Air Canada versus WestJet - which is better?

[DaniB]

We have never flown out of Toronto. In fact, this will only be my 2nd time in an airplane. Which of these would you choose and why? Anything in particular I should be aware? I'm sure there's lots that I do not know!

I'm trying to read through their websites to see what happens if the fare drops, luggage/carry-on sizes & allowances, cancellations & delays, etc.

How are they for changing flight times and/or cancelling flights?

 

[ccudmore]

I've flown both several times and there's no real difference. The WJ staff tend to be a bit friendlier and they have corny announcements (which can be annoying at times), but they'll both get you from here to there. Basically, unless you have a need to go to a location that only one of them services, go with whoever has the best price and if they have the same price, go with the one with the schedule that best meets your needs.

Only other notable difference I can think of is with the in-flight entertainment.
AC has on-demand movies
WJ has live TV (which from my experience works maybe 75% of the time)

Flight delays: No difference. AC tends to have more flights and options so you may be better ahead on AC if your flight gets cancelled.
Price drops: Unless you buy a refundable/changeable ticket, if the price drops you can rebook if you pay a change fee (I'm thinking it's $150).
Cancellations: If it's weather related, you're on your own. If it's equipment related, they'll take care of you and get you on the next available flight. That's where having more flights is advantageous.
Luggage allowance is the same now that WJ charges for the checked 2nd bags.

 

[gilsan]

I agree with PP, except I find AC to be friendlier. I do prefer AC their entertainment player has a better selection, but I would go with whatever is cheaper. On our next trip we are flying down on Westjet and back on AC. Compared to many of the US carriers they seem like a luxury airline

 

[crashbb]

I tend to fly AC more than WJ, but there isn't a huge difference generally.

However, if there is an issue, I find that things can be easier to resolve with AC because they are part of an alliance. If my AC flight gets cancelled, I can get booked onto another AC flight, US Air, United, or Continental (even if it means a connection). When a WJ flight gets cancelled (as my flight did on my way home earlier this month), I had to wait until WJ could get the replacement plane to Orlando (or take one of two other WJ flights to other Canadian cities and then connect - one of these two flights was delayed 3 hours so it didn't leave Orlando until midnight and the other was completely full and would have involved an overnight in Montreal). It wasn't that WJ was trying to be unhelpful (though a couple of their agents were amongst the rudest I've ever experienced), they just couldn't help.

In contrast, on my last trip, when my US Airways flight was cancelled (apparently MCO and I are cursed), I was moved to an AC flight (actually went from a connecting flight to a direct flight).

I'm also one who, frankly, finds the corny WJ antics annoying, rather than amusing (but that isn't really enough to sway my airline choice).

And, not that it means anything, but AC FAs/gate agents always address me as Ms. Crashbb, while WJ staff called me Crashbb (actually one even addressed me by a nickname that no one uses - my name is not commonly shortened). I don't really care either way (though the nickname was weird), but it was just an observation.

 

[dancin Disney style]

You should post this on the Canadian board...you will have more people jumping in.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My family and I have flown both airlines out of Toronto and we like WestJet a lot more. In our experience their check-in lines at Pearson to tag our checked bags are a lot faster, plus they seem to have more agents working then Air Canada and that keeps the line moving a lot faster. Whenever there was a change in our flight they would e-mail us and Air Canada never did, so we only found out when looking up our flights online. Finally with WestJet they don't oversell their flights so you can't get bumped like on Air Canada or other airlines. Plus with them you have the option of paying $10.00 extra for your assigned seat or $15.00 extra if you want the exit row seats, something Air Canada doesn't have and it's good if you want your whole family to sit together.

 

[crashbb]

Plus with them you have the option of paying $10.00 extra for your assigned seat or $15.00 extra if you want the exit row seats, something Air Canada doesn't have and it's good if you want your whole family to sit together.

Air Canada does not have it because it is free, so I'm very confused by how this makes WJ better. AC have started charging for "premium seats" (e.g. emergency rows), but if you book Tango Plus or higher (and there are no Tango flights to Orlando) then you can book most seats for free. And, you can see what seats are available on each flight before you choose the flight (I found it difficult to see what seats were available on my WJ flight).

Sorry, but I'm not seeing how WJ charging for something that AC does free, is a bonus for WJ

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Air Canada does not have it because it is free, so I'm very confused by how this makes WJ better. AC have started charging for "premium seats" (e.g. emergency rows), but if you book Tango Plus or higher (and there are no Tango flights to Orlando) then you can book most seats for free. And, you can see what seats are available on each flight before you choose the flight (I found it difficult to see what seats were available on my WJ flight).

Sorry, but I'm not seeing how WJ charging for something that AC does free, is a bonus for WJ

The reason I think it's better is because there is always that chance of getting bumped from an Air Canada flight, even if they assign your seats. Since WestJet doesn't overbook their flights you don't need to worry about being bumped and I would bet some families might pay the extra $ so they can sit together and not waiting until they check-in to know where their seats would be.

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

I fly Air Canada as much as possible. I do alot of travelling and Air Canada is my favourite airlines. They have on demand movies and tvs at all the seats plus USB and Outlet plugins which is SOOO helpful. Their onboard cafe is quite good, they have more flights leaving daily from most airports in case of cancellations or other issues arrising.
I have had better Air Canada flight attendants (im sure this may be fluke!) but they always seem to go above and beyond and take time to say hi how are you? and that sort of thing.

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

The reason I think it's better is because there is always that chance of getting bumped from an Air Canada flight, even if they assign your seats. Since WestJet doesn't overbook their flights you don't need to worry about being bumped and I would bet some families might pay the extra $ so they can sit together and not waiting until they check-in to know where their seats would be.

West Jet has had people bumped before I've been at Pearson and heard them asking for volunteers to be bumped. I think bumping happens with all airlines now.
With air canada you can pick your seats so all families can sit together without having to pay (unless you get a tango fare but most cheapest fares are tango plus) so with the free seating the extra dollars spent on westjet you coulda sat together for free on air canada.

I also forgot to mention that Air Canada's frequent flier program is pretty good their tear to get to elite member status is 15 000 miles lower than most so you get club access, and priority boarding quicker than most airlines

 

[ccudmore]

I've flown on AC probably hundreds of times and I've only ever once seen a flight where they asked for volunteers to take a later flight. I've never seen anyone involuntarily "bumped" though. In the one case where I saw them ask for volunteers it was being done to accommodate a family who had missed their earlier flight connection (they were coming in from a long-haul international flight) and they were trying to make room for them on the flight I was on instead of making them wait a few hours for the next flight.

 

[crashbb]

The reason I think it's better is because there is always that chance of getting bumped from an Air Canada flight, even if they assign your seats. Since WestJet doesn't overbook their flights you don't need to worry about being bumped and I would bet some families might pay the extra $ so they can sit together and not waiting until they check-in to know where their seats would be.

You don't get it (either on purpose or because you have issues reading what I wrote). You don't wait until check-in to know your seats on Air Canada. As I stated, you can choose them when you check-in. The difference is that you don't have to pay anything on Air Canada, compared to paying $11 per person/per direction on West Jet (more if you are flying further).

Look, I know that you prefer WJ (you've made it very clear over the years), but at least be logical about it. The bumping part is a non-sequitur and as others have stated WJ does bump people - the only flight I've been involuntarily bumped from in over a decade (and 400 000+ miles of flights) was a WJ flight. It has nothing to do with having to pay for your seat.

Your comment that families would prefer to where they are sitting before check-in, would mean that these people would prefer Air Canada, where they can choose their seats for free (and see the available seats before choosing their flight)

 

[gilsan]

When I bought my last flight with AC I was able to pick my seats during the check out at no additional cost. I was disappointed that when I tried to do the same with Westjet it was going to cost me. So I agree that is a big plus for AC.

 

[casper_jj11]

You mentioned you're flying from Toronto... are you getting another flight from Toronto or are you originating there? Asking because it makes a difference on my opinion on the WJ/AC question.

For us, I prefer WJ but DH prefers AC because he wants elite status each year. Our decision on airline will depend primarily on two things: price and whether its a direct flight. If its NOT direct from Ottawa to wherever in the US we're flying, we'll choose AC because we refuse to fly out of Toronto. Its so much easier just clearing customs in Ottawa and never seeing your luggage again so if we have to have a stopover, we choose have our first stopover in the US. Generally we fly Ottawa to Washington or Phili and then on to Orlando. Because all WJ flights have their stop over in Toronto, if its not direct, we don't fly WJ. AC doesn't show these flights online as most stopovers are Toronot or MOntreal but if you call, you can get on code shared flights with US Air or United which fly to the US centers and then on to Orlando from there.

Just a thought.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I forgot to mention the last time we flew Air Canada in December 2008 it turned out we never had any confirmed seats from Toronto - Orlando, when using my Dad's Aeroplan points. We only had seats for our return flight from Tampa - Toronto. Now that was our fault for not realizing that because we had assumed the seats listed were the same for going down and flying back home. However if there was no Aeroplan seats available in Economy for the 1st flight of the day from Toronto - Orlando shouldn't their website have said that, because we basically agreed to go as standby for that flight and had we known that it's something we would never have done. Now we were lucky to be bumped up into Business Class along with all the other standby passengers, however it was very stressfull waiting to know if we would make that flight. So that's why I am hesitant when recommending Air Canada compared to WestJet.

 

[DaniB]

Lots of informative information, thank you!

I have not made a decision as to airline yet, but I do like the AC can give me more flight options if something were to happen to my flight. Although I will not mind having to stay an extra day or two, I would hate to be a day or two late in arriving!

Price drops: Unless you buy a refundable/changeable ticket, if the price drops you can rebook if you pay a change fee (I'm thinking it's $150).

I'm confused on this point I'm afraid. I would be purchasing the cheapest ticket and I know they are not refundable. I do understand I can change the ticket if need be with a fee. But if the ticket price drops from what I paid - do either airline offer the price difference as a future credit? Or they do, but I have to pay a fee for it?

You mentioned you're flying from Toronto... are you getting another flight from Toronto or are you originating there? Asking because it makes a difference on my opinion on the WJ/AC question.

Because all WJ flights have their stop over in Toronto, if its not direct, we don't fly WJ. AC doesn't show these flights online as most stopovers are Toronot or MOntreal but if you call, you can get on code shared flights with US Air or United which fly to the US centers and then on to Orlando from there.

I'm looking at a direct flight from Toronto - Orlando. Last September we drove to Buffalo and stayed overnight there & back. I'd like to skip that this year if the prices drop low enough to make it worthwhile.

So, if I'm reading this correctly, all WestJet flights out of Toronto originated from somewhere else? Toronto is always a stop before going direct to Orlando? Meaning there are already people on the flight? Just wondering if that makes a large difference in available seats then.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

So, if I'm reading this correctly, all WestJet flights out of Toronto originated from somewhere else? Toronto is always a stop before going direct to Orlando? Meaning there are already people on the flight? Just wondering if that makes a large difference in available seats then.

Everytime we have flown WestJet from Tronto - Orlando it was the 1st flight of the day and there was no one on the flight before, since everyone was at the gate and it the plane did not stop over from somewhere else. Chances are some passengers might have flown in from other Canadian cities and the flight from Toronto - Orlando was their 2nd flight, so that was their connecting flight. Plus there is no way the Toronto - Orlando WestJet flight could have come from somewhere else in Canada because how would people already on board cleared US Customs, like the people flying directly from Toronto who would have done that before clearing the security screaning in Terminal 3.

 

[ccudmore]

I would be purchasing the cheapest ticket and I know they are not refundable. I do understand I can change the ticket if need be with a fee. But if the ticket price drops from what I paid - do either airline offer the price difference as a future credit? Or they do, but I have to pay a fee for it?

If the price goes down, they don't have any sort of "lowest price guarantee" program. All you can do is cancel the original and rebook with the new fare, but that involves paying the change fee (unless you get the refundable ticket).

 

[crashbb]

I'm looking at a direct flight from Toronto - Orlando. Last September we drove to Buffalo and stayed overnight there & back. I'd like to skip that this year if the prices drop low enough to make it worthwhile.

So, if I'm reading this correctly, all WestJet flights out of Toronto originated from somewhere else? Toronto is always a stop before going direct to Orlando? Meaning there are already people on the flight? Just wondering if that makes a large difference in available seats then.

There won't be anyone on the flight. People may have come off of other flights (from, say, Ottawa), but they will have completed that flight (Ottawa to Toronto) and then boarded your flight with you.

The only possible caveat is if you don't pay for seat selection and choose your seats at check-in (which you can do at the 24 hour mark). Those coming from Ottawa would be able to check-in (and choose seats) 24 hours before their first flight, which would be a few hours before your flight from Toronto, so they'd have first dibs on choosing seats. I didn't pay for my seat (flying alone, didn't really care where I sat) and there were plenty of seats available to choose at the 24 hour mark (the flight actually took off with quite a few empty seats).