WestJet is implementing an extra $60 charge on companion voucher bookings due to the surge in fuel prices. The airline’s companion voucher scheme, a benefit for WestJet RBC Mastercard holders, allows them to bring a second passenger on a discounted round-trip fare.
According to WestJet, the additional fee will be temporary and will be enforced starting on Wednesday, April 8. Reservations made prior to this date will not be impacted. The surcharge will be in effect until jet fuel prices normalize, as stated in an email sent to customers by WestJet on Friday morning.
The airline explained that the surcharge is necessary to counter the escalating fuel costs caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. WestJet’s spokesperson mentioned in a statement to CBC News that fuel is a significant cost component for airlines, and the temporary surcharge helps manage the recent spike in fuel prices. Unlike airfares that can be adjusted more flexibly, the nature of companion vouchers restricts the same pricing flexibility.
WestJet is also making adjustments to its flight schedule in response to higher fuel expenses. This includes consolidating flights on less popular routes and modifying the travel period for seasonal offerings. The airline has reduced capacity by around one percent in April and three percent in May. Most affected passengers have been provided re-accommodation options on the same day as their original flight.
Wayne Smith, a professor specializing in hospitality and tourism at Toronto Metropolitan University, highlighted that several Canadian airlines, including WestJet, are facing challenges in covering costs due to the fuel scarcity. He emphasized the substantial fuel consumption of airplanes compared to cars, citing significant cost increases for flights like Vancouver to Hong Kong routes. Smith suggested that additional surcharges may be imposed by other airlines, and passengers flying with WestJet may experience fuller planes due to flight consolidations.
In the aviation industry, profitability is notoriously difficult, with surcharges and flight consolidations seen as essential for survival. Smith hinted at a possible rise in baggage fees in tandem with these measures.