X s baggage

[bythenumbers]

^ carry on weight is built into the standard pax weight.

What's interesting about the timing of this announcement is that WJ is in times of record profit. It's not like they are hurting and desperate to generate an additional revenue stream. Also surprised they acted pro actively on this decision and didn't wait for somebody else to be the first (Porter doesn't count) and take the bad press and then themselves just follow suite. With Jetlines and Jetnaked on the horizon maybe they're attempting to get ahead of the curve with this a la cart pricing.

[lostaviator]

^ carry on weight is built into the standard

Thanks. Should have clarified that knowing that isn't the case for all operators.

[whiteguy]

You can avoid the first bag fee if you use your RBC Westjet mastercard.

I believe its the "world elite" in which case you need a 70,000$ income.

With a purchase rate of 19.99% a cash advance rate of 21.99% and an annual fee of $40.00.............. I guess, maybe you could get a little break - like your first bag free!!!

Honestly think there are bigger issues if your taking cash advances on your credit card anyway.....

[lostaviator]

As far as everything is getting more expensive, the reality is they are not getting more expensive, they are just taking more of the working class money to fill their own pockets. The difference being that things don't need to be getting more expensive if the corporate greed could subside.

Greed is a part of life and I would argue the greediness of the general population wanting their $99 round trips to Barbados has led to more destruction then corporate greed in this industry. We went through this wave of airlines trying to accommodate those type of fares and now are facing the harsh reality of what it has led too. Reduced wages, companies folding due to the pressure. You can bash well paid executives all you want but the flip side is you could pay less for someone who doesn't know how to run a company.

[whiteguy]

As far as everything is getting more expensive, the reality is they are not getting more expensive, they are just taking more of the working class money to fill their own pockets. The difference being that things don't need to be getting more expensive if the corporate greed could subside.

Greed is a part of life and I would argue the greediness of the general population wanting their $99 round trips to Barbados has led to more destruction then corporate greed in this industry. We went through this wave of airlines trying to accommodate those type of fares and now are facing the harsh reality of what it has led too. Reduced wages, companies folding due to the pressure. You can bash well paid executives all you want but the flip side is you could pay less for someone who doesn't know how to run a company.

+1

[True North]

Greed is a part of life and I would argue the greediness of the general population wanting their $99 round trips to Barbados has led to more destruction then corporate greed in this industry. We went through this wave of airlines trying to accommodate those type of fares and now are facing the harsh reality of what it has led too. Reduced wages, companies folding due to the pressure. You can bash well paid executives all you want but the flip side is you could pay less for someone who doesn't know how to run a company.

Be careful lostaviator. Your last few posts verge on well thought out, mature, common sense. There's no room for that on this forum.

[The Raven]

http://www.edmontonj...6236/story.html

EDMONTON - Oh, there was so much optimism.

Everyone hoped the new guy from Calgary would be a breath of fresh air, a change from the tired, old business as usual. There were promises that this brash outsider would shake things up and do things in a different, more populist way.

Instead, we see the Calgarian upstart reverting to the same big bureaucratic way of doing things.

Monday’s announcement wasn’t about fresh and new. It wasn’t about putting people first. It was all about jettisoning excess baggage and catering to existing business elites.

Oh. I’m sorry.

Did you think I was writing about Jim Prentice and his “new” Tory cabinet?

No, no! Sorry for the confusion.

I was actually writing about Monday’s other big news.

The announcement that WestJet is going to start charging $25 to $29.50 a bag, depending on provincial tax rates, for checked luggage on its Canadian and American flights.

The rules don’t apply to everybody, mind you. If you buy a more expensive ticket, your bags still fly free. If you’re a “gold” or “silver” frequent flyer, your bags fly free. And if you have an “elite” WestJet MasterCard, your bags fly free.

But if you’re a regular old “severely normal” Canadian heading off on a family vacation? Well, you’re on the hook, my friend.

It’s a big change, given that up until now, WestJet let everyone check one bag for free, and charged just $20 for a second bag.

Oh, and before I forget, I should mention that the charges for a second or (perish the thought, a third) bag are going up too.

It must be said, most North American airlines are charging for checked luggage these days, just as they now routinely charge passengers for the unique privileges of choosing a seat, or eating that ever-so-delicious airplane food. Soon enough, one imagines, we’ll have to pay extra for a seat that reclines, a belt that buckles or an oxygen mask that descends. So maybe we shouldn’t be so shocked.

Already, analysts are predicting that WestJet’s new rules will make the company an extra $87.5 million in revenues next year. It’s a competitive business, and it probably would be costly for the company to continue to buck an industry trend. Air Canada, industry experts predict, will be following in short order.

But bucking trends, being different, was supposed to be what set WestJet apart. The upstart Calgary-based airline has won devoted customer loyalty, especially here in Alberta, by marketing itself as the populist airline that cares about the little guy. Its brand identity is all about being the fun-loving maverick airline, the one with the cutest viral videos, the one that gives away surprise Christmas presents or helps working parents visit sick kids in hospital.

That’s why Monday’s announcement left such a bitter taste in people’s mouths. It wasn’t just the $25. It was the seeming hypocrisy, the betrayal of WestJet’s carefully cultivated, customer-friendly, jokey image. Adding insult to injury, WestJet had the gall to spin this as a way for customers to save money, by buying “unbundled” service, a la carte.

The upshot won’t just be two-tiered service that disproportionately penalizes those who can least afford to pay. The policy will make flying (even) more cramped and uncomfortable for everyone aboard.

[Old fella]

Maybe Air Canada may have a "shining moment" and not proceed with first baggage charges using the rational “because other airlines are doing it.” Anything is possible, I suppose, probably unlikely though.

[Donald]

Any smart airline would raise their airfares by $25-50, then tell consumers that if they opt to not check any bags they could subtract $25 from their fare.

And the world elite MasterCard is a $99 annual fee, not $40.

Since my first WJ flight years ago, there is now a charge for bags and seat selection, the free tv rarely works, there is a charge for movies, the seat pitch in the back has been reduced, check in time is a strict 45 mins...etc etc etc

[B-rad]

don't worry, those in the know, know the Free TV is the next to go! You soon will have to bring your own device to plug in and pay to use the entertainment system.
after that, bring your own coffee cups!

[Chuck Finley]

Just one more reason for me to avoid Westjet.

The westjetters are pretty quiet today...

[North Shore]

^ carry on weight is built into the standard

Thanks. Should have clarified that knowing that isn't the case for all operators.

And, again, those of us who hit the gym first, the salad next, and the dessert last, thus weighing in at less than 220 all-up, end up subsidising those who do it in reverse...

[lostaviator]

^ carry on weight is built into the standard

Thanks. Should have clarified that knowing that isn't the case for all operators.

And, again, those of us who hit the gym first, the salad next, and the dessert last, thus weighing in at less than 220 all-up, end up subsidising those who do it in reverse...

Not really. 130 skinny people on a plane weighs "the same" as 130 wider people. But now we are gettin off topic.

[The Raven]

Just one more reason for me to avoid Westjet.

The westjetters are pretty quiet today...

Not all Westjetters are quiet. One of them posted on page 1 of the thread:

"Bitch all you want...I'll be laughing at you cum profit share"

[whiteguy]

Any smart airline would raise their airfares by $25-50, then tell consumers that if they opt to not check any bags they could subtract $25 from their fare.

Yet no airline does this, the smart airlines know passengers look at airfares only, that's it! If airline A is $25 cheaper than B they will book with them. People will drive south of the border and spend money on gas and hotels maybe to save $50.

Don't get me wrong, I don't like the fee being added but I understand where it's coming from. I'm sure AC isn't far behind.

[Old fella]

"Don't get me wrong, I don't like the fee being added but I understand where it's coming from. I'm sure AC isn't far behind"


Perhaps AC is reading the tea leaves, seeing the commentary about charges for pax first bags adding a little one-upmanship "no, we will not gouge the public like others are doing", then adding a little extra on items that are hidden like adminstration costs, fare upgrades/changes and the like. Again, all airlines will do whatever to get those extra few cents from the fare-paying customers. That's a given.

One wonders in the future if people will wise up and accept fares that will allow you to take baggage and get a snack with a beer or a soft drink rather than the $100.00+- one way special from YYZ - YHZ with all the "extra" charge shit piled on us.

[Realitychex]

Any smart airline would raise their airfares by $25-50, then tell consumers that if they opt to not check any bags they could subtract $25 from their fare.

And the world elite MasterCard is a $99 annual fee, not $40.

Since my first WJ flight years ago, there is now a charge for bags and seat selection, the free tv rarely works, there is a charge for movies, the seat pitch in the back has been reduced, check in time is a strict 45 mins...etc etc etc

Have you considered the implications of having higher face fares on CRS and scraping sites, (Travelocity, Orbitz, Kayak etc)?

Any "smart" airline that purposely made its lead in fare $25 to $50 higher than its competitors would find its fares listed down the pages and notice a precipitous drop in their bookings as a result.

Have you ever wondered why no gas retailer has ever decided it would be better to advertise their premium gas price when the stations on the other corners are advertising their price for regular gas?

With a full tank of gas, the difference is probably no more than $8 a fill up, but it'd be enough to kill their sales to the point of bankruptcy.

Trying to sell a fare that appears to be $50 more?

It'd never work.

Airlines are responsible to their shareholders, not the traveling public.

The shareholders and Bay and Wall Street institutional owners would not be impressed to find their airline, which through the first 6 months of the year, has reported a net loss of $118m, and who traditionally lose at least a million dollars a day in the 4th quarter, decided to forgo revenue that every one of their peer legacy airlines, and their largest domestic competitor have availed themselves of.

I would be stunned if it isn't matched. Indeed, if it isn't matched by the weekend, WJ will have to think about rolling it back. I would think it would be a long time before WJ led such an increase again.

Lest anyone forget, with the highest profit margins in Canada, WJ has the least need for the additional revenue.

[jetsetfly]

[rudder]

Wow. Somebody believes that insulting the 'guests' is the way to go?

Things have sure changed over at WJ. Guess that the 'owners' may have forgotten who actually pays the bills at WJ (hint: it is not the shareholders).

[True North]

Wow. Somebody believes that insulting the 'guests' is the way to go?

Things have sure changed over at WJ. Guess that the 'owners' may have forgotten who actually pays the bills at WJ (hint: it is not the shareholders).

Oh come on. It's funny and true.

You really need to get a life.

[Old fella]

Perhaps a tad off topic but this year(2014) has been one of my most expensive years flying on airlines(WJ,Jazz,AC Express and AC mainline). One thing I noticed that all the mentioned carriers were full to the brim on every flight, even the B763. I know that isn't a reflection of profit but despite it all, people are flying. We will all bitch but will still travel

And yes it was first rate service on them all.

[Lateralus]

Wow. Somebody believes that insulting the 'guests' is the way to go?

Things have sure changed over at WJ. Guess that the 'owners' may have forgotten who actually pays the bills at WJ (hint: it is not the shareholders).

Holy shit lighten up man.

[Realitychex]

Well good ol' happy westjet...not making the cut. How can you west jetters put a positive spin on this one?

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/report-on- ... ice=mobile

http://aircanada.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=807

Probably the same way AC will spin this. They could quite easily have refused to go along with the fee, but chose to anyway.

Realistically, there was never any doubt this was going to be matched. Air Canada couldn't afford not to, and couldn't afford the media backlash of having lead it.

It will be forgotten and become part of the normal aviation landscape, just as has been the case south of the border and in every market where LCCs operate.

Like it or not, move on.

[Old fella]

Also, it signifies the notion of LCC is a big load of shit as people are subject to the"nickle and dime" syndrome. However as you say, it's done - move on.

[Lateralus]

Also, it signifies the notion of LCC is a big load of shit as people are subject to the"nickle and dime" syndrome. However as you say, it's done - move on.

Check out the announcement today from your beloved Air Canada.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-o ... e20653474/