Court rules against WestJet on reimbursement caps for meals, hotels

A B.C. Supreme Court judge has barred WestJet from telling travellers their reimbursement for meals and accommodations is capped. The ruling states that "passengers would suffer harm" if WestJet continued to communicate the policy to customers or post it on its website, which laid out fixed dollar limits on repayment amounts. Until last summer, travellers forced to find a hotel room or restaurant due to a cancelled flight were told the airline would reimburse them up to $150 per night for accommodations — $200 if abroad — and $45 per day for food. The policy excluded roaming charges, lost wages and missed events from reimbursement. The Calgary-based airline has said it took down the post from its website in August and replaced it with rules that impose no ceiling for costs incurred due to a delay or cancellation within the carrier's control. In court filings, it said its repayment approach is reasonable and that it has no plans to revive the previous policy. “WestJet will consider reasonable requests for expenses incurred due to the subject flight disruption," it stated in an affidavit. The company said in an email it does not comment on matters before the court.<br/>