WestJet has denied compensation to a religious Taylor Swift fan whose cancelled flight triggered a 10-hour drive by the night time from Prince George to make the singer’s exhibits in Vancouver final month.
Carol Hansson says she and different Swifties on the flight incurred a whole bunch of {dollars} in prices after the cancellation lower than 24 hours earlier than Swift took the stage for the primary of three concert events at BC Place.
She says the Calgary-based airline informed her the cancellation was as a consequence of “unplanned plane upkeep” and was required for security functions.
WestJet confirms that in a written response and says Hansson is subsequently not eligible for compensation beneath Canada’s Air Passenger Safety Laws.
The rules say that in conditions “inside airline management however required for security functions,” airways have obligations for a passenger’s remedy and completion of their itinerary — however not compensation.
Hansson says WestJet delayed the night flight from Prince George for about 5 hours, earlier than cancelling the Dec. 5 service.
Airways are additionally obliged beneath the rules to supply alternate journey in the identical class of service for disruptions past three hours, however Hansson says she was supplied a Dec. 8 flight that may have meant lacking all three of Swift’s exhibits.
As a substitute, she joined a bunch of different passengers to hire a automotive for the 750-kilometre drive, setting off at midnight and ultimately making it to Vancouver on Dec. 6 forward of the primary present that night time.
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Hansson attended all three concert events at BC Place.
She mentioned the associated fee for her unused lodging for Dec. 5 was $900, and the rental automotive value was $770.
Whereas she was in a position to break up the prices of each, Hansson mentioned she sought $400 in compensation from WestJet.
“It’s ridiculous for a corporation to not even try to work with you with some form of compensation,” she mentioned.
In its written assertion, WestJet mentioned it supplied to re-accommodate Hansson on one other flight to Vancouver but it surely didn’t work with the schedule for the concert events.
“On the visitor’s request, a refund was processed for the outbound flight together with a baggage charge,” WestJet’s assertion mentioned.
Hansson mentioned that accepting the Dec. 8 flight that may have meant lacking the ultimate exhibits of Swift’s Eras Tour was “positively not an choice.”
She mentioned she “would have been livid” if the cancellation had meant lacking any of the exhibits. Different passengers in Swift-themed outfits had been additionally on the gate, she mentioned.
“It’s a service that you simply pay for, that they need to try to do every part they’ll to proceed to supply that service,” she mentioned.
“And fairly than even providing to have a flight earlier within the morning or add a flight throughout the day in order that we might all make it there in time for our live performance, it’s like they simply didn’t care.”
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