WestJet Airlines is introducing a new “no-frills fare” for those looking for an economical way to fly, but that savings comes at the expense of the perks travellers often take for granted.
Dubbed UltraBasic, the new ticket option replaces WestJet’s Basic fare on all domestic and transborder routes and is the lowest-priced of seven fare classes, the company said in a June 4 press release.
“We are committed to air travel affordability, and UltraBasic is an innovative cost-effective solution that strengthens WestJet’s ability to offer guests budget-friendly airfares to more destinations,” WestJet Chief Commercial Officer John Weatherill said in the press release.
Travellers flying UltraBasic will be given pre-assigned seats at the back of the aircraft and will be the last to board, the Calgary-based airline said.
UltraBasic travellers will also lose the option to stow a carry-on bag in an overhead bin unless they are travelling on a transatlantic or transpacific flight. And, while they can bring a personal item, it must be small enough to store under their seat.
Guests who purchased a Basic fare prior to the June 4 launch of UltraBasic will still be permitted a carry-on bag on all WestJet flights, the company said, adding that there will be “clear messaging” about the new UltraBasic fare and its “limitations” throughout the booking process.
“Digital and printed boarding passes will also indicate no carry-on bags are permitted with UltraBasic fares,” the airline said.
UltraBasic will offer passengers the option to “tailor a travel experience that meets their needs, without paying for additional services they don’t value,” Mr. Weatherill said.
‘Same Price for Less Value’
Some online travel services and websites are criticizing WestJet’s new fare, saying it offers no value to travellers.Next Departure, an online service that helps travellers find cheap flights, questioned the value of the UltraBasic fare.
Paying to add extras to an UltraBasic fare likely won’t benefit most passengers, he said, adding that “in the vast majority of cases, you’re likely better off paying for a higher fare … rather than paying for each additional item on an à la carte basis.”
He also pointed out that those travelling with a friend or family member, likely won’t be seated together, with the exception of parents travelling with children.
Travel website One Mile At a Time described UltraBasic as a “punitive” fare where the airline “will assign you the worst seats in advance.”
“I almost feel like the UltraBasic branding is intended to make people even more skeptical of booking it, and get people to buy up to the next fare,” he wrote.
WestJet has said the introduction of UltraBasic will bring price reductions across all of the airline’s routes. The change comes after the airline pledged it would provide more affordable options after buying the low-cost Sunwing Airlines in May 2023 and shuttering its ultra-low-cost airline Swoop last fall.
The UltraBasic option is also expected to free up overhead storage space and “expedite the boarding process, contributing to enhanced on-time performance and a better guest experience,” the airline said.
WestJet is not the first airline in Canada to offer a “no carry-on” discounted fare. Edmonton-based Flair Airlines’s standard fare also allows only a free personal bag.
The option to check one bag was included in the cost of an airline ticket in Canada until 2014. That was the year WestJet announced it would begin charging passengers a fee for their first checked bag, and Air Canada quickly followed suit.
