X s baggage

[FL020]

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

[Old fella]

"Today’s announcements are further evidence of our commitment to our guests as Canada’s low-fare leader,” Bob Cummings, WestJet executive vice-president of sales, marketing and guest experience, said".
“As we continue to evolve our fare products, we are creating more value by offering our guests the opportunity to purchase only those services they want. This user-pay type of system allows us to keep fares as low as possible, introduce lower sale fares and avoid fare increases, which benefits you and liberates even more Canadians from the high cost of air travel.”

To show their(WJ) commitment, anti-up $25.00 for yer first bag.......... what a load of shit. This is price gouging at it's finest by ALL THE AIRLINES who have such practices. I can understand if pax show up with 2-3 pieces of luggage per person, ditto for any inflight services(snacks, headsets, beer,wine, spirits, entertainment) - user pay, no difficulty with that either. But for the love of Christ, everybody who travels has some sort of luggage - 1st one is free.

Understand AC is the hold-out on domestic, but that will change in short order - needless to say. Airline travel/flying is getting to be one big croque of horseshit.

[Bede]

WJ is trying to make the Econo base fare as cheap as possible for those that want nothing more than go from point A to point B. Think of it like the RyanAir fare. However, if you want regular low cost service, you buy a Flex fare. If you want a trip that you can change last minute, food, more leg room, etc. you buy a plus fare. I guess it's like trying to be all things to all people (without Business class).

[mountainman]

The problem is that they will say that this allows for lower base fares. However, they continually keep fares at the same level, while adding these additional fees. So they're not making ti any cheaper for me if I just want to take carry on...theyre just charging more if I check a bag. Disappointing that they are quickly becoming just another airline in the north american steamy pile of crappy service.

[AirMail]

All this will do is create more carry on baggage, as if it isn't bad enough

[flyer 1492]

The problem is that they will say that this allows for lower base fares. However, they continually keep fares at the same level, while adding these additional fees. So they're not making ti any cheaper for me if I just want to take carry on...theyre just charging more if I check a bag. Disappointing that they are quickly becoming just another airline in the north american steamy pile of crappy service.

+1

[B-rad]

The problem is that they will say that this allows for lower base fares. However, they continually keep fares at the same level, while adding these additional fees. So they're not making ti any cheaper for me if I just want to take carry on...theyre just charging more if I check a bag. Disappointing that they are quickly becoming just another airline in the north american steamy pile of crappy service.

+2

now if I have to check a bag because I'm carrying that little bit extra liquid or want to bring my swiss army knife, 25$ even if it's a handbag I'm checking. Ridiculous. I wouldn't be so opposed to lowering the weight limit on one checked bag to 20lbs and charging beyond that but not even being able to send my bottle of full size contact solution or hair gel without paying 25$ is bullshit.

A big sarcastic Cheers to WJ raising standards and bringing more joy to the industry! Where will you squeeze next!?

[FICU]

Oh boy now we'll see pushing and shoving in the boarding line so people can get on first to get their suit cases in the overhead bins. Once they are full people will be forced to check bags and be charged $25 to have it gate checked. Now the brutal leg room will be accompanied by suit cases under seats and there will be no way to stretch your legs without getting up.

$25 to take 101 milliliters on an airplane.

[Donald]

Shhhh...you are going to upset the "owners"!

Besides, I'm sure as soon as they do another Christmas miracle YouTube video, joe six-pack will have forgotten all about his $25.

[lowlevel]

OMG this sounds exactly like our Whine Cellar at work.

[privateer]

As Bede pointed out, if you want to travel light then purchase an Econo Fare. If you want the checked bag then buy the Flex with a few extras added on. If anything this will make fares slightly cheaper for those who don't need to bring a large bag.

[CALGARYFLYER1]

Westjet are now no different than the others out there, I try and avoid their early departures anyway as I was getting a little sick of the same ole jokes.

[Marinth]

Westjet are now no different than the others out there, I try and avoid their early departures anyway as I was getting a little sick of the same ole jokes.

Actually they are different than some other airlines out there. They differ from Air Canada in that if you fly domestically on Air Canada, you still get your first bag for free. Granted I'm sure that will change in a matter of days.

[Donald]

If anything this will make fares slightly cheaper for those who don't need to bring a large bag.

IF the econo fares went down by $25-29.50 from yesterday's price, then I'd agree with you.

[twinpratts]

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

[Old fella]

Westjet are now no different than the others out there, I try and avoid their early departures anyway as I was getting a little sick of the same ole jokes.

All airlines are masters in creativity in order to squeeze more revenue out of their customers, I won't go as far to say WJ will introduce pay-toilets but they could add charges for their in-flight FA comedy act. Air Canada doesn't have"singing-stews" but not to be out done on the revenue side, it may be a dime to drain yer snake in their airplanes.


PS Perhaps we can have a little contest on what's next for airlines to put their hands in yer wallets.

[CALGARYFLYER1]

I can see the complimentary tea and coffee going unless you are prepared to pay for it too.
What is the annual charge for their credit card?????

[kiteboy]

To compare WJA with the true lowcost airlines in the world is BS, when you can fly the same stage lengths for a 1/4 of a WJA fare you don't mind paying for a Bag!!
All this does it make room for another start up 'low cost' in Canada, or MORE foreign carriers!
Last March it cost me more to fly YYC-YYZ on WJA(1 bag) VS AMS-YYC (2 bags) on KLM and that was with 'free' luggage!

[No Quarter]

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

[Legacy]

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

I won't be laughing when the day comes that another company starts up and mimics what WJ USED to be. I am more concerned about things other than profit share. Longevity is a lot more than a profit share cheque. You can't argue with what others are saying here. WJ is not the same company as it used to be. Gotta love corporate greed

[Oxi]

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.

[Old fella]

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.

(As taken from the RBC WJ MC web site)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!!!

[lostaviator]

While I appreciate people are upset (like with any change), it puts me as ease knowing behind all these decisions are people who are educated to make these business decissions while many of us are not.

Bags cost money. Carry on does not. (Added TOW) so why punish the one day/light traveller with the cost of a heavier aircraft?

Everything in this world is getting more expensive and perhaps this was a way to avoid increasing all fares.

[B-rad]

Everything in this world is getting more expensive and perhaps this was a way to avoid increasing all fares.

HAHaha ya right, they put out this baggage fee and try softening the blow by saying it will keep prices down and then as soon as it has some time to become accepted they will continue to raise prices as scheduled. don't be fooled by the save money propaganda. They're not interested in saving you money, they want to take your money!

If Air Canada wanted to follow WJ after letting them be the first to make the poor decision to charge for bags, they would be smart to allow the first bag to go free up to a certain weight and they could still advertise first bag free while WJ has to try and convince people that paying for bags saves you money.

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.

[#37]

While I appreciate people are upset (like with any change), it puts me as ease knowing behind all these decisions are people who are educated to make these business decissions while many of us are not.

Bags cost money. Carry on does not. (Added TOW) so why punish the one day/light traveller with the cost of a heavier aircraft?

Everything in this world is getting more expensive and perhaps this was a way to avoid increasing all fares.

In what kind of universe do bags add to TOW but carry on does not???