The cancellation policy of WestJet was affected by COVID significantly. To make things easier for its travellers, the airline had relaxed its cancellation policies at the time of the pandemic so that the customers could deal with the situation hassle free.
Otherwise also, the airline has a very simple and straightforward cancellation process. Here are the key features of the WestJet cancellation policy which you need to keep in mind before you start with the WestJet cancellation process:
- Travellers must request the cancellation at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure of the flight.
- After completing the process of flight cancellation, the refund will be transferred to you in the form of a Travel Bank Credit. If there is any part of the flight fare which has been paid with WestJet dollars, then it will be credited to your bank account but it will be subject to the original expiration date.
- Travellers also have the option to change their westjet flight but if the other flight costs more than the previous flight, then they will have to pay the fare difference.
- If the travellers cancel their flight within 24 hours of the departure of the flight, then standard cancellation fee will be applicable.
- If the travellers have purchased a ticket from a travel agent or from some other website then they will have to directly get in touch with them to have their reservations cancelled.
- Travellers can cancel their flight and receive a refund depending on the guidelines that will be applicable to your original fare type.
- Travellers have the facility to alter their travel dates without any extra charges but only one condition, that it has to be from or to the same destination. Fare differences will not be applicable but blackout days might apply.
- Travellers also have the facility to change their destination with or without changing their flight dates.
- In case, the travellers are flying to a nearby airport, then they will not have to pay the fare difference.
- If the travellers are flying to a distant airport, then they will be charged the fare difference.
- In case, the travellers’ new fare costs less than the original fare, then the guidelines for the refund on your fare type will be applicable.
WestJet Cancellation Fees
According to the WestJet cancellation policy, the cancellation fee will depend on the type of ticket that you have purchased, the care conditions of your ticket and when you cancel your flight ticket. Here are the cancellation rules which you need to keep in mind before finalising your decision to cancel your flight booking:
- All the flight tickets can be cancelled for free, without any cancellation charges within 24 hours of making the booking. The only condition is that the scheduled departure time of the flight at the time of booking must be more than 24 hours.
- No cancellation fee is charged for PremiumFlex and BusinessFlex fares. These fares can be cancelled free of charge for all routes. The refund will be credited back through the original form of payment.
- Econo Flex fares can be cancelled without any charges only within Canada.
- The WestJet cancellation fee on flights to and from Europe is applicable per person and per transaction. On all the other non-European routes, the cancellation fee on flights is applicable per flight, per direction and per passenger.
- Except the Blue Fare, you can cancel all the fares up to 2 hours before the scheduled departure of the flight.
- In case you fail to cancel your flight before departure, then it will be considered as a no show where all the money that you paid at the time of booking will be forfeited and nothing will be refunded to you.
WestJet 24 hours cancellation policy
As per the WestJet 24 hours cancellation policy, travellers are allowed to cancel their flight reservations within 24 hours without having to pay any cancellation fee as long as they book their last flight at least 24 hours before departure. However, if the travellers book a flight which departs within 24 hours, then the normal cancellation rules and fees will be applicable.
WestJet Flight Cancellation Policy after 24 Hours
- Travellers who have booked themselves in Basic Fares cannot cancel their flight reservations after 24 hours booking and also do not qualify for any Travel Credit.
- Travellers who have booked themselves in other fares can cancel their flight after 24 hours but it will be subject to a cancellation fee depending on the fare type.
- BusinessFlex and PremiumFlex fares can be cancelled without any cancellation fee on all routes.
- Domestic EconoFlex fares within Canada can be cancelled without having to pay any cancellation fee.
- Cancellation fees are applicable per person and per direction, except on flights to or from Europe where the cancellation fee is charged per person and per transaction.
WestJet Flight Cancellation Policy for Cancelled or Rescheduled Flights
If the flight has been cancelled or rescheduled by the airline, then the travellers have the right to claim full refund under the following circumstances:
When the WestJet flight has been cancelled by the airline.
When the WestJet flight has been rescheduled by the airline by more than 90 minutes.
When one or more steps have been added to the original WestJet’s flight schedule.
WestJet Flight Cancellation Process
WestJet provides its travellers with both online as well as offline methods to cancel their flight bookings.
Online WestJet flight Cancellation Process
The online method of the flight cancellation on WestJet allows passengers to conveniently cancel their flight reservations from anywhere, anywhere. Here are the steps a traveller needs to follow to cancel their flight reservation online:
- Visit the official website of the airline on any web browser.
- The homepage of the website will open up in front of you. On the homepage, you need to locate an option called manage booking. You have to click on it.
- After you click on the manage flights option, you need to enter some details like your reservation code and your last name.
- After entering the details, you have to click on the search button. Your flight details will show up.
- You have to select your flight and click on the cancel button.
- After you click on the cancel button, your flight reservation will be cancelled and an e-mail will be sent to you on the e-mail address you provided which will contain the details of your cancellation.
WestJet flight cancellation process – Offline method
WestJet has an offline method of cancelling flights as well which allows passengers to cancel their flight reservation offline by giving a call to the customer support team. Here are the steps you need to follow to cancel your reservation offline by giving a call:
- Call WestJet at (For US, Canada).
- After you give a call, you will have to follow some instructions and wait for sometime.
- Your call will be directed to a customer support executive.
- You can let the customer support executive know that you want to cancel your flight reservation.
- After this, you will have to share some necessary details and the customer support executive will do the needful.
- After your flight cancellation process has been completed, you will be receiving an email on the e-mail address you provided which will contain the details of your cancellation.
Another offline method to cancel your flight reservation is to go to the nearest WestJet office. Here are the steps you need to follow to cancel your flight reservation according to the WestJet cancellation policy by visiting the WestJet office:
- Go to the nearest WestJet office.
- Ask to be directed to a customer support team member.
- When you get in touch with the customer support representative, let him know that you want to cancel your reservation.
- You will have to share the necessary details with the customer support team member and he will cancel the reservation for you.
Cancelling the WestJet flight through third party
If you have booked a flight through a third party like another website apart from the official one or through a travel agent, then you need to get in touch with them to get your flight reservations cancelled.
These were all the methods of flight cancellation at WestJet. You can choose whichever method you want depending on your convenience. The customer support team will help you to cancel your reservation and receive the refund after subtracting the WestJet cancellation fee as soon as possible, in the most convenient way.
WestJet Cancellation Policy due to Death or Illness
In case of death or illness, the airline may waive the WestJet cancellation fees in any of the following circumstances:
When the death of an immediate family member has occurred.
- If the traveller falls severely ill.
- If the traveller receives a military order.
WestJet Flight Cancellation Policy by Fare Type
In this section, we will know the cancellation policy of WestJet according to the fare type.
WestJet Flight Cancellation Policy for Basic Fares
WestJet does not allow travellers to cancel their flight after 24 hours of making reservations. This means that Basic Fare tickets can only be cancelled within 24 hours of purchase, but on the condition that the purchase was made 24 hours before departure.
WestJet Flight Cancellation Policy for Econo Fares
Econo Fares can be cancelled for free within 24 hours of making the reservation. After 24 hours, Econo tickets can only be cancelled for a fee which will depend on your route or whether you cancel 60 days before departure or within 60 days of departure.
WestJet Flight Cancellation Policy for Econo Flex Fares
Econo Flex Fares can be cancelled for free of charge in case of domestic flights within Canada, irrespective of when you cancel. Apart from this, on all other routes, a cancellation fee will be applicable which will depend on whether you cancel more than 60 days before departure or within 60 days of departure.
WestJet Flight Cancellation Policy for Premium Fares
Premium Fares can only be cancelled by paying the cancellation charges but Premium Flex fares can be cancelled by paying no charges. The cancellation charges for a standard premium ticket will depend on the route you are travelling on and whether you cancel more than 60 days before departure or within 60 days of departure.
WestJet Flight Cancellation Policy for Business Fares
Business Tickets except BusinessFlex Tickets charge a cancellation fee, depending on your route and when you cancel your booking. BusinessFlex Tickets can be cancelled for no charges.
WestJet Flight Cancellation Policy for Award Fares
WestJet’s Award program is different from the award programmes of other airlines to some extent. Unlike other award programs where you are offered the opportunity to earn and redeem miles, you are given rebates through which funds are deposited into your WestJet Travel Bank whenever you fly. You have the option to redeem these funds later on whenever you plan to fly.
The cancellation charges for award tickets depend on the type of tickets you have purchased through your travel bank fund, the route on which you are flying and the time of departure.
WestJet No-Show Policy
WestJet has a no show policy. When you come to know that you will not be able to carry-on with your travel plans, then it is recommended to immediately cancel your flight reservations because if you fail to cancel your flight bookings then, it will be considered as no show. No show means that you don’t show up for boarding the plane. In this case, the complete amount which you paid at the time of boarding the plane will be forfeited and you will receive nothing. If there is any remaining amount, then it will be refunded or credited on the basis of the original fare rules of your ticket.
WestJet Flight Cancellation Compensation
Sometimes it happens that the flight is cancelled by the airline because of some unavoidable reasons. This interrupts the travel plans of the travellers because of which they may be entitled to compensation depending on the length of the delay. The compensation will be paid depending on some guidelines and based on the following conditions:
- The traveller was travelling to or from or within Canada on a flight which was being operated by WestJet.
- The airline had notified you of your flight’s delay or cancellation within 14 days of departure.
- You have received a refund from the airline for the delayed or cancelled flight, but you want to receive compensation for the inconvenience caused.
- Your flight was cancelled or delayed by the airline because of reasons which are within the control of the airline.
- In order to submit a claim, you need to fill out a form for each passenger per travel direction. In case your travel itinerary includes multiple flights in one direction, then you need to fill out only one form.
If your claim gets approved, an email will be sent to you on the e-mail address you provided along with the instructions on how to receive your claim electronically. You need to ensure that the information provided to you, exactly matches your booking details. This is necessary because your form will not be processed if you fail to provide incorrect information.
WestJet refund policy
According to the WestJet refund policy, the passengers who won the complete refund of the amount which they have paid at the time of booking, need to cancel the reservation within 24 hours of booking the tickets. Beyond this time the passengers are required to pay the cancellation fees irrespective of the fare type purchased, the destination of your journey and the time of cancellation. The refund is only initiated after the deductible of the cancellation fee, if there is any. The refund amount will be transferred to the same bank account through which the reservation was made by the passenger.
According to the WestJet cancellation policy, the passengers who have booked themselves in the basic fare will not be getting a refund for cancelling their reservation.