WestJet Connecting Flights

This is a WestJet connecting flights guide.

In this guide, you’ll learn more about WestJet connecting flights, passenger rights, compensation regulation and baggage rules. WestJet is a Canadian airline, headquartered in Calgary. It is one of the largest airlines in Canada. It operates flights to 100+ destinations in Canada, the Americas and Europe.

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Did you miss a connecting flight? File a compensation claim online.

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1. WestJet Connecting Flights

WestJet is a full-service traditional airline.

Just like any other full-service airline, WestJet offers airline-protected connecting flights. Passengers travelling on such flights are protected against flight delay and cancellation. Flights like these are among the main differences between traditional and low-cost airlines. Airline-protected connecting flights are better than self transfers (see this simple comparison).

Airline-protected connecting flights are:

• More safe. Your airline takes care of flight problems.
• More convenient. Baggage transfer is automatic.
• Easier to book. You book several flights as a single journey.

Yes, WestJet sells airline-protected connecting flights.

1.1 Connecting Flights, One Airline

In some situations you will fly only with WestJet.

You have booked a WestJet connecting flight. In many situations all flights of your journey will be operated by WestJet — you’ll fly on WestJet manned by WestJet staff. But note that it’s not the same on every connecting flight with WestJet. Sometimes airlines share their flights with other airlines.

1.2 WestJet Codeshare Partners

Sometimes airlines share their flights.

It is done to widen the flight network. So, you may book a connecting flight from WestJet, but it might be operated by another airline — WestJet’s partner. Connecting flights with different airlines is a norm in aviation. It’s nothing unusual. These kind of flights are called codeshare flights, and airlines collaborating — codeshare partners.

What you should know is that:

• If you miss a connecting flight through no fault of your own, it’s not your fault. It’s WestJet’s responsibility to find you a new flight. As long as it’s a WestJet connection booked from WestJet (they are called marketing airline), they have to get you to your final destination.
• If your flight is heavily delayed, cancelled or overbooked, compensation is paid by airline operating this particular flight. If it’s operated by some other airline, not WestJet, then they are called operating airline — they have to pay compensation when it’s due.

See a list of WestJet codeshare partners here.

2. What If WestJet Cancels a Flight?

Why is WestJet cancelling flights?

This happens for a number of reasons: staff shortage, bad weather, technical problems, airport congestion, security issues. These are just some of the most popular reasons why airlines cancel flights.

2.1 One of Your Flights Is Cancelled

WestJet is a Canadian airline.

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004, they must:

• Offer you a choice between a new flight and full refund.
• Offer you assistance at the airport (you have a right to care).

This applies to all their flights departing from Europe.

If you miss your connecting flight because WestJet has cancelled your previous flight, WestJet  should offer you a new flight for free. You missed your connection through no fault of your own, so the airline is responsible to getting you to your destination. If your WestJet flight departs from Europe, you may ask for a full refund if you don’t wish to travel anymore. You may have a right to compensation (more on this below).

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Did you miss a connecting flight? File a compensation claim online.

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2.2 All Your Flights Are Cancelled

Overall, for you as a passenger, the options are the same.

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004, WestJet must:

• Offer you a choice between a new flight and full refund.
• Offer you assistance at the airport if it’s a last-minute cancellation and you are already at the airport (you have a right to care).

This applies to all their flights departing from Europe.

Refund must be paid within seven days.

You may have a right to EU flight cancellation compensation.

2.3 WestJet Refund for Cancellation

Yes, you have a right to ask for a refund.

If your cancelled WestJet flight was scheduled to depart from a European airport, you may ask for a refund. This refund has to be paid by bank transfer within 7 days. On European flights, you don’t have to accept any coupons, vouchers or miles — you can request a money transfer to your bank account.

3. WestJet Missed Connecting Flight

Why do people miss connecting flights?

You may miss a connecting flight because your previous flight was delayed or cancelled. You may miss a flight because of airport congestions or long lines. And, sometimes, you may simply miss your connection because of a silly mistake such as waiting at the wrong gate or falling asleep while waiting for your flight.

3.1 What Happens If You Miss WestJet Connection?

If it’s your fault that it happened — it’s your responsibility.

If it’s not your fault, then your airline has to take care of that. If you booked a flight from WestJet, it doesn’t even matter if the flight is operated by WestJet or its partners, you should contact WestJet. It’s their responsibility to find a solution. You missed a connecting flight through no fault of your own, WestJet must offer you a solution.

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004, they must:

• Take you to your final destination as soon as possible.
• Offer you assistance at the airport (you have a right to care).

With WestJet, some of this apply only to flights from Europe.

Read more: Missed Connecting Flight Due to Delay 

3.2 Right to Compensation from WestJet

Sometimes you have a right to compensation.

If your WestJet flight: 

1. Departs from the EU, EEA or UK, 
2. Arrives to destination 3 or more hours late, 
3. Is delayed or cancelled due to the fault of the airline

Then you might be entitled to flight compensation from WestJet.

Flight cancelled less than 2 weeks before the trip?

You might be entitled to flight cancellation compensation.

3.3 Right to Care from WestJet

On all WestJet flights from Europe you have a right to care.

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004 airline should provide:

• Free food and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time.
• Free hotel accommodation if a stay of one or more nights is necessary.
• Free airport transfer to hotel and back.
• Plus, two telephone calls, telex or fax messages, or e-mails.

If you are flying with WestJet, these regulations only apply to flights departing from Europe (EEZ, to be more precise). With European airlines, like KLM, LOT Polish Airlines, Wizz Air and British Airways, it applies to all their flights.

4. How to Book Connecting Flights with WestJet?

You can do it directly from WestJet or via a third-party.

The best option, however, is to book directly from WestJet (using their website). But if you see cheap WestJet flights on some reliable third-party booking website (kiwi.com or edreams.com), you can book it from there.

Read more: How to Book Connecting Flights?

5. WestJet Connecting Flights: Baggage

Since WestJet is a traditional airline, everything’s very easy.

Baggage rules on connecting flights with WestJet are simple.

In short, WestJet takes care of your baggage. Check in your bag once, upon arrival at your origin airport. WestJet will take care of your bag throughout the journey. You don’t have to collect and recheck baggage between flights. Unless you have a self-transfer, or you’re traveling through a country that requires everyone to collect and recheck their baggage (e.g., USA).

Ask staff at the check-in counter or baggage drop if you aren’t sure.

5.1 Baggage Transfer: Different Airlines

What happens if there are several airlines?

What if one of your flights is operated by different airline, not WestJet? As we already talked, you may experience this, because WestJet does share some of its flights with its codeshare partners. In this situation the rules are the same — your baggage is being taken care of by an airline. In most situations you won’t have to worry about it — airport staff will take care of baggage transfer.

Read more: 

• Connecting Flight Baggage Transfer: Different Airlines
• Lost Baggage on Connecting Flights
• Delayed Baggage on Connecting Flights
• What is Checked Baggage?

5.2 WestJet Free Baggage Allowance

Baggage allowance varies — it’s not the same on all flights.

It depends on the airline, ticket type, travel class and destination.

To see your baggage allowance, check booking confirmation. Haven’t yet booked anything? When booking a flight, you can see baggage allowance when choosing the ticket type or seating class. It’s somewhere there.

5.3 Economy Light

This is the cheapest option for long-haul flights.

Economy Light comes without free baggage allowance.

We see this all across the industry. Full-service traditional airlines are offering also tickets without free checked baggage allowance. The wording is also often the same — Economy Light. So, if you see this, most likely it’s without checked baggage (carry on baggage only).

When you see cheap WestJet flights, pay attention to this. Because WestJet also offers similar ticket type. It is called “Econo”. If you travel with more than one carry-on bag, this option is not for you.

6. Connecting Flight Examples

Here are two connecting flight examples with WestJet.

6.1 Protected Connecting Flights with WestJet (Most Common)

For this example I’ll use the website of WestJet.

Let’s assume that you want to fly from Vancouver to Hamburg.

You have found flights for September 27, and these are the options:

On their website, WestJet sells only protected connecting flights. However, as you can see, not all  legs of these connecting flights are operated by WestJet. The connecting flights are party operated by Air France, one of WestJet’s code-share partners.

Let’s look at the first option. The first flight is Vancouver (YVR) to Calgary (YYC). The second flight is Calgary (YYC) to Paris (CDG). The third flight is Paris (CDG) to Hamburg (HAM). The first two flights are operated by WestJet, but the third flight is operated by Air France.

Keep in mind that total flight duration, number of stops and price also can vary.

*The prices you see in the example are in Canadian Dollars (CAD).

6.2 Self-Transfer Flights with WestJet

Now, let’s assume that Hamburg is not your final destination.

You want to fly from Vancouver to Hamburg. And then to Munich. But first, you want to spend a day or two in Hamburg.

1. You book a connecting flight to Hamburg, like in the example above. For example, you’re taking the first option. This flight arrives in Hamburg at 5:15 pm. When there are more options, it’s always a good choice to take something that isn’t super late when it can be a problem to find a transport to the hotel and city center.
2. Then you go to kiwi.com, or some other flight booking website, and book a flight from Hamburg to Munich. Leaving yourself, let’s say, 30 hours in Hamburg — a “long layover in Hamburg”. A stopover in Hamburg. You may also book directly from an airline, from their website.

Your connecting flight from Vancouver to Hamburg is airline-protected. If your first or second leg is delayed or cancelled, WestJet will put you on another flight for free. However, the flight you’ve booked separately (Hamburg to Munich) is a self-transfer flight. It’s another flight you have booked separately.

When booking this kind of flight, leave yourself plenty of time for your layover. The last flight is not a part of airline-protected connecting flight. It’s a separate flight — you need to check in for it separately. Also you need to collect and recheck your bag. So, don’t risk with short layovers. Something like 45-minute layovers are okay only with protected transfers.

What is your experience with WestJet? Have you ever missed a connecting flight with WestJet? How did the airline solve this? Did you receive refund or compensation from WestJet?

Featured photo by Justin Hu on Unsplash