Baggage fees

[Longtimer]

Go figure...... WestJet was the first major domestic carrier to introduce charges for the first bag which will add millions to their bottom line in the guise of only charging all passengers for what they use (unless of course you are in their Elite categories) and then their latest press release says that they have had a "record" quarter. In my opinion they have become a legacy carrier driven by a greed to make more and more to the detriment of their "guests". They are coming a "pale" imitation of Air Canada!

WestJet reports record third quarter resultsAirline achieves record third quarter adjusted net earnings of $85 million, up 31 per cent year over year, its 38th consecutive profitable quarter

CALGARY, Nov. 4, 2014 /CNW/ - WestJet (TSX: WJA) today announced its third quarter 2014 results, with record adjusted net earnings1 of $85.4 million, or $0.66 per diluted share. This compares with the net earnings of $65.1 million, or $0.50 per diluted share reported in the third quarter of 2013, up 31.2 per cent and 32.0 per cent, respectively. Based on the trailing twelve months, the airline achieved a return on invested capital of 13.8 per cent, compared with the 13.7 per cent reported in the previous quarter. These adjusted results exclude a pre-tax non-cash loss of $45.5 million associated with the previously disclosed sale of 10 of our oldest Boeing 737 aircraft.

"We are very pleased with another quarter of record financial results, exceeding our ROIC target for the ninth consecutive quarter and improving our on-time performance rate by 3.4 percentage points year over year to 81.9 per cent," said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. "We continue to strengthen WestJet's network with the further rollout of WestJet Encore, our recent announcement of service to Glasgow, our first destination in the United Kingdom, and the evolution of our existing interline agreements with China Airlines and Qantas into code-share agreements. My thanks go out to our more than 10,000 WestJetters for their tremendous dedication to providing a remarkable guest experience as our airline continues to grow profitably and I am thrilled to add another $19 million in profit share this quarter to be paid out later this month."

[cdnpilot77]

What's the story here? A for profit business makes a profit in a capitalist society, isn't that what every business should strive for?

[NeverBlue]

It's good news.
They are proving they can be successful year after year. Obviously their business model is working...at least for the last 38 consecutive quarters.

They are definitely no Air Canada.

[petey]

Westjet didn't start charging for bags until October, therefore those dollars wouldn't have affected third-quarter results. If you have a problem with a public company making record profits, buy their stock.

[NeverBlue]

...and it's just awful that their employees get a cut of $19 million...

[CpnCrunch]

If you think you can do it cheaper, go ahead...

[skymarc]

No surprise, fuel price is down and revenue is up with the bagage fees.
A/C even weight your cabin bagage and if its over a limit they want you to check it in at $75.

[Liquid Charlie]

I heard a rumour that there is a group thinking of starting up a new national airline (same Idea as westjet) but not charging for extra bags but going to the jetsgo carry on size (along with several other discount airlines -- 18 inch bag height -- also they are going to keep good seat pitch - I figure it just might work -- we know there is only room for 2 or 11/2 airlines in Canada but the Canadian way in aviation is always to cycle through too many until the loser disappears and then after a few years start the cycle all over again -- it's taken 15 about years but westjet is finally turning the corner of becoming an airline - I was sitting at a gate the other day and overheard a crew in that whining mode - damn --- -- lmafaoooooooo -- sounded like the honeymoon is over for a few --