On Thursday Feb 15, Westjet canceled their 4 pm flight 2653 from SXM to Toronto. We never did receive the promised followup email with cancellation details.

After waiting at the airport until 9:30 PM, with no status updates from Westjet and no Westjet Agent in sight, several passengers including ourselves decided to seek out their own accommodation. I'm glad we did, since we and another couple got the last 2 available rooms at one of the Maho hotels.

I decided to wait a while before requesting compensation, rather than spoil the afterglow of a great 16 days in SXM with on my frustrations with poor Westjet communication/management of the situation.

Now that I'm getting around to requesting compensation, I wonder about the experience of other passengers on that canceled flight: did a Westjet Agent ever arrive later that night? If so, what time and what help did they provide?

Our replacement flight the next day was to leave at 7:30 and arrive Toronto just before midnight. Fortunately, after a painfully long online chat with a Westjet agent, we were able to change to the 4:05 pm flight and arrive at a much saner time.

Despite our first such experience in over 30 years visiting SXM, we are excited about 2025 and have already booked our stay!

FYI, for those other passengers, if you haven't already submitted your requests, here are a few useful links:
https://otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/air-passenger-protection-regulations-highlights
https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/interruptions/submit-expenses
https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/interruptions/compensation-claims

Peter

Enjoy the ride and good luck.

Summary: try credit card insurance refund.

At Christmas our wj was delayed arriving in sxm. WJ texted a non descript reason.. def not weather.

Then, as we boarded late we waited on the tarmac longer to depart after all the jumbo jets... and this is what made me miss my connecting flight in yyz.

Promptly, WJ refused my hotel compensation... weather they said.

And now, 6 weeks later, I await my refund thru credit card insurance. Ironically, WJ Elite (max $250)

My advise: though to late now, get a wj letter in sxm about the delay or a pic of pixel board. This worked for me in the past. This time? who knows?

(Once I was delayed overnight in antigua... it's not as fun as we dream about. I hope you made the best of the 'hurry up n wait' delay)

WestJet used to be a great airline under the old ownership but now it’s just as bad if not worse than the rest of them.

Yes, I concur.

Also linked to their switch to English and Spanish on their wait time message.

For everyone else, we are officially a bilingual country -Eng and French. And then any other language is added to the options.... WJ omitted the French option for years. Ce qui est souvent plus vite a communiquer avec un representant, merci beaucoup !