pokee

I filed an APPR claim with WestJet for a lengthy flight delay at YUL but haven't heard anything back. The flight was scheduled to leave at 5:40pm. We were notified of a flight time "change" to 8:35pm, due to "unplanned aircraft maintenance" at YVR for the incoming flight (so they had a good 6 hours notice for that, but we were already on our way to the airport by then). It was then further delayed a few more times, about an hour each time. The flight finally took off at around 11:20pm.

Are we due anything considering they called the initial 2 hour + 55 minute delay a "change"? The second set of delays doesn't exceed the 3 hour minimum, so not even sure if we'd qualify. Not that the timeframe even makes a difference, if they're just denying all claims anyway - but curious if this ever works?

StuMcIlwain

Safety issues are excluded from APPR claims. A maintenance delay will be considered a safety issue, so no, you are not owed anything.

StuMcIlwain

.....

garykung

The real question is how long you have been delayed in total, i.e. from your scheduled arrival time to your ultimate arrival time. The APPR has 3 intervals - 3, 6, and 9. If you are qualified, it will be either of the first 2 intervals.

Actually that's not true, at leas partially. Whether OP is due for compensation depends on the actual reason for the delay. A "unplanned aircraft maintenance" is not sufficient to determine whether the delay is safety related. APPR does not give a blanket get-out-of-jail-free card to airlines in case of maintenance.

The only way is to file a claim and WS will have to substantiate the maintenance.

pokee

Anyone know the best way to follow-up with this if the 30 day response window has passed?

garykung

File a complaint with CTA.