WestJet has implemented a price hike for checked baggage fees starting today, affecting many passengers. Travelers who pay at the airport to check their bags will now face a $10 increase per bag for the first and second bags. For those who pay in advance, the fees will rise by $5 per bag for the first and second bags. The airline disclosed to CBC News that the new fees will be applicable to reservations made from April 23 onwards.
Despite existing discounts for specific WestJet Rewards members, this marks the third increase in baggage fees within three years for the airline, following a hike less than a year ago. According to a WestJet spokesperson, the fee adjustments are in response to industry trends and the repercussions of current global circumstances.
Passengers on the airline’s cheapest ultra-basic fares traveling within Canada will now incur costs ranging from $60 to $93 for the first bag and $75 to $111 for the second, depending on the timing and location of payment. Similarly, standard econo passengers within Canada may expect fees between $45 to $81 for the first bag and $60 to $99 for the second.
For travelers heading to Asia or Europe on ultra-basic fares, baggage fees could vary from $85 to $123 for a single checked item. Notably, charges for excess, overweight, and oversized baggage will undergo the largest increase, with overweight bags potentially costing up to $168 in certain instances.
This adjustment by WestJet mirrors a similar move by Air Canada, which recently announced increased baggage fees for economy basic passengers. The first bag fee rose from $35 to $45 for trips within Canada or to and from the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America, while the second bag fee increased from $50 to $60.
Both Air Canada and WestJet have introduced fuel surcharges for specific bookings or vacation packages, with Air Transat also indicating fare adjustments or fuel surcharges in response to recent weeks’ developments. The surge in jet fuel prices, attributed to Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz amid geopolitical tensions, has prompted airlines globally to adjust routes and fares in light of increased operational costs.
Experts in the air travel industry foresee a costly summer for travelers due to higher surcharges and reduced flight options, indicating that airfare prices are not expected to decline in the near future. Vancouver-based travel agent McKenzie McMillan highlighted the potential for expensive travel this summer in an earlier interview with CBC News.
