Westjet to charge for second bag

[pampam]

According to the Calgary Herald, Westjet is going to start charging $20 for the second bag starting Januuary 19.

 

[candielips]

I got the email from them today stating the same thing. Here is the body of the email

Dear WestJet guests,

Please be advised that WestJet will begin charging $20 for a second checked bag effective November 3, 2010, for travel starting January 19, 2011.

WestJet’s revised baggage acceptance policy allows one piece of baggage at no charge as long as it does not exceed a maximum weight of 23 kg (50 lb.) and a maximum size of 157 cm (62 in.) in length + width + height at no charge.

If you have purchased a WestJet flight prior to November 3, 2010, this fee will not apply to you. You will be permitted up to two pieces of checked baggage at no charge as long as they do not exceed the size and weight dimensions mentioned above.

Thanks

WestJet


Hey, if every other airline is doing, why shouldn't they?

 

[yxe dad]

For a company that really promoted not charges for bags in the past, this is kind of a slap in the face, esp when the baggage fee's are thought to be used for shareholder dividends. They aren't cheaper then Air Canada anymore, their customer service is falling, and their routes aren't very good out of Saskatoon(where I live).

Just my 2 cents.

 

[aristocat65]

How many bags do people really need to bring? I think charging for a 2nd bag is perfectly reasonable. We never have more than 1 bag each and mine is actually carry on dimensions. (DH seems to need a bigger bag).

 

[partinchina]

How many bags do people really need to bring? i think two or three.

 

[ChisJo]

Many people probably don't need to bring a second bag, however, I always liked that about West Jet that you didn't have to worry about paying extra for you flight then your original charge (unlike United, American, Continental, etc.). We only took one bag each with us to San Francisco, but we ended up enjoying the wineries a little too much and brought back a box of wine, counting as our second bag. Whenever we travel to Florida you can bet we will be bringing a second bag. It would be disappointing if we would have to pay for that. As previously stated, it seems like a slap in the face. You know that AC will follow way too quickly.

Being from Western Canada, we don't have as many flight routes to choose from as our Eastern neighbours, but West Jet is starting to introduce more. I would be tempted to look to Air Canada before them as their prices are usually pretty comparable. Now with the added bag charge, AC will probably be cheaper.

 

[dennise]

We need the extra bag for shopping. We live 6 hours from US shopping so that is always a fun part of our trip.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Whenever my family and I have flown WestJet we always had one checked bag each and our own carryon bag, so the next time we choose to fly with them this charge won't effect us.

 

[Mickey's Best Girl]

For a company that really promoted not charges for bags in the past, this is kind of a slap in the face, esp when the baggage fee's are thought to be used for shareholder dividends. They aren't cheaper then Air Canada anymore, their customer service is falling, and their routes aren't very good out of Saskatoon(where I live).

Just my 2 cents.

I have always been a huge supporter of WestJet but unfortunately I have to agree with what you have written. Ever since the web upgrade disaster of '09, they have been falling short of the customer service I have always expected & received from WestJet.
Next they'll be overbooking their flights.

 

[MissKIA]

We have never taken more than one bag per person when we have traveled. Usually when my husband and I go alone we take one big suitcase or maybe one big one and a small one if we plan on doing a lot of shopping.

If we travel with the kids we take more obviously. We are heading to WDW on Wednesday and we are taking 3 suitcases and one carry on bag between 4 of us. I really don't see why anyone would need more than one suitcase per person unless you are planing on a lot of shopping or an extended vacation.

Either way, West Jet is still far more generous when it comes to this issue than any other airline, so what's the big deal? That's just the way it is nowadays. I think they are being more than fair!

 

[dvcdisney]

We are a family of 4 (2adults, 2 children) and our trip to Disney is 14 nights each time. We have only taken 4 suitcases (2 large and 2 med) with all our clothes, toiletries, some cereals, backless car seat (yes, I do fit that in) and sheets (yes, I do bring my own sheets, this is in no way a complaint about Disney's - I just prefer to sleep on my own sheets) along with toys, and stuff animals.

I wouldn't want to take anymore even though we use Magical Express.

However, I can understand the disappointment. Westjet has made a big deal and prides in the fact that they are one of the few airlines who still allows 2 free checked baggage. They try to differentiate themselves from the other airlines with what they offer which is becoming less and less. I guess we have to lower our expectations when it comes to them.

Don't get me wrong, I will still fly with them when the price is good. However, eventually, that's all that's going to matter - the fare prices and so they will be like all other airlines.

 

[SAGE]

I like WJ and will miss having the 2nd bag free, especially when combining WDW + DCL.
I had better go read the threads on "packing light ".

 

[yxe dad]

Either way, West Jet is still far more generous when it comes to this issue than any other airline, so what's the big deal? That's just the way it is nowadays. I think they are being more than fair!

Not true, Air Canada has yet to charge for the second bag. In addition Westjet seems to charge more fee's on a flight then a similar priced AC flight.

Being from Saskatoon, airfare is one of the biggest expenses on a trip to WDW or anywhere. When we go on a holiday that requires a flight, it usually lasts 11-18 days. 1 suitcase per person seems a little small for us, for that length of a trip.

 

[dennise]

We travelled on Air Canada in September and had to pay $25. for the second bag.

 

[drag n' fly]

We take 5 big suitcases for 5 people and five carryons. That leaves enough room for crap we buy and dirty laundry to go in one suitcase on the way home. Flight prices are through the roof and itineraries out of Calgary to Orlando suck so bad now I gave up. West coast travel it is. Ds7 really wants to go to USO. Im considering ponying up the cash for a good AP rate. Right now for the 2 of us to fly to Orlando it is 1200.00 We will not even travel as a family anymore to Florida due to the cost of flying. Im not paying those prices plus luggage fees. Im sure if we find a seat sale we would go but it is going to take a real seat sale to get me there now.

 

[ChisJo]

We travelled on Air Canada in September and had to pay $25. for the second bag.

Was it actually one of their own AC flights? Or was it one of their 14 sister companies? I just travelled on AC and didn't pay at all for my second bag. However, when we booked an AC flight to Arizona this past spring through the AC website, we booked it on one of their sister companies (United - HATE this company), and I had to pay for my bags on that flight. I'm just more cautious when I book my flights to ensure that I book on an actual AC flight.

 

[ChisJo]

We take 5 big suitcases for 5 people and five carryons. That leaves enough room for crap we buy and dirty laundry to go in one suitcase on the way home. Flight prices are through the roof and itineraries out of Calgary to Orlando suck so bad now I gave up. West coast travel it is. Ds7 really wants to go to USO. Im considering ponying up the cash for a good AP rate. Right now for the 2 of us to fly to Orlando it is 1200.00 We will not even travel as a family anymore to Florida due to the cost of flying. Im not paying those prices plus luggage fees. Im sure if we find a seat sale we would go but it is going to take a real seat sale to get me there now.

The problem with big suitcases is that it is so easy to go over the 50 lbs limit. When you do, it's an automatic charge for overage. We weigh our suitcases before we go and know that if we plan on buying anything, we will go over. When we travel to Florida, we purchase a ton of clothes because simply stated, it is a far better deal for professional clothing down there for both my husband and myself then it is here in Edmonton. So, we buy lots down there. We have gone over several times, and have had to pay. I don't mind paying an overage fee. However, you add a second bag fee and an overage fee for both of us, and it can get quite costly.

 

[bankr63]

ChisJo,

It is cheaper to bring back a second bag than to go overlimit. Concurrent with the second bag charge of $25, Westjet has dropped the overlimit fee to $50. We pack a second soft duffel bag inside our luggage for the return trip (even before they charged for the 2nd bag). EACH bag has a 50 lb limit, so if you get down with one bag at 5o lbm and want to bring back more, it is $25 one way to double up (up to 100 lbs) vs. $50 (formerly $75) to carry a single bag back at 55 lbs.

I'm glad we booked early, our March trip is grandfathered in for the 2 bag limit. The next year (2012) we'll probably be paying for one extra bag on the return leg.

 

[chimo2u]

ChisJo,

It is cheaper to bring back a second bag than to go overlimit. Concurrent with the second bag charge of $25, Westjet has dropped the overlimit fee to $50. We pack a second soft duffel bag inside our luggage for the return trip (even before they charged for the 2nd bag). EACH bag has a 50 lb limit, so if you get down with one bag at 5o lbm and want to bring back more, it is $25 one way to double up (up to 100 lbs) vs. $50 (formerly $75) to carry a single bag back at 55 lbs.

I'm glad we booked early, our March trip is grandfathered in for the 2 bag limit. The next year (2012) we'll probably be paying for one extra bag on the return leg.

Does this mean that because I booked my trip back end August/beg Sept sometime for February travel time, we are still covered for 2 bags ea if needed??

 

[dennise]

Chislo: Yes it was an AC flight. When I did my online check in I paid for the 2nd bag. Maybe they would have let it go, but it did state the $25 fee for the second bag, you saved 10% by paying in advance.