WestJet is Canada's second-largest airline, known for its extensive domestic network and growing international presence. Based in Calgary, the airline operates flights to over 100 destinations across North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and South America. Based in Calgary, WestJet has built a reputation for friendly service and competitive pricing.
What makes WestJet particularly appealing is its partnership with Delta, which offers reciprocal benefits for frequent flyers of both airlines.
Cabin classes, seats & legroom
WestJet operates four aircraft types in its mainline fleet. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is the only widebody, featuring a three-cabin configuration with Business, Premium and Economy. The narrowbody aircraft (Boeing 737-8 Max, 737-800 NG and 737-700 NG) each offer a two-cabin setup with Premium and Economy.
Business
Business Class is WestJet’s top-tier cabin, available on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners flying select long-haul international and transcontinental routes. The lie-flat seats feature private pods with direct aisle access. I like that WestJet's Business Class cabin is on the smaller side with just 16 seats, as that translates into quick and attentive service.
Premium
On WestJet’s narrowbody planes, Premium is the top cabin you can get, similar to domestic first class on other airlines. The seats are comfy recliners in a 2-2 configuration and offer approximately 20 cm of extra legroom over economy. Premium travellers also get perks like two free checked bags and priority boarding.
If you’re on a widebody Dreamliner, Premium is the premium economy cabin, sitting right between Business and Economy. The 2-3-2 seat layout means you could end up in a middle seat, but with 96.5 cm of pitch and extendable footrests, I find them pretty comfortable, especially on those long-haul flights.
Economy
Economy seats can be found on all of WestJet’s planes, offering 76 cm of pitch. If you need a bit more room to stretch, you can buy an Extended Comfort seat. These are at the front of the economy cabin and give you 7-10 cm extra legroom, plus priority boarding and a free alcoholic drink (if you’re of age, of course).
The economy cabin offers three fare classes: UltraBasic, Econo and EconoFlex. UltraBasic is WestJet’s basic economy with cheap tickets but many restrictions. Passengers flying within North America, the Caribbean or Central America can’t bring a carry-on, though those heading to Europe or Asia can. These tickets can’t be changed or cancelled for an e-credit.
Econo and EconoFlex tickets include more perks, starting with a carry-on. EconoFlex adds a checked bag, seat selection and free changes or cancellations. You can pay for extras à la carte with Econo if you need them. Generally speaking, I recommend Econo for most travellers, since the fare is less restrictive than UltraBasic yet more affordable than EconoFlex.
Loyalty program & miles
WestJet Rewards is the loyalty program for the airline, but it works differently than most. Instead of earning traditional miles, you earn WestJet points (essentially a gift card for airfare). You can earn these on flights, vacation packages and eligible car rentals, then redeem them for flights, vacation packages and even seat and cabin upgrades.
While you can only spend WestJet points on WestJet flights, you can earn them on partner flights. WestJet isn’t part of a big global alliance, but it partners with some major players, including Air France, Delta, KLM and Qantas.
I’d only recommend focusing on WestJet Rewards if it’s your main airline. If you fly a mix of carriers, you’re probably better off crediting your flights to a different rewards program.
Elite status
For the frequent flyers, WestJet Rewards has four tiers: Teal, Silver, Gold and Platinum. They're earned by spending a certain amount on WestJet flights, WestJet Vacations packages, and WestJet-marketed codeshare partner flights. Each level unlocks better perks, like free checked bags, priority boarding, lounge access and complimentary upgrades. WestJet also rewards elites with Milestone awards at certain spend thresholds. The best one is a companion pass.
And if you're a WestJet elite flying on Delta, you'll receive some reciprocal benefits, including preferred seating, free checked bags and Delta Sky Club access when flying Delta. Delta elites receive similar perks on WestJet flights. Not all benefits transfer between programs, so check the fine print before assuming you’ll get everything.
Upgrades
One of my favorite things about WestJet is the option to bid on upgrades. Before your flight, you might get an email inviting you to bid for an open seat in Business or Premium. Even the highest possible bid is usually less than what you’d pay for the seat outright, so you can usually score a fair deal if there's availability.
Check-in
You can checkin for your WestJet flight online, through the mobile app or at the airport counter. Online and mobile check-in open 24 hours before departure, and the airport desks usually open three hours before. If you have elite status or a Business or Premium ticket, you can use the priority check-in desk.
If you’re checking a bag, prepay online or via the app to avoid extra fees at the desk. The airport kiosks can be used for check-in when available, starting 24 hours before departure, and they also print bag tags and boarding passes for travellers who’ve already checked in digitally.
Boarding
WestJet boards by zones, starting with travellers who need extra assistance. After that, it’s Business, Premium and elite status members. Economy passengers then board by their zone number, with those in Extended Comfort seats getting on a bit earlier.
In my experience, WestJet boards its economy cabin from back to front. So if you’re seated near the front of economy, you might find the overhead bin space is already getting tight by the time you board. Plan accordingly.
Lounges
While WestJet doesn’t operate its own lounges, it gives you access to a bunch of partner lounges at key airports. This includes most major Canadian airports, a few in Europe, and a couple in the Caribbean and Asia. I’m particularly impressed by its partnership with Air France at Charles de Gaulle in Paris. The lounge in Terminal 2E’s L Concourse has a Clarins spa with complimentary 20-minute facial treatments, which is a pretty sweet deal.
The entry rules can be a bit complicated, though, and there’s no single policy. Some lounges are free to enter, while others offer a discount for WestJet passengers. And free entry might only apply to Business class travellers, not elites. It’s best to check your options on the WestJet website before you book to avoid any pre-flight disappointment.
Wi-Fi & entertainment
Most WestJet flights have WiFi available for purchase. As for entertainment, the narrowbody planes don’t have seat-back screens, but you can stream movies and TV shows to your own device using the WestJet app. You can even access LinkedIn Learning modules if you’re feeling productive. On the Dreamliner, every seat has its own in-flight entertainment system, so no app is needed.
Dining
Food on WestJet depends on your flight length, destination and cabin class. Premium passengers always get a free snack, and on flights longer than 1370 km (about 2.5 hours), they typically get a hot meal. Business passengers are served hot meals on their routes.
In economy, you’ll get free basic snacks on flights over 70 minutes. On longer routes, there are more substantial snacks for sale. Hot meals are available for purchase on flights over 2 hours and are complimentary for all economy passengers flying to Europe, the UK, Japan or Korea.
Amenities
Amenities are pretty straightforward on WestJet. Business passengers get exclusive Herschel amenity kits and bedding on transatlantic flights. Premium passengers receive Herschel amenity kits and bedding on flights to and from Europe, the UK and Asia. If you’re in economy on the Dreamliner, you’ll also get a pillow and blanket.
Credit cards
WestJet has several co-branded credit cards with the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). Card perks range from bonus WestJet points and free checked bags to valuable companion vouchers. Compared to other airline credit cards, the annual fees are pretty reasonable, especially for what you get. But I’d still only recommend signing up if you plan on flying WestJet regularly.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
