Question for Westjet pros

[Bea]

WJ changed our flight (July) by 1.5 hours. Not a huge deal but we don’t get in now until 7:10 pm. We’ve known about this change for a few weeks and had planned on switching to an earlier flight,or even the day before, as these other flights were a similar price so we wouldn’t owe the difference when we changed. I was going to call yesterday to do the switch and the flights are up between 200-250.00 each . we've flown WJ a lot and don’t usually see price increases like this.

Am I correct to assume a 1.5 hour flight reschedule isnt significant enough to warrant a free flight change?

Any experience with flight prices going down?

 

[wdwmom3]

WJ changed our flight (July) by 1.5 hours. Not a huge deal but we don’t get in now until 7:10 pm. We’ve known about this change for a few weeks and had planned on switching to an earlier flight,or even the day before, as these other flights were a similar price so we wouldn’t owe the difference when we changed. I was going to call yesterday to do the switch and the flights are up between 200-250.00 each . we've flown WJ a lot and don’t usually see price increases like this.

Am I correct to assume a 1.5 hour flight reschedule isnt significant enough to warrant a free flight change?

Any experience with flight prices going down?

I’m not sure if they switch your flight for a change of 1.5hrs. But it doesn’t hurt to call and ask (schedule a call back).

Normally prices go up as you get closer to the date, but right now they seem all over the place. They also keep coming out with sales. So I would keep checking.

 

[pigletto]

I called and asked about a refund for a 1.5 time change last week and the rep told me the aviation authority has changed the rule for refunds back to 3 hour changes. But you’re not inquiring about a refund, but a flight change. You might have better luck if just changing.

 

[Bea]

I called and asked about a refund for a 1.5 time change last week and the rep told me the aviation authority has changed the rule for refunds back to 3 hour changes. But you’re not inquiring about a refund, but a flight change. You might have better luck if just changing.

Thank you! I will try that. I was trying to decipher the invoice to see how much we could potentially owe if they won’t pay, but between companion airfare and WJ dollars, I’m at a loss.

 

[sweethannah]

When did you book? You should be eligible for one free change or cancellation. If your companion voucher has expired though you can't reschedule else you'll lose the voucher.

 

[Bea]

When did you book? You should be eligible for one free change or cancellation. If your companion voucher has expired though you can't reschedule else you'll lose the voucher.

Thank you for your reply
We booked way back in October. We are eligible for a change fee (though I hadn’t thought about the companion airfare expiry). It’s the difference in airfare to rebook a different flight that is my concern.

 

[CanucksRock]

it’s worth a call. I have had flight changes that didn’t work for me before and they switched to what I wanted without extra fees.

 

[ElCray]

I've had many flight changes happen with both Westjet and Air Canada.

Each time I call in and say their proposed time doesn't work for me. Then I optimize my travel based on the best flight option available in the fare class.

I've been able to convert two-segment into direct flights, 6 a.m. flights into more humane departures etc. In some cases, the agents have been actively looking with me for "better" flights and making suggestions.

In EVERY case, this change did not count as the "one free change". It was instead considered an involuntary change because the airline made schedule changes.

 

[bookbabe626]

I've had many flight changes happen with both Westjet and Air Canada.

Each time I call in and say their proposed time doesn't work for me. Then I optimize my travel based on the best flight option available in the fare class.

I've been able to convert two-segment into direct flights, 6 a.m. flights into more humane departures etc. In some cases, the agents have been actively looking with me for "better" flights and making suggestions.

In EVERY case, this change did not count as the "one free change". It was instead considered an involuntary change because the airline made schedule changes.

^^^^ this

I‘ve had Westjet count my change as okay (not using up the free change) based on even a few minutes difference or a change in flight number. Seems like it’s the designation is triggered automatically by the system, and an involuntary change is a change, no matter how insignificant.

And you can reschedule a flight booked with a companion voucher, I’ve done it lots of times even when the voucher would now be expired. Getting a refund to travel bank, the voucher usually disappears if it’s now expired, but not with a straight reschedule, especially if it’s more or less the same dates.