WestJet Rewards - WS to start charging for second checked bag

This nugget was mentioned in the PR but I thought worthy of a separate thread. How will this change sit with WS flyers? And does it go against WS' advertised "no hidden fees" mantra as highlighted in the Care-antee (http://www.westjet.com/guest/en/experience/careAntee.shtml): what you see is what you pay – we don't add any hidden fees

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/westjet-announces-a-72-per-cent-increase-in-third-quarter-net-earnings-2010-11-03-83000?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Effective today, for travel on or after January 19, 2011, WestJet will begin charging a $20 fee to guests checking a second bag on all flights.

This SUCKS! I am very very dissapointed! Snowboard trips were ALWAYS booked on Westjet so we couold check our gear at no cost.

Yeah, this makes WS barely preferable over Air Canada. AC's second bag fee to/from US is $30 - so for $10 less WS?

I'm extremely disappointed by this change. I rarely check a second bag but since billyson123 appeared, light travel doesn't happen anymore.

It's not even in the Careantee anymore! Personally I don't care as I never check more than one bag, often don't check any but if I needed to check one extra bag once in a blue moon then why charge for that? I wish all airlines allowed 1 free bag.

I don't mind the change on US flights, it just matched them with AC. But I'm not sure going to 1 bag only in Canada, when AC still offers 2, is going to win them any friends.

I don't mind the change on US flights, it just matched them with AC. But I'm not sure going to 1 bag only in Canada, when AC still offers 2, is going to win them any friends.

Does anybody want to start a bet about how long it'll take Air Canada to match the policy?

My bet is it will be matched tomorrow!!

:)

Nice to see Westjet morphing into the big, bad cynical airline they always claimed not to be. Who knew the Care-antee was so "fluid"?

I don't mind the change on US flights, it just matched them with AC. But I'm not sure going to 1 bag only in Canada, when AC still offers 2, is going to win them any friends.

Does anybody want to start a bet about how long it'll take Air Canada to match the policy?

My bet is it will be matched tomorrow!!

:)

Suprising that WestJet would announce this for all flights and not just for US/Sun destinations (they could have gotten away with that easier since they would be a bit cheaper than AC/US airlines) but to offer less than AC on something they constantly hammered AC over when they briefly charged for second bags a couple years ago is a bit suprising.

Someone is going to blink so if not AC, it'll be interesting to see if WestJet will revert on domestic bag carges if AC keeps second bags free and goes the same route as Westjet did in the past and smears them in advertising over this.

j.

Nice to see Westjet morphing into the big, bad cynical airline they always claimed not to be. Who knew the Care-antee was so "fluid"?

This financial post article discusses the changes in the Care-antee...

WestJet trashes its second bag “care-antee” (http://business.financialpost.com/2010/11/03/westjet-trashes-its-second-bag-care-antee/)

When WestJet Airlines Ltd. announced its new “care-antee” marketing campaign in April 2009, front and center was its guarantee not to charge passengers to check a second bag.

The campaign was meant to show what made WestJet different from its competitors, and was launched after Air Canada announced it would be charging its own passengers to check a second bag.

...

WestJet announced Wednesday it would begin charging a $20 fee for its passengers to check a second bag [the care-antee not to so do has also been removed from its webpage].

Richard Bartrem, WestJet spokesman, said the second bag promise, like its original promise to provide live TV to its passengers, have slowly been phased out of the airline’s marketing campaign. While WestJet has no plans to start charging for live TV, he said, it has focused the care-antee campaign more on the quality of service its employees provides rather than the extra free service the airline provides.

“We’ve just decided to shift the advertising on Care-antee, and the contents of the Care-antees, to be more about that commitment to the guest experience,” Mr. Bartrem said.

...

Here are are a list of WestJet’s original care-antees:

We will not charge you to change or cancel your flight for 24 hours after you book

We will not charge you for call centre bookings

We will not overbook your flight

We will not charge you for two checked bags

We will have the lowest, change, cancel and pre-reserved seating fees in Canada

We will accommodate you if your flight is delayed. Even if it’s Mother Nature’s fault

We will fly you in the youngest all-jet fleet in North America

We will provide live seatback TV on our flights

We will give you ample legroom and overhead bin space

We will publish our on-time, lost baggage and cancellation rates

We will always let you know how we’re doing as a company

We will offer free online check-in and seat selection 24 hours before departure

We will allow you to transfer your credit files to friends or family for free

We will give you free snacks and refreshments on your flight

We will always include smiles and thank yous. Always

Suprising that WestJet would announce this for all flights and not just for US/Sun destinations (they could have gotten away with that easier since they would be a bit cheaper than AC/US airlines) but to offer less than AC on something they constantly hammered AC over when they briefly charged for second bags a couple years ago is a bit suprising.

Someone is going to blink so if not AC, it'll be interesting to see if WestJet will revert on domestic bag carges if AC keeps second bags free and goes the same route as Westjet did in the past and smears them in advertising over this.

j.

Can you imagine the typical anti - Air Canada outrage if they had made the first move on domestic bag fees? I'll bet it would be brought up in the parliament!

They absolutely had to wait for Westjet to do it first. Then they wait a few days for it to go away as a news story and then they match it.

If they don't pretty soon, Westjet will discontinue it and it only starts for flights after the middle of January which is a long way a way. They still have just about the best profitablity record in the world, so it's not as if they need the money compared to other airlines who make money in the summer but lose it always in the winter.

:)

They still have just about the best profitablity record in the world, so it's not as if they need the money compared to other airlines who make money in the summer but lose it always in the winter.

:)

If they don't need the money why do it then?

My guess would be that WestJet sees every other airline making a killing off of ancillary revenues (primarily baggage fees) and they were missing out on this revenue source. I think the marketing spin initially seen on no baggage fees had little effect on bringing people over from Air Canada as there was no difference between Air Canada and WestJet on flights within Canada. Air Canada will more then likely follow for flights in Canada as they can get away with charging it now, as you said if Air Canada did it first the public outcry would have been far worse.

“We’ve just decided to shift the advertising on Care-antee, and the contents of the Care-antees, to be more about that commitment to the guest experience,” Mr. Bartrem said.


typical Westjet spin doctors....kinda like we are not having seat sales again but they do and it was like oh you didn't understand correctly we never said never ....whatever. :rolleyes:

I wonder how many people they might lose to AC with this change. Is their revenue number just taking the number of second bags and multiplying by $20? That surely will NOT be the outcome. I guess I better bring my second bike to Ontario at Christmas to avoid any additional fees later on (leaving it there). AC will match - guaranteed. Actually, the WS loyalty program is a joke. I have a number of flights but likely will be just shy of $1500 spend and will get credit for nothing in the end. Maybe AC isn't so terrible afterall :)

What a transparent money-grab since they have the Western Canadian golfer's market pretty well sewn-up to PSP and PHX. I'm sure the backlash will be massive once they implement this in January.:td:

I, for one, will be using my *G status to move my clubs around next year thereby reducing my WestJet flying.

What a transparent money-grab since they have the Western Canadian golfer's market pretty well sewn-up to PSP and PHX. I'm sure the backlash will be massive once they implement this in January.:td:

This new policy is in effect now, PE, for passengers who booked travel after 19 January.

This new policy is in effect now, PE, for passengers who booked travel after 19 January.

It's hard to get very excited about this.

It's a fare increase, only applicable for people wanting to check a second bag!

When was the last time airlines didn't match a fare increase?! It's not IF, but WHEN it is matched, and it only comes into effect on in the middle of January!

I think Air Canada is probably quite happy to see Westjet take all the negative press on this and then they will match it anyway in a few days when its all settled down!

I think that if Air Canada does not match it within a few more days, it will disappear. I doubt you will ever see Westjet try it again, except in reply to when Air Canada really needs the money, which is right now anyway! Then, Westjet may decide not to match it all!

I'll bet all my 2011 upgrade certs on this!

:)

It's hard to get very excited about this.

It's almost impossible for me to get personally excited as I fly with carry-on only. :p

However as an interested observer it goes more to the changes in WS and how the image is shifting as it matures than concern over a few bucks here or there. The airline that wasn't like everyone else, especially AC, is by degrees beginning to resemble the usual suspects and it's these small changes that will alter the WS brand identitiy if the top brass isn't careful. That's of course just MHO.

Gregg Saretsky
President & CEO
Westjet
22 Aerial Place N.E.
Calgary, AB T2E 3J1
Canada


Mr. Saretsky thank your for your decision to impose a twenty dollar baggage fee on a second piece of checked luggage. You have made my decision to give my business to your competitors that much easier. I have a choice of airlines when I fly and thankfully yours is no longer one of them.
I encourage you to reverse your decision on the imposition of this ancillary revenue stream as I ensure that my friends, family, coworkers, and myself no longer contribute to your airlines bottom line.
Enclosed please find the first of many itineraries that no longer use your services.


Polar Man.

I will be mailling this off Monday.:)

I will be mailling this off Monday.:)

What will you do when it is matched by all other airlines?

Take the railway or a bus?

:)

Your letter highlights how fickle customers are in Canada or anywhere, for that matter. If $20 is the difference between one airline or another, it's no wonder airlines are looking for ancillary sources of revenue. I got an idea? Why don't you drive to your next destination? Take the train? Oh, right.. not all that convenient to do that if you're flying to an island or driving across the Country. :rolleyes:

AC may have an opportunity here to one up them and not match. I find it doubtful but you never know. If they don't match I can see the press release now..."our guests spoke and we listened we have cancelled the second bag fee."

AC may have an opportunity here to one up them and not match. I find it doubtful but you never know. If they don't match I can see the press release now..."our guests spoke and we listened we have cancelled the second bag fee."

Air Canada would essentially be leaving millions of dollars on the table should they not match. IMO, Air Canada needs this more than WS.

I will be mailling this off Monday.:)

Further to what Hypnotize wrote about Canadians being fickle, I don't really think this letter will have much effect. If you are going to make such a big stink about $20, the airline will likely assume that you are a "guest" that only buys rock bottom fares (you may be the kind of guest that WS really doesn't really want that much, not that they would ever say so in public).

If I were you I would take a different approach. I would write that you are no longer choosing to fly them because they broke their care-antee, that you feel you've been lied to and that you are no longer choosing to fly them on principle (it wouldn't matter if the fee was $5 or $500).

IMHO nobody will bat an eye if you take your business elsewhere over $20. When WS did their cost analysis they would have evaluated lost business vs. the potential gain in revenue. We know which pricing method they chose; they are fully prepared for you to take their business elsewhere and likely have a canned response ready to send. If you take the different approach it might some people take note as it goes straight to the heart of their corporate culture/customer relations (not that they'll reverse the fee, the only way for that to happen is for AC not to follow suit).

What bugs me is that Westjet was different. Increasingly they are becoming just like everyone else. If you are going to be just like everyone else, except with an inferior loyalty program, inferior credit card affiliation and a $250 lost luggage indemnity (vs $1250) then you give me fewer reasons to fly your airline.

How predictable that the WS apologists summarily dismiss the well-written complaint letter from Polar Man. If this really is about $20 I think they should think again as it's more than that it's a chink in the WS armour that as I'd mentioned earlier could erode the brand if the bean counters aren't careful.

Gregg Saretsky
President & CEO
Westjet
22 Aerial Place N.E.
Calgary, AB T2E 3J1
Canada


Mr. Saretsky thank your for your decision to impose a twenty dollar baggage fee on a second piece of checked luggage. You have made my decision to give my business to your competitors that much easier. I have a choice of airlines when I fly and thankfully yours is no longer one of them.
I encourage you to reverse your decision on the imposition of this ancillary revenue stream as I ensure that my friends, family, coworkers, and myself no longer contribute to your airlines bottom line.
Enclosed please find the first of many itineraries that no longer use your services.


Polar Man.

I will be mailling this off Monday.:)

I hope you don't forget the apostrophe. ;)

Your letter highlights how fickle customers are in Canada or anywhere, for that matter. If $20 is the difference between one airline or another, it's no wonder airlines are looking for ancillary sources of revenue. I got an idea? Why don't you drive to your next destination? Take the train? Oh, right.. not all that convenient to do that if you're flying to an island or driving across the Country. :rolleyes:


Sad that you would defend the indefensible.:td:

You know how much I have defended your employer.

Much of my travel post-January 19 will now be diverted to other carriers just because of this bs of $20 as a golfer. I am also a *G and have earned 3 bags free. WestJet will become a second choice including in Canada. The only route I will fly will be YEG-PSP and will bring my golf bag home in the spring with UA/CO.

As a consumer you have that choice. ^

What about the codeshare flights with Cathay??

No match from AC yet....

No match from AC yet....

Effectively AC has matched WS on the Transborder and Sun Destinations as they always only had 1 bag free. Domestic is the only sector where AC and WS compete and AC still allows 2 bags free.

Effectively AC has matched WS on the Transborder and Sun Destinations as they always only had 1 bag free. Domestic is the only sector where AC and WS compete and AC still allows 2 bags free.

Not any more ...
Following Westjet

http://www.reuters.com/article/idCAN1022752020101110?rpc=44

For me, it's not so much about the $20 fee, even thought that will hurt as I try to slowly bring things with me on each trip to Victoria as Ms. Tuneman1984 and I slowly complete our re-location to Ontario. It's the fact that they boldly stated their principles in an iron-clad "Careantee", and then proceeded to break it. As others have said and I agrred, the airline that made its money and its loyal foollowing on being "different" is now just another one of the same.

I can't say that I'm going to leave WS and never ever fly them again, cause I know that isn't true and it's a promise *I* can't keep. But, in my mind, Westjet has lost the one major advantage it had against AC. For my travels, AC often held the advantage of better schedules, and had a semi-useful frequent flyer program. But WS had the advantage of earning more of my trust and providing me better customer service. Well, not anymore. For now, I'll simply looking at the schedules, and the prices, and choose whomever is going to work better for that trip, without feeling any loyalty to either.

Ancillary revenues are, unfrotunately, the life blood of not just the airline industry, but the entire travel industry. Hotels charging for parking when they own the lot and other small fees. Car rental companies charging inflated refueling prices, small recovery fees that go directly into their pockets, and one-way drop charges for rentals that are using the destination city's vehicle anyways.

Unfortunately I think legislation is the only thing that could change any of these, and its doubtful that a handful of fees relating to relatively non-essential facets of life would ever rise to the top of the political agenda.

The best we can do is play the game and try to score a few in our favour, like earning free rental days to combat one-way prices or flying itineraries with lower prices and to cities we never intend to disemabrk at (i.e. flying AC from YYZ-YVR-SEA when it's cheaper than flying YYZ-YVR). Eye for an eye, they lie to me, I'll lie to them.

Sorry for delving into many subjects, but those are my thoughts on the matter.

Sorry for delving into many subjects, but those are my thoughts on the matter.

I appreciate the thoughts but don't apologize for speaking your mind. I never do. :D

It's the fact that they boldly stated their principles in an iron-clad "Careantee", and then proceeded to break it.

The didn't "break it" they changed it. ;)

If I bought my airfare in September for a February flight do I have to pay $20 for an extra bag? The wording makes it sound like it but that would be changing the terms of my contract when I originally purchased the tickets.

From Westjet baggage weblink:

"* Guests with flights booked prior to November 3, 2010, will be permitted a second bag at no charge."

What about the codeshare flights with Cathay??

Just came back from a flight with CX with Westjet Codeshare.
I had to pay the 2nd back fee going from Edmonton to Vancouver and visa versa (total 40 dollars) The flight even had CX flight number on it too.

I booked the flight on Cathay Pacific.ca so everything should match CX's policy. no? I had a semi argument with the flight agent and she doesn't think that way. Of course I had no choice but to pay the fee.

What do you guys think? If I'm flying to Asia on Cathay and they're allowing 2 checked bags from North America, should that rule be carried over to the connection flight as well???

If I'm flying AC to Hong Kong, I'm exempt the extra bags between YEG and YVR, but why not with CX and WJ?

I booked the flight on Cathay Pacific.ca so everything should match CX's policy. no?

...

If I'm flying AC to Hong Kong, I'm exempt the extra bags between YEG and YVR, but why not with CX and WJ?

In theory, yes, it should be CX's policy that applies. In practice it seems to always be the policies of the operating carrier that apply.

If you are flying AC to Hong Kong, you are on an itinerary that is entirely operated by AC, and AC's policy for Asia is 2 free bags, so your comparision isn't quite valid. This happens on AC codeshares too. For example, if you are on a AC flight operated by UA, you will be subject to UA’s baggage policy if your first flight for that portion of the trip is with UA. For example, last year AC allowed 2 free bags to the USA, and UA only allowed 1. A friend of mine travelling on an AC codeshare operated by UA had to pay for their 2nd bag.

In theory, yes, it should be CX's policy that applies. In practice it seems to always be the policies of the operating carrier that apply.

If you are flying AC to Hong Kong, you are on an itinerary that is entirely operated by AC, and AC's policy for Asia is 2 free bags, so your comparision isn't quite valid. This happens on AC codeshares too. For example, if you are on a AC flight operated by UA, you will be subject to UA’s baggage policy if your first flight for that portion of the trip is with UA. For example, last year AC allowed 2 free bags to the USA, and UA only allowed 1. A friend of mine travelling on an AC codeshare operated by UA had to pay for their 2nd bag.

well that sucks.
Then all customers that live in non hub cities will get screwed over because they have to connect via other airlines.
I guess I'll need to stick to Air Canada for now if I'm going to Hong Kong and avoid connections with Westjet if I'm travelling internationally.
I love westjet and Cathay, but this little baggage rule is confusing alot of passengers and limiting their options.

This SUCKS! I am very very dissapointed! Snowboard trips were ALWAYS booked on Westjet so we couold check our gear at no cost.

CFH.. can you check the snow board at the gate?

Considering that you wouldn't be able to get it past security, I highly doubt it.

Considering that you wouldn't be able to get it past security, I highly doubt it.

Our stroller is bigger than a snow board.. I was unaware that you can't bring a snowboard past security.

What's the rules again for gate checks?