WestJet ordered to cover stranded B.C. passenger’s full hotel bill [Video]

WestJet failed to convince a B.C. tribunal that a woman whose flight was delayed for three days spent an “excessive” amount on a hotel room, and the airline has been ordered to pay her full bill.

The Civil Resolution Tribunal published its ruling on the dispute Wednesday – finding the airline’s argument that the woman could have found a cheaper place to stay was not supported by evidence.

Laura Prinz had to find a place to stay after her flight from Vancouver to Terrace was cancelled in 2022. She ended up paying $937.18 for three nights at an unnamed downtown hotel.

WestJet acknowledged that it was, under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations, obliged to reimburse Prinz for her accommodations. However, the airline also argued Prinz “could have stayed in a less expensive hotel but elected not to,” according to the decision.

The tribunal rejected this argument because the airline did not prove there were, in fact, cheaper accommodations available in …