For the 3rd time in less than 2 years, WestJet has actually made amendments to the structure of its baggage charges. This time, WestJet has increased the amount you’ll have to spend for your first examined bag in the majority of markets by around $5.
The modification was silently executed on September 16, 2025, though it’s simply starting to get attention in the media.
WestJet Boosts Charges for First Checked Bags
On September 16, 2025, WestJet silently increased its inspected baggage charges by $5– 6 for passengers travelling on UltraBasic, Econo, and Member Exclusive Fares to the majority of markets.
As a pointer, WestJet presented an additional $10 charge for inspecting bags at the airport in October 2023, and then increased checked baggage costs by around $5 across the board in February 2024.
This latest modification is the third such modification to the Calgary-based airline’s luggage policy in the last 2 years.
For guests taking a trip in Canada and the United States, the following table illustrates the luggage charge boosts:
For guests taking a trip to/from Latin Caribbean and Mexico, the following table highlights the luggage
cost boosts: For travelers travelling to/from Europe, the following table illustrates the baggage fee boosts( if
any ):< img src= "// www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%200%200'%3E%3C/svg%3E"alt ="table visualization"/ > For guests travelling to/from all other areas, the following table shows the baggage charge increases: < img src= "https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/25515341/thumbnail"alt ="table visualization"/ > As you can see, WestJet has increased
the checked luggage cost by$ 5– 6 (if at all)for your very first checked bag. It’s worth keeping in mind that luggage fees for travel to/from Asia stay the same. Note that the quantity that you need to pay for
inspected luggage( if any )is based upon the date of purchase, not on the date of travel. This implies that if you bought your WestJet ticket on or before September 15, 2025, you’ll undergo the “old”set of fees, which can be found on the WestJet website(or in the
above tables). WestJet Doubles Down on Ancillary Income … Again
In the previous couple of years, WestJet has discovered imaginative ways to generate secondary revenue from passengers.
Aside from presenting an additional cost for inspecting bags at the airport and increasing its inspected luggage fees (twice), the airline generated UltraBasic fares and introduced Prolonged Comfort as an ancillary choice in 2024.
The former fare promises a low cost in exchange for a seat on a plane (and not much else), while the latter choice uses travelers a bit more legroom, a beverage, and Zone 2 boarding.
Prolonged Convenience likewise promises passengers early access to overhead bin area (which comes as a function of Zone 2 boarding, but only actually matters if the flight is full or if you board early), in addition to a quicker exit upon arrival (which is merely since Prolonged Convenience seats are towards the front of the economy cabin).
WestJet presented Extended Comfort in 2024 More recently, WestJet announced a significant cabin reconfiguration that will see (among other things) the introduction of “fixed-recline seats” (e.g., seats that don’t recline) in addition to the addition of an extra row (e.g., less leg space) in the economy cabin compared to previous designs.
In the press release, the changes are referred to as a reflection of the airline’s commitment “to raising every aspect of the travel experience and meeting guest demand for a wider variety of product offerings.”
My read on these modifications is that they’re simply another way to generate more earnings from guests by charging for things (baggage, leg room, a seat that reclines) that utilized to be consisted of as part of the travel experience or that used to cost less.
In fact, I ‘d argue that WestJet is adjusting its method to economy travel to be more aligned with ultra-low-cost provider Flair Airlines (which also includes seats that do not recline), and less with the likes of Air Canada and Porter Airlines (both of which use travelers complimentary beer, red wine, and snacks, in addition to seats that recline).
Obviously, the simplest way to skirt WestJet’s increasing baggage charges is to hold the WestJet ® RBC World Elite Mastercardǂ, which uses a first complimentary inspected bag for the cardholder and as much as 8 travelers on the same reservation †.
Note that since November 5, 2025, you’ll need to pay for your WestJet flight with your WestJet credit card to be qualified for complimentary very first inspected bags. Plus, you’ll require to book straight with WestJet to take pleasure in the perk, which suggests that if you schedule through an online travel bureau, it will not count.
WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercardǂ
- Earn 25,000 WestJet points upon making your very first purchase †
- Then, make an extra 20,000 WestJet points upon spending $5,000 in the first 3 months †
- Get an annual buddy voucher for discounted travel on WestJet flights, with a co-pay beginning at $119 plus taxes and charges †
- Status Raise to 50 times annually and earn status without flying †
- Free first examined bag for the primary cardholder and as much as eight guests on the very same booking †
- WestJet points never end
- Minimum income: $80,000 personal or $150,000 home
- Yearly charge: $119
Even with the annual fee on the card increasing from $119 to $139 as of November 5, 2025, it’s still a lot for anyone who would otherwise pay to check a bag on a minimum of 3 WestJet flights in a year.
Conclusion
WestJet has quietly increased its inspected baggage charges by around $5 in the majority of markets. This change entered result for UltraBasic, Econo, and Member Exclusive Fares bought on or after September 16, 2025.
This is the third amendment to WestJet’s luggage fee structure in the past 2 years.
It stays to be seen if Air Canada and/or Porter Airlines will do the same, as held true in previous luggage fee walkings.
Otherwise, if you’re buying a WestJet fare and do not have luggage consisted of through status or charge card benefits, be sure to compare the price differences in between fares that include luggage and those that don’t. Often, the cost of paying more for a more inclusive fare is less than including things a la carte after the fact.
† Terms and conditions apply. RBC is not accountable for keeping the material on this site. Please click on the Apply Now link for the most approximately date info.