West Jet eliminates their fuel surcharge

[Scrambler]

Wow, this is big news.

http://c3dsp.westjet.com/guest/spare2.jsp

The only thing I'm unhappy about is that I booked flights to the West Caost not too long ago and the same flights are now $60 cheaper.

But I am happy with the stance that West Jet is taking with this. Air Canada will have to begrudgingly do the same thing. Though many airlines are going under due to what they claim to be higher fuel costs, I can tell all of you that the biggest problem for them was poor management and business planning, a problem that West Jet never seems to have.

An airline I won't mention that I sell a lot has a fuel surcharge per passenger that is far more than necessary. A lot of this 'fuel cost' which is seperate from the revenue portion of the ticket (base fare), has been going into slush funds and actually is revenue. Lots of it.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Yeah, this is already being discussed in the thread about charging for baggage.

[vodafone_b]

I've also booked a flight with them literally a couple of days ago to NY, and now the total saving comes to >180 for the two tickets that I have booked. This may be a silly question but is there a price protection or some sort? I find that it is quite unfair they just drop their surcharge out of nowhere, while earning a profit now on the advance booking travellers........

[Dogbert]

I was watching The National a week ago, and they did a story that mainly dealt with fuel surcharges. A WestJet representative was interviewed, and he said that the company wouldn't be dropping its fuel surcharges until the price of oil stabilized. Gotta love the BS they feed us.

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by Dogbert

I was watching The National a week ago, and they did a story that mainly dealt with fuel surcharges. A WestJet representative was interviewed, and he said that the company wouldn't be dropping its fuel surcharges until the price of oil stabilized. Gotta love the BS they feed us.

The price of oil has stabilized considerably since last week

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by Dogbert

I was watching The National a week ago, and they did a story that mainly dealt with fuel surcharges. A WestJet representative was interviewed, and he said that the company wouldn't be dropping its fuel surcharges until the price of oil stabilized. Gotta love the BS they feed us.

maybe the price stabilized?

[HotHotHeat]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

maybe the price stabilized?

That depends if free falls mean stable.

[JackJack]

Just like we said we would.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by vodafone_b

I've also booked a flight with them literally a couple of days ago to NY, and now the total saving comes to >180 for the two tickets that I have booked. This may be a silly question but is there a price protection or some sort? I find that it is quite unfair they just drop their surcharge out of nowhere, while earning a profit now on the advance booking travellers........

I heard on the news that you can get reimbursed (minus a "processing fee" ) for the difference in the form of a credit toward a future flight. You have to call Westjet or go to their website or something.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

That depends if free falls mean stable.

Or it can mean their business 'stabilizes' at a certain cost of crude or lower.

Or maybe to them a free fall stabilizes their economics.

Unless they said what stabilizes means it's disingenuous to call them liars.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Scrambler

Though many airlines are going under due to what they claim to be higher fuel costs, I can tell all of you that the biggest problem for them was poor management and business planning, a problem that West Jet never seems to have.

Truly impressive company. To continue to grow in time were most airlines are in trouble really shows how well this company is run. A model for any other NA airline.

[vodafone_b]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I heard on the news that you can get reimbursed (minus a "processing fee" ) for the difference in the form of a credit toward a future flight. You have to call Westjet or go to their website or something.

thanks! Just got off the call with WestJet, and they were really helpful. My total difference was 250, and minus the processing fees (100, 50 for each), I got back a credit of 150. Yes, I know the processing fees are a bit much, but it is better than getting nothing back! Thanks 4x4!

[krazycanuck]

Wow! I've always liked flying westjet...this is just awesome though!

[HelloHockeyFans]

Thank goodness I haven't booked my trip back to Vancouver for XMAS yet!

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by fotze

Westjet did this to react to Air Canada dropping the fees, but since I was watching this morning AC upped their base fares to higher than before the drop. (I admit this was only on one route)

I say fine. Put the price of the flight into the cost of the ticket. I just wish they would do this with the rest of the fees. The only extra fee they should be charging is GST.

[BuzzardsWife]

i just bought tickets a couple weeks ago to mexico..for 2 tickets it cost me 700 dollars in fuel charges and taxes

[sclitheroe]

Do airlines hedge their fuel purchases, or are they obligated to "fill up at the pumps" at each airport? I know the railways hedge fuel purchasing really aggressively, and it helps them tremendously to manage their operating costs.

I always wondered about this

[flamersfan]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

Do airlines hedge their fuel purchases, or are they obligated to "fill up at the pumps" at each airport? I know the railways hedge fuel purchasing really aggressively, and it helps them tremendously to manage their operating costs.

I always wondered about this

I think Southwest Airlines is some ridiculously low price for fuel to to hedging.

[chid]

Its not a processing fee, basically in the west jet system they have to 're-book' the flights to get the new price without the surcharge. The $50 per person is the standard fee to change or cancel flights, its basically what is being done. If the fares are more expensive when you call then when you originally booked youre basically not saving a thing, but today I saved a guy 686 bucks because he booked way back in June, called about the surcharge but found him seat sales for the flights. He was basically losing it.

[loob job]

Flying in Canada is still a joke. Look at how cheap it is to fly in the usa among cities. Then compare that to flying within canada ie, calgary to toronto. Two airlines does nothing for price savings.