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“abusive male agent at the Calgary airport”
Review of WestJet


Reviewed 4 weeks ago

The ordeal began when I was stranded in Seattle for over 48 hours due to a union strike grounding all WS planes. Stuck in an international country with no compensation, communication or support added significant stress. Eventually, I began my journey home, but what should have been a relief turned into another upsetting experience during my flight from Calgary.

I carried a small backpack as my personal item, containing essentials for a two-night trip. It was accepted without issue on all prior flights, including the connection from Seattle to Calgary. I did not pay for a personal item bag on the flight, because I did not have one. I had a half empty backpack well under the size limits for a carry-on. However, at the gate in Calgary, an agent rudely stopped me, insisting I pay $84, claiming my bag was a carry-on, despite it clearly meeting personal item size guidelines.

I explained my situation, highlighting that I was late returning home due to the strike, and my bag had been accepted without issue earlier. The agent was dismissive, charged me more than the listed fee, sent me to the back of the line (passive aggressive punishment - I didn't get to board after they tagged and charged my bag), and delayed the boarding process by 15 minutes. Passengers behind me voiced their support, noting the agent’s unnecessary actions and offering to claim my bag as their carry-on to avoid further disruption. We were all frustrated and just trying to get home now that flights were running. Our plane landed 20 minutes late because of this incident as he held up the plane. I told the agent I wanted to write a formal complaint to get my money back, and what are the steps to doing that, and he said 'google it'

Once home, I immediately filed a complaint online. Despite multiple follow-up attempts over eight months, WestJet never contacted me. I was finally told after being able to reach someone on the phone that that no action was taken and there would be no accountability. This lack of response was disheartening, especially after such an ordeal.

There was no reimbursement for this bogus $84 I was unfairly charged, and apology or review for the agents actions, nor an explanation for WestJet’s failure to follow up. I hope this complaint highlights the need for better customer service and accountability, as no passenger should endure what I did—especially after facing significant travel disruptions and being trapped outside your home country for three days with no communication. I would have hoped the agents and west jet's priority was to get us all home safely after a stressful period.

I know there are obviously going to be people with bigger problems than mine, and I'm grateful to be able to afford travelling at all, but kindness is free. It's small things like this that give corporations problems because people don't expect to purchase things supporting a business and then be abused by staff, just because they can. To find out Westjet had no interest in even reviewing the incident, and perhaps talking to the staff to ensure a better quality control with customer experience was outright shocking to me. They don't care to hear my story, even though I have photographic evidence backing everything I have said (the agent, my empty bag under the size limit, my bag clearly being under the size of the bag checker they had there, etc).

Date of travel: July 2024
    • Seat comfort
    • Customer service
    • Cleanliness
    • Food and Beverage
    • Legroom
    • In-flight Entertainment
    • Value for money
    • Check-in and boarding
Thank hollysY7571JM
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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101 - 105 of 18,764 reviews

Reviewed 4 weeks ago

We upgraded to premium seats and got downgraded, we spent $500 on the upgrade and the plan ended up being mechanically switched with a full economy previous swoop plane, We filled out downgrade request and were denied as “you did sit in a premium seat we left the middle economy seat open”

we will never fly westjet again and calling a full economy plane with no extra leg room or premium seating and still charging for full premium is a scam and should not be aloud.

Worst flight experience and we’ve been fighting to get our money back for the difference but zero help from westjet, worst airline.

Tip: Fly Delta.

Date of travel: December 2024
Thank Stephen K
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 4 weeks ago

Worst cistomer service flight was half empty i just requested for a aisie site but the check in counter lady did not want to Do it she kept harping that u have purchasedcs cheap ticket so ot means the airline does nit value customers who pitchase cheso tickets

Date of travel: January 2025
Thank Altaf M
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 5 weeks ago

im not a robot and the airlines isnt paying me 2 do this

now this is part 2 going home from Edmonton to Ottawa and this time was different but the same
i arrived there say 11 trip 11 12 hours to waste

part one security
i know there are people who want to smuggle drugs and guns and stuff that isnt me at all so i had a can of kickstart i was going to drink while i wait nope they took than i had chick fa la sauce 4 dollar bottle they took that they thought it would blow up the plane i wish they said nothing and let me take but no dam it

part 2 find a place to sit
i did and i met this nice lady we talked for hours time flew

part 3
gate 87 i went sat down watched wwe on laptop 2 monsters in 5 a pop rip but plane came and now we get to the plane review

part 4 plane
everything was going on without no trouble we started to go and this lady i cant breath lol and we went back docs every 1 checking her out she didnt take her pump than we left hour late and home by 7 i slept all the way :)

part 5 ottawa
the train gates where closed so uber for me done

was westjet any trouble for me no because i was there 10 hours early i didnt want anything to go wrong and they do page u every 2 mins if u came 2 mins and couldnt fly thats on u not them !! westjet gets 5 stars and i will do it again

Date of travel: January 2025
    • Seat comfort
    • Customer service
    • Cleanliness
    • Food and Beverage
    • Legroom
    • In-flight Entertainment
    • Value for money
    • Check-in and boarding
Thank shawn w
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed January 11, 2025

Stranded in Mexico by Airline Strike: Seeking Justice for Over $7,000 in Unexpected Costs After Airline Failed to Provide Promised Services

Date of travel: July 2024
Thank Heungjun K
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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