seat assignment on westjet experiences?

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

I hate the idea of paying $60 for the 3 of us to have assigned seats, and not even at the front... they have the first 10 rows blocked off, i guess for airport check in?

ANYWAY it is me and my two minors. You have to be over 12 to fly alone, so I assume that they would assign us together no matter what?
Should I just save the $60?

 

[crashbb]

No, they will not automatically seat you together (though the computer does try to seat parties together). If, when you check-in, there aren't three seats together anywhere, they will not be able to sit you together.

People have pretty good luck in sitting together without paying for their seats - but there is no guarantee.

 

[minnie56]

Hmm..can't really say..I always do the advance seating? I am sure if you allow plenty of time..you will be able to be seated together tho.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

fair enough! thanks!

 

[Lizzzys]

Don't fall for paying the $60 they want to charge you to choose your seat beforehand.

You can do self check-in online on the Westjet website 24 hrs in advance of your flight and choose your own seats at that time. We did this on our trip to Ft. Lauderdale in March. Worked like a charm and there were lots of seats still available then, on a flight that was full at the time of departure. So a lot of people obviously do this.

Hope this helps,
Liz

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

In the past when my family and I would fly WestJet before you could pre-pay for your seats we would always end up sitting together. However we were only a total of 3 people, so I am not sure if that helped us or not. However for this December we thought it was worth it and we pre-paid for 3 exit row seats going to Orlando and flying back home from Tampa.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

I spoke with the agent, and he was really helpful. he did not push for us paying for the seats, he said nothing is a guarantee, but I can assume that 24h prior flight the front rows of the plane will open for seat selection, and I should most likely get 3 of us together. thanks!

 

[DbleTheFun]

Its free 24 hours out. So 24 hours before you leave, go online, check where you have been assigned, change them if you want and then print out your bording passes. Easy Schmeesy!

 

[canadian_mouse]

I flew Westjet with a one year old and a three year old last year. I asked Westjet the same question and they said there was no way they would separate me from my kids. So I didn't pay and we sat together. Might be different with older kids but I doubt it.

 

[abirdd]

Westjet is really good about seat selection - they honestly try to keep parties traveling together seated together. As a pp mentioned, since we're flying with a child and infant, we are automatically assigned group seating by the computer. I'd say save the money.

Funny thought.... on a Westjet flight in 2007, this guy is throwing a huge fit about the fact he's not sitting with his family. His family was a wife, and two kids. The flight attendent points out unless he's planning on sitting on his wife's lap, there was NO WAY they could all sit in the same row. Seriously, some people are out to lunch (and yes, he was seated in the aisle seat right beside his family).

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Here is another option you can do just to see what seats could be available. Look up your flights like you would be making a brand new reservation, then click on the purchase seat selection and you will see which ones were pre-paid in advance and which ones are still available.

 

[crashbb]

I'd follow CR Fan's advice.

Yes, the system will put you together when you check in. However, it will not move people in order to do so. So, if too many people have paid for their seat selection and/or you aren't able to check-in at/near the 24 hours mark and there are no sets of three seats left when you check-in, the system will not be able to seat you together. If you monitor how many seats are left for selection, you can get an idea of your risk.

 

[Tinkermom76]

I paid the money and did the seat selection (me and 2 DD's so I wanted to be sure)

my ? is do I still have to check in online 24 hours before or just make my way to the airport?

TIA

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I paid the money and did the seat selection (me and 2 DD's so I wanted to be sure)

my ? is do I still have to check in online 24 hours before or just make my way to the airport?

TIA

If you want to you can check-in online or just check-in at the airport.

 

[Tinkermom76]

If you want to you can check-in online or just check-in at the airport.

Thanks!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thanks!

You're welcome.

 

[LindaM]

We just got home on Sunday, on the way there I did the online check in and was able to get seats all together (six of us in our party). On the way home I did not do the on line check in as we were on a cruise until Sunday morning, got to the airport and checked in all six of us were seated together as well, no problems at all. My kids are now adults so it wouldn't matter to me either way, but it was nice that we were all able to sit together without paying that extra fee.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Hmmm... we're heading down with WJ in December and I paid the $10 per person fee (coming back AC so didn't have to pay on the way back). We got row 9. I don't usually pay for it so I'm not sure why I did this time. I didn't get the exit rows even though they were available. (My parents are a little too old to have to deal with opening up the emergency exit if they had to.)

Perhaps it's because I always feel better when we have actual seats assigned. It's a psychological thing. ha

 

[House_of_Mouse Fan]

We have flown with WestJet several times and have never paid the extra fee to arrange seating ahead of time. I check-in exactly 24 hours ahead of our scheduled flight time though to ensure we have the best chance of sitting together. Good luck!