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A review of WestJet economy on the Boeing 737 from Fort Lauderdale to Calgary

Editor's Note

Quick take: WestJet economy class is a no-frills passenger experience that could be worth it for budget-minded travelers — but only if you get your tickets for the right price.

• A la carte food and beverage options were reasonably priced
• Wi-Fi speed was decent, and WestJet's digital entertainment had a great movie selection
• Efficient, if not overly warm, service
• Cabin interior was dirty and had very worn seats
• Drink cups were very small and beverage service was limited, so you may want to bring your own water or beverages aboard
• Only one attendant at the check-in desk for non-priority passengers led to the line moving slowly

Looking to travel to Canada, eh?

Aside from Air Canada , WestJet should be on your radar. As Canada's second-largest airline, this carrier offers a no-frills, low-cost customer experience. But while some may consider WestJet a "budget airline," the carrier's amenities still surpass that of low-cost U.S. airlines like Spirit and Frontier .

Since I prefer nonstop, round-trip flight deals over cheaper, layover-filled itineraries, I found myself perusing WestJet's website. Looking to fly from Fort Lauderdale to Calgary, Alberta, in economy, I found round-trip, nonstop flights for just $292. To note, this nonstop flight route does not operate year-round with the same frequency.

Seated in economy class for roughly five-and-a-half hours, here's how my overall WestJet experience went.

How to book economy on WestJet

WestJet Boeing 737s like the one I flew have only economy or premium economy seats on board; therefore, there are no business- or first-class fares available for flights operated by this aircraft.

WestJet sells three types of economy fares on a Boeing 737 from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) to Calgary International Airport (YYC): Basic, Econo and EconoFlex. Here is what is included with each.

WestJet's baggage policy allows passengers to have one personal item and one carry-on item for free when booking in economy, but its size requirements are a bit smaller than other similar airlines — more on that later.

As a points and miles enthusiast, I initially tried to book my flight via an award redemption. Though Delta is a codeshare partner of WestJet, I could not find nonstop award availability using Delta SkyMiles. Next, I checked the prices on the Chase and Amex travel portals .

The cash price on both travel portals was higher than WestJet was charging directly. However, I had the option to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points at a fixed rate of 1.5 cents apiece with my Chase Sapphire Reserve® through Chase Travel or my Amex Membership Rewards points for 1 cent apiece via amextravel.com, thanks to carrying The Platinum Card® from American Express .

I typically get more value from these transferable point currencies by transferring them to airline and hotel partners and redeeming them that way; therefore, I decided to save my points for future redemptions since the cash price on the WestJet flight was so low.

However, if you want to use your points for a nonstop WestJet award flight, I recommend using Chase Ultimate Rewards to get the best redemption.

*Editor's note: Price ranges were available at the time of search and can fluctuate based on demand, season and other factors.

Since WestJet had a 20% discount on flights at the time of my booking, I purchased a round-trip, nonstop flight from Fort Lauderdale to Calgary in economy for $292. I used my Amex Platinum card to book my flight since it earns 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline (on up to $500,000 of these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar), while my Chase Sapphire Reserve only earns 3 points per dollar spent on travel purchases.

Related: How far in advance can you book a flight?

Checking in and boarding economy on WestJet

Before my flight, I downloaded the WestJet app, easily checked in and obtained my mobile boarding pass.

I typically prefer not to check luggage and fly with a small suitcase as my carry-on bag and my backpack as my personal item.

However, I double-checked the airline's baggage policy because I've never flown with WestJet, and it stated that a backpack with the dimensions of my bag would count as a carry-on bag rather than a personal item. Since I didn't know how strict the airline would be with their bag policy, I decided to prepay $40 one-way for a checked bag because if I were forced to check my backpack or carry-on at the airport, I would be charged an additional $10 anyway.

The WestJet gate agents did not double-check that each customer's bags fit the appropriate personal and carry-on dimensions at the gate, but gate agents at YYC did check on my return flight, so you might not want to take any chances if you're flying with the airline.

At FLL, WestJet does not have a kiosk where customers can check in or print luggage tags and boarding passes. Instead, you must wait in line to drop off your suitcase if you are checking bags. WestJet has a priority check-in lane available to business- and premium economy-ticketed passengers and Platinum, Gold and Silver elite members of its WestJet Rewards program. Since Delta is a partner of WestJet, if you are a Delta Silver, Gold, Platinum or Diamond Medallion member , you can also access the airline's priority lane.

I do not have status with either loyalty program, nor was I flying in business or premium class, so I got in the non-priority bag drop lane. There was only one WestJet employee servicing this lane, which made the bag drop process a bit slow. While this was not problematic for me since I was the eighth guest in line and arrived two hours before my flight's departure time, it could create extra stress if you find yourself at the very back of a long check-in line with only one attendant.

After swiftly getting through security at Terminal 2 using my Clear Plus membership and TSA PreCheck status, I waited for my flight to start boarding. WestJet participates in TSA PreCheck, so be sure to add your Known Traveler Number before check-in to speed up your security process.

Surprisingly, my flight began boarding 10 minutes before it was scheduled to do so. I've never been on a flight where the boarding process began early. Like most airlines, WestJet boards priority members, including premium economy passengers and those holding elite status with the airline, first in Zone 1. Additionally, Delta Gold Medallion members and above are also able to board in Zone 1.

As an economy passenger seated in the back of the plane, I boarded in Zone 2. Apparently, WestJet boards the back of the plane in Zone 2 and the front of the plane — aside from premium customers — in Zone 3. The overall boarding process was quick and efficient, and we were able to take off about 10 minutes earlier than the originally scheduled 3:30 p.m. departure.

Related: A review of Delta Air Lines in first class on the Airbus A321neo from Los Angeles to Seattle

How comfortable was WestJet economy?

The aircraft for my five-and-a-half-hour flight was on a Boeing 737 with the following seat count and layout in economy.

I was seated in 28E — a middle seat just two rows ahead of the last row on the aircraft. Unfortunately, when I got to my middle seat, I noticed a small, empty alcohol bottle in the seatback pocket, which also had a noticeable crack. Taking a look around, it seemed like all the seats were well worn, and the floors were noticeably dirty with crumbs that I assumed were food. I couldn't help but wonder if they didn't clean the plane at all before we boarded.

If you value flight comfort, economy on WestJet may not be for you. While the economy seat pitch on this Boeing flight is 30 inches — the standard for most airlines — the seat's cushioning was minimal and only reclined about 3 inches. I didn't notice any rips or scuffing on the seats, but the loose fabric and body imprints show that these seats are a bit worn.

Each seat had a USB-A port and a universal plug located just above the seatback pocket. A plug to charge my phone was imperative on this longer flight, as the carrier only offers wireless entertainment to stream on your own devices rather than a seat-mounted inflight entertainment system.

The tray table on my WestJet flight was average size, about 15 to 16 inches wide and easily deployed. While I could comfortably fit my 17-inch laptop on the tray table, it's not ideal for those wanting to enjoy a beverage or eat while using your computer.

WestJet's 737s have three lavatories: one at the front of the plane and two at the back. That made for some lengthy wait times during certain stretches of the flight. Since this flight is more than two hours, I suggest booking at least five rows away from the bathrooms at the back of the plane.

I had moved to the aisle seat before takeoff since no one was sitting there. So, starting about two hours into the flight, there were constantly people standing next to my seat waiting for the facilities. I tried to nap on the plane, but this made it hard with people brushing past me.

Overall, the bathrooms on this WestJet flight felt comparable to other domestic U.S. flights regarding size and cleanliness.

Amenities in WestJet economy

Don't expect many amenities on WestJet economy flights. While there are no seatback screens, WestJet allows you to use your wireless device to watch movies and TV shows for free on its app via Wi-Fi streaming. The airline had a good selection of new movies, including "The Marvels," "Oppenheimer" and "Barbie."

I purchased a Wi-Fi pass that I could use for the entirety of my flight for CA$23.09 (about $17). While inflight Wi-Fi can be spotty no matter which carrier you're flying, my WestJet Connect worked surprisingly well. I was able to watch YouTube videos, send texts, answer work emails and use social media apps with no problem.

Related: Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights

How was the food in WestJet economy?

Inflight food service started about 30 minutes after departure. The crew came around to ask if anyone would like to order from the a la carte menu. Complimentary beverage service began shortly after the crew finished taking passengers' orders from the a la carte menu.

Since this was a nearly six-hour flight, I opted to try the red Thai curry cup with coconut rice and the three-cheese pasta cup with Italian spices for my dinner. These two items each cost about $7.

Unsure of what to expect, I waited as the attendant brought out two microwaved cups of food from Meal of the Moment, a brand that produces instant meals. The red Thai curry was flavorful for being a dehydrated instant meal. However, the three-cheese pasta cup was bland, and the Italian spices created an odd flavor profile when added to what amounted to watered-down instant macaroni and cheese.

If dining on dehydrated instant meals does not sound appetizing, you can also purchase snacks such as a Kit Kat, beef jerky, Pringles and gummy bears.

Aside from WestJet's a la carte menu, economy passengers can choose from a selection of complimentary beverages, including water, juice and sodas, and a free snack — either pretzels or a chocolate biscuit.

Alcoholic beverages, such as a glass of pinot grigio or merlot, cost about $7. Beer, including Coors Light and Molson Canadian, costs about $6.

Customers were not given an entire can of soda or a beverage of their choice. Instead, I had to settle for a small plastic cup filled with ice and a little liquid when I ordered a ginger ale. Perhaps that's WestJet's way of trying to limit bathroom breaks.

After just a few sips, I finished my drink and wanted another. The flight attendants came around twice to pass out complimentary snacks and drinks, and when I asked if I could have both pretzels and a chocolate biscuit, the attendant happily obliged. Beverages aside, at least they were not being stingy on the snacks.

The second inflight service took place a little over an hour before the plane landed. Since there are only two inflight beverage services on this flight and the pour-size is limited, I suggest bringing your own nonalcoholic drinks.

Related: Is United Airlines premium economy worth it to Europe?

Is WestJet economy worth it?

It's true what they say, "You get what you pay for."

My international economy flight to Calgary was bare-bones but still worth it. Though the interior cabin could have been cleaner and better maintained, my seat had enough legroom to sit through my five-and-a-half-hour flight from FLL to YYC. This aircraft reminded me of an older JetBlue or American Airlines plane.

For future WestJet flights, I would make sure to buy snacks and drinks at the airport so I do not have to rely on the inflight service. I would also make a point to keep my devices charged ahead of time in case there are any issues with the in-seat power outlets when I want to stream entertainment.

Overall, if this round-trip economy flight had cost more than $700, I would have been disappointed in the overall customer experience. But because I paid less than $300 for a rather long round-trip journey between two smaller cities, I deplaned satisfied.

Editor's note: A previous version of this story listed the aircraft as a Boeing 737 MAX 8, but it was a 737-800. This has been corrected in the story.

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How to Choose the Right WestJet Fare

WestJet offers passengers a choice of different fare types on all flight bookings.

Some fares are cheaper, but don’t come with flexibility or additional benefits. On the other hand, more expensive fares offer flexibility and include benefits such as advance seat selection, change and cancellation options, and free checked baggage.

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Westjet’s fares, econo , economy member exclusive fares, premium & premiumflex, premium member exclusive fares, business & businessflex, business member exclusive fares.

WestJet has a total of 10 different fare options, outlined as follows:

• Economy  (Basic, Econo, EconoFlex, and Member Exclusive)
• Premium  (Premium, PremiumFlex, and Member Exclusive)
• Business  (Business, BusinessFlex, and Member Exclusive)

It’s important to note that not all fare options will appear for every flight. For example, many WestJet flights don’t have a business class cabin, and on these flights, you won’t have the option to choose Business fares.

This is especially the case with Swoop’s former narrowbody Boeing 737 aircraft, which are fitted entirely with economy seats. With the recent integration of Swoop into WestJet, the defunct ultra-low-cost carrier’s aircraft now service WestJet flights.

When booking a flight, before you’re able to select one of the 10 fare types, you must first search for your desired flight route and date, and then select your desired cabin class.

After you’ve selected the cabin class, the available fare options will appear.

Choosing the best fare type will ultimately depend on your personal preferences, which can change from flight to flight. This means that there’s no single best fare for every situation.

When it comes to choosing the best fare with WestJet, you’ll want to consider the following:

• Flexibility (i.e., changes and cancellations)
• Luggage (checked and carry-on)
• Seat selection fees

Additionally, you’ll want to take stock of whether you have access to any of the following:

• WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard
• WestJet elite status
• WestJet dollars (WSD)
• Companion vouchers

With these in mind, let’s take a closer look at each of the 10 WestJet fare classes.

The four economy fares offered by WestJet include Basic, Econo, EconoFlex, and Member Exclusive .

Basic fares come with the least amount of flexibility, and in fact, you’re not allowed any changes, cancellations, or refunds whatsoever with these fares.

This means that if you book a Basic fare and you need to change your flight, you’ll be completely out of luck unless you have applicable travel insurance.

However, Basic fares tend to cost the least out of all the fare options, so if you prioritize saving money and can live without the flexibility, then booking this fare class may be the best choice for you.

It’s also worth noting that with the Basic fare, you won’t earn any WestJet dollars, and your spending won’t count towards earning elite status with WestJet.

What’s more, if you’re a WestJet elite Silver, Gold, or Platinum member who’d usually enjoy same-day flight changes, complimentary upgrades, or seat changes, your benefits are automatically voided if you select a Basic fare.

You’ll also have to pay for checked bags and seat selection with Basic fares.

The cost to check a bag will depend on whether you prepay, pay during self-service check-in, or pay at airport check-in. The price also fluctuates depending on your destination.

Keep in mind that if you have the WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard, you’re allowed one free checked bag on any WestJet route, even if you booked a Basic fare. You also enjoy free checked baggage if you have WestJet elite status.

Another add-on cost to consider with a Basic fare is seat selection. The privilege of choosing where you sit on your flight will cost you between $5–250 (all figures in CAD) depending on your flight and the type of seat you’d like to select.

If you don’t pay in advance, your seat will be automatically assigned to you at check-in for no additional fee.

Finally, if you have seat selection vouchers by way of WestJet elite status, you can use those to get around having to pay for seat selection with Basic fares.

Who should book Basic fares?

Despite the restrictions and lack of benefits, Basic fares may still be the best choice in certain scenarios.

First off, if you know you won’t need to change or cancel your flight, then it may make sense for you to enjoy the lowest possible price. However, if your travel plans are still up in the air, a Basic fare limits your ability to make changes or to cancel.

A Basic fare can also be a good choice if you don’t travel with checked bags, or you already get free checked bags with your WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard or WestJet elite status. In these situations, there’s no need to pay for a higher-priced fare just to access free checked bags.

Lastly, if you don’t care about accumulating WestJet dollars, or you’re not interested in earning elite status with WestJet, then Basic fares may be the best choice.

Prior to booking a Basic fare, you’ll want to compare the amount you’ll save by booking the lower fare against how much it’d cost you for any checked baggage and seat selection fees.

If you’re looking to travel while paying as little as possible, and don’t need additional baggage or seats, WestJet’s Basic fares may well be right for you.

WestJet’s Econo fare comes with slightly more benefits and flexibility than the Basic fare.

For starters, you’ll have the option to change or cancel your flight, albeit for a fee.

Both change and cancellation fees are charged per direction, per person, except for flights to and from Europe, where change and cancellation fees are charged per transaction, per person.

To change or cancel an Econo fare, it’ll cost $100–118 (CAD) for all flights between Canada and non-European or Asian destinations. For flights between Canada and Europe or Asia, a change or cancellation will cost between $150–177.

In both cases, you’ll also be responsible for any fare difference.

If you choose to cancel your flight, you won’t‌ receive a refund to your original form of payment, but you’ll instead receive a refund to your WestJet Travel Bank.

You can then use your WestJet Travel Bank funds to purchase future WestJet flights, but it’s important to note that your Travel Bank funds expire one year from the date of your cancelled flight.

With Econo fares, you’ll have to pay for checked bags for flights in Canada, the US, Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Europe. If you’re travelling to Asia, you’ll enjoy one free piece of checked luggage.

Seat selection with an Econo fare costs between $5–250 – the same as a Basic fare.

Lastly, with Econo fares, you’ll earn WestJet dollars, and your spending is eligible to help you qualify for WestJet elite status .

Who should book Econo fares?

You should book Econo fares over Basic fares if you’d like to keep costs down, but still want the option to change or cancel your trip for a fee.

Plus, if you’re a frequent flyer with WestJet, you should book Econo fares at the minimum, since your flight will contribute towards qualifying for status.

Econo could also be a better choice than Basic if you’re flying to Asia or Europe, as the Econo fare provides free checked bags when flying to or from Asia, and checked bags are significantly cheaper when flying to Europe.

Again, with this, you’ll need to crunch the numbers to see if the extra cost you’ll pay for the Econo fare is less than the cost of checking bags, which you may otherwise enjoy as a credit card or status benefit.

WestJet EconoFlex fares come with the most flexibility and benefits for an economy WestJet ticket.

Changes and cancellations to your ticket won’t cost you any additional fees with this fare class. However, cancellations will still result in a credit to your WestJet Travel Bank instead of a refund to your original form of payment.

With this fare, you’ll also receive one free checked bag on all flights, and you’ll be able to make your seat selection for free.

Lastly, you’ll be able to earn WestJet dollars , and your fare purchase will count towards earning WestJet elite status .

Who should book EconoFlex fares?

You should book an EconoFlex fare if you’re uncertain about your travel plans, and you don’t want to pay extra to change or cancel your flight.

An EconoFlex fare should also be considered if you’re checking a bag, and don’t have the WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard or WestJet elite status, both of which would come with one free checked bag.

Once again, you’ll want to do the math to determine if the amount of money you’ll save with the free checked bag, potential cancellation or change fee, and seat selection fee makes up for the additional cost you’ll pay to book an EconoFlex fare over one of the lower Economy fare classes.

Member Exclusive fares are entirely different from all other WestJet fares.

To start, you can only book Member Exclusive fares with WestJet dollars , and you’ll need to have enough WestJet dollars to cover the entire base fare, after which you’ll have to pay the taxes and fees with cash or from your WestJet Travel Bank.

Member Exclusive fares follow the same checked baggage and seat selection fee structure as Econo fares, and they have the same change and cancellation policies and fees as well.

However, a difference is that if you cancel a Member Exclusive ticket, you won’t receive a refund entirely to your WestJet Travel Bank. Instead, the WestJet dollars that were used for the base fare of the ticket will be refunded back to WestJet dollars, and the portion paid for the taxes and fees will be refunded to your Travel Bank.

Keep in mind that WestJet dollars don’t have to be used exclusively on Member Exclusive fares – you’re welcome to use your WestJet dollars on any fare.

Lastly, it’s worth noting that you won’t accumulate WestJet dollars on Member Exclusive fares, and your flights won’t count towards earning WestJet elite status.

Who should book Economy Member Exclusive fares?

The main reason to book Member Exclusive fares is that they tend to offer a small discount over booking Econo fares. In some cases, the discount is minuscule (~3%), while in others, it can be a bit higher (~9%).

However, since you need to have enough WestJet dollars to cover the whole base fare, you may be better off booking Econo fares and applying your WestJet dollars balance there instead. This can also be useful if your WestJet dollars balance isn’t high enough for the Member Exclusive fare.

Plus, you’ll also earn towards elite status and get a return in WestJet dollars, which you won’t get with Member Exclusive fares.

There are three fares to choose from for flying in WestJet’s Premium or premium economy cabins: Premium, PremiumFlex, and Member Exclusive.

It’s worth noting that WestJet offers a true premium economy cabin on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, but not on its smaller aircraft. 

Rather, the Premium cabin on smaller aircraft is somewhere in between economy and a true premium economy seat, depending on which aircraft is being used on your flight.

In some cases, you’ll just get a seat at the front of the plane without any extra legroom, while in others, you’ll get a bit more room and more in-flight amenities.

Therefore, prior to booking a Premium fare, you should check to see what your experience will be like to make sure it’s worth the extra cost.

WestJet’s Premium and PremiumFlex fares are almost indistinguishable from one another.

With both fare types, you’ll enjoy two free checked bags, complimentary food & beverages, priority services, and the accrual of WestJet dollars.

The primary difference between the two fare types lies in the change and cancellation policy.

With Premium fares, you’ll have to pay a cancellation or change fee of $100–118  within Canada, or between Canada and all destinations except Europe and Asia.

For flights between Canada and Europe or Asia, change and cancellation fees range from $300–354.

All change and cancellation fees are charged per direction, per person except for changes or cancellations on flights to and from Europe, where fees are charged per transaction, per person.

With PremiumFlex fares, there’s no additional fee for changes or cancellation; however, if you do make a change, you’ll have to pay for the fare difference, if any.

Another key difference between PremiumFlex and Premium fares is how the refund is handled if you choose to cancel your flight.

With PremiumFlex fares, your refund is returned to your original form of payment, and with Premium fares, your refund will ‌appear in your WestJet Travel Bank to be used on future WestJet flights, with a one-year expiry date attached.

Who should book Premium fares?

You should book Premium fares if you want to fly WestJet Premium or premium economy, and your travel plans are fairly set.

You can also book Premium fares even if your travel plans are uncertain; however, you’ll want to look at whether the amount you save from booking a Premium fare over a PremiumFlex fare is greater than the amount you’d have to pay in cancellation or change fees.

Keep in mind that the funds from any cancelled flights will be added to your WestJet Travel Bank rather than being returned to the original form of payment.

Who should book PremiumFlex fares?

To be frank, booking PremiumFlex fares rarely makes sense.

The significantly higher cost of booking this fare type ‌tends to overshadow any amount you’d save on a potential change or cancellation fee.

However, if you find a PremiumFlex fare that doesn’t cost outrageously more than a Premium fare, it may be worth booking this to avoid the potential change or cancellation fee.

Lastly, if you want to avoid having your money tied up in a WestJet Travel Bank at all costs, then a PremiumFlex fare would ensure that you never have to worry about expiring Travel Bank credits.

The only other WestJet Premium fare type is the Member Exclusive fare .

As a Member Exclusive fare, you can only book this fare type if you have enough WestJet dollars to cover the entire base fare amount. Additional taxes and fees will have to be paid in cash or WestJet Travel Bank funds.

You also won’t earn any WestJet dollars with Member Exclusive fares, and any cancellations or changes will cost the same as Premium fares.

For cancellations, the WestJet dollars you spent will be returned as WestJet dollars, while any amount you spent on taxes and fees will be added to your WestJet Travel Bank.

Other than these Member Exclusive fare-specific features, all other benefits and fare rules are identical to the other WestJet Premium tickets: two free checked bags, extra leg room on some aircraft, complimentary food & beverages, and priority services.

Who should book Premium Member Exclusive fares?

Similar to WestJet Economy fares, the only reason to book a Member Exclusive fare is if you were planning on booking a Premium fare, but the Member Exclusive fare winds up being cheaper.

Keep in mind that you’ll forgo any potential WestJet Rewards, and you won’t be able to redeem a companion voucher with a Member Exclusive fare. However, the potential savings could be worth it, assuming you have a sizeable balance of WestJet dollars.

If you’d like to fly WestJet’s best overall product, there are three fare types to choose from: Business, BusinessFlex, and Member Exclusive.

With a business class ticket, you’ll have lounge access at available airports and your own bed in the sky with lie-flat seats.

You’ll also receive two free checked bags, priority screening, boarding, and baggage, and in-flight food and beverage service no matter which business class fare you book.

As we’ve seen before, the difference between Business and BusinessFlex fares comes down to the change and cancellation policy.

With BusinessFlex fares, there’s no change or cancellation fee, and your funds from a cancelled flight will be returned to your original form of payment. However, if you choose to change your flight, you’ll still be responsible for paying any fare difference.

On the other hand, with regular Business fares, any change or cancellation comes with a fee, and any credit will be added to your WestJet Travel Bank.

For flights within Canada and between Canada and all destinations in North American (including Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico), you’ll pay $100–118 to change or cancel your flight per person, per direction.

For flights between Canada and Europe or Asia, you’ll have to pay a fee of $500–590 to change your flight and $600–708 to cancel.

Change and cancellation fees are charged per direction, per person, except for changes or cancellations for flights to and from Europe, whereby change fees are charged per transaction, per person.

Who should book Business fares?

Similar to Premium fares, the regular Business fare will more often than not be significantly cheaper than the BusinessFlex fare, even after taking the change and cancellation fees into consideration.

However, you’ll still want to be fairly committed to your trip if you book a regular Business fare, as the change and cancellation fees can add up quickly, especially on flights to Europe and Asia.

What’s more, cancelled flights won’t be refunded to your original form of payment, but rather to your WestJet Travel Bank, with an expiration date attached to the funds.

Therefore, if you’d like to fly WestJet’s best product and are fairly firm in your plans, a Business fare will result in the same experience at a lower cost than BusinessFlex fares.

Who should book BusinessFlex fares?

You should only book BusinessFlex fares if the extra amount you’ll have to pay for this fare is less than any potential change or cancellation fee, and you don’t want your refund to go to your Travel Bank.

BusinessFlex fares can be thousands of dollars more than a regular Business fare, so even though you’ll save money on change and cancellation fees, booking a BusinessFlex fare may not make financial sense, especially considering you aren’t getting any additional benefits.

Lastly, the Business Member Exclusive fare is only bookable if you have enough WestJet dollars to cover the full base fare, and you pay the taxes and fees with cash or funds from your Travel Bank.

As mentioned above, Member Exclusive fares also aren’t eligible to earn WestJet dollars or credit towards WestJet elite status.

With this fare type, you’ll be subject to the same cancellation and change fees as with WestJet’s regular Business fare; however, the refund is processed differently.

Instead of having all the funds returned to your WestJet Travel Bank, WestJet dollars are returned as WestJet dollars, and the money paid for the taxes and fees are returned as Travel Bank funds.

All other Business Member Exclusive benefits are the same as with the WestJet regular Business fare and the BusinessFlex fare.

Who should book Business Class Member Exclusive fares?

As is the case with all Member Exclusive fares, you should only book a Business Member Exclusive fare if the cost is cheaper than the other business class fare options, and if you have enough WestJet dollars to cover the entire base fare.

However, you may also want to consider applying your WestJet dollars towards a Business fare instead. This way, you’ll still be eligible to earn WestJet dollars and qualifying spend towards WestJet elite status.

Plus, since Member Exclusive fares only offer a small discount, there generally isn’t really a strong value proposition to booking them over standard fares.

WestJet offers passengers to choose from 10 different fare types, with the lower-priced fares generally offering less flexibility, and the higher-priced fares providing increased flexibility and perks.

When choosing a WestJet fare, you’ll want to consider your priorities in terms of price, flexibility, and baggage. You’ll also want to take stock of additional variables, such as whether you hold the WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard, WestJet elite status, or a sizeable balance of WestJet dollars.

At the end of the day, the right WestJet fare is fairly subjective and depends on a combination of many of the above factors. If in doubt, you can always get in touch with a qualified travel agent to help you with the decision.

• Earn 250 WestJet dollars upon making your first purchase†
• Plus, earn 200 WestJet dollars upon spending $5,000 in the first three months†
• Plus, receive an annual companion voucher for discounted travel on WestJet flights, with a co-pay starting at $119 plus taxes and fees†
• Minimum income: $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
• Annual fee: $119

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Deal reached in WestJet strike but travel disruptions still expected for Canadian airline

Canada’s second largest airline, WestJet, has reached a deal with its mechanics to end a strike that had disrupted the travel plans of tens of passengers over the Canada Day long weekend

TORONTO -- Canada’s second largest airline, WestJet, has reached a deal with its mechanics to end a strike that had disrupted the travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers over the Canada Day long weekend.

WestJet said late Sunday there will still be flight disruptions in the week ahead as its planes are brought back into service.

In its own news release, the Airplane Mechanics Fraternal Association urged its members to return to work immediately pending a vote on the temporary agreement.

Some 680 workers, whose daily inspections and repairs are essential to airline operations, had walked off the job on Friday evening despite a directive for binding arbitration from the labor minister.

Since Thursday, WestJet has canceled 829 flights scheduled between then and Monday in the busiest travel weekend of the season in Canada.

The vast majority of Sunday’s trips were called off as WestJet pared down its 180-plane fleet to 32 active aircraft and topped the global list for cancellations among major airlines over the weekend.

“The damage to Canadians and our airline is massive, a swift resolution was necessary; we take no victory laps on this outcome but will sleep better tonight knowing further harm has been prevented,” Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines and Group Chief Operating Officer, said in a statement.

“We will see no further labor action coming out of this dispute, as both parties agree to arbitrate the contract in the case of a failed ratification.”

Details of the agreement were not immediately available.

The union had previously said its demands around wages would cost WestJet less than $8 million Canadian (US$5.6 million) beyond what the company has offered for the first year of the collective agreement — the first contract between the two sides. It has acknowledged the gains would surpass compensation for industry colleagues across Canada and sit more on par with U.S. counterparts.

WestJet had said it has offered a 12.5% wage hike in the first year of the contract, and a compounded wage increase of 23.5% over the rest of the 5 1/2-year term.

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Deal reached in WestJet strike but travel disruptions still expected for Canadian airline

FILE - A westJet airplane takes off in Calgary, Alta., Jan. 21, 202. Mechanics at the Canadian airline WestJet say they are dropping plans to begin a strike now that the airline has agreed to resume negotiations on a new collective-bargaining agreement. Members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association had been preparing to walk off the job on Thursday night. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

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TORONTO (AP) — Canada’s second largest airline, WestJet, has reached a deal with its mechanics to end a strike that had disrupted the travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers over the Canada Day long weekend.

WestJet said late Sunday there will still be flight disruptions in the week ahead as its planes are brought back into service.

In its own news release, the Airplane Mechanics Fraternal Association urged its members to return to work immediately pending a vote on the temporary agreement.

Some 680 workers, whose daily inspections and repairs are essential to airline operations, had walked off the job on Friday evening despite a directive for binding arbitration from the labor minister.

Since Thursday, WestJet has canceled 829 flights scheduled between then and Monday in the busiest travel weekend of the season in Canada.

The vast majority of Sunday’s trips were called off as WestJet pared down its 180-plane fleet to 32 active aircraft and topped the global list for cancellations among major airlines over the weekend.

“The damage to Canadians and our airline is massive, a swift resolution was necessary; we take no victory laps on this outcome but will sleep better tonight knowing further harm has been prevented,” Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines and Group Chief Operating Officer, said in a statement.

“We will see no further labor action coming out of this dispute, as both parties agree to arbitrate the contract in the case of a failed ratification.”

Details of the agreement were not immediately available.

The union had previously said its demands around wages would cost WestJet less than $8 million Canadian (US$5.6 million) beyond what the company has offered for the first year of the collective agreement — the first contract between the two sides. It has acknowledged the gains would surpass compensation for industry colleagues across Canada and sit more on par with U.S. counterparts.

WestJet had said it has offered a 12.5% wage hike in the first year of the contract, and a compounded wage increase of 23.5% over the rest of the 5 1/2-year term.

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WestJet’s network faces another strike threat ahead of busy travel weekend

A potential maintenance workers’ strike is again threatening to disrupt WestJet ’s operations less a week after one was called off and union negotiations resumed. 

The Calgary-headquartered carrier says a work stoppage could begin as early as 28 June, potentially disrupting the flights of up to 70,000 daily passengers during the long weekend. 

Source: Heather Dunbar_Shutterstock

WestJet has been grappling with labour issues on multiple fronts in recent weeks 

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association issued a strike notice “less than one day into the parties’ mutual agreement to return to the bargaining table across four days”, WestJet says. The carrier claims to have presented a “revised industry-leading offer” to boost maintenance worker pay 22% over a four-year period. 

”The union’s ask exceeds this mark by a long shot and remains unreasonable,” WestJet says. 

The airline narrowly avoide d stike action on 20 June, after pro-actively cancelling about 40 flights on 18 June in anticipation of a stoppage, attempting to avoid stranding customers, crew and aircraft in remote locations. 

But the two parties agreed to return to the negotiating table at the last minute, seemingly avoiding further network disruption. 

Diederik Pen, WestJet’s chief operating officer, says that the second strike threat is ”disheartening and unacceptable for our guests, employees and the communities and businesses that rely on our service”. 

“We sincerely regret the stress and uncertainty AMFA’s tactics are causing Canadians, deliberately targeting the busy July long weekend,” he adds. 

WestJet Group recently went through a similarly acrimonious process with its regional pilots, as the flight deck crews for WestJet Encore ratified a new five-year contract on a second attempt – and only after threatening strike action that could have disrupted the carrier’s passenger operations. 

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WestJet’s mechanics and technical employees have agreed to withdraw strike action and return to work while their union, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), negotiates a new contract with the company.

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WestJet Airlines workers vow to continue strike that's led to hundreds of canceled flights

MONTREAL – A strike by WestJet Airlines' mechanics that has led to hundreds of cancelled flights will continue until a deal is reached, the union's president told Reuters on Sunday.

Bret Oestreich, president of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, said the two sides will reconvene with a mediator on Sunday. The union represents around 680 workers at WestJet, including aircraft maintenance engineers, who  went on strike Friday  after 97% of its members rejected a pay deal reached in May.

"All we want to do is to go back to the table," said Oestreich. "The strike will be in effect until we get an agreement."

He said the two sides are separated by a first-year economic difference of approximately 7%, or less than $8 million on a roughly four-year contract.

No justice, no pea(nuts): How airline labor deals impact you | Cruising Altitude

WestJet, which is owned by Onex Corp and also serves destinations across the U.S. , was not immediately available for comment on Sunday.

On Saturday, WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech blamed the union for the disruption, arguing that leaders refused to negotiate.

"Their only purpose was to disrupt as many Canadian travelers as possible," he said.

Canada's second-largest carrier said late on Saturday that it has canceled a total of 407 flights  affecting over 49,000 passengers .

'I ended up spending over $1,700': What you're owed for a delayed, canceled flight

Canada Day is July 1. WestJet President Diederik Pen told reporters on Saturday the carrier was expecting to fly around 70,000 passengers a day during the long weekend. Pen said the airline can maintain minimal service with 30-50 aircraft, operating around 150 flights a day.

The strike has frustrated travelers during the long holiday weekend with passengers taking to social media to complain about cancelled family vacations or being stranded.

Canadian Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan has urged WestJet and the union to resolve their differences and reach an agreement.

Seeking to preemptively avert the strike, O'Regan had asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to resolve the contract dispute through binding arbitration.

While the board agreed to arbitration, it said O'Regan's referral "does not have the effect of suspending the right to strike or lockout."

Oestreich said the union, which is in a legal position to strike, wants a negotiated deal instead of an agreement imposed by an arbitrator.

WestJet said it has offered a 12.5% wage increase in the first year of the agreement and a compounded wage increase of 23% over the term of the agreement.

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WestJet to Axe Agency Travel Portal WestJet Connect

Photo:  Robin Guess / Shutterstock.com

WestJet is winding down its travel agency portal, WestJet Connect, it announced this week via a memo through IATA.

A WestJet spokesperson confirmed the news, which was first reported by PAX , to TMR on Wednesday, writing that while it is committed to providing agency partners with a new booking option, the WestJet channel will be decommissioned on Oct. 24.

“WestJet remains committed to its agency partners and is actively working to provide travel agents with a new booking option. More information on timelines and what partners can expect will be shared as soon as possible,” the spokesperson said.

While WestJet didn’t have a timeline for the new booking option, it did say that agents who require support with bookings scheduled to depart after Oct. 24 are can call WestJet’s Travel Support Team at 1-877-664-3205. Travel agent partners may also contact  [email protected] .

WestJet will also still allow GDS users to book through their preferred GDS—WestJet spokesperson confirmed that WestJet will still allow for GDS bookings, including contracted commission levels.

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‘It’s been hell’: Customers frustrated over treatment by WestJet during strike

T ravellers expressed frustration this week over WestJet's response after the airline cancelled more than 1,200 flights due to a strike by plane mechanics, leading advocates to accuse it of breaching consumer protection rules.

Messages and social media posts from some of the 150,000-plus affected passengers conveyed exasperation over hours spent on hold with customer service, the carrier’s failure to rebook them on other airlines and flight cancellation notices that informed them, “fees may apply.”

Tina McIntosh was set to fly to Kelowna, B.C., from Brandon, Man., last Sunday after her great-grandmother's funeral. She learned at 10 p.m. the day before departure that the trip had been cancelled.

Her partner's flight was rebooked for three days after the original takeoff time, while the reservations for her and her daughter were "just completely dropped," leaving them stranded in Brandon, she said.

After remaining on hold for 17 hours over the weekend — she never got through to customer service — the family rented a car, drove two and a half hours to Winnipeg, stayed at a hotel and booked a new flight for Monday, McIntosh said, calling the experience a "fiasco."

She said the extra costs totalled $2,438.

"It’s been hell to go and have a funeral and deal with all this. I’m exhausted."

WestJet has repeatedly apologized to customers and said it offered them a refund if they weren’t able to be rebooked within 48 hours, in accordance with Canada's passenger rights charter.

However, if airlines can't make new reservations within that time span, the Air Passenger Protection Regulations also require airlines to book travellers on "the next available flight" from any carrier, including competitors, if they turn down the refund — a choice customers say WestJet did not give them.

"I was one of the people for whom WestJet said they 'could no longer accommodate a rebooking' and (we) were offered only a refund," said B.C. resident April Miller, whose flight with her child from Phoenix to Kelowna was called off last weekend.

"I only got home yesterday afternoon after six days of flight cancellations. I had eight different itineraries cancelled and never once managed to get through to an agent after more than 30 hours of being on hold," she said Friday.

David Smith said the airline alerted him four days after his cancelled flight to Costa Rica that he had been rebooked. But Smith was already in Central America, having bought tickets with other carriers. Cancelling the rebooked flight would incur a $200 fee, he said, while the remaining refund would only be in WestJet travel credit.

WestJet did not respond to questions about the "cancel fee" that customers were alerted to.

The company said federal regulations require no compensation for hotels and meals when travel disruptions are outside of the carrier’s control, such as a strike.

Air Passenger Rights advocacy group president Gabor Lukacs says travellers are entitled to reimbursement for flights they booked with a rival and — in the case of international trips — for hotel, food and other costs, citing the Montreal Convention, a multilateral treaty on compensation for air travellers.

He said the obligation to rebook falls on carriers, with travellers holding no responsibility to prod them into doing so.

"The onus does not rest with the passenger," states a 2009 decision from the Manitoba Court of King's Bench that draws on the Montreal Convention.

"That's a clear obligation and WestJet has been systematically refusing to comply with it," claimed Lukacs.

WestJet said it has been doing everything in its power to help travellers and revamp operations.

"Our teams across WestJet are working diligently to support all impacted guests as quickly as possible," said spokeswoman Madison Kruger in an email.

Fallout from last weekend's work stoppage prompted the airline to pull its float from the Calgary Stampede on Friday, a hometown event it has sponsored for decades. The move was "purely people-related," given the recent strain on staff, said WestJet spokeswoman Morgan Bell.

On June 28, some 680 mechanics walked off the job despite a directive for binding arbitration by Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan. The country's labour board ruled that the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association was within its rights to strike, catching WestJet and Ottawa off guard and forcing the Calgary-based company back to the bargaining table with the union.

The two sides reached a deal Sunday night, but not before tens of thousands of Canadians found their travel plans for the Canada Day long weekend upended.

Jamie Greiff said WestJet cancelled her flight home to Calgary from Los Angeles this week "after allowing us to check in and pay for our bag."

Greiff, who was travelling with her husband, 15-year-old son and one of his friends, said she received a text that they would be rebooked within 48 hours — only to receive "radio silence" from the airline since.

The group managed to book a flight to Seattle, catch an Uber ride to the border, cross on foot and then find a taxi to a car rental outfit to begin the nearly 10-hour drive home.

The extra costs totalled $3,861, not including the baggage fee for the cancelled flight, Greiff said, calling the company "an embarrassment."

Whether flights nixed in the lead-up to and aftermath of the strike — roughly 40 per cent of the cancellations — qualify as within the airline's control, and thus subject to heftier compensation requirements, remains a matter of dispute.

Small claims court is one route to possible reimbursement should the airline reject a request. Customers can also file a complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency.

However, the backlog at the tribunal sits at a record high that tops 72,000, with some applicants waiting up to two years for their claim to be resolved — in some cases only to have the airline challenge the decision in court.

“I’m afraid we’re going to fall between the cracks,” said John Lawford, executive director of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre.

Unless airlines and agencies act more diligently to ensure consumer protections, business may suffer, he warned.

"People eventually dump this idea of flying to Europe in the summer because you're going to get stranded in Regina for two days."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 5, 2024.

Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press

WestJet cancels hundreds of flights as mechanics strike in surprise move on busy long weekend

Airline says cancellations affecting roughly 49,000 travellers.

Here's how the WestJet strike is hitting Canadians

Social sharing.

A surprise strike by unionized airline mechanics at WestJet has left thousands of passengers wondering whether they would reach their destinations on Saturday after the airline cancelled 407 flights, affecting an estimated 49,000 passengers.

The airline said it will continue to ground aircraft through to Sunday evening, aiming to reduce its operating fleet to approximately 30 aircraft by that time, according to a release on Saturday evening.

The strike decision comes a day after Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to impose binding arbitration to solve outstanding collective agreement issues between the Calgary-based airline and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA).

In a statement Thursday, AMFA said there is no modern precedent for the minister's action. The order followed two weeks of turbulent discussions between the union and airline on a new deal.

AMFA said on Friday that roughly 680 workers went ahead with strike action against the company, but the union remains engaged in dialogue with the CIRB to resolve the impasse.

"The [aircraft maintenance engineers] were hopeful this action would be unnecessary but the airline's unwillingness to negotiate with the union made the strike," the statement reads.

Members to avoid unlawful job action, says union

The union said it will comply with the arbitration process and directed its members to avoid any unlawful job action.

The union's legal counsel said the strike is within the union's rights even with the minister's order. Sam Seham said there was no explicit mention that job action by AMFA would be against the law.

• WestJet strike averted after federal labour minister imposes binding arbitration

"What was silent, or what was omitted, from the minister's referral is any indication that AMFA's right to strike had been curtailed or limited. That is a constitutional right," he said.

"So in that silence, of course the right prevails, the minister did not take any steps to limit that right. There may be some confusion, but the striking and arbitrating are not mutually exclusive."

The CIRB order, sent to CBC News, said the board found the ministerial referral does not have the effect of suspending the right to strike or lock out.

O'Regan issued a brief statement on Saturday morning, saying he was reviewing the board's order and calling it "clearly inconsistent" with the direction he provided.

"I will be looking at additional steps to protect the interests of the employer, the union and all Canadians travelling over this national holiday weekend."

In a followup statement later Saturday, O'Regan said he respects the authority of the CIRB and would be meeting with both parties involved in the dispute later in the day.

Update on the collective bargaining negotiations between WestJet and AMFA: <a href="https://t.co/UtKL0QonSG">pic.twitter.com/UtKL0QonSG</a> &mdash; @SeamusORegan

WestJet says strike designed to 'create damage'

O'Regan previously referred WestJet and AMFA to the CIRB on June 18, but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.

WestJet responded to AMFA going ahead with a strike on Friday, saying it is "outraged" with the move.

"The government has officially stepped in to provide binding arbitration and ensure we get to a resolution; the only reason for this union to continue with a strike action is to create damage, disrupt the travel plans of thousands of Canadians over the July long weekend and to inflict significant costs on our business," said company president Diederik Pen in a statement.

During a news conference at WestJet headquarters in Calgary on Saturday morning, both Pen and the airline's chief executive officer, Alexis von Hoensbroech, repeatedly said they were both outraged and devastated by the strike, with von Hoensbroech calling it "totally absurd."

"The reason why you actually do a strike is because you may need to exercise pressure on the bargaining table. If there is no bargaining table, it makes no sense," he said.

WestJet CEO criticizes union for strike action

He said that, as a result of the actions, the situation "will only grow in difficulty and magnitude."

"So this is a very destructive thing, basically done by a rogue U.S. union that's trying to make inroads into Canada and taking some practices in here that are very, very unusual," said von Hoensbroech.

Tracey L. Epp, who practises labour and employment law in Winnipeg, says that a direction to send a dispute to binding arbitration does not prevent a union from going on strike or an employer from locking the workers out.

"The right to strike, the right to lockout, is a constitutional right," she said.

Reading the evolving views of the labour minister in his posted comments after AMFA announced its strike plans, Epp believes there might have been a misunderstanding on his part as to what binding arbitration would actually accomplish.

"That tells me that although the federal minister may have actually intended to end or avoid any kind of a strike or a lockout, the direction that the minister got was that the CIRB, as an independent board … was not in a position to be able to order the mechanics back to work or to not strike," said Epp.

Essential service?

She said it is theoretically possible for Ottawa to use the notwithstanding clause of the Charter to declare air travel an essential service and remove the constitutional right to strike, but she cautions that recent court cases have suggested essential services legislation might not be an appropriate way to exercise legislative authority and may breach Canadians' rights under the Charter.

"So I think most governments right now are going to be very reticent to declare any kind of industry an essential service unless you can show that there's a danger to life or a danger to public safety," said Epp.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, in a post on the social media platform X, called on Ottawa Saturday morning to resolve the matter quickly.

"The travel plans of tens of thousands of Canadians over this long weekend and beyond are now in jeopardy," the post said.

"WestJet customers expect an immediate resolution to this matter and for air travel to be restored."

The travel plans of tens of thousands of Canadians over this long weekend and beyond, are now in jeopardy. <br><br>The Alberta government asks the federal government and Minister Seamus O’Regan to expedite his review of the labour relations board’s decision. WestJet customers expect an… <a href="https://t.co/hAHH4MMmZ6">https://t.co/hAHH4MMmZ6</a> &mdash; @ABDanielleSmith

Travellers already frustrated with disruptions

The change in position on Friday seemed to shock both travellers and executives.

"Is my flight on Sunday in jeopardy?" asked Andrew Wheatley of Edmonton in a post to X.

"I support a union's right to strike if it's legal. And hopefully, they will get a good deal. But at the same time, I have to be at work Monday morning."

WestJet had already cancelled roughly 25 flights scheduled for Thursday and Friday, ahead of potential job action.

'So disappointed': Toronto travellers frustrated by WestJet cancellations, delays

Sarah Lacombe, a WestJet customer, was booked on a flight heading to Puerto Vallarta for her honeymoon, but was delayed due to unscheduled maintenance.

She'd already gone through the same situation earlier in the week after disruptions from the back-and-forth situation between the airline and AMFA. 

"We haven't been on a vacation like this in eight years," Lacombe said. "I want it to get back on schedule and not have any grounded flights for anybody travelling."

Traveller affected by WestJet delays says vacations 'a hard thing to come by these days'

Check flight status before heading to the airport.

WestJet says more than 250,000 passengers are scheduled to fly over the busy Canada Day long weekend, but the airline will begin parking aircraft in stations across Canada "with the intention of operating a significantly reduced schedule."

Those hoping to travel with WestJet are being asked to check their flight status before leaving for the airport.

"The scale of this deliberate disruption is devastating and AMFA must be held accountable for their reckless actions," said Pen in a statement.

Gabor Lukacs, president of advocacy group Air Passenger Rights, said travellers need to know their rights.

He said WestJet has an obligation under the law to find stranded passengers alternate travel arrangements within 48 hours, either through another of its flights or with a competitor.

People can also ask for a refund, although Lukacs said he recommends against doing so.

"I would urge passengers not to take a refund unless they are absolutely sure they don't want to travel," he said. "If you take a refund then WestJet can wash its hands of its obligations to you."

• Was your WestJet flight cancelled this weekend? Here's what you need to know

On Saturday, Pen said WestJet would follow regulations and refund passengers while offering overnight hotel stays to those who are stranded.

"Further than that, we are not in a position to provide any additional compensation," he said.

The airline said it plans to hold AMFA responsible for costs incurred during the strike. 

This isn't the first time WestJet has seen labour turmoil. Last year, the airline averted a strike in the early hours of the May long weekend, but before cancelling over 230 flights and forcing thousands of people to have their travel plans changed.

With files from Karina Zapata and The Canadian Press

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Westjet carry-on allowance, westjet checked baggage allowance, excess baggage fees, exclusions and waivers, can i prepay for baggage, credit cards that reimburse you for checked bag fees.

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WestJet has a clear-cut baggage policy that makes life easy when you’re planning your travels.

Checked luggage is included with some fares, and where it’s not included, the first checked bag is a relatively reasonable $30 to $83, depending on your destination.

You can bring aboard 1 personal item and 1 standard carry-on bag for free on WestJet, but they must follow certain size restrictions:

• Personal: 16 x 13 x 6 inches (41 x 33 x 15 centimeters)
• Carry-on: 21 x 15 x 9 inches (53 x 38 x 23 centimeters)

WestJet doesn’t publish weight restrictions for personal or carry-on items besides saying that they must be light enough for you to lift into the overhead compartment without assistance.

If you’re traveling with an infant, you can bring a diaper bag and an approved restraint system car seat into the cabin. You can also check a stroller or car seat at the gate.

Checked bags must weigh less than 50 pounds (23 kilograms). The maximum allowed linear dimensions for a checked bag are 62 inches (157 centimeters).

When airlines refer to “linear dimensions,” they’re talking about the number you get when you add the length, width, and depth of the item. So a suitcase that’s 24 inches long, 20 inches wide, and 18 inches deep has linear dimensions of 62 inches — just making WestJet’s size allowance.

Some fare types include the first or second bag for free, while others incur a fee.

Baggage Fees for Bookings Made on or After November 7, 2023, for Travel Within the U.S. and Canada:

Travel to or from latin caribbean and mexico, travel to or from europe.

Travel to or From Asia

All Other Locations

Depending on the departure country, fees are charged in either Canadian or U.S. dollars, and the additional goods and service tax is applied on all itineraries that originate in Canada.

You have to pay extra for bags that exceed the allowed linear dimension or that are 50 pounds or over.

• Oversized bags (62 inches to 80 inches/58 centimeters to 203 centimeters): $100 to $118*
• Overweight bags (50 pounds to 100 pounds/23 kilograms to 45 kilograms)*: $100 to $118**

* For WestJet flights to or from Europe, a checked bag must not exceed 70 pounds (32 kilograms). ** To transport bags over 100 pounds (45 kilograms), call WestJet Cargo at 866-952-2746.

For baggage fees related to special luggage ( sporting equipment , musical instruments , etc.), please refer to WestJet’s policies. WestJet also charges a $50 handling fee for transporting select sporting equipment and firearms.

The following passengers receive free checked bag benefits:

• WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard holders: 1 free bag
• Silver: 2 free bags
• Gold: 2 free bags
• Platinum: 3 free bags

The free bag benefit applies to the eligible passenger and up to 8 companions on the same reservation (excluding WestJet groups and WestJet Vacations group bookings). The WestJet Rewards ID must be on the reservation at the time of check-in.

Active or Veteran Military Personnel

WestJet permits active or veteran Canadian military personnel to bring 4 bags for free if traveling for business or pleasure. On WestJet Encore, the limit is 3 bags. WestJet waives overweight and oversized baggage charges, provided they do not exceed the maximum excess allowance. WestJet also waives baggage fees for active military personnel from other countries who show valid identification, though restrictions apply .

Humanitarian Aid

Passengers carrying humanitarian aid get 1 free bag, provided it does not exceed the standard size and weight allowances.

WestJet encourages passengers to prepay for the first 2 pieces of baggage during booking or any time up to 24 hours before flight departure at a discounted rate. Checked baggage fees increase by $10 within 24 hours of departure or while checking in at the airport. There’s an additional $10 fee for bags checked through an agent at the airport counter for tickets purchased after November 7, 2023.

Here are the ways you can prepay:

• Log in to your booking from the Check-In  tab on the WestJet website
• Use one of the airport kiosks

WestJet doesn’t let you add baggage by calling its contact center.

To pay to check bags on WestJet, use one of the Capital One cards below to help offset the fees:

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• $395 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®
• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  None

Capital One Miles

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card   is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• $95 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Limited elite benefits
• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

• No annual fee ( rates & fees )
• No foreign transaction fees ( rates & fees )
• Ability to use transfer partners
• Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
• No luxury travel or elite benefits
• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months

Simply use your Capital One miles to pay for your travel statement charges (e.g., baggage fees) within 90 days of purchase at a rate of 1 cent per mile.

To see more airline baggage fees and policies, click here .

The information regarding the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Does westjet include baggage.

WestJet includes baggage within the fare for EconoFlex (1 bag), Premium (2 bags), and Business passengers (2 bags). You can add additional bags for a fee.

Does WestJet charge for baggage on international flights?

WestJet charges $30 to $35.40 per checked bag for international flights for passengers not flying EconoFlex, Premium, or Business. These 3 fare types let you bring 1 or 2 checked bags for free.

How strict is WestJet with carry-on size?

As with any airline, WestJet has size restrictions for carry-on luggage to ensure cabin safety. They are likely to measure your bag if it appears to exceed the maximum allowed dimensions, so you must be prepared to check the piece if it’s too big.

Is there a fee to carry on a personal item with WestJet?

WestJet doesn’t charge a fee to bring 1 standard carry-on and 1 personal item into the cabin. If your carry-on exceeds the maximum dimensions, then you may incur a fee to check the item.

What is the maximum allowable size of my carry-on and personal items on WestJet?

WestJet permits passengers to bring 1 standard carry-on and 1 personal item into the cabin, providing they do not exceed:

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From beginning to end, Delta and WestJet give you access to more benefits and a seamless travel experience when flying between the U.S. and Canada. 

Whether it’s your next business trip or a long-awaited getaway, we are here to help you prepare so you know what to expect on your next flight.

The Latest WestJet News

Beginning on March 18, 2021, Medallion Members can expect to experience elite benefits when flying on WestJet when you are ready to travel again. 

Now, when traveling on WestJet, you will experience the below elevated benefits, based on your Medallion Status: 

• Medallion Baggage Allowance, Lounge Access 1 , Priority Boarding 2 , Priority Check-In, Preferred Seats 3 , Priority Bag Drop, Priority Baggage Handling, Priority Security 4 and Priority Transfer Desk. 

See a comprehensive list of WestJet’s reciprocal elite benefits here . 

Nothing is more important to Delta and our partner airlines across the globe than the health of our customers and employees. That’s why through the Delta CareStandard and WestJet’s Safety Above All , a range of measures have been implemented to deliver you a safe and clean experience. 

Delta and WestJet advise Members to check the entry requirements of their final destination prior to travel. WestJet is also providing up-to-date entrance requirements, safety enhancements and testing information on its COVID-19 page .  

Learn more about what to expect when traveling with our partners or learn more about our partnership with WestJet .

1 Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion Members, along with one additional guest accompanying the member and taking the same flight, will have access to the WestJet Elevation Lounge at Calgary International Airport (YYC) with a confirmed boarding pass for a same-day transborder or international itinerary that includes a segment between U.S. and Canada operated by Delta and/or WestJet or any of their respective affiliates (excluding Swoop) or contract carriers. Not applicable at partner or third-party lounges, nor when traveling on a wholly domestic reservation within Canada. 2 Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion Members will board in WestJet’s Zone 1 group. Silver Medallion Members will board in WestJet’s Zone 2 group.  3 When flying on WestJet, only Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion Members will have complimentary seat access, including Preferred Seats.  Not applicable on Basic Economy fares. Available to the Member and up to 8 customers on the same reservation; not valid for companions when travelling on a group booking. 4 Available at airports where service is available.

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Want To Fly West Jet? These All-Inclusive Resorts Are Your Best Options

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8 international bucket list destinations for americans in 2024, 8 national parks for beginner-friendly adventure travel.

Canadian airline WestJet isn't even a quarter-century old, but already it's made a name for itself as being one of the most carefree and casual carriers around. Starting as a no-frills airline, Calgary-based WestJet slowly established more routes and now flies all over North America and parts of Europe. The carrier also edged into the vacation package business, starting with Hawaii in 2001 and now offers an assortment of all-inclusive options, most of them in the Caribbean.

In this assessment, only all-inclusive packages involving five-star resorts were considered and cross-referenced with reviews cited in TripAdvisor, which incidentally voted WestJet as Canada's best airline in 2018 . Narrowing down the selections was no easy task, as while it involved several calculations, it still wasn't an exact science.

The method used took the number of reviews for each resort and prorated it with reviews that ranked the vacation as an excellent experience. The five resorts with the highest percentage of excellent reviews made the list.

It should be noted that you won't find exact prices in these capsules, given that they'll vary among departure points. Random cities selected, however, produced differences as great as $200, so a ballpark average is provided for March departures. All of these options are worth exploring, so if you do need more information, check out the WestJet vacation package site and take advantage of its pull-down menu on the home page to help choose the all-inclusive vacation you want.

Related: The Best Caribbean Resorts For Families No One Ever Talks About

Enter an oceanfront infinity at El Dorado Seaside Suites

It's official; nearly three out of every four vacationers ranked a stay at Cancun's El Dorado Seaside Suites by Karisma as one excellent vay-cay, receiving a 73.6% rating based on 3,540 TripAdvisor reviews.

And no wonder. You can hang out in either the Palms section, which offers a lush environment of rich vegetation unique to the Yucatan Peninsula. Or you can check out Infinity, which offers a panoramic view of the Caribbean as if it goes on forever, complete with a terraced pool and balcony, with super-modern architectural décor keeping with the theme.

The rooms have all the modern conveniences, while kids have their version of accommodations right next door. The extra touch that emphasizes the relaxation element, though, is the king-size Bali beds providing loads of comfort. A five-day stay here would be in the neighborhood of $1,200 US per person plus tax.

Adults-only luxury at Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall

One big advantage of staying at the Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall in Jamaica is that it's right next door to another Hyatt property, the Ziva, so a lot of the amenities are shared. Or what one resort might not have, the other one might be able to help you out. But that probably isn't the biggest attraction that enticed TripAdvisor reviewers to rate their stay at 76.9%.

The place is exclusively designed for adults to make good their escape from a chaotic civilization and live in the moment. To that end, the Zilara is willing to oblige with unlimited dining and beverages at no less than six restaurants and five lounges on the premises.

All the suites were created with pampering in mind and for those who need more, spas and pools will fill that void. Then there's the exquisite beachfront if you want to get relatively more rustic. Five days of relaxation here is worth roughly $1,250 US per person plus tax.

Bahia Principe Luxury Cayo Levantado is an island unto itself

Getting away to an exotic location is one thing, but heading to a spot that's not even on the mainland is another experience altogether. And that adds to the charm of the Bahia Principe Luxury Cayo Levantado Resort that earned a TripAdvisor rating of 79.6% based on 6,252 reviews.

It's actually an island that's part of an island occupied by Haiti and the Dominican Republic . Located just off the shore on the east side of the Dominican Republic in Samana Bay, the resort occupies much of the island. The focus here is tranquillity more than luxury, although the idyllic setting does have all the major amenities other five-star hotels provide.

The family-oriented resort also offers kayaking, snorkeling, and even surf yoga. And to paddle something bigger, catamarans are also available. A solid week of peace and quiet in an island setting is worth forking over about $1,350 US per person plus tax.

A romantic getaway awaits at TRS Yucatan Hotel

The TRS Yucatan Hotel near Playa del Carmen in Mexico bills itself as a prime destination for honeymoons and couples wanting to rekindle their romances. It appears that most of its clientele had the same idea since the spot earned a TripAdvisor rating of 79.7 % based on 5,357 reviews.

The resort also prides itself on offering a touch of sophistication to the all-inclusive experience with a classy attitude towards customer service and an elite vibe to the facilities. Almost every amenity offered emphasizes VIP treatment at such attractions as the beach area, pool, and high-end restaurants and lounges.

Related:  Trip Advisor Reviews Confirm: These All-Inclusive Resorts In Mexico Are Worth The Price

What isn't available at the resort is only minutes away via golf cart complete with driver. A major draw is a nightly canoe tour up and down the Riviera Maya. If you think romance is priceless,  a five-night investment might be worth it at $2,250 per person plus tax.

El Dorado Maroma promises a secluded paradise

El Dorado Maroma by Karisma near Cancun already has a slew of accolades, from landing the fourth spot in Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards in the world's best resort category, and its location on one of 10 of the world's best beaches. So it's probably no surprise that this place gets the top spot, garnering an 81.9% among 6,258 TripAdvisor reviewers.

The choice suites on this resort aren't by the Caribbean , but literally on it, with an assortment of modern huts lined up on a dock that extends beyond the shoreline. And that's not all. You can not only sample world-class cuisine, but classes are also available to learn how to cook those meals that way. There's also full concierge service and an assortment of water-based activities to keep you occupied.

But with all that, you'd be excused if all you want to do is lay back and enjoy the unique marine surroundings. To take advantage of a five-day stay here, it's worth about $1,650 US per person plus tax.

Next:  Interested In Booking An All-Inclusive? These Are The Cheapest Times To Book

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