WestJet has denied compensation to a religious Taylor Swift fan whose cancelled flight triggered a 10-hour drive by means of the evening from Prince George to make the singer’s reveals 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 live shows at BC Place.
She says the Calgary-based airline advised her the cancellation was because of “unplanned aircraft maintenance” and was required for security functions.
WestJet confirms that in a written response and says Hansson is due to this fact not eligible for compensation underneath Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations.
The laws say that in conditions “within airline control but required for safety purposes,” 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.
Airlines are additionally obliged underneath the laws to supply alternate journey in the identical class of service for disruptions past three hours, however Hansson says she was provided a Dec. 8 flight that will have meant lacking all three of Swift’s reveals.
Instead, she joined a bunch of different passengers to lease 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 evening.
Get breaking National information
For information impacting Canada and around the globe, join breaking information alerts delivered on to you once they occur.
Hansson attended all three live shows at BC Place.
She mentioned the price for her unused lodging for Dec. 5 was $900, and the rental automotive value was $770.
While she was capable of cut up the prices of each, Hansson mentioned she sought $400 in compensation from WestJet.
“It’s ridiculous for a company to not even try and work with you with some sort of compensation,” she mentioned.
In its written assertion, WestJet mentioned it provided to re-accommodate Hansson on one other flight to Vancouver but it surely didn’t work with the schedule for the live shows.
“At the guest’s request, a refund was processed for the outbound flight along with a baggage fee,” WestJet’s assertion mentioned.
Hansson mentioned that accepting the Dec. 8 flight that will have meant lacking the ultimate reveals of Swift’s Eras Tour was “definitely not an option.”
She mentioned she “would have been furious” if the cancellation had meant lacking any of the reveals. Other passengers in Swift-themed outfits have been additionally on the gate, she mentioned.
“It’s a service that you pay for, that they should try and do everything they can to continue to provide that service,” she mentioned.
“And rather than even offering to have a flight earlier in the morning or add a flight during the day so that we could all make it there in time for our concert, it’s like they just didn’t care.”
© 2025 The Canadian Press