The Great Recline Robbery? WestJet is Charging You An Extra Fee to Lean Back!
TalkofToronto Exclusive: Canadian airline WestJet is making a controversial change to its economy cabin, and passengers will soon have to pay extra for the luxury of reclining their seats. Get ready to keep your back straight, unless you shell out more cash!
The airline recently announced a major revamp for the economy-only cabins of its Boeing 737-8 MAX and 737-800 aircraft. While WestJet is pitching the overhaul as a move to offer “various seating options at different price points,” the most significant detail for budget travelers is one that might shrink their comfort zone: fixed recline.
Say Goodbye to Free Recline
Here’s the breakdown of the new economy experience:
- Standard Economy (Rows 10-31): The new seats will feature an “enhanced cushion and back support” and adjustable headrests, but they will come with a fixed recline design meant to “help preserve personal space.” In simple terms: your seat won’t move back. If you choose the lowest fare, you’re locked into position.
- The Price of Leaning Back: The option to recline will now be bundled with WestJet’s Extended Comfort seats. These seats (36 per plane) will include the adjustable recline feature plus extra legroom, meaning flyers who value that precious inch of movement will have to pay a premium.
WestJet Executive Vice-President and CCO Samantha Taylor stated the change “reflects our commitment to elevating every aspect of the travel experience and meeting guest demand for a broader range of product offerings.” For many passengers, however, the “broader range” seems to be a new way to monetize a feature that was once standard.
Where to Find the Real Comfort
For those willing to upgrade significantly:
- Premium Cabin (12 Seats): These seats, identical to those on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, will feature full reclining seatbacks, contoured cushions, and four-way adjustable headrests.
The new cabin design includes three different seating areas within the standard economy section itself, ranging from “less space” in the back (rows 20-31) to “most space” near the front (rows 10-12), offering a tiered experience even for those who forgo the recline.
The first of the 43 planned aircraft with these redesigned cabins will begin service this month.
TalkofToronto has reached out to WestJet for clarification on the pricing structure for these new seating options and will update this article when details are available.
For now, travelers, prepare to shell out more cash if you want to kick back, or accept your fate as a fixed-position flyer!
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