WestJet Airlines, a Canadian low-cost carrier, has a cancellation policy that varies by fare type, booking method, and timing. Below is a concise overview based on the latest information from WestJet’s official website
24-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation:
- You can cancel any WestJet flight within 24 hours of booking for a full refund without fees, provided the flight departs more than 24 hours from the booking time. This applies to all fare types (Basic, Econo, EconoFlex, Premium, PremiumFlex, Business, BusinessFlex), including non-refundable tickets, and aligns with U.S. Department of Transportation rules (14 CFR § 259.2) for U.S.-related flights. Refunds are processed to the original payment method within 7–10 business days for credit cards or 20 business days for other methods.
- Third-party bookings (e.g., through travel agencies like Alternative Airlines or AIR MILES) must be canceled via the agent, and the 24-hour policy may not apply unless enforced by the agent.
Cancellations After 24 Hours:
- Basic Fares: Non-refundable and cannot be canceled after the 24-hour window. The ticket value is forfeited, and no travel credit is issued.
- Outside North America (e.g., Canada to Asia/Australia): Fees can reach CAD$600 (~$418 USD) for Business fares; remaining value as Travel Bank credit.
- Cancellations are permitted up to 2 hours before departure. Fees are charged per person, per direction, except for Europe routes, where fees apply per transaction.
WestJet Vacations:
- Cancellations within 24 hours of booking: Full refund to the original payment method, including fees like seat selection or baggage.
- 45+ days before departure: CAD$250 fee per guest (waived for Premium/Business fares); remainder refunded.
- 44–21 days: 50% forfeiture of the booking amount.
- 20–0 days (Mexico/Caribbean) or 6–0 days (Canada/USA): 100% forfeiture, no refund.
- Travel Protection Plan purchases are non-refundable.
Airline-Initiated Cancellations:
- For flights to/from/within Canada, under Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), if notified 14 days or less before departure and the cancellation is within WestJet’s control (e.g., technical issues, not strikes or weather), you may claim CAD$400–$1,000 compensation, depending on delay length. Claims must be submitted 72+ hours after the disruption via WestJet’s online form.
- For EU departures, if cancellation is within 14 days and within WestJet’s control, you may claim €250–€600 ($260–$650 USD) under EU Regulation EC 261/2004, based on flight distance. Claims are valid for 5 years (Spain’s statute).
- Recent disruptions (e.g., June 2024 strike) canceled 150–1,300 flights, affecting 49,000 passengers, with no APPR compensation due to strikes being outside airline control.
No-Show Policy:
- Failure to cancel or check in before the cut-off (2 hours before departure) results in a no-show, forfeiting the fare for the missed segment and canceling subsequent segments. Remaining fares may be available as Travel Bank credit, per fare rules.
Special Circumstances:
- Full refunds or fee waivers are possible for serious illness, death of a passenger/immediate family member, or military orders, with valid documentation submitted to customer service.
- Travel advisories (e.g., extreme weather, airport closures) allow fee-free cancellations or date changes to the same destination, with fare differences if applicable.
Refund Process:
- Refunds (e.g., within 24 hours, airline cancellations, or PremiumFlex/BusinessFlex) are processed within 7–10 business days (cards) or 20 days (other methods). Travel Bank credits are issued instantly, valid for 12 months (non-transferable but usable for others’ flights).
- Non-refunded items include Travel Protection Plan fees and optional service fees (e.g., baggage).
- Passengers report delays in refund processing (up to 30 days for vacations) and issues with customer service responsiveness.
