WestJet "Passenger Perks" - WestJet adds 11 new U.S. and international destinations

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CALGARY, July 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - WestJet today unveiled its largest-ever seasonal non-stop flight schedule, featuring a record eight new international destinations and three additional U.S. destinations for the winter of 2009-2010.

By late fall 2009, WestJet will operate service to 66 cities in more than 10 countries, as compared to 51 cities in eight countries one year ago.

Beginning in late fall, WestJet and WestJet Vacations will launch seasonal non-stop service to Varadero, Holguin and Cayo Coco, Cuba; Ixtapa and Cozumel, Mexico; St. Martin; Providenciales, Turks and Caicos; Freeport, Bahamas; Lihue (Kauai), Hawaii; Miami, Florida; and Atlantic City, New Jersey.

"This is another first for WestJet," said Chris Avery, WestJet's Vice-President, Revenue and Planning. "We have never announced as many destinations at one time, which demonstrates that we continue to deliver on our strategic plan by expanding our network and providing our world-class guest experience each and every day. We remain confident that in spite of the current economic conditions, WestJet's unsurpassed value and our status as Canada's preferred airline will see old friends and new guests alike flying with us this winter."

This new schedule also includes new, year-round service between Edmonton and Yellowknife and between Calgary and San Diego. WestJet launched both routes on a seasonal basis in May.

Atlantic City? Didn't see that one coming.

great to see some seasonal routes become year round and really nice to see all these new destinations. Now lets hope word gets out and these planes are full

Atlantic City? Didn't see that one coming.

Yeah, it is nice to see to bring more capacity growth in US. I didn't realize know where WS is inauguration new seasonal nonstop to MIA. Do you know where it coming from? Could you please put the specific schedules for me. It must to be more tougher competitive with AC, TS from FLL.

Could you please put the specific schedules for me.

The link in the OP has some fairly detailed schedule information.

Ditto on the Atlantic City announcement. I can see that destination being dropped off after a couple of weeks of empty planes.

Ditto on the Atlantic City announcement. I can see that destination being dropped off after a couple of weeks of empty planes.
Especially without any connections in Toronto for the return flight.

I am still very sceptical about the huge increase in flights to Mexico after the swine flu outbreak last spring.
Do you know where it coming from? Could you please put the specific schedules for me.
It is a daily flight to/from Toronto, YYZ 11:00 MIA 14:12 MIA 15:00 YYZ 17:51. They also have two daily flights between YYZ and FLL.

Ditto on the Atlantic City announcement. I can see that destination being dropped off after a couple of weeks of empty planes.

Atlantic City may be a backdoor attempt to access the Philly market. But I have to think there are more lucrative markets in the northeast, such as say Boston or Washington.

My lament with West Jet is that I wish they realize there is more to the U.S. than Florida, California, Hawaii, Arizona, Vegas and New Jersey. Or do they not care if they surrender the rest of that market to Air Canada or Porter?

Atlantic City may be a backdoor attempt to access the Philly market. But I have to think there are more lucrative markets in the northeast, such as say Boston or Washington.

My lament with West Jet is that I wish they realize there is more to the U.S. than Florida, California, Hawaii, Arizona, Vegas and New Jersey. Or do they not care if they surrender the rest of that market to Air Canada or Porter?

One word: Chicago

Especially without any connections in Toronto for the return flight.

I am still very sceptical about the huge increase in flights to Mexico after the swine flu outbreak last spring.

It is a daily flight to/from Toronto, YYZ 11:00 MIA 14:12 MIA 15:00 YYZ 17:51. They also have two daily flights between YYZ and FLL.

What about the passengers will able go to pre-clear bound for USA flight? This is where are going flying out of YYZ-MIA to get clearance at Customs/Immigrations in YYZ. So whether if the passengers will not able cleared at Customs im MIA.

Another option to Cuba ^ Excellent.

What about the passengers will able go to pre-clear bound for USA flight? This is where are going flying out of YYZ-MIA to get clearance at Customs/Immigrations in YYZ. So whether if the passengers will not able cleared at Customs im MIA.

They will clear customs in YYZ, not MIA.

They will clear customs in YYZ, not MIA.

Thanks. Hope WS will be very successful routes for YYZ-MIA nonstop and if they will have to be extendable to becoming year-round. Things to do for WS will be extremely performance very well. It will have more tougher competitive with AC, AA are already existing service. WS will have take the advantage where the passengers will catch the cruise connection in MIA. Do you know which the concourse where WS will be there in MIA?

Atlantic City. Uh yeah, that must be the "low hanging fruit" WS boasted was still around waiting to be picked.:rolleyes:

Atlantic City. Uh yeah, that must be the "low hanging fruit" WS boasted was still around waiting to be picked.:rolleyes:

You'll let us know when AC starts making money again, won't you? :rolleyes:

I've never talked to anybody who's been to Atlantic City, but isn't Atlantic City supposedly the Las Vegas of the East? Much like Disneyland is often frequented by folks in the West and Disneyworld is the choice for peeps in the East?

I've never talked to anybody who's been to Atlantic City, but isn't Atlantic City supposedly the Las Vegas of the East? Much like Disneyland is often frequented by folks in the West and Disneyworld is the choice for peeps in the East?

It's certainly not on the same scale.
In addition, it's relatively inexpensive to fly to LAS from YYZ. Same cannot usually be said for SNA.

I've never talked to anybody who's been to Atlantic City, but isn't Atlantic City supposedly the Las Vegas of the East? Much like Disneyland is often frequented by folks in the West and Disneyworld is the choice for peeps in the East?

If you could imagine a seedier, shadier, colder, less impressive casino town with much less casino selection & generally high hotel rates, you'd be approximating Atlantic City very well.

Atlantic City isn't very far from Cape May (45 minutes), which is a really beautiful East Coast community to visit and stay in. Quite moderate in the winter.

Atlantic City isn't very far from Cape May (45 minutes), which is a really beautiful East Coast community to visit and stay in. Quite moderate in the winter.

Well, everywhere is close to something. It's also close to New York City & Philly, for that matter. But, I think WS is overestimating the number of people that will or will not fill its planes on that route.

I just found it surprising that Atlantic City is chosen, and cities with huge demand (like Chicago) are snubbed.

You'll let us know when AC starts making money again, won't you? :rolleyes:

No, absolutely not. I am not even talking about AC are still losing the money yet again. You don't have worry about AC is still having a problems the financial. It's not possibility for AC will try to save the money and save the employment in the headquarters.

I just found it surprising that Atlantic City is chosen, and cities with huge demand (like Chicago) are snubbed.

perhaps westjet was going to fly to chicago midway for the southwest code share and decided to change gears and get into o'hare after the code share was delayed?

i find the chicago snub weird too

I just found it surprising that Atlantic City is chosen,

People also found YXX, YQQ & YZF surprising.

People also found YXX, YQQ & YZF surprising.

YZF surprising? One of the busiest destinations for the Canadian oil and gas and mining industries? I have never flown to YZF with the plane being anything but completely full.

Isn't Chicago more of a summer destination anyway?

Isn't Chicago more of a summer destination anyway?

Not necessarily. I've been there for New Year's Eve with hundreds of thousands of other revelers.

perhaps westjet was going to fly to chicago midway for the southwest code share and decided to change gears and get into o'hare after the code share was delayed?

i find the chicago snub weird too

Perhaps WS is throwing Porter a bone, and hoping they'll help bleed AC. Not that I'd ever suggest they were conspiring in anti-competitive manner.

Perhaps WS is throwing Porter a bone, and hoping they'll help bleed AC. Not that I'd ever suggest they were conspiring in anti-competitive manner.

Imagine if WS had a freq. flyer program, esp. in OW. I'd ditch AC and put 100% of my domestic business into WS in a heartbeat. I wish the execs would realize that the only thing between them and bankrupting AC is membership in a frequent flyer alliance.

At least it is when it comes to ME - there are probably many other factors I'm too tired to consider at this time of night. But, until they do, I'll never step foot on WS (assuming cost, factoring in mileage value is equal or less on AC).

Imagine if WS had a freq. flyer program, esp. in OW. I'd ditch AC and put 100% of my domestic business into WS in a heartbeat. I wish the execs would realize that the only thing between them and bankrupting AC is membership in a frequent flyer alliance.

At least it is when it comes to ME - there are probably many other factors I'm too tired to consider at this time of night. But, until they do, I'll never step foot on WS (assuming cost, factoring in mileage value is equal or less on AC).

For a lot of others, the zero possibility of upgrading to J on WS keeps them away, never mind the FFP or an alliance.

For a lot of others, the zero possibility of upgrading to J on WS keeps them away, never mind the FFP or an alliance.

Unless you're a short-haul flyer (e.g. the "Tarmac-to-Tarmac" service on DH8, or if you're lucky, a CRJ, from YEG-YYC, or YOW-YUL, or YHZ-anywhere in Atlantic Canada, or YXU-YYZ and YOW) where upgrades before the international segments are pointless. If they can manage to finagle upgrades on transatlantic segments, I bet they'd lure a lot of flyers to their program.

That being said, lounge access is important too, and there's not a lot in the way of (post-security) lounges for OW or WS.

Either way, they seem to be eating AC's lunch financially, so they're doing something right - if they can lure business travellers from AC, so much better for them.

Atlantic City. Uh yeah, that must be the "low hanging fruit" WS boasted was still around waiting to be picked.:rolleyes:

ACY's management arm, the South Jersey Transportation Authority, has been pulling off some coups recently between WS and FL.

I've never talked to anybody who's been to Atlantic City, but isn't Atlantic City supposedly the Las Vegas of the East? Much like Disneyland is often frequented by folks in the West and Disneyworld is the choice for peeps in the East?

Atlantic City is, according to their marketing material, within an average gas tank's distance of one-third of the national population, or something close to that. Their vast majority of traffic arrives by road, whether it be individuals or groups in cars or by rail. Also, people who fly into the area for business often fly into PHL and rent a car...thereby leading those people to be counted as road arrivals. The core target markets for AC are the population centers of the Northeast and as far west as Cleveland/Columbus.

It's certainly not on the same scale.

It isn't, but it is making huge steps as compared to several years ago.

If you could imagine a seedier, shadier, colder, less impressive casino town with much less casino selection & generally high hotel rates, you'd be approximating Atlantic City very well.

Don't forget that those high hotel rates often do not get you a room that is in the top few tiers of those available. The casinos in Atlantic City look at themselves as gaming locations that regrettably have this pesky hotel thing attached. At least Las Vegas pays attention to the room product. I was a concierge in Atlantic City and a front desk agent before that - trust me...non-casino guests are at the bottom of the ladder.

Atlantic City isn't very far from Cape May (45 minutes), which is a really beautiful East Coast community to visit and stay in. Quite moderate in the winter.

Cape May is beautiful but infamous for being a very insular community that is friendly to the three big groups only. Those three are the sizable gay community that comes to Cape May, the Coast Guard community and their families (USCG Basic Training is in Cape May), and the B&B community. The Cape May PD has drawn bad press for setting up speed traps and pulling over nearly any car without an NJ plate. It is a tourist town that loves tourist dollars but doesn't really want the presence of tourists.

But, I think WS is overestimating the number of people that will or will not fill its planes on that route.

I just found it surprising that Atlantic City is chosen, and cities with huge demand (like Chicago) are snubbed.

To your first point, it would not at all surprise me if WS uses the 737-600, given that it is the equipment with the fewest seats. When SJTA signed FL to fly from ATL, the press release left out that the flights are 717 and not 737-equipped.

My issue with the ACY flights is the atrocious timing. Spirit and the NJ Air National Guard do not monopolize the main runway at ACY to the point that WS was forced into the block times that it took. I can very authoritatively say that about 21 hours out of the day are totally free and clear on that airfield. I'm a New Jersey Devils fan that lives 30 minutes from ACY, 80 minutes from PHL, and 90+ minutes from EWR. I'd love to fly WS to YYZ to see a Devils-Leafs game. But I'd have to stay in Toronto two nights to do so.

Chicago was not snubbed, IMO. MDW is on hold until WN invites them in.