B.C. family sues WestJet for missed connecting flight, lost luggage – Okanagan | 24CA News
A B.C. household is suing WestJet for almost $7,000 over a missed flight in late December.
According to courtroom paperwork, Steven Richmond says he was flying from Florida again to B.C. by means of Alberta when their departure from Orlando was delayed.
Richmond says they boarded WestJet flight 1417 on Dec. 23, 2022, and left at 5:45 p.m., and that they landed in Calgary at 9:27 p.m., two hours earlier than their connecting flight to Kelowna at 11:30 p.m.
“Our journey encountered initial delays in Florida due to a flight crew mix-up, which caused a flight delay in our departure,” Richmond wrote within the discover of declare that was filed on May 29 in Penticton.
“Upon our arrival in Calgary, we discovered that our connecting flight to Kelowna had not yet departed. However, shortly after landing, we received a text notification stating that our tickets to Kelowna had been cancelled.”
Richmond says they approached a WestJet worker who knowledgeable them that their tickets had been given to different passengers below the idea that they could arrive too late.
“We requested alternative arrangements and were informed that no available flights were available for at least four days,” wrote Richmond.
“We were instructed to wait for further communication from WestJet via text or phone call regarding rebooking. Unfortunately, no such communication was ever received.”
Richmond additionally claimed that they approached a service counter that was distributing resort vouchers for cancelled flights.
“However, since our flight was not officially cancelled, we were denied a hotel voucher,” wrote Richmond.
“I explained to the staff that my daughter has cerebral palsy and that extended time spent in an airport would adversely affect her health, especially considering the importance of regular sleep.
“Shockingly, we were accused of feigning a disability, and the staff informed us that they would never ‘help us again.’”
Richmond says they secured a resort room for the evening. The subsequent day, they tracked their baggage – two items of bags containing private objects and Christmas presents — and noticed that it had arrived in Kelowna.
“Despite presenting this information to WestJet employees, our baggage was unavailable for retrieval,” wrote Richmond.
“Numerous attempts, both via phone and in-person visits, were made to acquire our belongings, but to this day, even after initiating a claim, we have not received our property.”
The household say they rented a automotive and drove to Kelowna, a visit that value them $764.51, however added they had been required to return it to Calgary.
The household is searching for $6,936.17, together with flight charges, $909 for a one-night resort keep and automotive rental charge and $2,747 in misplaced baggage.
The allegations haven’t been confirmed in courtroom.
Global News has reached out to WestJet for remark.
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