A WestJet flight diversion forced a B.C. couple to drive to their final destination, prompting them to initiate a dispute at the BC Civil Resolution Tribunal.
The applicants, a couple, were travelling from Victoria to Palm Springs, California, through Calgary.
Their return flight was to follow the same route, just in reverse. The couple also travelled with their child.
WestJet had diverted the couple’s flight to Palm Springs, which forced them to land in Los Angeles. The couple claimed that WestJet did not rebook them on another flight to Palm Springs, so they had to rent a car to complete the journey.
Unfortunately for the couple, the return flight from Palm Springs to Calgary was also delayed, so they missed their connecting flight to Victoria.
They claimed damages for a rental car, food, and beverage expenses, as well as compensation for the delays, under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR). In total, they claimed $4,999.
WestJet said the couple is entitled to $478.27 for the rental car, gas, and food expenses, but that the remainder of the claim should be dismissed.
The couple was scheduled to fly from Victoria to Palm Springs on March 2, 2024. The second leg of the trip would’ve had the couple depart Calgary at 2:55 p.m. for a 5:10 p.m. arrival time in Palm Springs. Due to a delay, the flight departed at 4:30 p.m.
During the flight, the captain diverted the flight to Los Angeles, where they landed at 8:09 p.m.
The couple told the tribunal they felt that WestJet had abandoned them in Los Angeles.
“They say WestJet did not book them on a flight to Palm Springs, provide accommodation in Los Angeles, or provide allowances for food and beverage expenses,” the tribunal decision says.
That’s when they decided to rent the car to drive to Palm Springs, where they arrived at around 2 a.m., nine hours later than scheduled. For their return flight, they were scheduled to get back to Victoria at 7:16 p.m., but due to further WestJet delays, they ended up arriving at 12:02 a.m.
WestJet admitted that it owed the couple for expenses, so the tribunal ordered WestJet to pay $478.28 for the rental car, food, gas and other expenses.
Because the original leg of the trip was delayed due to weather conditions, the tribunal determined WestJet did not owe the passengers under the APPR. However, the second leg of the journey, the return, was primarily delayed due to mechanical issues, so the tribunal awarded each passenger $400.
In total, WestJet was ordered to pay the B.C. couple a combined $1,532.41.