WestJet launches Basic Economy
Feb 27, 2018, 11:51 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: The World
Programs: WS Platinum, Marriott Titanium, DL Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 1,478
WestJet launches Basic Economy
WestJet has joined AC and the U.S. legacy carriers ... now offering a new, bottom-of-the-barrel fare class.
It's called "Econo (Lowest)", as opposed to the previously-lowest fare which is called "Econo". (No, that won't cause any confusion at all.)
Here's the text, just updated on WestJet's web-site:
Econo (Lowest)
Available on select routes and flights, this basic economy fare is for you if your plans are set in stone and you don’t mind where you sit. We understand that you just want to get to your destination for less than other available fares. If you select this option, please understand that this is our most restrictive fare, and it’s non-refundable. You are not able to make changes, so if cancelled more than 24-hours after booking, no funds will be placed in a Travel Bank account. Your seats will be assigned at the time of check in, but, if needed, your seats can be changed at this time, for a fee. Also, WestJet dollars cannot be earned on this fare.8,14
And here's the fine print for "8" and "14", referenced in the description:
8 / All fares are non-refundable to the original form of payment except for Plus (Flexible). After the cancellation fee has been assessed, the remainder will be placed in a Travel Bank for future use. The exception is Econo (Lowest), which is non-refundable after 24 hours of booking.
14 / An Econo (Lowest) fare will have a seat assigned during check in; guests have the option to move to another seat for an additional fee at time of check in. In the event a seat number is not automatically generated after checking in, a seat will be assigned at the gate before boarding.
Source is here:
https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel...-fares/options
In short:
- no changes at all, not even for a change fee
- no WestJet Rewards dollar accrual or credit
- no upgrading to Plus
- they choose and automatically assign the seat to you at T-24 hours, or - sometimes, it says - you won't get a seat assigned until you're at the gate, just prior to boarding
- if you don't like your seat, you pay (even though you're in the check-in window) to change to a different seat
It's called "Econo (Lowest)", as opposed to the previously-lowest fare which is called "Econo". (No, that won't cause any confusion at all.)
Here's the text, just updated on WestJet's web-site:
Econo (Lowest)
Available on select routes and flights, this basic economy fare is for you if your plans are set in stone and you don’t mind where you sit. We understand that you just want to get to your destination for less than other available fares. If you select this option, please understand that this is our most restrictive fare, and it’s non-refundable. You are not able to make changes, so if cancelled more than 24-hours after booking, no funds will be placed in a Travel Bank account. Your seats will be assigned at the time of check in, but, if needed, your seats can be changed at this time, for a fee. Also, WestJet dollars cannot be earned on this fare.8,14
8 / All fares are non-refundable to the original form of payment except for Plus (Flexible). After the cancellation fee has been assessed, the remainder will be placed in a Travel Bank for future use. The exception is Econo (Lowest), which is non-refundable after 24 hours of booking.
14 / An Econo (Lowest) fare will have a seat assigned during check in; guests have the option to move to another seat for an additional fee at time of check in. In the event a seat number is not automatically generated after checking in, a seat will be assigned at the gate before boarding.
https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel...-fares/options
In short:
- no changes at all, not even for a change fee
- no WestJet Rewards dollar accrual or credit
- no upgrading to Plus
- they choose and automatically assign the seat to you at T-24 hours, or - sometimes, it says - you won't get a seat assigned until you're at the gate, just prior to boarding
- if you don't like your seat, you pay (even though you're in the check-in window) to change to a different seat
Last edited by FlyerJ; Feb 27, 2018 at 12:29 pm
Feb 27, 2018, 12:44 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: PHX
Programs: AAexp, AC75k, HertzPC, NationalEE, Accor/MariottP, Hilton/HyattG
Posts: 3,614
By no upgrading to Plus, do you mean no calling in to change fare class to Plus or no option to do the 24 hour upgrade to Plus?
This pretty much killed WS for me for any work related travel. Was really hoping they didn't follow suit... Would still fly WS if LMU to Plus is available for non stop vacation flights.
This pretty much killed WS for me for any work related travel. Was really hoping they didn't follow suit... Would still fly WS if LMU to Plus is available for non stop vacation flights.
Feb 27, 2018, 1:25 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 1,444
By no upgrading to Plus, do you mean no calling in to change fare class to Plus or no option to do the 24 hour upgrade to Plus?
This pretty much killed WS for me for any work related travel. Was really hoping they didn't follow suit... Would still fly WS if LMU to Plus is available for non stop vacation flights.
This pretty much killed WS for me for any work related travel. Was really hoping they didn't follow suit... Would still fly WS if LMU to Plus is available for non stop vacation flights.
Feb 27, 2018, 1:26 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Fairmont Plat, IHG Spire, SPG Gold, WS Gold, Hertz PC, National E Elite,
Posts: 2,768
By no upgrading to Plus, do you mean no calling in to change fare class to Plus or no option to do the 24 hour upgrade to Plus?
This pretty much killed WS for me for any work related travel. Was really hoping they didn't follow suit... Would still fly WS if LMU to Plus is available for non stop vacation flights.
This pretty much killed WS for me for any work related travel. Was really hoping they didn't follow suit... Would still fly WS if LMU to Plus is available for non stop vacation flights.
Feb 27, 2018, 2:09 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: WS Nothing, AC Something, AS Gold. Too big for 737Max washrooms
Posts: 893
By no upgrading to Plus, do you mean no calling in to change fare class to Plus or no option to do the 24 hour upgrade to Plus?
This pretty much killed WS for me for any work related travel. Was really hoping they didn't follow suit... Would still fly WS if LMU to Plus is available for non stop vacation flights.
This pretty much killed WS for me for any work related travel. Was really hoping they didn't follow suit... Would still fly WS if LMU to Plus is available for non stop vacation flights.
Feb 27, 2018, 3:22 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Canada
Programs: Marriott Plat; Air Canada E75K; Westjet Platinum
Posts: 1,161
Oh boy, here we go following AC. Why not be different and not follow AC? Will Econo Lowest be rock bottom prices? Why do they need to create this when Swoop is supposed to take care of the no frill rock bottom price sensitive traveller?
As for seats auto assigned during check in with no ability to choose, what about families with children? Will they auto assign them together? I would expect Swoop level prices for this Econo Lowest fare.
As for seats auto assigned during check in with no ability to choose, what about families with children? Will they auto assign them together? I would expect Swoop level prices for this Econo Lowest fare.
Last edited by Sunny Day; Feb 27, 2018 at 3:36 pm
Feb 27, 2018, 3:38 pm
#8
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: The World
Programs: WS Platinum, Marriott Titanium, DL Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 1,478
My employer’s online travel booking system no longer defaults to the lowest fare ... at least for U.S. carriers. (It’s a U.S. company.). “Lowest available fare” used to be company policy, but they’ve decided that the Basic Economy products of UA, DL, et al are too restrictive for business travel.
I sure hope they do the same thing for WS and AC.
I sure hope they do the same thing for WS and AC.
Feb 27, 2018, 5:07 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: PHX
Programs: AAexp, AC75k, HertzPC, NationalEE, Accor/MariottP, Hilton/HyattG
Posts: 3,614
Ugh yeah I don't have a choice, I need to book the lowest fare with WS and this kills it for me 
I have a 100% success ratio of upgrading to plus at LMU, has been amazing value
I have a 100% success ratio of upgrading to plus at LMU, has been amazing value
Feb 27, 2018, 9:14 pm
#10
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,134
Sounds like I picked the right time to cancel my WestJet credit card and bail on the airline.
I don't know about DL, but UA doesn't even offer Basic Economy on flights to/from Canada.
I don't know about DL, but UA doesn't even offer Basic Economy on flights to/from Canada.
Feb 27, 2018, 10:47 pm
#11
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: The World
Programs: WS Platinum, Marriott Titanium, DL Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 1,478
Not sure I understand why this would make someone abandon WestJet and the WJ credit card specifically?? Almost every single legacy airline in North America now either has “Basic” — or has announced it. (I think only Alaska hasn’t — yet.). And all of them - for the time being - are deploying it on “select routes”. There’s really nowhere to go to escape it.
Feb 27, 2018, 11:00 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: YYZ/YUL
Programs: UA 1K, AC nadda, DL, WS-Nadda
Posts: 1,476
