WestJet has implemented a price hike for checked baggage fees for many passengers, effective today. Passengers paying at the airport will face a $10 increase for the first and second bags, while those paying in advance will see a $5 rise per bag for the same items. These new fees apply to reservations made from April 23 onwards, marking the third increase in baggage fees over the last three years for the airline.
Despite continuing discounts for specific WestJet Rewards members, the latest fee adjustment reflects ongoing industry trends and challenges stemming from current global conditions. Passengers flying on the airline’s lowest ultra-basic fares within Canada can now expect to pay between $60 and $93 for the first bag and $75 to $111 for the second, depending on the time and location of payment.
For standard econo passengers traveling within Canada, fees for the first bag range from $45 to $81, and for the second bag, they vary between $60 and $99. Additionally, passengers heading to Asia or Europe on ultra-basic fares may encounter baggage fees ranging from $85 to $123 for a single checked item. Notably, fees for excess, overweight, and oversized baggage are witnessing the most significant increase, with overweight bags potentially incurring a charge of up to $168.
This adjustment in baggage fees by WestJet follows a similar move by Air Canada, which recently announced higher fees for economy basic passengers. Air Canada raised the first bag fee from $35 to $45 for travelers within Canada or to and from the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America, while the fee for the second bag increased from $50 to $60. Moreover, both Air Canada and WestJet have introduced fuel surcharges for specific bookings or vacation packages, with Air Transat also considering fare adjustments or fuel surcharges in response to recent fuel cost increases.
The surge in jet fuel prices in recent weeks, primarily due to Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating geopolitical tensions, has led to operational adjustments by various airlines, including route cuts. As a result, air travel experts anticipate that the combination of higher surcharges and reduced flight options could sustain elevated travel costs for the foreseeable future. Vancouver-based travel agent McKenzie McMillan previously highlighted in an interview with CBC News that the upcoming travel season is expected to be costly.