Photo: Canadian Press
WestJet Airlines was recently ordered to pay more than $700 to a Kelowna traveler after he temporarily lost his luggage during a trip to Hawaii in January 2023.
Kelly Quist flew from Kelowna to Kahului, Hawaii, on the afternoon of January 21, 2023, for a golf trip, only to discover upon arrival that one bag of golf equipment didn’t make it in time for the trip.
WestJet had a courier deliver the bag to Quist on January 23, and Quist flew home the next day.
In recent civil resolutions ClaimQuist said WestJet told him to “buy whatever you needed” and would “give you a full refund.” As a result, Quist claimed approximately $3,000 in damages, including various golf-related expenses and clothing.
But court member David Jang said the law allows for reimbursement for “reasonably necessary expenses.”
As a result, Mr. Jiang said, “There is no doubt that he had such things in his bag, and he was on a golf trip.” Along with renting golf clubs, he also rented golf shoes and gloves. It ruled that the purchase should also be refunded.
By the morning of Jan. 23, WestJet sent Quist an email saying the package would be picked up that day. However, Quist requested a refund for 13 shirts, six pairs of shorts, eight pairs of socks, nine pairs of underwear and one towel purchased on January 23 and 24.
“I think this is more than is reasonably necessary,” Jiang said. “By this time, his journey was coming to an end. Mr. Quist was informed that his baggage was on its way or, in the case of the January 24, 2023 receipt, that he had already received it. I knew that.”
However, WestJet acknowledged that Quist’s costume purchases were still reasonably necessary, and Jiang ordered a refund for one shirt, one pair of shorts, two pairs of socks, and three pairs of underwear.
Mr. Jean also denied Mr. Quist compensation for green fees at Wailea Golf Club and Kapalua Golf Plantation Course as “Mr. Either way, Quist will be responsible for this fee. ”
The court ordered WestJet to pay Quist a total of $609 in refunds for the purchase price, in addition to $32 in interest and a $62 CRT fee.
Quist claimed that WestJet lost her luggage for several days, ruining her vacation. But in his decision, Jiang noted that Quist’s ticket to Hawaii cost $440 and said Quist should not be given a “windfall” over the baggage issue.
