WestJet to charge some travellers for first checked bag

[squiggs96]

Flew to HNL yesterday with WJ. I had one carry on and my golf bag. My biggest problem was it was a new plane so they didn't have TVs yet. Don't put your planes in service unti, they are done.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

Flew to HNL yesterday with WJ. I had one carry on and my golf bag. My biggest problem was it was a new plane so they didn't have TVs yet. Don't put your planes in service unti, they are done.

Were you maybe on one of the Wifi only Westjet planes they plan to launch? I thought that those planed wouldn't have TV's but they would offer rental tablets. Maybe the system wasn't set up yet?

Also, when is Westjet starting with the Wide body planes on that route?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

Flew to HNL yesterday with WJ. I had one carry on and my golf bag. My biggest problem was it was a new plane so they didn't have TVs yet. Don't put your planes in service unti, they are done.

Last I heard was they were handing out tablets with pre recorded programming for a nominal fee.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by pylon

Were you maybe on one of the Wifi only Westjet planes they plan to launch? I thought that those planed wouldn't have TV's but they would offer rental tablets. Maybe the system wasn't set up yet?

Also, when is Westjet starting with the Wide body planes on that route?

There was no wifi, and I really wish there was. They gave some extra magazines that were a few months old, and the option to rent a tablet for $5. I wanted to rent one, but it butchered me so much that they were charging for them after not providing TVs I declined. I guess it was the plane you described, but such a let down. I would have brought some stuff if I knew that was the case. I had intended on watching the ball game.

No idea about wide body, but they did have three rows of the plus seats up front.

[Bigtime]

Definitely not a wide body, you most likely flew on a 737-800. The 767's are not arriving until next year I believe.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Definitely not a wide body, you most likely flew on a 737-800. The 767's are not arriving until next year I believe.

I thought the planes with the tablets, were going to have an option for people with their own tablet to access the system.

Also, the rental tablet thing is gross. I won't even use someone I knows iPhone let alone some tablet some stranger was touching with who knows what level of hygiene. Yuck.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by pylon

I thought the planes with the tablets, were going to have an option for people with their own tablet to access the system.

Also, the rental tablet thing is gross. I won't even use someone I knows iPhone let alone some tablet some stranger was touching with who knows what level of hygiene. Yuck.

These are the same people who ask for ice on airplanes. They should just ask the flight attendant to defacate in their mouth.

[Acey]

Widebodies won't be here till late next year and might not deploy till summer of '16.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

There was no wifi, and I really wish there was. They gave some extra magazines that were a few months old, and the option to rent a tablet for $5. I wanted to rent one, but it butchered me so much that they were charging for them after not providing TVs I declined. I guess it was the plane you described, but such a let down. I would have brought some stuff if I knew that was the case. I had intended on watching the ball game.

No idea about wide body, but they did have three rows of the plus seats up front.

The reason why WestJet started taking delivery of new aircraft without the TV's is because they knew they had to switch systems from the Bell LiveTV. Bell sent up a new satellite for the service that ONLY covers Canadian soil, so the minute a WS flight crosses the border/coastline there goes the signal.

That is part of what spurred them to go with the WiFi option, however in very heavily regulated area of aviation with Transport Canada this has taken some time to get ready, and WS continues to grow and take delivery of new aircraft. So they'd hardly slow that down on account of TV's in the plane.

Yeah it sucks, but I counter with you are in Hawaii and we are not, and you got there hella fast compared to traditional methods.

[Ryan Coke]

Btw, ice comes from a bag just like you'd buy in the store. People who work in the biz don't hesitate to take ice, not sure where you think it comes from.

Now I wouldn't take off your shoes then go into the lav in bare feet.....

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

Flew to HNL yesterday with WJ. I had one carry on and my golf bag. My biggest problem was it was a new plane so they didn't have TVs yet. Don't put your planes in service unti, they are done.

Get used to it if you fly WJ. As others have said, they don't intend on putting IFE into the back of each seat. You can rent an ipad or supposedly connect your own. Same with the AC "Rouge" carrier. Although the last time I flew them their system wouldn't recognize my wife's ipad, and I won't pay to rent one.

I have a Samsung Galaxy Note4 with a 16GB memory card. Anytime I fly somewhere I make sure that it's loaded up with a few TV shows and a couple movies. This way you don't have to bother with constant passenger announcements, and you can have your ear buds (note: BUDS not headphones) plugged in on takeoff and landing.

I don't need an ipad or laptop, and the HD screen on my phone works as good as any IFE system I've seen.

I've also noticed on Delta flights that if you connect to their wifi, and go through some of the registration process (go to the page without paying for wifi) your email works. It's weird, but I'm 50/50 on getting free email in-flight.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

I think you're missing what I'm saying. If you read through my posts I never said I give it to front line staff, ever (I barely interact with them). I may blame the airlines for a lot of issues, but I'm always courteous and patient, because I understand the rules. They can charge $500/bag for all I care, I will work around it, and still have a (mostly) pleasurable experience.

I HAVE said that when other people do it, I don't show a lot of sympathy.

You are correct, you didn't say you lay into the staff. I apologize. I believe you said that in your industry it is common for you to get crap for things you are not responsible for. As such I find it hard to understand how you can't by sympathetic of the staff.

That's also a pretty sweeping generalization on what a mom is doing on a plane BTW. I have no idea what she's doing or why (neither do you)

My sweeping generalization was in response to yours:

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

. But mom also has carry ons because she can't afford checked luggage fees. So not only is she pushing a stroller, she has wheel bags. .

Safe to say that you don't know that she "has carry ons because she can't afford checked luggage fees". I have a pretty good idea of what it takes to travel with two little kids, both short hops and long hauls. I have two kids and have travelled alone with them. I know and understand all the crap kids need when they are young and travel.

what I DO know is they require a lot of space, and usually have a ton of baggage. Would that decrease with a reduction in bag fees? Maybe. Probably. But that's my opinion and I can't substantiate it (neither can you) but like I said, I fly a TON, and it's based on my observations.

BTW, just so we are clear the baggage fees don't make me happy either.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Get used to it if you fly WJ. As others have said, they don't intend on putting IFE into the back of each seat. You can rent an ipad or supposedly connect your own. Same with the AC "Rouge" carrier. Although the last time I flew them their system wouldn't recognize my wife's ipad, and I won't pay to rent one.

Did she have the Air Canada app on it? You need that to access the Rouge entertainment.

[InglewoodFan]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

They should just ask the flight attendant to defacate in their mouth.

So you've flown Lufthansa?

[Art Vandelay]

Originally Posted by Acey

Widebodies won't be here till late next year and might not deploy till summer of '16.

The plan is to get 1 by June, and the 2nd by fall next year. Next summer will be ETOPS proving flights so that the 2 aircraft can do Alberta-Hawaii for the winter of 15-16. The existing contract with Thomas Cook ends after this winter.

[FlamesAddiction]

This is going to suck, especially in the winter when everyone puts their parkas in the overhead as well.

[steveo]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Did she have the Air Canada app on it? You need that to access the Rouge entertainment.

I just got back from LAX on the AC Rouge plane and you don't "need" the app per say. You can open your safari browser and it will automatically bring you to the Rouge webpage - from there you can watch "movies" and TV shows. (I couldn't watch any movies. They were all trailers...and some of the movies are old too..so maybe you do need the app to watch movie? But watching shows were fine through the safari browser.)

[Bigtime]

Good to know, I was under the impression you needed the app.

[Inferno099]

Probably should be in WRGMG....
Flying family to Slovakia next week (through Frankfurt / Vienna).

Compared to 5 years ago when we went to visit my wife's family where there was no separated 2nd bag luggage fee...
and now seeing possibility of wtf $100 per 2nd bag per direction (just unreal).

So now, unfortunately I understand why in other flights I've had in recent years (only checking 1 bag each) - why folks are taking so much carry-on & jamming in on the overhead - if fee was $25 or so no problem, but extra $200 per person round-trip for a second bag....

Anyway I know I can't change what Air Canada & others charge for what used to be a regular thing - but it just RGMG.

Question for those of you who travel more... this was booked through Expedia

So because with the flight being Air Canada to Frankfurt & the Austrian Air from Frankfurt to Vienna - should I expect separate fee both directions there as well? Or does the $200 get 'shared' between Air Canada & Austrian Air?

Just wondering if this RGMG x2!

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Inferno099

So because with the flight being Air Canada to Frankfurt & the Austrian Air from Frankfurt to Vienna - should I expect separate fee both directions there as well? Or does the $200 get 'shared' between Air Canada & Austrian Air?

Depends if its one flight or two. ie did you book it all at once (if so its likely to just be the one charge as high likelyhood your bag will just get tagged through to Slovakia, minus when you need it for Customs).

If you booked it in two separate chunks, then to the airlines they don't know/care where you came from, and will charge you whatever fee they normally do on the Vienna flight.