Passengers Rights Group Takes WestJet to Court over Reimbursement Policy

A passenger rights group is taking WestJet to court over its reimbursement policy.

The passenger rights group is seeking an injunction against the airline to block allegedly “deceptive” reimbursement practices, Global reports. 

Previously, WestJet’s website specified guideline limits on reimbursement policies: up to $150 a night for hotels ($200 a night for international passengers) and $45 a day for meals. 

The issue: Neither the Montreal Convention nor Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) specify limits on hotel and food reimbursements.

The APPR establish minimum standards for passenger rights when there are flight delays considered “within the airline’s control.” The APPR website states that airlines in Canada must provide “food and drink in reasonable quantities,” and “a means of communication” if a flight is delayed by two hours or more (under 12 hours of notice). In cases where the flight is delayed overnight, the airline must also provide “hotel or comparable accommodation free of charge.”

The group alleges that WestJet removed the policy from its website but continues to enforce the restrictions behind the scenes. 

“What is clear is that passengers should not be spending a night at the airport just because WestJet it is not able to find a good deal with its own vendors — In such situations, passengers should be able to get a hotel room and spend the night in a proper room, same thing about meals,” Air Passenger Rights president Gabor Lukacs said (via Global).

WestJet has not admitted to any wrongdoing, stating in it response filings to the claim that the company directly secures accommodations in 95% of cases. 

WestJet’s representatives will appear in court today for the injunction, and a trial on the matter is scheduled for January 2026.