Airlines / WestJet
WestJet: how to claim compensation
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- Airline type
- Canadian airline (large carrier under APPR)
- Rules that may apply
- APPR for flights to, from and within Canada. UK261 for flights departing the UK. EU261 for flights departing the EU.
1. Claim directly with WestJet
Claiming directly is free, and you keep the whole amount. Use the airline's own form:
WestJet flight delay and cancellation claims (opens in a new tab) (opens the airline's website)
- You need the six-letter reservation code, names exactly as on the booking, and dates of birth.
- WestJet says claims open 72 hours after you arrive or after the disruption, and it responds within 30 days.
- You cannot retrieve your claim after submitting, so take a screenshot first.
- If another airline operated your flight, claim with that airline.
Mostly domestic and sun routes. Remember the 14-day notice rule: APPR compensation applies only if you were told 14 days or less before departure.
No suitable form? Use our free first-claim letter.
2. Common rejection reasons and how to respond
| What the airline may say | What to check or reply |
|---|---|
| "Required for safety" (Canada) | Ask for the specific safety issue. Scheduled maintenance is within the airline's control. |
| "Outside our control" (Canada) | Check the reason against APPR s.10(1). Ask for the documents supporting it. |
| "Earlier flight was delayed" (Canada) | A knock-on delay is only outside the airline's control if the earlier disruption was, and the airline took all reasonable measures to limit its effect (APPR s.10(2)). Ask for the root cause. |
| "We have no record of your booking or delay" | Send your booking confirmation, boarding pass and evidence of arrival time. |
| "Your claim is out of time" (Canada) | You have until the day before the first anniversary of the disruption to file (APPR s.19(3)). The airline must then pay or explain within 30 days (s.19(4)); if it refuses, file a free complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency. For a flight from the UK also covered by UK261, the UK limit is 6 years (5 in Scotland). |
The My Flight Money claim dashboard includes a prefilled rebuttal letter for each of these.
3. If WestJet refuses or does not reply
Canadian Transportation Agency (APPR claims)
If WestJet refuses your APPR claim, or does not pay or explain within 30 days (APPR s.19(4)), file a free complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency (opens in a new tab). This is the main route for flights to, from or within Canada.
Flights under UK rules (UK departures): CAA complaint
WestJet was not on the CAA's list of airlines signed up to a UK ADR scheme when we checked. There is no ADR step: after the airline's final response, or after 8 weeks with no reply, ask the CAA's Passenger Advice and Complaints Team (opens in a new tab) to review your complaint.
Flights under EU rules (EU departures): enforcement body
For flights departing the EU, contact the enforcement body in the country where the incident happened. Enforcement bodies monitor airlines but may not be able to make an airline pay your individual claim (C-145/15 Ruijssenaars). See the official EU list (opens in a new tab).
Court
- Canada: provincial small claims court (limits vary by province). A CTA complaint (opens in a new tab) is free.
- UK departures: Money Claim Online (opens in a new tab) (England and Wales), simple procedure (opens in a new tab) (Scotland) or small claims (opens in a new tab) (Northern Ireland).
- EU departures: courts at the place of departure or arrival (C-204/08 Rehder), or the European Small Claims Procedure (opens in a new tab) for cross-border claims.
Check your claim deadline before you start.
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