Teljeur
Job/Position: Senior Editor & Content Lead
Joanna Teljeur is a senior editor and writer with 15+ years of experience in editorial leadership, journalism, and content development with a focus on consumer rights, aviation law, and public-interest reporting. Her work centers on transforming complex regulatory and legal topics into clear, accurate, and accessible content for international audiences.
