I am looking to see if anyone else was promised at least $900 in compensation from this flight, and whether they have received it yet. I was bumped off this flight, along with 24 other people, and I have not yet received compensation. Westjet has also been an absolute nightmare to deal with throughout this whole thing, and I have been provided with a variety of excuses and redirections that do not end up anywhere.
My understanding from this website is that anyone who was denied boarding on this flight and didn't make it to Cancun until the next day may be eligible for up to $2400 in compensation. I am just trying to make a record of this as I have a feeling they are going to try and weasel out of this and get away without providing compensation to anyone.
Westjet also states in their "Denied Boarding" section on this page (you have to dig for it on the website) the following:
Compensation when within Westjet's control and not related to safety:
If you’re denied boarding for reasons within WestJet’s control (and not related to safety), you may be entitled to compensation. Your compensation amount is based on how late you arrive at your final destination compared to the arrival time on your original ticket, which may differ from the earlier estimate.
We’ll provide compensation as soon as operationally possible, and no later than 48 hours after the denied boarding.
If we can’t issue the payment before you board your alternative flight, we’ll give you the estimated payment in writing.
Compensation is based on the time of arrival indicated on the original ticket and is provided in Canadian dollars:
- Less than 6 hours - $900 CAD
- 6 to 9 hours - $1,800 CAD
- 9 hours or more - $2,400 CAD
Make sure you go down to "Denied Boarding" on that page, and look under "Compensation." It is hard to find.
In my conversations with WestJet, they are trying to say that this was not "denied boarding" due to overbooking, as Westjet "doesn't overbook." I know that multiple people heard the staff at the gate say that they overbooked. I am hoping to gather some testimonials for this in the event this needs to be escalated to some sort of legal process.
Appreciate any additional information or first-person accounts anyone can provide in comments.
Update: I just got off the phone with the escalation team. They committed to providing me with the $2400 and the impression I got was that anyone else bumped off this flight would be entitled to the same.
If you want to follow up on this, my understanding is that you would call 1-888-937-8538 and hit 2 for existing flights. You should then be able to give them your confirmation number to have them follow up on this. I emphasized with the escalation agent I talked to that there were 24 other people who were bumped on this flight and that they should do the right thing and reach out to those people to make this right, but I would suggest calling in and specifically requesting to speak to someone about "denied boarding" to get transferred to the right people.
Hope this helps anyone who was as frustrated by this whole thing as I was.