WestJet Rewards - Does WJ do priority boarding?

Is there a way to get priority boarding on WJ?

I want to be certain to have space for my 20" bag.

If you are traveling with kids or need assistance are about the only ways. Other than that they pre board exit rows so the can do the safety blab before other passengers get on. Beyond that everyone is the same and you takes your chances.

Stand near the front of the gate, or book an exit row.

I really wish they would offer priority to their FF members who hit the 4500 or 6000 threshold. Not sure why they don't. It would be good advertising too ("If you are a member of our diamond or platinum (or whatever) levels, please board now")

Wheelchair passengers and unaccompanied minors get super preboard prior to any announcements being made.

Westjet does preboard for infants, elderly not in wheelchairs, people with cabin pets, and exit row passengers.

General Boarding is the entire airplane for general baording no differentiation between row number, seat location or BP code.

That said Westjet also calls for boarding a little earlier than the competition. So if the OP wants the carryon in the overhead, get to the gate early.

Also word of warning that Westjet is a little ancy about the size and weight restrictions for carry on, especially if yoy checkin using the kiosks (an agent is likely to question the traveller) or checkin (where they will ask for tha bag to be weighed.

Wheelchair passengers and unaccompanied minors get super preboard prior to any announcements being made.

Sorry, a little off topic, but just want to clarify: Westjet does NOT offer unaccompanied minor service anymore.

This seems rather customer un-friendly. AC still offers this service on non-stop flights for a $100 fee.

I don't know exactly why the service was discontinued. It was replaced with a Guardian Fare service. What happens is a minor is accompanied by a guardian (be it parent or grandparent or whathaveyou) to their destination and the guardian must travel back to the originating airport within a certain period of time. There is a special fare for this service.

Is there a way to get priority boarding on WJ?

I want to be certain to have space for my 20" bag.

I have flown WJ dozens of times in the past few years and about 6x since the 2nd bag fee went into place.

I have never had an issue with finding space for over head bags. I've never seen any one else have problems either.

I usually wait until the last moment to board as well. At worst, if I am in row 1 or 2, I have to place it above row 3 or 4.

The overhead bins on 737NG's are cavernous. I doubt you will ever have an issue with overhead bags. Good luck!

The problem with UM's is that if you accept big money for taking them, there is an implied agreement that the UM will be "accompanied" for the entire flight, from start to finish. Sometimes, the little tykes run off in all directions in airports leaving the airline with having to explain to Mommy and Daddy and the media why their child wasn't "accompanied" for 100% of the journey for $100. Have you checked out what a babysitter costs per hour these days, and that's for kids, not unionized employees!

I think WJ has taken a "family first" approach that says that "we are not going to look after your kids from the time you check in to the time you reach the person picking your child up because, quite frankly, as a parent that is YOUR responsibility. What we will do is offer you a fare that allows you to be able to escort YOUR child YOURSELF. Yes, itt might take a little time out of your busy life from other more important things like playing sports or drinking with your friends, but you might find spending some quiet time with your young children on an extended plane ride might be a worthwhile and rewarding experience".

At least that's my take on it!

:)

Can confirm the exit row preboarding as did it several times to & from FLL recently. Note that WS exit rows weren't as roomy as others I've flown on so preboarding is pretty much it for advantages to being in these seats IMHO.

Can confirm the exit row preboarding as did it several times to & from FLL recently. Note that WS exit rows weren't as roomy as others I've flown on so preboarding is pretty much it for advantages to being in these seats IMHO.

On the -700 series, 12ABC and F are quite roomy and on the -600 series, it's 10ABCDEF that have the great leg space.

On the -700 series, 12ABC and F are quite roomy and on the -600 series, it's 10ABCDEF that have the great leg space.

I was in 12F on the 700 YEG-YYZ and it's nice that it has no seat in front of it so lots of leg room but the whole row really isn't a greater seat pitch as most emergency exit rows are, at least from my memory others. On the return YYZ-YEG it was a 600 and I was reseated into row 9C as there had been a family originally assigned there and it was called an emergency row so got to board early but found these seats are not more leg room and they don't recline.

If I were to travel WS more I'd commit more of these foibles to memory I suppose.