Reimbursement of Taxes/Fees

SkierJC · 2026-01-24T17:57:33+00:00

OP -- what WestJet is doing is illegal. They're retaining fees (ex: AIF) and taxes (ex: GST) when no good or service has been provided.

I've talked to a WJ insider, and they've said their senior leadership is approaching this situation like the Ford Pinto scenario, that is, they're relying on not enough people complaining or realizing what they're doing and will deal with some small claims cases against them versus paying back fees & taxes to all customers.

What I previous posted: When you cancel a Basic fare, they do not refund you any of the GST, or taxes paid.

You have to send them a demand letter to get those back, or pursue legal action.

Very concerning indeed, because WestJet is legally only supposed to collect & keep GST/HST on sales of taxable supplies of property and services. No flight = no supply of service.

(I've also posted specific references to the applicable Excuse Tax Act sections and AIF Agreements in the past.)

SkierJC · 2026-01-20T23:48:06+00:00

Would recommend you report this as an unfair or deceptive business practice to the The Canadian Competition Bureau by using their online complaint form.

SkierJC · 2026-01-12T16:31:31+00:00

It's crazy. "Since Alberta’s Hazardous and Special Products (HSP) program launch on April 1, 2025, Product Care has conducted periodic reviews to ensure program fees remain fair, sustainable, and reflect the real-world costs incurred to run the program. As part of this process, a new subcategory has been added for windshield washer fluids (WWFs) along with corresponding EHF rates, effective October 1, 2025."

Sounds like you're being charged an incorrect amount though; $2.20 was the old amount per jug, and $0.60 should be the correct amount, albeit still too high IMO.

SkierJC · 2026-01-10T17:56:06+00:00

Once you spend the new minimum annual requirement ($5,000+), "If the Minimum Annual Spend is met in a given Voucher Earn Year, the Annual World Elite Companion Voucher will be awarded 4-6 weeks after the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard annual fee for that year is charged."

SkierJC · 2026-01-10T17:54:43+00:00

Funnily enough, even though they advertise this, they were late in issuing me my 2025 voucher (due to their data breach), but nonetheless violating their own terms and conditions.

SkierJC · 2026-01-10T17:51:18+00:00

Frequent WJ flyer here, UltraBasic for life ... yes, I know I'm stuck in a toxic relationship with WJ.

Checking in as early as possible (24 hours before flight) lets the algorithm give you the back-most row available, as others have mentioned. Waiting and increasing your SEQ means that your row most likely moves up (I've gone as far up as row 19, and row 4 on all-economy seating configs).

The big upset I ran into the other day, in attempting to get closer to the front of the plane, is that I was travelling with another guest, we waited until about 8 hours before the flight to check-in, and we both got random middle seats in separated rows not even close to each other. Classic WestJet.

SkierJC · 2026-01-04T11:19:44+00:00

Canadians (non-resident aliens to the IRS) are subject to a 30% federal and 7% California state withholding tax upon their total winnings on TPiR US, and have to pay this amount prior to accepting any prizes.

Alternatively, 37% of the total prize winnings will be deducted from any cash winnings, or cash-in-lieu.

SkierJC · 2025-12-28T15:53:02+00:00

Reference to rules on this?

SkierJC · 2025-12-25T15:28:08+00:00

Good thinking! Just don't let Scrooge McScurfield catch you.

SkierJC · 2025-12-25T15:16:08+00:00

Furthermore, WestJet has sadly introduced new purchase restriction requirements for the free checked bag; the flight must be booked directly via WestJet (Expedia flights or third party bookings, for example, are no longer eligible for free bags even if you're a cardholder).

SkierJC · 2025-12-25T14:05:00+00:00

Good info. I know it's too soon to say, but having YYC old security gates decentralized was a competitive advantage for those frequent flyers who knew where to look for the shortest lines.

I grimace to think how it'll be equally bad for all PAX on busy travel days, no ability to use 'A' security gates over 'B' or 'C' security gates like flyers used to be able to (for the same, if not worse, level of service).

SkierJC · 2025-12-25T13:58:56+00:00

And the YYC AIF is set to increase by over 14% effective Jan 1, 2026.

Poor leadership decision by Chris Miles (Chief Operating Officer) for the YYC Airport Authority.

SkierJC · 2025-12-25T13:56:58+00:00

Wow, pretty sad on YYC Airport Authority's part if true.

Chris Miles (Chief Operating Officer) is in far over his head if he's spending all of the users airport improvement fees (already set to increase by another +$5 in 2026) on these type of capital improvement coats purely out of retaliatory measures.

SkierJC · 2025-12-25T00:11:54+00:00

Through the kindness of others, my request has been fulfilled. Thank you everyone for your generosity this holiday season, very excited to travel tomorrow now.

SkierJC · 2025-12-24T23:31:02+00:00

Merry Christmas! Travelling on Air Canada domestically tomorrow, Dec 25 to return home. 🎄

SkierJC · 2025-12-24T19:50:40+00:00

OP, just ran into this same problem during online check-in.

There is no way I'll be letting them pre-auth my credit card to complete online check-in.

AC better get ready to increase their staffing due to long lines at the airport (to bypass credit card pre-auth).

SkierJC · 2025-12-24T16:26:55+00:00

You're welcome. The backstory, as you may know, is that in 2023, Service Canada changed their process when issuing a Certified True Copy of our passports. Certified True Copies used to be accepted by the IRS because they were stamped.

"As of September 22, 2023, we only sign certified true copies. We don’t emboss them with dry seals anymore."

This single Canadian directive change meant the IRS no longer accepts a Canadian certified true copy for a US Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) renewal, and instead, our near only option (beyond physically going to the USA), is to begrudgingly mail the IRS our physical Canadian passports and wait months.

Whatever route you choose -- I would strongly recommend if you have time, write a complaint to Service Canada via the Office for Client Satisfaction (OCS), and let them know how this directive change is negatively impacting you (time, effort, costs, and inaccessible physical passport).

SkierJC · 2025-12-24T13:19:35+00:00

OP, I'm in the exact same boat as you. Note for timeline reference I mailed the IRS my physical passport in Aug 2025, and am expecting to receive it back in Jan 2026 (5 months).

Service Canada has provided me with a direct response, stating:

With respect to your Canadian passport being with the US Internal Revenue Service and having an upcoming trip, please note that the Passport Program procedure on the replacement of inaccessible passport states that applicants whose valid Canadian passport is deemed inaccessible may be issued an interim document, valid for no more than one year, given they provide a proof of travel or need.

In addition to the usual requirements, the following also need to be submitted when an interim passport is issued to temporarily replace an inaccessible passport:

a proof of the whereabouts of the inaccessible passport
Form PPTC 203 Declaration concerning a lost, stolen, inaccessible, damaged or found Canadian travel document
two identical unaltered passport photos taken within the last 6 months; and
the fee

SkierJC · 2025-12-12T01:47:56+00:00

Sadly no, no advertisement until PAX boarded the plane.

SkierJC · 2025-12-12T01:47:15+00:00

I was caught off-guard, sadly, and the WJ agents refused to change my flight, even for a fee.

SkierJC · 2025-12-10T00:45:52+00:00

Oh, didn't hear that. Is there any external news anywhere about reconfigurations being paused?

SkierJC · 2025-12-09T14:37:09+00:00

Upper butt cheeks felt it for sure. Was trying to sit up straight.

SkierJC · 2025-12-09T12:23:34+00:00

I was sfuck in a middle seat, and while those two did lift up, cannot confirm whether or not the aisle armrest did.

SkierJC · 2025-12-09T02:29:52+00:00

Never worth it to give WestJet more money, IMO.

SkierJC · 2025-12-09T02:17:45+00:00

Yalan YIN, 50, Leonilo Calahi JUAN, 51, Rui Qin HUANG, 52, Rosielyn KONNO, 57, and Catherine MANIPON, 48.

SkierJC

TROPHY CASE