Should WestJet have accommodated these people?

[Scadam]

That's nuts, they arrived at the front counter 26 minutes before departure time? WestJet recommended I arrive two hours early last time I flew, to ensure no problem and allow for any delays in security. They start boarding half an hour before departure - if you're not there with bells on your are late. And the first people to board are the ones who will need the additional time to get situated, which is exactly these two! It's ridiculous that they think they could show up that late and expect a flight to risk being delayed just for them. The flight was as 'boarded' as it was going to get and only arrived 19 minutes early. There's little chance that in 19 minutes they could have checked their bags, got through security, got to their gate, and been boarded with special needs. And in reality they had less than 19 minutes because I assume by the time they arrived a lot of pre-flight steps were already complete, meaning they'd need to be re-done after waiting for these two to get on board. WestJet made the correct decision not to delay a flight (a near certainty) and disrupt the schedules of all the passengers on this and possible downstream flights who were on time!

edit - in my opinion the flight was fully boarded. If every passenger on the manifest is AIS (*bleep* in seat) except two and you get confirmation that those two have not even checked in (started the process of getting through the airport) with enough time to reach the gate, then there is nothing to wait for. It's not like the flight left 'early' in the sense that it might have left behind a passenger who was taking a big dump or not paying attention in the boarding lounge... Anyone not on the plane but who had checked-in and been through security would be waited for; they'd repeat the final boarding calls and even page them by name right until the last minute. Nobody was 'left behind' by a flight leaving early.

[my5cents]

That's nuts, they arrived at the front counter 26 minutes before departure time? WestJet recommended I arrive two hours early last time I flew, to ensure no problem and allow for any delays in security. They start boarding half an hour before departure - if you're not there with bells on your are late. And the first people to board are the ones who will need the additional time to get situated, which is exactly these two! It's ridiculous that they think they could show up that late and expect a flight to risk being delayed just for them. The flight was as 'boarded' as it was going to get and only arrived 19 minutes early. There's little chance that in 19 minutes they could have checked their bags, got through security, got to their gate, and been boarded with special needs. And in reality they had less than 19 minutes because I assume by the time they arrived a lot of pre-flight steps were already complete, meaning they'd need to be re-done after waiting for these two to get on board. WestJet made the correct decision not to delay a flight (a near certainty) and disrupt the schedules of all the passengers on this and possible downstream flights who were on time!

edit - in my opinion the flight was fully boarded. If every passenger on the manifest is AIS (*bleep* in seat) except two and you get confirmation that those two have not even checked in (started the process of getting through the airport) with enough time to reach the gate, then there is nothing to wait for. It's not like the flight left 'early' in the sense that it might have left behind a passenger who was taking a big dump or not paying attention in the boarding lounge... Anyone not on the plane but who had checked-in and been through security would be waited for; they'd repeat the final boarding calls and even page them by name right until the last minute. Nobody was 'left behind' by a flight leaving early.

Why CHBC ran with this story and have failed to report important news worthy Okanagan events, is beyond me.

[FreeRights]

the guy is in a wheel chair it probably takes a little longer to get places and do stuff .. i think west jet looks aweful in this , all u ppl who feel u r so much smarter than this guy make me sick .

the plane arrived 19 minutes early !

if i were the guy id file some sort of human rites complaint like the woman in toronto did . get some hotshot lawyer and make west jet pay

Pay....for their failure to properly pre-plan, and not arrive late for a flight?

[bottleman]

It seems the woman is just trying to pass the blame of herself screwing up and not getting him to the airport on time. 30 minutes before is the bare bare minimum and you'd be lucky to get through if you arrived on the dot. If you're responsible for getting someone who is disabled to a flight you should arrive well before that, it's just common sense.

[yaktak]

Usually when the flights are boarding...people in wheel chairs go on first. Be early for the flight...

[AllthatFunk]

My son and I used to travel to BCCH every 3 weeks, for just under 3 years. During bad weather we often flew westjet. Due to an implant that my son had, he couldn't go through the metal detector. He was also often nauseous and weak before we got to the airport. We knew that the westjet policy was to checkin a minimum of 45 minutes early. We always checked in way before that to make sure that he could pre-board prior to other passengers and that he could avoid the line up for security. Westjet was always very kind and patient with us. Even explaining to other passangers why this young boy needed to preboard ( sometimes the bald head and mask weren't obvious enough).

Never once did we arrive late. Why? Because these medical treatments were so important. We always left a day early to make sure that we made those appointments.

Checking in, even 4 minutes late, can delay a flight by enough time to adversely affect other flights. Especially if you need extra time to board. In my opinion its unfair for these people to expect special treatment when they are at fault for their tardiness. Using the wheelchair or missed medical appointments to try and gain sympathy is an insult to wheelchair bound people everywhere. Westjet was very kind to refund their money, however that is also westjet policy, they were just following their own policy. If you do not board the flight and notify westjet within 1hr they will credit you with a travel voucher.

I say shame on the media and these people for making this news. Get over it, learn to be on time and don't expect that your poor judgement should be someone elses problem.

[samsquench07]

I didn't read to much into the story, but one thing i do know. A persons truth is never the accurate truth. It is more often than not leaned in favour towards the side of the person telling it. Therefor, if somebody said they were only 40 minutes before a flight, i would guess they were really 23-30 minutes before the flight.

I think westjet probally would have some lee way, for arriving late, but there does come a point when they need to get the plane going. It is well known that you should be there at least an hour (maybe even longer), so I personally, just give myself time.

[French Castanut]

It's not because they arrived early that they shouldn't leave on time.

They didn't arrive early - they arrived late and missed their plane because of that. They also knew better. They are lucky to have received a refund and to complain about it smacks again of self-entitlement. They knew they had luggage, they knew there was a wheelchair to deal with, they knew they had to be there and boarded before the other passengers so why do they expect people to feel sorry for them?

"They" was refering to them West Jet, the plane, that company, not the man in the wheelchair

[Fancy]

Thanks for the clarification - that made a huge difference.

[French Castanut]

Thanks for the clarification - that made a huge difference.

My pleasure!

Edit: I'm always there for controversy!

[Oxl3y]

I guess that doctors appointment in Vancouver wasn't all that important or they would have made damn sure they were there in time to catch the plane. West Jet did all they had to do refunding their tickets, shame on these people believing the world should revolve around them.

[French Castanut]

Maybe they left home early, and someting happened en route.

It's like if you go to the hospital.. you fall and hurt yourself.. there's a nurse beside you..

"Oh sorry can't do anything to help you. My shift is over... Can't help... My boss said no overtime allowed. You should have done it earlier. Too bad, too late. THe rules are the rules. No overtime he said."

Come on.. sometimes, the rules refers to a guideline, and are meant to be broken.

[coffeeFreak]

Seriously though, if you were in his condition and had an appointment with a specialist that took months to see, wouldn't you give yourself a LOT of leeway, as in get there the day before, especially if the morning flight was the only one that would get you there on time...what if there had been flight delays?

[Always Sunny]

Personally, I think if there were a solid legitimate reason why these two were late they'd be shouting it from the rooftop along with this ridiculous media release.

- We couldn't get the wheelchair into our vehicle
- We live in [neighbourhood in Kelowna] and there was an accident on the [major street leading to 97]
- There was a freak snow storm and we couldn't see the road for a solid hour
- The dog ate my government issued photo ID
- There were no wheelchair accessible parking spaces in the entire lot!

There are a million (relatively) reasonable excuses why someone could have been late while having given themselves sufficient time (on an average day). Seems to me like these two didn't have one, so it's WestJet's fault.

[gardengirl]

Personally, I think if there were a solid legitimate reason why these two were late they'd be shouting it from the rooftop along with this ridiculous media release.

- We couldn't get the wheelchair into our vehicle
- We live in [neighbourhood in Kelowna] and there was an accident on the [major street leading to 97]
- There was a freak snow storm and we couldn't see the road for a solid hour
- The dog ate my government issued photo ID
- There were no wheelchair accessible parking spaces in the entire lot!

There are a million (relatively) reasonable excuses why someone could have been late while having given themselves sufficient time (on an average day). Seems to me like these two didn't have one, so it's WestJet's fault.

10/10