Flight Change Question

[ilovetotravel1977]

Yea we avoid westjet as they aways lure you in with directs only to change them.

I am hoping to use porter as they have directs to MCO.

 

[grantclaire]

We just got an email from WestJet saying our 1115 return flight from MCO next March is changed to 915 pm. This is to Toronto. We can change it to a connecting flight with Delta or take a refund. No sure what we will do!

 

[AngelDisney]

My early morning Westjet direct flight in December from Toronto to Orlando was cancelled and changed to the only late afternoon direct flight for that day arriving in the evening. Kids were upset for losing a day of fun. We could rebook with connecting flights codeshared with Delta, but I didn’t want to risk missing the connecting flights due to possible inclement weather. We would now be able to sleep in and hope to arrive at Orlando on time to explore Disney Springs for an hour or two before hitting the park for early entry the next morning. If the flight was cancelled a couple of weeks earlier, I could have refunded and rebooked with Air Canada at about the same price. I bought the 14-day UK tickets and now can only use 11 days out of the 14 days. It’s a MVMCP night, so we can’t even hit Magic Kingdom for a ride or two.

 

[badiggio]

My early morning Westjet direct flight in December from Toronto to Orlando was cancelled and changed to the only late afternoon direct flight for that day arriving in the evening. Kids were upset for losing a day of fun. We could rebook with connecting flights codeshared with Delta, but I didn’t want to risk missing the connecting flights due to possible inclement weather. We would now be able to sleep in and hope to arrive at Orlando on time to explore Disney Springs for an hour or two before hitting the park for early entry the next morning. If the flight was cancelled a couple of weeks earlier, I could have refunded and rebooked with Air Canada at about the same price. I bought the 14-day UK tickets and now can only use 11 days out of the 14 days. It’s a MVMCP night, so we can’t even hit Magic Kingdom for a ride or two.

December is 5 months away and knowing Westjet,more than likely,that late afternoon direct flight will probably be cancelled or made a connecting flight.The risk of missing a connecting flight because of weather as you say, could also cause problems for a direct flight.Good Luck

 

[deedubb]

Update:
I just got off phone with WJ. I shouldn’t be surprised but I am. They would not move our cancelled flights to the closest other direct flight date. It was a difference of only 5 days. F I V E days. We asked to escalate but it was just to a Junior client service rep (with no other options for further escalation). They said we could move to desired flight but would need to pay change fees and cost difference (Thanks WJ!).

We are both silver members with WJ RBC credit cards and have flown with them approx. 20 times over the last 3 years. Needless to say, we have just cancelled our flight and will now evaluate all future business with WJ. Although we are very unhappy (again) and blown away with the lack of basic fairness and service, we actually started to laugh at how bad it all is.

Also have the WJ credit card but will never fly with them again unless there is no reasonable alternative.

 

[grantclaire]

Update! I decided to take the Delta flight WJ offered us, connecting in Atlanta getting in to Toronto at 7 pm. However Delta’s website would not let me book seats, called WestJet they said have to call Delta, called Delta and they said to call WestJet! We had exit row seats booked on WJ and they have refunded that fee. I think Delta will not let us book until 24 hrs before flight, but I am just guessing!

 

[PetePanMan]

Also have the WJ credit card but will never fly with them again unless there is no reasonable alternative.

We are feeling the same

 

[AngelDisney]

December is 5 months away and knowing Westjet,more than likely,that late afternoon direct flight will probably be cancelled or made a connecting flight.The risk of missing a connecting flight because of weather as you say, could also cause problems for a direct flight.Good Luck

If that is the case, I will have to take my chances with connecting flights and choose one with at least a 2-hour layover. I will never fly with Westjet again.

 

[PetePanMan]

If that is the case, I will have to take my chances with connecting flights and choose one with at least a 2-hour layover. I will never fly with Westjet again.

Yes, your (or my) decision may have been quite different if there was no direct flight to begin with (or if there is a high probability of continuing bait and switch). Maybe other dates would have been selected that work better for hotels etc. given some direct flights are only a couple of days a week (e.g Vancouver). Maybe another airline. Option to Pick the best possible connecting flight (city and times) to try to reduce overall travel time or potential for hiccups (connecting through Toronto in winter…no thanks!). I have no reason to think that this situation won’t continue.

 

[bababear_50]

My early morning Westjet direct flight in December from Toronto to Orlando was cancelled and changed to the only late afternoon direct flight for that day arriving in the evening. Kids were upset for losing a day of fun. We could rebook with connecting flights codeshared with Delta, but I didn’t want to risk missing the connecting flights due to possible inclement weather. We would now be able to sleep in and hope to arrive at Orlando on time to explore Disney Springs for an hour or two before hitting the park for early entry the next morning. If the flight was cancelled a couple of weeks earlier, I could have refunded and rebooked with Air Canada at about the same price. I bought the 14-day UK tickets and now can only use 11 days out of the 14 days. It’s a MVMCP night, so we can’t even hit Magic Kingdom for a ride or two.

Hi Hon
My Feb. 7 am WestJet flight just got canceled and there are no scheduled 11am or 2pm flights to try and re-book. YYZ to MCO
Just one flight that day,,, it is for 5:15Pm
I guess I am hopeful at this point that one doesn't get canceled,,, .

Hugs Hon
Mel

 

[AngelDisney]

Hi Hon
My Feb. 7 am WestJet flight just got canceled and there are no scheduled 11am or 2pm flights to try and re-book. YYZ to MCO
Just one flight that day,,, it is for 5:15Pm
I guess I am hopeful at this point that one doesn't get canceled,,, .

Hugs Hon
Mel

Sorry to hear that! Why couldn’t Westjet start with just one direct flight to minimize inconvenience to passengers? Fingers crossed for you as well! Just hope that remaining direct flight can hold up to the end!

 

[grantclaire]

Hi Hon
My Feb. 7 am WestJet flight just got canceled and there are no scheduled 11am or 2pm flights to try and re-book. YYZ to MCO
Just one flight that day,,, it is for 5:15Pm
I guess I am hopeful at this point that one doesn't get canceled,,, .

Hugs Hon
Mel

WestJet now has terrible flight times to and from Orlando! The WJ CC is the only reason I book with them.

 

[badiggio]

If that is the case, I will have to take my chances with connecting flights and choose one with at least a 2-hour layover. I will never fly with Westjet again.

if there's no way to get your money back,that's what I would do and hope for the best.

 

[tgropp]

I had Orlando flight tix for Dec 6 @ 7:15 AM returning December 13 @11 AM. I got the notice that flights had changed to 5:15 PM going down and 9 PM coming home. I had a sweet deal on a rental van that is no longer viable. I contacted Westjet and decided to fly out the day before at 7:15 AM. I then noticed that the flights would be $172.00 cheaper if I cancelled everything and rebooked. I was then informed that the companion flight that I had booked the original flight has expired. I get a day and a half extra but will now await for the next flight change

 

[Norton figment]

WJ cancelled or rerun flight dec 9 and suggested the 9 hours early flight yeah no. It took me three hours to deal with the issues they caused. We decided to keep our outbound flight as there appears to be at least 15 booked seats and a return with Air Canada but boy was in a nightmare to keep the Toronto outbound flight. I haven’t fun with WestJet in about eight years now I know why again I have the credit card for the free bags.

 

[Etch]

WestJet has been in a steady decline since Onex Corporation purchased it in 2019. For those unfamiliar with this corporation, it exists to make money for it shareholders through it's investments. They recently recouped almost all of their original investment by selling 25% of WestJet to Delta (15%) and Korean Air (10%). My opinion is that they will continue to squeeze every dollar they can out of WestJet and then sell when it no longer brings the desired returns. Profit is obviously the goal of every airline but I think that the current WestJet customer experience is an afterthought.

I have flown all four main Canadian airlines in the past 2 years (Air Canada, Porter, Flair, WestJet). When booking a flight amongst these airlines, WestJet would be my clear last choice. It's a shame because it was once my favorite airline to fly!

 

[Norton figment]

WestJet has been in a steady decline since Onex Corporation purchased it in 2019. For those unfamiliar with this corporation, it exists to make money for it shareholders through it's investments. They recently recouped almost all of their original investment by selling 25% of WestJet to Delta (15%) and Korean Air (10%). My opinion is that they will continue to squeeze every dollar they can out of WestJet and then sell when it no longer brings the desired returns. Profit is obviously the goal of every airline but I think that the current WestJet customer experience is an afterthought.

I have flown all four main Canadian airlines in the past 2 years (Air Canada, Porter, Flair, WestJet). When booking a flight amongst these airlines, WestJet would be my clear last choice. It's a shame because it was once my favorite airline to fly!

Wow I had no idea thank you for sharing this information. This is good information to know for future. This makes me so sad.