Westjet losing focus and customers?

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Is this even that much of an issue anymore? I know they use that as a big selling feature, but 9 times out of 10 I'm using my laptop or tablet and watching what I want anyways.

i thought this way too, and had my laptop full of TV shows for a 12 hour flight with Cathay Pacific. but after awhile i got bored of what i had stored on my netbook, so i checked out their movie selection. it was pretty awesome, a lot of brand new movies that weren't even on DVD yet, tons of TV shows to choose from, and all on a nice touch screen system. once i started using it i never opened my netbook again

[ThePrince]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

If you want to complain about how bad Canadian airline companies are please free to try one of the US airlines.
Once you see how these guys operate you will be back to WS or AC in no time.

This. I flew United about 2 weeks ago and it's complete crap compared to any of the Canadian airlines.

[Sylvanfan]

Back in 2009 I flew to South American on LAN Airlines, and was really impressed with their in flight entertainment package. For flights over 4 hours, I do think it could impact a customers choice.
Really Westjet cut it's teeth as a better option in the regional airline game. I don't know if they're up to snuff with the longer haul flights.

Don Bell from Westjet is a keynote speaker at a leadership function the company I work for is putting on this week. Depending on how his presentation is, and if they let schmucks ask questions, I was going to ask him about how you maintain the corporate culture as a company grows to the extent Westjet has. I've always worked in smaller companies and accountability is easy to control in a 4 person company. Whereas in a 1500 employee enterprise with managers in charge of 20 people, reporting to another manager overseeing 12 managers...it's easy to abuse things.

[moon]

I haven't travelled Westjet very much and when I did it was 5+ years ago but I never got the hype about them in when they were supposedly great. The stewardists were more annoying than friendly and the comfort of the seats/trip was way below AC.

I usually travel internationally so maybe internationally AC is better than they are domestically but with my limited experience on Westjet I don't see any reason I would choose them over AC or an American airliner.

[moon]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Is this even that much of an issue anymore? I know they use that as a big selling feature, but 9 times out of 10 I'm using my laptop or tablet and watching what I want anyways.

It was for me for sure especially when travelling with children.

As well if I am going overseas for 35+ days I usually like to keep my downloaded stuff on the computer for those days and not have the pain in the ass of having out on the plane.

[Cowperson]

I recently had to pay Westjet to have seats assigned.

That's might be a little too primitive for me and could mean I'll be flying with them the last time.

Cowperson

[Jbo]

Westjet reminds me more and more of the American airlines. Everything is starting to cost money. Have a 2nd checked bag, getting a drink (on an international flight) or even food, all of it costs money. The satellite goes out anywhere outside of Canada, and usually does not work well anyway. Oh and movies cost money too.

Westjet used to be great, but now costs are the same as AC. I'd rather fly an American airline and pay up to 50% less.

At least the price matches the service.

For long-haul flights, (4+ hours) Westjet is brutal.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

I recently had to pay Westjet to have seats assigned.

That's might be a little too primitive for me and could mean I'll be flying with them the last time.

Don't most airlines do this now?

[getbak]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

If you want to complain about how bad Canadian airline companies are please free to try one of the US airlines.
Once you see how these guys operate you will be back to WS or AC in no time.

They're garbage. The only reason I flew WestJet recently was because I was going to Chicago and my choices were either WestJet or United.

Try flying 15 hours from San Francisco to Sydney with the in-flight entertainment system (which was only overhead monitors showing one movie) breaking down an hour into the flight, and when you return 5 weeks later, it still wasn't fixed.

I vowed to never set foot on a United plane after that, especially when I was talking to some other Canadians in Australia who had great flights on Air Canada from Vancouver (with the added bonus of not needing to go through US Customs along the way).

[Jbo]

US Airways does not even have in-flight ANYTHING from Calgary to Phoenix

[zamler]

After flying Delta a few times, a Westjet flight felt like going to the Moon on the starship Enterprise. The service was fine, but the aircraft Delta has are quite honestly scary, I'm pretty sure a commercial jet is not supposed to make those noises.

[CedarMeter]

I haven't flown Westjet in a while. I fly to Phoenix quite a bit but U.S airways is always 75 dollars cheaper than them. When you're paying for two that's a 150 dollars savings. We never check bags cause we have all our clothes at the condo. It works out well. They use to be cheaper back in the day but not lately.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Don't most airlines do this now?

I have no idea. First time its happened to me though. Time to start driving to Hawaii.

Cowperson

[Wormius]

For some reason I always hoped the Westjet would take the high road on some of these issues that caused all of the airlines to raise their prices and make certain once free perks, suddenly a cash cow. Snacks and drinks on planes, picking your seat, normal amounts of bags, etc. etc. all are subject to extra fees. I expected this from AC and other airlines, but I was hoping that Westjet would have called "BS" on this. At least that's what their marketing led me to believe.

[Wormius]

... With regards to in flight entertainment systems, Air China was the worst for a long haul flight.. I wish I had flown Air Canada to China when I went. That was a horrible flight from Van to Beijing with absolutely nothing to do except watch really bad, old movies with seat back entertainment systems that were barely functional.

[tete]

Although I do prefer AC's entertainment system a bit over WJ's, I still like WJ as an overall airline. We rarely have to wait more than 5 minutes to check our bags and associated kid stuff in on WJ, meanwhile with AC, it's a solid 30-45 minutes. WJ has been excellent with us and our kid, though I have to admit the AC flight attendants on the flights we took this year seemed a bit less crusty than before, maybe it's because our kid is just so adorable she won them over.

I do feel like WJ is starting to nickle and dime, though which is annoying. I've heard that they're phasing out the seat-back tv's completely and going to a rental tablet, loaded with movies, games, etc., or you bring your own. I don't like that idea at all - even though the satellite isn't the greatest, I like having the tv in the seatback, so much easier than juggling a kid in your lap and some handheld device to keep them occupied. At this point, for domestic travel, I'll still travel WJ over AC any day.

[Machiavelli]

Westjet seems antiquated when they still do those lame live safety demos. All of the AC flights I've been on recently have the video, which just seems more with the times.

[MRCboicgy]

Yep, half of Delta's (formerly NW) fleet has no entertainment, at least most have in flight net

If AC or WJ were to add something like United's Channel 9, that would be epic.

As for AC vs WJ, I pick WJ just to have flight attendants that seem like they actually want to be there. The last couple of AC flights to the US I've taken, it seemed like the FA's had nothing but disdain for any paying passenger.

[oilboy2]

While west jet has been gradually going down hill they are still the only carrier that doesn't charge for your first checked in bag going to states. I read the live satellite will be only available in Canada and tablets to rent for 10 bucks for international flights. Horrible idea IMO. Why not just put free wifi on all the planes and be done with it

[getbak]

Originally Posted by MRCboicgy

If AC or WJ were to add something like United's Channel 9, that would be epic.

Is that the "from the flightdeck" channel? That's pretty good, especially if you're stuck in the queue to take off when a thunder storm blows in and you get stuck on the tarmac for 2 hours while the pilots get increasingly frustrated.


Pilot: "If we go back to the gate to refuel, will you save our spot in line?"
ATC: "No, you'll have to go to the back."
Pilot: "Alright, I think we should be okay."


Thankfully, it wasn't our pilot who was saying this.