WestJet to charge some travellers for first checked bag

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Ducay

I hate when airlines do this, not because the $25 impacts me much, but rather because it makes the cabin environment even worse. People are more inclined to bring bigger and more carry-on items, and makes the cattle car section feel even more cramped.

Agreed. The carry-on culture is just ridiculous at this point. I always laugh when the flight attendants get all flustered at the bags when it's their employers fueling it.

[Bill Bumface]

They don't care that the overhead bins get crowded. In fact, that's the point. The average passenger packs less to fit within smaller carryon baggage requirements, they get more luggage in the overhead bins, and even having to gate check some of them, there is more room in the belly for cargo, thus more revenue per flight.

It sucks, and people saying "Just charge $20 more on every flight" I'm pretty sure almost every single one of us would pick Air Canada over West Jet if we saw the same flight for $20 less... haha.

[DuffMan]

Airlines should just charge per pound how much you and your luggage weighs.
When airlines started charging for checked bags they said it was to cover the cost of fuel? more luggage = more weight = more fuel burned.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

I'm pretty sure almost every single one of us would pick Air Canada over West Jet if we saw the same flight for $20 less... haha.

I always fly based on price. Lately it's been Westjet when I fly to Winnipeg and Air Canada when I fly back to Vancouver.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

Airlines should just charge per pound how much you and your luggage weighs.
When airlines started charging for checked bags they said it was to cover the cost of fuel? more luggage = more weight = more fuel burned.

Yeah that won't open a major human rights PR fiasco

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

damnit

I have a trip to Disneyland booked on westjet leaving around the 29th.

This sucks.

As stated in the press release and the first post, this only applies to flights that are new bookings. They aren't retroactively changing the policy. If you haven't booked it already, then you would be paying fees.

Originally Posted by pylon

You know what Westjet, just raise your fares $20 across the board, and call it a day. I have never felt I paid too much to fly Westjet, and another $40 to fly round trip isn't gonna stop me from using you. Keep it simple, that is what I have always loved about Westjet, now they are just turning into another version of Air Canada, something they vowed they wouldn't do.

WestJet use to have two free checked bags. Four years ago they changed it to one free, and made you pay for the second bag. Their rationale was the same as here, where they said not everyone uses it, so why should everyone pay for it. There's a CP thread, with many of the same sentiments http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=97492

My thoughts remain the same as back then, that if they can show they are lowering the price for all, and only charging for the checked baggage (by comparison with an AC flight), then I'll believe them. Otherwise, it's cash grab disguised as a way to save people money. I still don't check bags unless they are golf clubs, so it won't impact me at all.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

damnit

I have a trip to Disneyland booked on westjet leaving around the 29th.

This sucks.

If you've already booked it there is no fee:

What if I'm already booked for travel after October 29?
If you booked your travel prior to September 15, not to worry, you will not be charged a first checked bag fee.

EDIT: beaten by squiggs

[automaton 3]

Originally Posted by Ducay

I hate when airlines do this, not because the $25 impacts me much, but rather because it makes the cabin environment even worse. People are more inclined to bring bigger and more carry-on items, and makes the cattle car section feel even more cramped.

100x this

I hate having to search for bin space, and this move will only make that worse. I generally only take a laptop bag on the plane so I'm not even pushing the rules.

And I'm a reasonably tall guy so parking the bag by my feet is a lousy option.

[Peanut]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

My thoughts remain the same as back then, that if they can show they are lowering the price for all, and only charging for the checked baggage (by comparison with an AC flight), then I'll believe them. Otherwise, it's cash grab disguised as a way to save people money. I still don't check bags unless they are golf clubs, so it won't impact me at all.

Yeah the 'lowering the price for all and only charging people who use it' was the line air canada gave me when they told me I needed to pay to select seats to sit with my then-4-year-old. The "customer service" guy actually said to me "some people don't choose to sit with their flying companions, so we're only charging the people who do choose to sit with their companions".

Pretty sure that sitting beside my 4-year old on a 5 hour flight is not a "choice".

I still wish I would've had the balls to just drop her off at her assigned seat with the iPad and some snacks, gone to my seat 5 rows back and just let it all play itself out.

Anyways. TL;DR, the air travel industry's customer service in Canada kinda sucks. Air Canada especially. But WestJet is moving more towards the AC model all the time, it seems like.

[The Goon]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

Airlines should just charge per pound how much you and your luggage weighs.
When airlines started charging for checked bags they said it was to cover the cost of fuel? more luggage = more weight = more fuel burned.

I like this idea. You, your checked luggage, and your carry-on all on a big scale. There's a floating fee based on how much you impact fuel consumption. While tricky to roll out to the public, it seems like the most equitable solution.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Peanut

Yeah the 'lowering the price for all and only charging people who use it' was the line air canada gave me when they told me I needed to pay to select seats to sit with my then-4-year-old. The "customer service" guy actually said to me "some people don't choose to sit with their flying companions, so we're only charging the people who do choose to sit with their companions".

Pretty sure that sitting beside my 4-year old on a 5 hour flight is not a "choice".

I still wish I would've had the balls to just drop her off at her assigned seat with the iPad and some snacks, gone to my seat 5 rows back and just let it all play itself out.

Anyways. TL;DR, the air travel industry's customer service in Canada kinda sucks. Air Canada especially. But WestJet is moving more towards the AC model all the time, it seems like.

Westjet did this to us a few months ago. Four seats so we paid $100 to choose to sit with the kids. How choosing a seat costs money is something I will never understand. Aside from the emergency row, or first class, why do they care if I decide where to sit? How does that cost them anything?

[automaton 3]

Fwiw, my sister flys regularly and gave up on paying the extra fees for seat selection, and has never had an issue switching seats to sit with her kids.

[BergyBoy]

Saw this on twitter, made me laugh.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by automaton 3

Fwiw, my sister flys regularly and gave up on paying the extra fees for seat selection, and has never had an issue switching seats to sit with her kids.

Yeah, I had no problem sitting my parents and two nieces together when they came to visit last summer through 24 online check-in. The only disadvantage is risking not getting your seats near the front of the plane which some people don't mind.

[ExiledFlamesFan]

As a WJ shareholder I approve this. As a WJ passenger, this is awful.

The carry on situation is already bad as it is. Nobody follow the rules, people are carrying on huge items, stowing everything overhead and not using under the seat space. The overhead bins are already full on the flights I've been on lately.

For those who have flown budget European/American airlines that charge for all checked bags, how much worse does this make the carry on aspect?

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Slava

Westjet did this to us a few months ago. Four seats so we paid $100 to choose to sit with the kids. How choosing a seat costs money is something I will never understand. Aside from the emergency row, or first class, why do they care if I decide where to sit? How does that cost them anything?

Call there bluff, don't select any seats, when you get to the airport they will seat you at least 2 and 2. One time they tried to sit kids apart but I continued to call their bluff asking who would be the person taking care of my child because I should give them the snacks.

They fixed it very quickly. You likely won't get 4 close together but I have always gotten two and two.

[CaramonLS]

Not surprised. This is what happens when there is a duopoly in the market and extremely high barriers to entry.

I'll continue going out of my way to avoid Westjet.

[Dion]

Air travel used to be enjoyable but now it's become an endurance. Less leg room between seats and now this stupid fee that will only lead to more people doing the carry on thing. Nothing worse than watching someone try to stuff thier oversized bag in the over head bin and having the flight attendant arguing with said passenger to check thier bag.

Everyone bringing on carry on increases the time an airline spends loading and unloading. It's stand up and wait as everyone waits for the other passenger to get his bag from the overhead bin. God forbid that bag opens up with clothes landing everywhere because the doofus forget to zip the bag shut when removing an item in flight.

If airlines eliminated all carry on except for jackets, computers, Ipads etc, the airline could improve it's on time arrival at the next destination.

[Calgary14]

Compared to years ago I feel like it's taken quite a bit longer to board (or disembark) a plane these days. People are now bringing carryons the size of a small fridge to save on the fee so they spend much more time cramming their luggage into the oversized compartments which delays everything.......I'm glad I don't fly too often

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by ExiledFlamesFan

As a WJ shareholder I approve this. As a WJ passenger, this is awful.

As a shareholder of anything, you should want these 2 things to be positively connected.