WestJet Flight Delay and Cancellation Compensation

Written By Joanna Teljeur

Last Updated: April 26, 2024

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. At the same time, if you are departing from an EU or UK airport on a WestJet flight, then your rights will be covered by the passenger rights regulations, EU261 and UK261. 

Each of these regulations protect WestJet passengers in cases of flight delays, cancellations, and denied boarding, providing them with the potential to get 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.

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WestJet Flight Delay Compensation 

As a WestJet passenger, you’d probably agree that flight delays have become an undeniable headache as well as a standard feature of travel these days. You might not be able to control delays, but you can get compensated for the trouble and inconvenience you experience because of them.

Canadian regulations say that if you’re delayed for at least 3 hours, then WestJet must pay you compensation as long as the delay was something they could have prevented and wasn’t part of a safety concern. If your delay lasts 2 hours or more, then you should be given access to communication as well as meals and refreshments.

Similarly, EU and UK regulations require WestJet to compensate you with care and assistance if you’re waiting for 2 hours or more. Once your delay reaches the 3-hour mark, then the airline must also compensate you financially if they are culpable for the disruption.

For extensive delays that last 5 or more hours, WestJet is required to offer you the choice of a ticket refund if you decide not to continue your trip, as well as cash compensation.

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WestJet Cancelled Flight Compensation 

If you have a cancelled flight, WestJet must help you complete your trip whether or not they were able to control the circumstances that led to the flight disruption. This means that you must be offered a refund or a rebooking on the next available flight within 48 hours. If an alternate WestJet flight cannot be found, then they must look to partner airlines or even competitors for available seats.

WestJet under scrutiny

In January, WestJet came under scrutiny because they failed to follow Canadian passenger rights regulations for rebooking passengers on flights with competing airlines. In a January 2024 story, CTV News described how severe weather caused several WestJet flights to be cancelled, but the airline apparently refused to offer passengers alternate flights with other carriers. 

Spokeswoman for WestJet, Madison Kruger said in the story, “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.”

The rules for cancelled flights in Canada state that you must be compensated with a refund or an alternate flight, care and assistance, as described above in the delays section, as well as financial compensation when the carrier is to blame for the cancellation. So, for the passengers affected by adverse weather conditions, the most they could hope for is a rebooking and care while they await their next flight.

EU and UK Regulations for Cancelled Flights with WestJet

If your WestJet flight, scheduled to depart from an EU or UK airport, was cancelled, then the carrier will have to comply with EU and UK laws. Based on EU and UK regulations, the carrier will have to compensate you as follows.

• If your flight is cancelled withmore than 2-weeks notice, then you are not eligible for cash compensation.
• If your flight is cancelled with less than 2-weeks notice, then you are eligible for monetary compensation as long as extraordinary circumstances aren’t to blame. You’re also entitled to a choice of a full ticket refund or the ability to rebook their flight without additional fees.
• If your flight is cancelled and you’re already at the airport, then you can choose between a rebooking or a refund. If you have to wait 2 hours or more, then WestJet must provide you with care and assistance. 
• If you have to wait until the next day for your flight, then you should be given overnight hotel accommodation and transport. 

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Denied Boarding & Missed Connections

If you’re denied boarding on a WestJet flight in Canada, the EU, or the UK, then they must again give you the choice of a rebooked flight or a refund plus care and assistance based on wait-time at the airport as well as cash compensation. 

In Canada, the amount you receive for involuntary denied boarding caused by overbooked flights is as follows.

You arrive at your final destination:

• Less than 6 hours late - $900 CAD
• Between 6 and 9 hours late - $1,800 CAD
• More than 9 hours late - $2,400 CAD

If you miss a connecting flight, then the compensation you receive will be the same as what was described in the delays section above. Remember that the missed connection must be the result of an earlier flight delay or cancellation on the same booking in order to receive cash compensation.

WestJet Cash Compensation: How Much Can You Get

The following tables will help you determine how much you could be compensated by the airline when they are at fault for the flight disruption.

* WestJet might try to reduce this amount by as much as 50%, but AirAdvisor always works to get the full amount.

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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 240,000 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 7 years of experience protecting air passengers’ rights.

You don’t have to fight airlines alone. Let AirAdvisor protect your rights and get you up to $1,000 CAD (€680) in airline compensation.

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