westjet travel credit expiry

Your browser is out of date.

We highly encourage you to update your browser to the latest version of Internet Explorer, or use another browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

Expiring westjet travel bank credits - advice?

• Last Updated:

Jul 16th, 2022 4:52 pm

• travel bank
• Search this thread

Mar 20th, 2022 11:17 am

• Reply with quote

Mar 20th, 2022 2:58 pm

Mar 21st, 2022 8:14 am

Mar 27th, 2022 12:52 pm

Display posts from previous: All posts Last day Last 7 days Last 2 weeks Last month Last 3 months 6 Months Last year

Sort by Author Post time Ascending Descending

Thread Information

There is currently 1 user viewing this thread. (0 members and 1 guest)

Trending Hot Deals

• [The Source] 700$ Refurbished* Msi gf63 laptop rtx 4050 16gb/512gb -4 9 comments
• [Staples] Asus RT-AX82U Router - $119 +3 26 comments
• [Best Buy] Open Box - M2 Apple MacBook Air 256gb 13.6" - $949.99 | 15" - $999.99 to $1,099.99 +44 116 comments
• [Loblaws] New Loadable PC Optimum Offers (May 30 - June 26) +33 24 comments
• [AliExpress] Aliexpress ChoiceDay Starts June 1 +40 165 comments

• Your Profile
• Your Subscriptions
• Your Business
• Support Local News
• Payment History
• Sign up for Daily Headlines
• Sign up for Notifications

WestJet travel credits are not gift cards, rules B.C. court

• Share by Email
• Share on Facebook
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share via Text Message

WestJet’s travel credits are not like gift cards and can expire after a year, B.C.’s Court of Appeal said April 27.

The Calgary-based airline issues WestJet travel bank credits (WTB) to customers for things such as cancelled flights, lost luggage and customer dissatisfaction.

However, the credits expire after one year, although some can be extended for a fee.

Vancouver’s Tiana Sharifi received such a credit after she bought and then voluntarily cancelled a flight. She used part of the credit but the rest expired one year later.

She subsequently brought a claim against WestJet, alleging the credits constituted prepaid purchase cards or gift cards under various provincial consumer protection statutes and, as such, were precluded from having expiry dates and charging additional fees.

Sharifi claimed WestJet is prohibited from charging fees to extend the one-year expiry date.

The lawsuit was certified as a B.C. Supreme Court class action in 2020.

However, WestJet appealed the certification order and claimed the judge erred in finding that the claim disclosed a reasonable cause of action.

The airline argued the credits are not issued in exchange for the future supply of goods or services but rather as a refund or to compensate for inconvenience or as a promotional tool.

In the case of credits used in a refund sense, WestJet submitted those credits are effectively “store credit” with no indication that prepaid purchase card laws were intended to apply to such a device.

“Ms. Sharifi purchased a prepaid flight,” Justice Patrice Abrioux said. “She did not purchase a prepaid purchase card, gift card, gift certificate or otherwise, for WTB credits.”

The appeal court agreed with the airline and dismissed Sharifi's case.

“The travel credits in question do not fall within the definitions contained in the relevant consumer protection legislation and thus the pleadings do not disclose a reasonable cause of action,” the ruling stated.

[email protected]

twitter.com/jhainswo

This has been shared 0 times

Featured Flyer

WestJet's flight credits don't follow same rules as gift cards, B.C. court rules

Flight credits distributed by WestJet don't have the same flexibility as gift cards and can have expiration dates, according to a recent ruling from B.C.'s Court of Appeal.

The decision, posted Wednesday, determined "travel bank credits" don't have to follow the same regulations as "prepaid purchase cards" or "gift cards." The ruling explained the flight credits are typically issued for cancelled flights, lost luggage and general customer dissatisfaction.

In WestJet's case, the credits expire after a year, but can sometimes be extended for a $20 fee.

The court heard Tiana Sharifi got nearly $1,000 in credit after she bought a ticket for a flight, then voluntarily cancelled it. Sharifi used about $570 of the credit, but the remaining $420 expired after a year.

Sharifi argued that the credits count as a gift card and that consumer protection legislation prohibits WestJet from setting an expiration date. She applied to have the matter certified as a class action, which it was in October 2020.

WestJet then appealed the certification, arguing the credits aren't considered gift cards because they are issued as a refund, to compensate for an inconvenience or used as a promotional tool. When they're issued for a refund, WestJet argued, they function as "store credit," which isn't covered by prepaid purchase card laws.

"In my view, the issue is not whether Ms. Sharifi prepaid her ticket to travel with WestJet: she clearly did. Rather, the question is whether, in consideration for her 'non refundable ticket,' she prepaid a fixed amount for (travel credits), which she had the right to use in the future. In my view, she clearly did not," Justice Patrice Abrioux wrote in his decision.

"Ms. Sharifi purchased a prepaid flight. She did not purchase a prepaid purchase card, gift card, gift certificate or otherwise."

As a result, Abrioux said Sharifi's flight credits "do not fall within the definitions contained in the relevant consumer protection legislation" and WestJet's appeal was permitted, dismissing Sharifi's case. 

Vancouver Top Stories

Crews searching for 3 missing mountaineers near Squamish, B.C.

Dozens of dogs graduate as service animals in B.C.

Huge hike in olive oil prices a hit for Vancouver restaurants

Vancouver driver arrested after crashing into vehicles, narrowly missing pedestrians

Police shoot, kill man in Mackenzie, B.C.

United plane undergoing 'deep cleaning' after cruise ship passengers fall ill on Vancouver-Houston flight

Rainfall warning issued for Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley

B.C. law banning disruptive protests near schools now in effect

Ctvnews.ca top stories.

NEW | This Canadian scientist combines passion for history, archeology and genetics to solve ancient and modern-day DNA puzzles

Turi King takes pride in her work solving ancient and modern-day DNA puzzles – including a centuries-old mystery involving an infamous British king.

Bathroom break nearly derails $22-million project at city council meeting

A brief break during Wednesday's city council meeting in Saskatoon nearly cost the city dearly.

Israeli strikes in central Gaza kill at least 11 as the U.S. pushes a ceasefire plan

Palestinian health officials said Israeli strikes killed 11 people overnight into Monday, including a woman and three children, in central Gaza.

Do this once a month and extend your life by up to 10 years. No gym required

Research shows that art experiences, whether as a maker or a beholder, transform our biology by rewiring our brains and triggering the release of neurochemicals, hormones and endorphins.

Mexico elects Claudia Sheinbaum as its first woman president

Mexico's projected presidential winner Claudia Sheinbaum will become the first woman president in the country's 200-year history.

Expect the cost of your airfare to continue to rise, an aviation trade group and industry heads warn

The cost of your next flight is likely to go up. That's the word from the International Air Transport Association, which held its annual meeting Monday in Dubai.

Oilers advance to Stanley Cup final by beating Stars in Game 6

The Edmonton Oilers rode their special teams and goaltender to victory on Sunday, beating the Dallas Stars 2-1 to win the National Hockey League's Western Conference and earn a berth in the Stanley Cup final against the Florida Panthers.

Toyota apologizes for cheating on vehicle testing and halts production of three models

Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda apologized Monday for massive cheating on certification tests for seven vehicle models as the automaker suspended production of three of them.

Mackenzie Hughes 'gutted' after falling short at RBC Canadian Open

Mackenzie Hughes had the dream scenario of winning the RBC Canadian Open in his hometown within reach but then it all slipped away.

Shopping Trends

The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.  Read about us.

Editor's Picks

If you want to upgrade your summer wardrobe, try adding a few of these stylish pieces from amazon to your closet, if you're looking for a new face sunscreen, here are 16 that reviewers are loving right now, 17 useful amazon products that deserve to be in your home, our guide to the best countertop ice makers in canada in 2024 (and where to get them), our guide to the best portable air conditioners in canada in 2024 (and where to get them), the 5 best ice cream makers in canada in 2024, tested and reviewed, 19 next-level father's day gifts you can get on amazon canada, 18 of the best father's day gifts under $50, 16 foolproof father's day gifts your dad is almost guaranteed to love, 16 drugstore beauty products that reviewers consider holy grails, if you're on the hunt for a moisturizer with spf, you'll probably want to add at least one of these to your cart, 15 of the best niacinamide serums you can get online right now, health & fitness, 15 of the best neck pillows for travel you can get in canada right now, 8 of the best electric scooters you can find online right now, if your feet always hurt, you probably need a few of these things in your life, vancouver island.

At Hydra Estiatorio in downtown Vancouver, every dish is prepared or finished with olive oil. The eatery has been hard-hit by shortages and surging prices.

A United Airlines plane is being removed from service after several passengers on a flight from Vancouver, B.C., to Houston, TX, felt sick.

A search effort has been launched for a trio of mountain climbers who were reported overdue after not returning from their excursion near Squamish, B.C.

Fire that destroyed Kelowna auto shop investigated as arson: RCMP

Mounties in Kelowna have deemed a fire that ripped through an automotive repair business in Kelowna over the weekend suspicious in nature.

Police try to identify man who allegedly chased kids from Kamloops park

Mounties in Kamloops are appealing for information after two recent reports of a man chasing children in a park.

Kelowna firefighters knock down large blazes at house, auto shop

Firefighters in Kelowna were busy on Sunday morning, knocking down two “major” structure fires.

Body recovered from river near Dawson Bridge in central Edmonton: EFRS

A body was recovered from the North Saskatchewan River early Sunday evening.

1 killed in early morning motorcycle crash on Stadium Road

A man is dead after he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a concrete barrier on Stadium Road early Sunday morning.

Parks Canada issues bear warning for Bow Valley Parkway

A bear warning is in effect in part of Banff National Park.

'Rotten rock': Climate change altering the face of Canadian mountaineering

The Abbot Pass hut stood for decades in a rugged saddle between two iconic peaks, overlooking the limpid turquoise of Banff National Park's Lake Louise — a destination for alpinists from around the world until the ground melted beneath it and forced its closure.

Dozens of dogs graduate from the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society

It has been a banner year for PADS with 33 service teams graduating, five from Calgary.

Lethbridge turns the taps back on at four public drinking stations across city

The City of Lethbridge has turned the taps back on at four public drinking stations across the city.

Summer roadwork underway in Lethbridge

Road milling and repaving in Lethbridge is unofficially underway.

Brooks wins Rocky Mountain Challenge, defeating Surrey 4-1

The Brooks Bandits added a new title to their list Saturday night when they defeated the Surrey Eagles 4-1 to claim the Rocky Mountain Challenge.

Blockade briefly stops Pride Parade in downtown Winnipeg

A group of protesters briefly blocked the Winnipeg Pride Parade on Sunday.

Pride festivities to end early amid severe weather in Winnipeg

Pride festivities in Winnipeg will be ending early on Sunday due to severe weather in the city.

Severe thunderstorms heading to southern Manitoba

The rainy weather that Manitoba saw throughout the month of May looks like it will continue into June.

Warriors receive hero's welcome following history making Memorial Cup appearance

Despite losing out against the Saginaw Knights in the Memorial Cup semi-final, the Moose Jaw Warriors returned home to hero's welcome.

Aviation enthusiasts flood Regina Flying Club for annual open house

It was all things aviation at the Regina Flying Club's annual open house over the weekend.

Sask. RCMP on scene of 'serious collision' on Highway 1

Saskatchewan RCMP are currently responding to a serious collision on Highway 1 west of Swift Current.

City solicitor rejects Downtown Saskatoon's pitch to ban buskers with amps

Saskatoon’s city solicitor has politely rejected a proposal from the downtown business improvement district to draft a bylaw banning the use of amps by street performers and preachers.

Sask. RCMP searching for suspect after police vehicle rammed, officer injured

An officer was hospitalized after a speeding driver rammed a police vehicle multiple times, according to the Saskatchewan RCMP.

1 dead, 4 others injured after shooting outside Rexdale high school: police

One of the five people shot outside a Rexdale high school late Sunday night has died in hospital, Toronto police confirm.

University of Toronto convocations to begin as campus protest continues

Graduation ceremonies for University of Toronto students are set to begin today as a pro-Palestinian encampment remains on campus despite looming legal action.

Ontario gave parents more than $1B in cash over 2 years. Here's where the money went

During the pandemic, the Ontario government started to hand out cash to parents to help offset the cost of at-home learning while schools were shuttered.

Driver arrested after child dies in boating incident in Quebec's Laurentians

The driver of a watercraft involved in the death of a toddler in the Baskatong reservoir has been arrested.

Assault in downtown Montreal sends man to hospital

A 52-year-old man is in hospital after an assault in downtown Montreal.

Driver missing after vehicle plunges into the Riviere-des-Prairies between Montreal and Laval

Emergency response crews are on the scene Sunday morning after a vehicle plunged into the Riviere des Prairies in Montreal.

Construction season kicks off in Ottawa

The city of Ottawa will officially kick off construction season in the capital on Monday, with several road resurfacing and culvert renewal and replacement projects to be completed this spring and summer.

Hot and humid start to the work week in Ottawa

It will be a hot and humid start to the first week of June in Ottawa, with the humidex making it feel like 32 today and 33 on Tuesday.

NEW THIS MORNING | Gatineau makes the list for most affordable cities in Canada

The cost of living continues to be top of mind for Canadians right across the country and a city right across the river from Ottawa is being highlighted as a more affordable place to call home.

Man shot by unknown assailant in Dartmouth: police

Halifax Regional Police is investigating a shooting in Dartmouth, N.S., Monday morning.

SailGP in Halifax wraps up, Britain takes home gold

After a weekend filled with lots of competition and plenty of visitors, the Sail Grand Prix in Halifax has come to a close.

IWK Telethon for Children comes to a close with over $7.5M in donations

As the Weekend of Giving comes to an end, the 40th annual IWK Telethon for Children has come to a close, and this year viewers donated a record-breaking amount, making over $7.5 million.

70 over with a child in the car: OPP

OPP have charged a driver in South Bruce for going 70 km/h over the posted speed limit. On Saturday, police stopped the vehicle in Kincardine after being clocked at 150 km/h in a posted 80 km/h zone.

'Devastated': Spirit defeat Knights on last minute goal to capture Memorial Cup

In a game that started out slow but picked up in the third period, the Saginaw Spirit are Memorial Cup champions.

Nuclear plant doubling production of cancer-fighting medical isotopes

Bruce Power introduced an isotope production line in 2022, producing medical isotopes used in treatments for prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumours.

Warmest May since 2018: UW weather station

With only a few below average days during the month, the overall temperature ended up being almost 2.5 degrees above average.

Wanted man arrested in Kitchener

Waterloo regional police have arrested a man wanted in connection to a Kitchener shooting.

Guelph dance company's future uncertain

The curtain may close on Guelph Dance performances if they don’t secure the funding they need to carry on.

Northern Ontario

'Unimaginable tragedy': Teen dies after being found unresponsive at Ontario school

The family of an Ontario teen with special needs who died after being found unresponsive at his high school is planning legal action while seeking answers following an "unimaginable tragedy," their lawyer said Friday.

Solutions coming for piled-up bodies outside Newfoundland hospital

Health officials in Newfoundland and Labrador say they are only weeks away from a solution to move unclaimed human remains out of roadside freezers and into a nearby hospital.

Newfoundland television station hit by ransomware attack, data breach

The company behind a popular independent television station in Newfoundland and Labrador says it was hit by a cyberattack.

DNA provides a break in this decades-old cold case

A skull was found along a backroad near St. John's more than 20 years ago. Now, police have finally identified the victim of the homicide.

Stay Connected

This browser is not supported. Please use another browser to view this site.

• All Save & Spending
• Credit cards
• Newcomers to Canada
• All Investing
• ETF finder tool
• Best crypto
• Couch potato
• Fixed rates
• Variable rates
• Mortgage calculator
• Income property
• Renovations + maintenance
• All Insurance
• All Personal Finance
• Finance basics
• Compound interest calculator
• Household finances
• All Resources + Guides
• Find a Qualified Advisor
• Monthly budget template
• ETF Finder Tool
• Student money
• First-time home buyers
• Guide For New Immigrants
• Best dividend stocks
• Best online brokers
• Where to buy real estate
• Best robo-advisors
• All Columns
• Making sense of the markets
• Ask a Planner
• A Rich Life
• Interviews + profiles
• Retired Money

Advertisement

By Barry Choi on October 22, 2020 Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

WestJet’s COVID refunds—can you get your money back?

With the cancellation of WestJet flights during the COVID outbreak, the airline is now giving cash refunds. Do you qualify?

In a somewhat surprising move on October 21, 2020, WestJet announced it will be issuing refunds to the original form of payment to travellers who had their flights cancelled due to COVID-19.

You would think this would have been an obvious move back in March 2020, but airlines are notorious for holding onto your cash for as long as possible. Until the announcement was made, WestJet, and most airlines simply provide travel credits/vouchers.

Before you jump on the phone and demand your money back, it’s best to understand what’s going on and why this decision was finally made.

How to get your WestJet refund if you qualify for one

To be clear, the refunds are available to travellers who had WestJet or Swoop flights cancelled on them due to COVID-19. If you cancelled a flight on your own and accepted the travel bank credit, you would not be eligible for the cash refund.

WestJet will contact those people it deems eligible for refunds as of November 2, 2020, but it is taking a phased approach, starting with flights cancelled in March and will continue from there. WestJet expects the process to take six to nine months to fully complete.

For context, my WestJet flight to Hawaii was cancelled in May and I didn’t get notice until October that I could see a refund applied to my credit card. Waiting five months to get $3,500 might be a lot of money for many people.

You need to wait for an email from WestJet before your refund is processed. Calling WestJet now will not do anything, so be patient and monitor your inbox.

Flights booked via a travel agency or a website would also be eligible for refunds, but you’d have to contact where you purchased your tickets directly. ( Also, five things your airline isn’t telling you. )

What took so long?

In Canada, there are limited rules when it comes to passenger rights. Airlines were not obligated to give cash refunds as long as customers are offered a travel voucher worth an equal amount of what was paid. ( Find out more about passenger rights here. )

The reality is that airlines don’t have a vault-load of cash. It’s one of the few industries that depend on future sales to float current operating expenses. When ticket sales drop, cash flow becomes an issue. A worldwide pandemic that significantly reduces air travel can be catastrophic to the travel industry and airline businesses. 

South African Airways, Cathay Dragon and Avianca Airlines have declared bankruptcy or have ceased operations, so you can see why issuing travel vouchers is more beneficial to airlines compared to refunds.

Initially, WestJet tried to keep customers happy by extending their travel credit expiry date to two years, up from one. While this was a decent offer, it’s safe to say that most people would prefer cash.

In a press release , Ed Sims, WestJet president and CEO said “We have heard loud and clear from the travelling public that in this COVID world they are looking for reassurance on two fronts: the safest possible travel environment; and refunds.”

It may have taken seven months for the response, but WestJet is the first national carrier in Canada to voluntarily provide refunds to the original form of payment on all fare classes.

Wait, what about Air Canada ’ s refunds?

Shortly after the announcement was made, Air Canada chimed in on Twitter and said the statement was misleading. Air Canada claimed it had already refunded over $1.2 Billion in refundable fares to date. Implying that WestJet wasn’t the first to issue refunds. 

I can’t verify that number, but the last time I checked, Air Canada wasn’t giving refunds to everyone who had their flights cancelled. What I suspect Air Canada is saying is that it had given cash refunds when legally obligated.

For example, the United States, United Kingdom, and parts of the European Union have stricter passenger rights laws. If you were flying to one of those destinations and your flight was cancelled by the airline, local rules state that airlines have to provide a refund. After being pressured by the local governments, Air Canada and WestJet have now been following those laws. 

It’s also worth noting that Air Canada’s comfort and business flexible fares are fully refundable by default. I imagine Air Canada isn’t wrong when it says it already refunded that money, but it doesn’t apply to all of its fares. 

That’s where the difference is. WestJet is refunding all guests of COVID-cancelled flights, including those with the low-fare tickets. 

Hopefully, Air Canada follows WestJet’s lead, but I wouldn’t hold my breath over it.

FOR MORE ON TRAVEL:

• Why so many Canadians are RVing right now • Travel deals to take advantage of now, and save for later • Travel the world from your sofa

Share this article Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Share on Reddit Share on Email

Comments Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Seems that WestJet vacations are not offering refund and are staying within the 2 yr extension – seems unfair that after the 2 year period (which is now 18 mos) we lose all our money. Who is to say if it is safe to travel to other countries by 18 months or if we will be covered for insurance.

My issue is with WJ companion vouchers and I’m not sure why NO ONE is actually talking about this issue. I’ve had a WJ Mastercard since inception and loved the benefits with the exception of the lack of trip cancellation insurance.

I cancelled our May 2020 flight two weeks before WJ did as it was obvious this pandemic wasn’t going to be over by our flight time and I had a car and hotel reservation to cancel as well. We got a credit which we were okay with as we only fly WJ and my February 2020 voucher was returned to my travel account.

I rebooked again shortly afterwards as we like to book ahead for planning purposes and my WJ travel voucher was going to expire in February 2021. There was also a guarantee that the flight could be cancelled for covid reasons at that future date so all seemed good.

Our flight is now booked for May 2021 and if we don’t want to fly with covid still active at that time, we can cancel but we assume we are going to lose this voucher that was issued February 2020 and will be expired. My travel companion also has a voucher dated May 2020 expiring May 2021 (not used so we have to book another trip by then) and we both will have another one in February and May 2021 that will expire in 2022.

Since these vouchers are paid for by your $119 annual fee, they should NOT expire at all or WJ should at least extend the dates for ALL VOUCHERS issued in 2020 and those issued in 2021 for at least 2 years until all this covid thing is under control and a vaccine is available.

Yesterday, in a phone conversation with a customer service rep from Air Transat, I was informed that Transat is still declining refunds, and continuing to offer only no time limit vouchers. Furthermore, she indicated that WJ and AC refunds were being limited to the “travel portion” only. So, if you had purchased a vacation package from them, your refund will not include the portion of the cost that was allocated to the accommodation. The arrogance of these people is beyond comprehension.

I would be interested to hear if any of your readers have had any success in securing a refund via a credit card “chargeback” or a small claims court action.

Air Canada refused to refund our 4 return flights from Toronto to Phoenix in May, 2020 when they cancelled the flight. I even tried the appeal process with no change.

What about Air Transat? Our six UK flights yvr to the uk for sep/oct were cancelled and initially we we offered 2 year vouchers. Subsequently they said they would give refunds since they no longer fly yvr to Europe. Still waiting. No date promise. If the sell out to Air Canada I assume we are sol.

Hello, It is true that AIR Canada has almost never accepted to refund non refundable or even partially refundable tickets. It is useless for them to mention they refunded refundable tickets: by definition, they have to !!!

However, at least in Quebec where consumers are more protected, it is possible to get refund through your credit cards. Actually both the Civil Code and the Law protecting consumers (provincial laws) say very clearly that they have to refund unrendered services. For this to enforce, you have to formally request your credit card bank a retro-billing, with your documents. They have 45 days to refund. In my case it worked for a AC partially refundable ticket. I got back all my money back through Master Card which dealt with Air Canada. I was also successful to get refund for non refundable air tickets within South America, with SKY airlines. Refund would not have been possible by the airline company directly.

Attempts to get refunds from AC directly were unsuccessful, and an irritating process: they make you wait weeks, never say yes or no, and it is impossible to speak to a manager or a director of their ”customer service”. Extremely time consuming process that I will not forget.

In the case MC or Visa would deny the refund, it is still possible to go to Quebec small claims court but it may be a long process, although likely to succeed. I wish the laws would be similar in other provincial juridictions. And perhaps that the Federal Transportation Office implement a law to enforce all refunds, not credits, when services cannot be rendered. Every one can eventually write his/her MP to demand this fair and just rule, as is the case in many developped countries. Consumers should not be forced to loan money for free to a corporation, with a risk of not being refunded ever.

I believe that the date of the refund offer just happens to be the same date that courts will begin allowing class action lawsuits against airlines for not refunding money for cancelled flights.

Air Canada is right! They gave me a refund months ago after initially offering only a voucher!

Air Transat???

I’m just glad Westjet is finally doing the decent and Legal thing, especially since CoVid-19 was NOT the customers fault. Unfortunately, CoVid-19 is an act of the universe and not a purposeful event that a customer created in order to Cancel their flight! If you read thru the many page’s of Westjet’s legal documents and their flight/ticket policies, it was actually against the law for them to Not give us our money back due to CoVid-19 being an unnatural event and out of the passengers control…

I am very upset with WestJet! when I heard about the refunds I was excited but I just recently found out that I don’t qualify because I cancelled my trip 2 weeks before my trip date but I didn’t have a choice! the government of Canada released the travel advisory on March 13th and I cancelled on the 16th!! I’m sure I am not the only one who was forced to make the same decision. When Trudeau announced the travel advisory and also stated that any Canadians outside of Canada needed to come back as soon as possible, I was not going to risk the health of my family and also when the government is saying not to leave the country I think that says something!!!! this refund is a joke and completely unfair to those who had no choice but to cancel their trips because of covid 19. They have given me a credit that expires April of 2022 but honestly with the way this pandemic is going, I will not be flying anywhere until I know it is 100% safe to do so. I think WestJet needs to do the right thing and refund everyone who was affected by Covid 19 regardless if the client cancelled or they cancelled the flights.

WHEN is the Canadian Government going to step in and make these airlines refund our money? Heck, the feds have ‘bailed out’ that poorly managed Quebec company Bombardier so many times it’s not even funny. The least they can do is bail out the airlines so they can refund everyone’s cash.

Why do we have to wait 7-10 days before the departure to have Westjet or Air Canada cancel the flight? If we’re in an area that has been locked down by the provincial health officer, then come’on! Enough of the games!

I don’t want a voucher that expires! I want my cash back!

I’m going to fill out their refund request form but not going to hold my breath.

I had international flights booked in august and instead of cancelling them, Westjet just moved their dates to basically make our vacation go from 7 days down to 1.5 days. So they effectively forced us to cancel since it’d make no sense to take their rescheduled flights.

I suspect they will say we cancelled on our own volition and deny refunds.

Is it true that westjet isn’t refunding vacation packages ? On the website it’s say they are or maybe I’m misunderstanding what they wrote? I did not cancel my flight westjet did and I booked through redtag. No one can tell me anything except send me the same email over and over again that state’s I can only get a refund if it was cancelled 45 days prior to departure. My flight was suppose to leave April 21. This can’t be legal.

Time for WestJet to start offering some proper customer service. I had a domestic flight booked for April 2020 with Air Canada $ 2,000. for coach travel and had to cancel because of lock-down and travel advisory warnings. This was not a case of Air Canada canceling a flight. It was my decision not to risk travel. Unlike WestJet, I was issued a voucher (like a gift card) that I can use whenever & wherever with no expiry date. I know that they still have my money, but I don’t feel that I’m subjected to nimerous and harsh conditions. This I considered proper customer service. When will WestJet follow suit?

How do you contact someone from West jet about a refund for a flight cancelled in March because of covid .

I was excited to hear we would be getting a refund instead of credits. We have been waiting but found out we don’t qualify because we booked a holiday package and they are only giving refunds for flights. I hope it still comes. It feels now like that announcement that they were giving refunds was just a lie.

I am mad with West jet because I cancelled my own flight to Moncton in March 2020 not thinking that West Jet would cancelled it. Now my money is in a travel bank that I can not use anyway because there is no travel to New Brunswick. I could of used that money right now for Christmas.

Hi, I am senior retired 75 years old, my 2-way return ticket to Santa Clara-Cuba canceled by WestJet, and offering to save my money for 24 months & advised that I am able to benefit from that in the future!

Since I am in very poor health conditions & I have no hope to be alive until next year due to my sickness, so what should I do with this corruptor, who grab the people money and using the money for their operations? I am wondering why the Canadian authorities not stopping such corruptions, and why allowing them to operate? Even we know the majority of the shareholders are a ring of VIP and has too many influences, and when it’s come to law, regular passenger unable to do anything, unfortunately.

I hereby request the Canadian authorities, RCMP, and the Ministery of the Transporation to take acttion accordingly, thanks.

I’m in the same boat as many who have commented. I had a flight booked for 4 people for April 2020. I cancelled it once the government announced travel was restricted. WestJet is refusing to refund me because I cancelled. Wasn’t that the RIGHT thing to do? We were in a pandemic and told by our government to stay home! I THOUGHT that the sooner I cancelled the better for processing. I was supposed to wait it out?? Until when?? No! You take action and the proper steps to cancel and start a refund process. That’s the responsible thing to do. I waited patiently for a refund process and received my declined refund email today. I called westjet and was still told that I would not receive a refund. My flight was in the heart of covid and the major restrictions first implemented – how can you deny that westjet!!? I literally could not go even if I wanted to! I believe they are hanging on to any little technicality they can to avoid payouts and it is disgusting customer service! I encourage all to file a complaint with the Canadian travel agency! I did today. A travel credit would be awesome IF it was ok to travel. We are still in a pandemic – we still have national and provincial restrictions. I still have employment restrictions around travel. We still have restrictions around health care if we travel. A travel credit right now is pointless! Give your customers their money back and they will HAPPILY RE-BOOK once they can!

I filled out the form in October and I am still waiting. I will be really annoyed if they don’t refund the money. Yes I cancelled the trip but it was after the federal government put the travel advisory in place and a number of things were shutting down. I had to cancel because I had to cancel other bookings that I had in place. Also, my relatives where I was staying are older and I did not want to risk their health. And my flight would have been cancelled at any rate. Besides, I paid extra for cancellation insurance and told them at the time of cancellation I wanted my money refunded. I didn’t accept the travel credit, it was given to me despite my objections.

I previously commented on WJ’s companion vouchers which they extended for 4 months which still makes it useless as I will not be booking by June 2021. I cancelled two flights booked for 2020. One was for a medical issue where we paid fees and got a travel credit and I also cancelled our covid affected flights 3 days before WJ did so only got another travel bank credit. I was okay with this because usually travel a couple of times a year. BUT today I checked my account and noticed that these travel bank credits EXPIRE!! What? This is MY money and WJ gets to keep it if I don’t use part of it by April 22?? I’m not travelling until all these covid-19 testing requirements are gone and everyone is vaccinated. So I’ve got $1800 sitting there that they can keep if I don’t book and I will lose if they go bankrupt. Time to seek out the Government agency that handles this stuff.

My wife are in the same predicament as Allison, we knew that things were going arwray with our trip and Covid 19, so to beat the panic we cancelled the trip a couple of weeks before the Canadian government inforced the no travel clause. At the time we were given WestJet dollars instead and the 2 year limit. We want our money back into our account. We have no idea if they are going to extend the 2 year limit or not. I’m afraid we will loose on both ends. Is there a class action lawsuit against WestJet that we don’t know about.

Thank you for the question and we are sorry to hear about your travel struggles. Due to the large volume of comments we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond directly to each one. We invite you to email your question to [email protected] , where it will be considered for a future response by one of our expert columnists. For personal advice, we suggest consulting with your financial institution or a qualified advisor.

I booked a trip to Disneyland California for Christmas 2020 and when it was clear that we would not be able to go I cancelled the trip that I paid for eight full tickets and 2 infants. Because I used my brains and new we wouldn’t be going and cancelled they won’t refund me because they had not cancelled first. To me this is discrimination and that money could have been well used by me during this pandemic instead of west jet sitting on it. This was a family holiday that who knows when we can go. Refund money or make the tickets so they don’t expire. When I called and spoke with a west jet employee she was rude and wouldn’t listen to anything I had to say.

My daughter Booked with Air Canada and she cancelled her FLIGHTS and Air Canada gave her ALL her monies back. West Jet refuses to give back our money because we cancelled the flights During COVID. What a JOKE. Also how long do we Have before they take All the flight credits completely? Is that how they plan on trying to compensate some of their loss by only giving us so much time to use the credits before they take them?? Again What a joke !!!!!

How do I go about rebooking a flight that was cancelled due to virus I was told I had 2 years Flight was booked for April 2020

I’am disgusted in the way WestJet has treated me!! Booked trip and can’t seem to talk with any live agent except for 345am What the heck WestJet!! Give me back MY money!!!!

Filled in the request for refund 3 times, it seems it falls in the black hole, no phone request are answered, 6 hr wait, on messenger it’s a robot called Julie, West jet is not taking calls directly regarding refunds. WHAT IS gOING ON, ?????they took my money via phone when I booked the flights on my Mastercard. Why can’t I get a refund? They ignore calls, hang up, robot, no phone number. The Ceo went on cbc and said all refunds will be answered well mine has not! I want my 1700$, its Allot of money! MY MP ignored all Twitter, my government bailed them out, no refunds to customers

Still waiting for a refund 18 months later. Filled out the refund request form many weeks ago and I have not received any response. They have 7000$ dollars of my money and I am destitute now because of the pandemic.

Hi I’ve been waiting for one year now for my refund and still not heard anything from WestJet.

My flight was scheduled for end of April 2020

It’s so fustrating

I applied for my refund many months ago. I received an email tonight from WestJet inviting me to phone the WestJet 1-888 number, provide my credit card number and WestJet rewards number and get my refund. HOWEVER, there is no menu option for this and NO ONE answers the phone anyway! What’s worse is that they have zeroed out my Travel Bank, so it looks like I don’t even have a travel credit anymore! It’s obvious WestJet has no intention of paying back any money to its customers. WestJet has lost ALL credibility.

In our case we cancelled our flights through to Halifax and back from Boston when it became obvious that Holland America was going to cancel our late summer cruise. Got a $2300 credit from WestJet put into our TravelBank. Now things are opening up we thought about using them except we cannot get travel insurance now because of an unstable medical condition. Left high and dry. Thanks WestJet! This what happens when a hedge fund (Onex) runs an airline!

I would like the refund of my first class ticket November 23 ,2021

Well I’m furious with Westjet! I booked a vacation package for 9 people (family) they have close to $25,000 in their pockets. I can’t get thru to anyone who could answer some questions and have a listen to us! I booked January 2020to fly out March 18, 2020. We kept putting off waiting for the airlines to cancel as we were afraid we’d lose our money. So 5 days before the flight was to leave March 13th we made a scary decision to cancel .. either that nite or next day they cancelled all flights! They won’t give us our money. We hv not been able to fly since… due to CoVid and health issues. We lost our son prior to our booking so we decided to take the grandkids etc on a vacation. One we had all planned. I just don’t understand WESTJET! Any suggestion for some help/guidance? We are raising his 2 children … twins and we are retired grandparents! This puts us in a horrible financial position!!! Please WESTJET… GM

WestJet is refusing to refund use our fair in cash. Our original flight was cancelled at the start of COVID and WestJet “refunded” us as a credit (money bank). We used these funds to book a trip for this March break and the flight was cancelled by WestJet. As a result, we had to book another airline. They refunded this trip to the money bank, but refuse to refund us in cash. The argument is that they refund to the original form of payment, however, the original trip cancelled due to COVID they refused to refund in cash.

Any suggestions on how to proceed?

I tried to fine out what was going on I got answers like they couldn’t fined my booking then next time after 4 or 5 hrs I was told she could not hear me. The last time I got through the girl found my fill but I was to late to get anything from Westjet she said my bank insurance may help after Westjet gets government handout.

Related Articles

Mortgage broker vs. bank—which will save you more money?

The pros and cons of using a mortgage broker and going to a bank directly.

Making sense of the markets this week: June 2, 2024

Canadian banks prep for the worst, HP and Best Buy up big, more profits means higher-priced shares, and whatever...

How to save on food and drinks at your next sports game or concert

Try these tactics to prevent pricey snacks and beverages from derailing your entertainment budget.

Credit Cards

5 credit card habits that earn points faster

Sponsored By

National Bank of Canada

How to use your credit card responsibly

A credit card that deserves to be your everyday card

Your new travel companion: A credit card with perks at home and abroad

Is food inflation squeezing your budget? Credit card rewards can help manage costs

The best low-interest credit cards in Canada for 2024

If you carry a balance, consider switching to one of these low-interest cards.

Canadian consumer debt: How we’re paying for our credit cards

More Canadians only making minimum payment on credit cards, according to new TransUnion report.

B.C.-based class-action lawsuit targets 1-year expiry on WestJet travel credits

Westjet says its travel bank is for refunds or promotions so consumer protection laws don't apply to it.

Social Sharing

British Columbia's Supreme Court has approved a class-action lawsuit against WestJet's policy of issuing travel credits with a one-year expiry date.

The decision says the primary issue in the case is whether the airline's travel bank program, which gives customers credits for things like cancelled flights and lost luggage, counts as a gift card.

Most provinces prohibit expiry dates on gift cards or prepaid purchase cards. 

The decision certifies the class-action lawsuit to go forward, but makes no decision on the merits of the claim itself and whether it is likely to succeed.  

Thousands of customers affected

The plaintiff, Vancouverite Tiana Sharifi, maintains that tens of thousands of people have had their WestJet credits expire or have had to pay fees to extend them. 

Sharifi claims that the travel credits meet the legal definition of a gift card and that consumer protection legislation prohibits them from expiring at all. WestJet disagrees. 

• WestJet tells MPs and senators it wasn't 'prompted' by gov't to refund passengers

Air passenger rights advocate Gabor Lukacs says he was thrilled to find out the class action had been certified. 

"Airlines are unjustly enriching themselves by taking the money of passengers and after 12 months, just pocketing it without providing any services in return," Lukacs said. 

WestJet declined to comment because the matter is before the courts. 

Credit for cancelled flights

According to the notice of civic claim filed as part of the case, Sharifi booked round-trip flights for her and her travelling companion from Vancouver to Paris in January 2018.

She cancelled the trip in May 2018, and was issued a $993.23 credit. WestJet imposed a one-year expiry on the credit, which was issued to her travel bank account. 

Sharifi used part of her WestJet travel bank credit on a trip to Calgary, but when the credit expired she lost the approximately $400 remaining in her account. 

The notice and the decision explain that WestJet travel bank credits can be transferred or sold to third parties and can be used to purchase travel.  

Hard and soft credits

The decision says the company distinguishes between "hard credits," which are issued for flight changes or cancellations and can be extended for another year for a fee of about $20, and soft credits, which are issued for things like promotions and to maintain customer satisfaction. Soft credits cannot be extended. 

WestJet argues its hard credits are part of its refund policy and its soft credits are part of its promotions, and both are exempt from gift card legislation. 

It's not the first time an airline customer has tried to file a class-action lawsuit because of expiring travel credits.

• B.C. man's lawsuit over marketing of Canada Dry ginger ale settled for $200,000

In 2019, the Quebec Superior Court ruled on a case filed against Air Canada charging that the company's flight passes met the definition of a prepaid card and shouldn't have an expiry date. 

The court decided that differences in consumer protection laws between provinces prevented the case from meeting the criteria for a class-action certification.

However, that decision was recently overturned by Quebec's Court of Appeal , which approved the class-action lawsuit. 

The B.C. Supreme Court judge said a class-action lawsuit's likelihood of success is irrelevant to the decision to certify it in this province. 

• Consumers won't need receipts to benefit from one of Canada's largest class-action settlements

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

@MaryseZeidler

Maryse Zeidler is a reporter for CBC News on Vancouver Island. You can reach her at [email protected].

Related Stories

• Top stories from British Columbia
• Analysis B.C. premier backtracks on his own Christmas plans, illustrating the confusion over health orders
• Point of View I'm Muslim and didn't celebrate Christmas growing up. But my Canadian kids had other ideas
• This 'ski-ano' (yes, a piano on skis) is spreading joy in northern B.C. woods

• Your Profile
• Your Subscriptions
• Support Local News
• Payment History
• Sign up for Daily Headlines
• Sign up for Notifications

WestJet travel credits are not gift cards, rules B.C. court

• Share by Email
• Share on Facebook
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share via Text Message

WestJet’s travel credits are not like gift cards and can expire after a year, B.C.’s Court of Appeal said April 27.

The Calgary-based airline issues WestJet travel bank credits (WTB) to customers for things such as cancelled flights, lost luggage and customer dissatisfaction.

However, the credits expire after one year, although some can be extended for a fee.

Vancouver’s Tiana Sharifi received such a credit after she bought and then voluntarily cancelled a flight. She used part of the credit but the rest expired one year later.

She subsequently brought a claim against WestJet, alleging the credits constituted prepaid purchase cards or gift cards under various provincial consumer protection statutes and, as such, were precluded from having expiry dates and charging additional fees.

Sharifi claimed WestJet is prohibited from charging fees to extend the one-year expiry date.

The lawsuit was certified as a B.C. Supreme Court class action in 2020.

However, WestJet appealed the certification order and claimed the judge erred in finding that the claim disclosed a reasonable cause of action.

The airline argued the credits are not issued in exchange for the future supply of goods or services but rather as a refund or to compensate for inconvenience or as a promotional tool.

In the case of credits used in a refund sense, WestJet submitted those credits are effectively “store credit” with no indication that prepaid purchase card laws were intended to apply to such a device.

“Ms. Sharifi purchased a prepaid flight,” Justice Patrice Abrioux said. “She did not purchase a prepaid purchase card, gift card, gift certificate or otherwise, for WTB credits.”

The appeal court agreed with the airline and dismissed Sharifi's case.

“The travel credits in question do not fall within the definitions contained in the relevant consumer protection legislation and thus the pleadings do not disclose a reasonable cause of action,” the ruling stated.

[email protected]

twitter.com/jhainswo

This has been shared 0 times

Featured Flyer

• Tour Operators
• Destinations
• Hotels & Resorts
• Agent Feedback
• Deals & Incentives
• On Location
• Industry Experts
• Sphere – HomeBased
• Digital Editions
• Subscribe today!

• Hotels and Resorts
• Types of Travel
• Subscribe Now

We asked, WestJet answered: 13 months vs. 24 months for unused credits

Post date: Apr 15 2020

Date: Apr 15 2020

By: Travelweek Group

TORONTO — WestJet says it’s looking into a discrepancy with expiry timelines for open / unused credits for cancelled WestJet flights, on the WestJet Agent portal versus on the consumer site.

A Toronto-based agent reached out to Travelweek with his concerns. “Are you made aware that [agents] booking on the WestJet Agent portal for their cancelled flights are only able to rebook for 13 months instead of the 24 months on the consumer site? I think this is a huge slap in the face of travel agents.”

We checked in with WestJet for an answer and spokesperson Lauren Stewart said the airline is looking into the situation.

“We thank this agent for their feedback and are taking this under consideration. Travel agents are valued partners to WestJet and we apologize for this inconvenience during this difficult period for the industry.”

She adds: “At this time, Travel Agent unused tickets follow industry standard 13 month expiry. WestJet will allow tickets to be reissued within 13 months from the original date of departure, and travel can be any time until end of our posted schedule (331 days in advance at time of rebook).”

Tags: Latest News, WestJet

Explore Elektrostal

Essential elektrostal.

Elektrostal Is Great For

Eat & drink.

• Apelsin Hotel
• Elektrostal Hotel
• Apart Hotel Yantar
• Mini Hotel Banifatsiy
• Restaurant Globus
• Amsterdam Moments
• Cafe Antresole
• Viki Cinema
• Statue of Lenin
• Park of Culture and Leisure

• Bahasa Indonesia
• Eastern Europe
• Moscow Oblast

Elektrostal

Elektrostal Localisation : Country Russia , Oblast Moscow Oblast . Available Information : Geographical coordinates , Population, Area, Altitude, Weather and Hotel . Nearby cities and villages : Noginsk , Pavlovsky Posad and Staraya Kupavna .

Information

Find all the information of Elektrostal or click on the section of your choice in the left menu.

• Update data

Elektrostal Demography

Information on the people and the population of Elektrostal.

Elektrostal Geography

Geographic Information regarding City of Elektrostal .

Elektrostal Distance

Distance (in kilometers) between Elektrostal and the biggest cities of Russia.

Elektrostal Map

Locate simply the city of Elektrostal through the card, map and satellite image of the city.

Elektrostal Nearby cities and villages

Elektrostal weather.

Weather forecast for the next coming days and current time of Elektrostal.

Elektrostal Sunrise and sunset

Find below the times of sunrise and sunset calculated 7 days to Elektrostal.

Elektrostal Hotel

Our team has selected for you a list of hotel in Elektrostal classified by value for money. Book your hotel room at the best price.

Elektrostal Nearby

Below is a list of activities and point of interest in Elektrostal and its surroundings.

Elektrostal Page

• Information /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#info
• Demography /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#demo
• Geography /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#geo
• Distance /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#dist1
• Map /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#map
• Nearby cities and villages /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#dist2
• Weather /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#weather
• Sunrise and sunset /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#sun
• Hotel /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#hotel
• Nearby /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#around
• Page /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#page
• Terms of Use
• Copyright © 2024 DB-City - All rights reserved
• Change Ad Consent Do not sell my data

Expedia Rewards is now One Key™

Elektrostal, visit elektrostal, check elektrostal hotel availability, popular places to visit.

• Electrostal History and Art Museum

You can spend time exploring the galleries in Electrostal History and Art Museum in Elektrostal. Take in the museums while you're in the area.

• Cities near Elektrostal

• Places of interest
• Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
• Peter the Great Military Academy
• Central Museum of the Air Forces at Monino
• History of Russian Scarfs and Shawls Museum
• Ramenskii History and Art Museum
• Balashikha Museum of History and Local Lore
• Pekhorka Park
• Balashikha Arena
• Drama Theatre BOOM
• Bykovo Manor
• Malenky Puppet Theater
• Pavlovsky Posad Museum of Art and History
• Saturn Stadium
• Church of Vladimir
• Likino Dulevo Museum of Local Lore
• Orekhovo Zuevsky City Exhibition Hall
• Noginsk Museum and Exhibition Center
• Fairy Tale Children's Model Puppet Theater
• Fifth House Gallery
• Malakhovka Museum of History and Culture

Current time by city

For example, New York

Current time by country

For example, Japan

Time difference

For example, London

For example, Dubai

Coordinates

For example, Hong Kong

For example, Delhi

For example, Sydney

Geographic coordinates of Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia

City coordinates

Coordinates of Elektrostal in decimal degrees

Coordinates of elektrostal in degrees and decimal minutes, utm coordinates of elektrostal, geographic coordinate systems.

WGS 84 coordinate reference system is the latest revision of the World Geodetic System, which is used in mapping and navigation, including GPS satellite navigation system (the Global Positioning System).

Geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) define a position on the Earth’s surface. Coordinates are angular units. The canonical form of latitude and longitude representation uses degrees (°), minutes (′), and seconds (″). GPS systems widely use coordinates in degrees and decimal minutes, or in decimal degrees.

Latitude varies from −90° to 90°. The latitude of the Equator is 0°; the latitude of the South Pole is −90°; the latitude of the North Pole is 90°. Positive latitude values correspond to the geographic locations north of the Equator (abbrev. N). Negative latitude values correspond to the geographic locations south of the Equator (abbrev. S).

Longitude is counted from the prime meridian ( IERS Reference Meridian for WGS 84) and varies from −180° to 180°. Positive longitude values correspond to the geographic locations east of the prime meridian (abbrev. E). Negative longitude values correspond to the geographic locations west of the prime meridian (abbrev. W).

UTM or Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate system divides the Earth’s surface into 60 longitudinal zones. The coordinates of a location within each zone are defined as a planar coordinate pair related to the intersection of the equator and the zone’s central meridian, and measured in meters.

Elevation above sea level is a measure of a geographic location’s height. We are using the global digital elevation model GTOPO30 .

Elektrostal , Moscow Oblast, Russia

The browser you are using is not supported. Please see our supported browsers .

The WestJet Group and Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) reach tentative agreement, averting work stoppage. Please visit our Guest Updates page for more information. 

By using the WestJet website, you agree to the website terms of use , the privacy statement , and the use of cookies .

WestJet issues advance lockout notification to its Encore Pilot union, ALPA

WestJet today has issued an advance lockout notice to the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), the union that represents WestJet Encore pilots. As a result of today’s lockout notice, a work stoppage could occur as early as Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 6 p.m. MT, unless a deal is reached. The announcement comes following the failed ratification of the tentative agreement between the two parties on Friday, May 10, 2024.  

“The decision to issue notice was not made lightly, and we sincerely apologize for the uncertainty this causes for our guests and the Western Canadian regions that rely on WestJet Encore service; we are hopeful that guest disruption can still be prevented,” said Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airline and Group Chief Operating Officer. “Our tentative agreement represented a robust negotiation process that got us to our final offer. Given this, over the past two weeks, we have been working diligently to understand where we could better align priorities within the financial framework presented. Unfortunately, given the pace of progress and our steadfast priority to protect the summer travel plans of Canadians, a lockout notice was required to provide certainty for our guests and employees by bringing this to a final resolution.”    

The WestJet Group has been in active labour negotiations with ALPA since September 2023. The rejected tentative agreement presented an offer that would make WestJet Encore pilots the highest paid regional pilots in Canada, while delivering industry leading work-life balance standards and commitments to career progression.  

"We sincerely value our Encore pilots and the service they facilitate, which enables us to provide critical air connectivity to regional communities across Western Canada. We are unwaveringly committed to reaching an agreement to prevent travel disruption; however, we are equally committed to holding firm on what is reasonable as we cannot sacrifice our ability to provide affordable air travel for the millions of guests and communities we serve or our responsibility to provide job security for our employees across the WestJet Group,” concluded Pen. 

  WestJet Encore lockout details

Issuing a lockout notice does not mean travel disruption will occur. However, in the coming days, the WestJet Group will take all necessary actions to manage the impacts as much as possible, including:  

Beginning preparations to operate a reduced WestJet Encore schedule.  

Proactively managing changes and cancellations, to ensure the ability to communicate with guests in advance of their flight.

Providing flexible change and cancel options for those who wish to make alternative arrangements. 

Please visit WestJet’s Guest Updates page for more information regarding flight status, travel changes and applicable dates for flexible change and cancel options. 

Share this article

• Twitter (X)

Article Media

• Copy article text
• Download all images

Related Articles

Westjet encore and alpa reach tentative agreement avoiding lockout and disruption to encore service.

Agreement to be put forward for ratification vote

A work stoppage could occur as early as Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 6 p.m. MT, unless a deal is reached

The WestJet Group and AMFA reach tentative agreement, averting work stoppage

Both parties now await the ratification vote to be put forward to membership.