Westjet charges for first checked bag
#1
Formerly known as tireman77
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 5,488
Westjet charges for first checked bag
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,643
But also made some big changes to the earn rates on spend. I know NOTHING about this program, so maybe somebody who knows more can say whether the changes were good or bad.
http://www.westjet.com/guest/en/rewa...tiers-20140915
Mike
http://www.westjet.com/guest/en/rewa...tiers-20140915
Mike
#3
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 31
Interesting - I can't comment much on the earning levels as I've mostly stuck to Air Canada the last few years. There are some some perks at the Gold Level that will be enticing to the the frequent domestic flyers such as priority boarding, 2 free checked bags, and free same day flight changes.
I wonder if West Jet will offer any sort of status matching to try and capture more of the business flyer market?
I wonder if West Jet will offer any sort of status matching to try and capture more of the business flyer market?
#4
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: AC E50K (*G), Westjet Gold
Posts: 788
I wonder what percentage of pax this will affect? I'm guessing it will be a good number, mostly leisure pax, who end up just carrying more onto the plane instead.
Is Westjet going to step up and start enforcing carry on limits consistently now? I have a 20x14x8 carry on and won't be happy to have to gate check it because there isn't any room for it on a 737 because of oversized bags!
Is Westjet going to step up and start enforcing carry on limits consistently now? I have a 20x14x8 carry on and won't be happy to have to gate check it because there isn't any room for it on a 737 because of oversized bags!
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,643
WestJet investor relations said that their estimate is that it will affect 20% of passengers, and that's accounting for those who switch to a carry-on.
Mike
Mike
#6
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,123
They are not just introducing a fee for the first bag. They're also increasing fees for the second, third, and fourth bags, increasing the fees for overweight and oversize luggage, increasing the fees for a checked kennel, and on top of it, increasing the fee to upgrade to Plus at check-in for longer flights. This is one big cash grab.
And it's coming from one of the most profitable airlines in North America -- one that consistently turns a profit, and exceeded it's return on invested capital goal (12% -- already high for an airline) for the last two years. They don't need the money. This is just corporate greed.
WestJet was built on the premise of offering high-value customer-friendly service. This has slowly been whittled away over the last 5 years or so. The lack of baggage fees was one of the few things left. Now, WestJet has grown up and is just the same as everyone else -- except they still have an awful frequent flier program.
And it's coming from one of the most profitable airlines in North America -- one that consistently turns a profit, and exceeded it's return on invested capital goal (12% -- already high for an airline) for the last two years. They don't need the money. This is just corporate greed.
WestJet was built on the premise of offering high-value customer-friendly service. This has slowly been whittled away over the last 5 years or so. The lack of baggage fees was one of the few things left. Now, WestJet has grown up and is just the same as everyone else -- except they still have an awful frequent flier program.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: YXY
Posts: 3,506
Hahahaha! Earlier today, I was preaching to a friend about how simple and fair the WestJet Dollar program is. My friend needs to empty her RBC Rewards points account, and she was torn between buying Shoppers Drugmart points or WestJet Dollars, both at a comparable three digit value.
Then I read the news, so I sent a text to my friend that there will be a $25 bag fee. The reply was short: "Holy sh it"
I guess the transaction will go to Shoppers Drugmart. Not that WestJet would mind, with their "updated" baggage allowance.
Myself, I really should have offloaded my WestJet Dollar balance earlier. But I always expected Air Canada to be the first to pull the trigger.
PS: My friend is spending the RBC Rewards points before changing the credit card. The RBC WestJet card was one of the contenders. No longer.
Then I read the news, so I sent a text to my friend that there will be a $25 bag fee. The reply was short: "Holy sh it"
I guess the transaction will go to Shoppers Drugmart. Not that WestJet would mind, with their "updated" baggage allowance.
Myself, I really should have offloaded my WestJet Dollar balance earlier. But I always expected Air Canada to be the first to pull the trigger.
PS: My friend is spending the RBC Rewards points before changing the credit card. The RBC WestJet card was one of the contenders. No longer.
Last edited by sokolov; Sep 15, 2014 at 4:12 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: Marriott Titanium, AC E50, National Exec
Posts: 516
Hahahaha! Earlier today, I was preaching to a friend about how simple and fair the WestJet Dollar program is. My friend needs to empty her RBC Rewards points account, and she was torn between buying Shoppers Drugmart points or WestJet Dollars, both at a comparable three digit value.
Then I read the news, so I sent a text to my friend that there will be a $25 bag fee. The reply was short: "Holy sh it"
I guess the transaction will go to Shoppers Drugmart. Not that WestJet would mind, with their "updated" baggage allowance.
Myself, I really should have offloaded my WestJet Dollar balance earlier. But I always expected Air Canada to be the first to pull the trigger.
Then I read the news, so I sent a text to my friend that there will be a $25 bag fee. The reply was short: "Holy sh it"
I guess the transaction will go to Shoppers Drugmart. Not that WestJet would mind, with their "updated" baggage allowance.
Myself, I really should have offloaded my WestJet Dollar balance earlier. But I always expected Air Canada to be the first to pull the trigger.
#9
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: YXY
Posts: 3,506
My friend: No. It was under consideration, but it would not have been the Elite version.
Me, I had first the World and then the World Elite. I gave it up last year for two reasons:
1) They had increased the fee by 25% and promised improvements, which never came. (As of the end of next month, they'll include 1 "free" bag. Wow, what an improvement to provide something that was always included in the ticket.)
2) The "$99 companion ticket" is not what the advertisement says. When I tried to book one, they added some hidden fees which the Superagents could not explain. Also, there has to be space in the same booking class as the fully paid for ticket. If you buy the last ticket in a booking class, the companion ticket will cost more than $99 + taxes + fees + hidden fees.
#10
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Calgary
Programs: Altitude E50K, WS Gold (status match)
Posts: 1,211
The "$99 companion ticket" is not what the advertisement says. When I tried to book one, they added some hidden fees which the Superagents could not explain. Also, there has to be space in the same booking class as the fully paid for ticket. If you buy the last ticket in a booking class, the companion ticket will cost more than $99 + taxes + fees + hidden fees.
#11
Company Representative: WestJet
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Calgary
Programs: WestJet Rewards
Posts: 292
#12
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 1,931
WestJet was built on the premise of offering high-value customer-friendly service. This has slowly been whittled away over the last 5 years or so. The lack of baggage fees was one of the few things left. Now, WestJet has grown up and is just the same as everyone else -- except they still have an awful frequent flier program.
Booo WestJet for being - in the end - just like everybody else.
#13
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: YXY
Posts: 3,506
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/westj...-vouchers.html
(The apparent markup was $64, but since the fare was 99 and not 318, there should also have been about $11 savings in GST. 318-99*0.05=10.95 )
I do not have a PNR because I refused to book.
And that was a markup on the already higher fare of $318+tx&fees=$499 per person. If I had booked a single ticket, it would have been less than $499 because I could have taken the last seat in a cheaper fare bucket. I don't remember the exact price, but as I recall, two tickets (one fully paid, one with companion voucher) were about double the cost of a single, fully paid ticket. The difference was around $20. Woohoo!
While we are on the topic of unexplained charges: Whenever I spent my WestJet Dollars, HST/GST was assessed on the FULL price. Why is that? WestJet Dollars are not actual money, I never gave you that money, so why tax it?
Example for illustration: A ticket (without taxes and fees) costs $100. GST on that is $5. OK, so $105 altogether. Now I use 50 WestJet Dollars. This would mean a $50 payment plus 2.50 GST = $52.50. In reality, WestJet charges $55.
This doesn't make sense to me. Everywhere else, loyalty-discounts are tax-free.
Last edited by sokolov; Sep 17, 2014 at 1:20 pm
#14
Formerly known as tireman77
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 5,488
In my case, when I tried to use the companion voucher for a trip to the US and back, there was a significant extra charge (about $75) that the Superagent was unable to explain. It was discussed here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/westj...-vouchers.html
(The apparent markup was $64, but since the fare was 99 and not 318, there should also have been about $11 savings in GST. 318-99*0.05=10.95 )
I do not have a PNR because I refused to book.
And that was a markup on the already higher fare of $318+tx&fees=$499 per person. If I had booked a single ticket, it would have been less than $499 because I could have taken the last seat in a cheaper fare bucket. I don't remember the exact price, but as I recall, two tickets (one fully paid, one with companion voucher) were about double the cost of a single, fully paid ticket. The difference was around $20. Woohoo!
While we are on the topic of unexplained charges: Whenever I spent my WestJet Dollars, HST/GST was assessed on the FULL price. Why is that? WestJet Dollars are not actual money, I never gave you that money, so why tax it?
Example for illustration: A ticket (without taxes and fees) costs $100. GST on that is $5. OK, so $105 altogether. Now I use 50 WestJet Dollars. This would mean a $50 payment plus 2.50 GST = $52.50. In reality, WestJet charges $55.
This doesn't make sense to me. Everywhere else, loyalty-discounts are tax-free.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/westj...-vouchers.html
(The apparent markup was $64, but since the fare was 99 and not 318, there should also have been about $11 savings in GST. 318-99*0.05=10.95 )
I do not have a PNR because I refused to book.
And that was a markup on the already higher fare of $318+tx&fees=$499 per person. If I had booked a single ticket, it would have been less than $499 because I could have taken the last seat in a cheaper fare bucket. I don't remember the exact price, but as I recall, two tickets (one fully paid, one with companion voucher) were about double the cost of a single, fully paid ticket. The difference was around $20. Woohoo!
While we are on the topic of unexplained charges: Whenever I spent my WestJet Dollars, HST/GST was assessed on the FULL price. Why is that? WestJet Dollars are not actual money, I never gave you that money, so why tax it?
Example for illustration: A ticket (without taxes and fees) costs $100. GST on that is $5. OK, so $105 altogether. Now I use 50 WestJet Dollars. This would mean a $50 payment plus 2.50 GST = $52.50. In reality, WestJet charges $55.
This doesn't make sense to me. Everywhere else, loyalty-discounts are tax-free.
As an example, there used to be tire companies that offer rebates right on the invoice. We would charge the rebate before taxes. Apparently that was a no-no and a certain tire company got an interesting bill.
Rebates should be considered after tax, so in your example, the charge is $100 + 5%, for $105 minus your $50 so you pay $55.
If you don't like that definition, you'll have to take it up with Revenue Canada, not Westjet.
#15
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: YYZ/YHM
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Air Canada 50K, United Silver, Accor Platinum, Others on Rotation
Posts: 359
I am dissapointed by the announcement.
WestJet was already profitable.
This is a jettison of a core value or, at a minimum, a breach of a promise made to the public.
It is at the expense of the traveling public for the benefit of shareholders and expansion plans and it makes me wonder what else WestJet is willing to sacrifice.
WestJet used to stand out. I struggle to see how it is any different from the competition. . . . except I suppose the occasional Christmas commercial where one flight gets everything they want.
WestJet was already profitable.
This is a jettison of a core value or, at a minimum, a breach of a promise made to the public.
It is at the expense of the traveling public for the benefit of shareholders and expansion plans and it makes me wonder what else WestJet is willing to sacrifice.
WestJet used to stand out. I struggle to see how it is any different from the competition. . . . except I suppose the occasional Christmas commercial where one flight gets everything they want.