A routine holiday flight on Christmas Eve turned deeply uncomfortable for a Canadian veteran who says he was fat-shamed by a WestJet (WS) flight attendant just before the aircraft landed in Mazatlán International Airport (MZT), Mexico, according to a report published in Global News. The complainant, Dave Rogers, alleges that a WestJet cabin crew member made a derogatory gesture and comment during garbage collection, prompting an internal review by the airline.
Fat Shaming in WestJet: Incident Description
Rogers told Global News that the flight atmosphere was calm and service standard until the approach to Mazatlán. Cabin service had been cordial, with flight attendants unexpectedly offering full cans of soft drink instead of the usual cup and ice — a gesture Rogers said he appreciated.
As passengers were instructed to prepare for landing, Rogers says a different crew member approached to collect rubbish. He presented two cans, expecting routine disposal. He alleges the attendant then gestured toward his stomach and said, “That’s the result,” after making a gesture implying excess weight. The physical gesture — which reportedly included a tap on Rogers’ abdomen — surprised and offended him, prompting discomfort throughout his vacation.
Passenger Perspective
Rogers, a 23-year military veteran, characterized himself as seldom easily offended but said this interaction left him bewildered and upset. He stressed that there was no preceding banter or exchange with this particular crew member that could have suggested familiarity or implied consent for such a comment.
Upon landing, Rogers, his wife, and another passenger discussed the encounter but initially did not pursue further action. Only after advice from relatives in Mazatlán did he reach out to WestJet via email.
WestJet responded promptly with an apology but declined to offer compensation because there was no corroborating evidence of the interaction. The airline’s statement regarding the matter was quoted in Global News in the following way:
“WestJet takes matters of this nature very seriously; the guest’s allegations have been escalated for internal review to ensure appropriate action is taken. We hope to resolve this situation directly with the guest.”
All in All
The Rogers incident underscores a broader industry challenge: balancing operational rigor with empathetic passenger service. While WestJet has opened an internal review and apologised for the experience, the absence of physical proof complicates compensation discussions.
Existing aviation anti-discrimination guidance focuses on characteristics such as race, color, national origin, religion, sex and ancestry. The guidance does not specifically identify body weight among those protected characteristics, although airlines may maintain their own standards governing employee conduct and passenger treatment.
Here’s a synopsis of USDOT’s guidance on making sure that there’s a lack of discrimination in the aircraft:
| Principle | Key Guidance for Airline Personnel |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive evaluation | Assess the full context before acting and determine whether concerns are based on behavior rather than a passenger’s appearance or perceived race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including sexual orientation), or ancestry |
| Effective communication | Actively exchange information with the passenger, colleagues, and, where appropriate, other travelers to clarify facts and confirm details |
| Adherence to protocol | Follow airline procedures, decision-making processes, and relevant government directives when conducting inquiries |
| Individualized assessment | Base decisions on specific, reasonable facts; a passenger’s perceived personal characteristics alone are never a valid basis for action |
| Threat inquiry | Confirm that proper inquiry was conducted by speaking with the passenger, consulting colleagues, following training and policy, and avoiding reliance on stereotypes |
| Resolution and remedy | Use conflict-resolution and anti-bias techniques to address the situation lawfully, explain decisions clearly, and take appropriate action under airline policy |
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