WestJet COVID Refunds: Can You Get Your Money Back?

You would think this would have been an obvious move in March 2020, but airlines are known to hold onto your money for as long as possible. Until the announcement is made, WestJet and most airlines are simply providing travel credits / vouchers.

Before you call and ask for the refund, it’s best to understand what’s going on and why this decision was ultimately made.

How to get your WestJet refund if you’re eligible for a refund

To be clear, refunds are available for travelers whose WestJet or Swoop flights have been canceled due to COVID-19. If you canceled a flight on your own and accepted travel bank credit, you would not be eligible for a cash refund.

WestJet will contact those it deems eligible for refunds starting November 2, 2020, but is taking a phased approach, starting with flights canceled in March and continuing from there. WestJet expects the process to take six to nine months to be fully completed.

For context, my WestJet flight to Hawaii was canceled in May and I was not notified until October that I could see a refund applied to my credit card. Waiting five months to get $ 3,500 can be a lot of money for many people.

You must wait for an email from WestJet before your refund is processed. Calling WestJet now won’t do anything, so be patient and watch your inbox.

Flights booked through a travel agency or website would also be eligible for refunds, but you will need to contact the location where you purchased your tickets directly. (Also, five things your airline doesn’t tell you.)

What took so long?

In Canada, there are limited rules regarding passenger rights. Airlines were not required to refund cash as long as customers were offered a travel voucher of equal value to what was paid. (Learn more about passenger rights here.)

About Brandon A. Hood

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