Cheap WestJet flights

The boarding was a disaster. About 20 of us who had independently booked and had originally been given assigned seats, were given standby tickets at check-in. “Problems with the loading and balancing of the plane”. Rubbish. It took forever to get assigned seats at the boarding gate with much confusion. Even when finally on the plane the seat assignments were very fluid with, in my case, two changes to where I was to sit. As a final disappointment (although most likely unconnected) my luggage didn’t arrive with the plane. I did get my luggage three days later.

Delayed (causing missed connections) and cancelled flights over 3 days. Arrival in Canada, flight 5 mins late. Told could not board connecting flight because too late. And layover about 90 mins. At gate they haven’t even started boarding the connecting flight. Put on next flight 5 hrs later. That flight was held for quite awhile because “passengers on arriving flights at other end of airport needed to get to gate”, so delayed departure. WHAT!!!? Departing flight on return delayed. Missed connection again. New connection means waiting 6 hrs in airport, only to have flight cancelled. Terrible communication between staff, and between staff and travelers. Some staff just outright rude. Phone apps and departure boards showing flight cancelled, and gate agent saying to stay seated because that’s not true, only to have them announce 10 mins later the flight is cancelled and you need to leave. Since no more flights that night, told would get voucher for $250 cdn, only to get $150 cdn voucher. Could go on & on about how awful the experience has been. WestJet is TERRIBLE!! Will never fly them again!

The getting off into YYZ was horrible. In particular because the customs hall was “over loaded” the WestJet staff kept passengers on the plane 1 hours after Landing; this included children, seniors and many dogs and cats in cages. When finally we were allowed to disembark in groups of 50 the staff allowed random first come first served deplaning rather than allowing seniors, animals and families with children off first. Most animals were caged in very small cages and had not eaten or drank fluids for 14 hours due to calming medication This was Animal And Senior Abuse at its worst. WS 2577 flight