WestJet has announced a hike in baggage fees for passengers starting today. The increase will affect both airport and advance payments for checked bags, with a $10 rise per bag for the first and second bags at the airport and a $5 increase for advance payments. The new fees will apply to reservations made from April 23 onward.
Despite ongoing discounts for specific WestJet Rewards members, this marks the third consecutive year of hikes in baggage fees for the airline, following a similar increase less than a year ago. WestJet attributes these fee adjustments to industry trends and the impacts of current global conditions.
Passengers on the airline’s ultra-basic fares can expect to pay between $60 to $93 for the first bag and $75 to $111 for the second bag when traveling within Canada. Standard econo passengers may pay between $45 to $81 for the first bag and $60 to $99 for the second bag within Canada.
For international travel to Asia or Europe, ultra-basic passengers could face baggage fees ranging from $85 to $123 for a single checked item. The fees for excess, overweight, and oversized baggage are seeing significant increases, with overweight bags potentially costing up to $168 in certain scenarios.
This move by WestJet follows a similar adjustment by Air Canada, which recently raised baggage fees for economy basic passengers on certain routes. Both airlines have introduced fuel surcharges for specific bookings or vacation packages, with Air Transat also making fare adjustments in response to rising fuel costs.
The spike in jet fuel prices, attributed to global geopolitical tensions, has led to route cuts by various airlines, including Air Canada and Air Transat. Experts in the air travel industry warn that the combination of higher surcharges and reduced flight options could keep travel costs elevated for the foreseeable future.
In light of these changes, air travelers may face a pricey summer travel season, according to predictions from industry experts.