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 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 concert events at BC Place.
She says the Calgary-based airline instructed 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 below Canada’s Air Passenger Safety Rules.
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 below 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 will have meant lacking all three of Swift’s reveals.
As a substitute, she joined a gaggle of different passengers to hire a automotive for the 750-kilometre drive, setting off at midnight and finally making it to Vancouver on Dec. 6 forward of the primary present that night time.
Get every day Nationwide information
Get the day’s high information, political, financial, and present affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox as soon as a day.
Hansson attended all three concert events at BC Place.
She stated the fee for her unused lodging for Dec. 5 was $900, and the rental automotive value was $770.
Whereas she was capable of cut up the prices of each, Hansson stated she sought $400 in compensation from WestJet.
“It’s ridiculous for an organization to not even attempt to work with you with some form of compensation,” she stated.
In its written assertion, WestJet stated it supplied to re-accommodate Hansson on one other flight to Vancouver nevertheless it 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 price,” WestJet’s assertion stated.
Hansson stated that accepting the Dec. 8 flight that will have meant lacking the ultimate reveals of Swift’s Eras Tour was “undoubtedly not an possibility.”
She stated she “would have been livid” if the cancellation had meant lacking any of the reveals. Different passengers in Swift-themed outfits had been additionally on the gate, she stated.
“It’s a service that you just pay for, that they need to attempt to do all the pieces they will to proceed to offer that service,” she stated.
“And slightly than even providing to have a flight earlier within the morning or add a flight in the course of the day in order that we may all make it there in time for our live performance, it’s like they simply didn’t care.”
© 2025 The Canadian Press
