Flying West Jet in September? Reduce The Baggage

Saturday, August 16, 2008 03:57 AM

Prince George, B.C. – Flying Westjet? Better take a close look at your ticket because there are some changes to service from September 2 to September 30, 2008 at the Prince George Airport. The changes will have an impact on your baggage, flight times and the duration of your flight.

WestJet is switching to a Hawkair Dash 8 during this period and is not able to accommodate as much weight as the 737s that are normally used. So, this means your checked baggage cannot exceed 50 pounds. Two checked bags are permitted, however the total between the bags cannot be more than 50 pounds. This is in addition to carry-on luggage.

Baggage that tips the scales over the 50 pound mark will cost an extra $1.05 per pound and will not be guaranteed on that flight. Arrangements will be made for the luggage to be placed on the next available flight.

Normally, WestJet passengers are permitted two bags that may weigh up to 50 pounds each.

Opinion 250 asked if there would be any compensation for guests who booked on Westjet because they prefer the larger planes. Robert Palmer, Public Relations for Westjet says he is unaware of anyone that is in this predicament, “I'm not sure there would be that many guests in that situation because we removed the 737 flights from our system several months ago. Anyone booking a September flight after May or June of this year would have had to book on the Dash 8s.”

Becky Madore with Uniglobe Travel, is urging flyers to pay more attention when booking. “Westjet has issued a notice on their website stating they will be using a smaller plane, but travellers also need to look at the flight times and duration changes.”

Flights from Prince George to Vancouver for example are now 1 hour and 25 minutes as opposed to the approximate one hour when flying on the 737s.

Flight times should be confirmed either online or with a ticket agent.

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Posted on Saturday, August 16, 2008 03:57 AM in Travel by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: zoopdingle on August 16 2008 5:54 AM

An extra 25 minutes may not seem to bad but if the Vancouver to PG leg is the final leg of your journey I know I'd be ticked off.

50 pounds of luggage? Wow, if it's just clothes that no issue but you'd better now be buying a bunch of trinkets while on vacation.

What I'd really like to wee is for Westjet to start enforcing the weight and size restrictions for carry-on baggage. How many times have you seen someone get on a plane with carry-on that is so obviously over the limit? Pretty much every flight I've ever been on has had several people with more carry-on then most of us have checked.

Posted by: Norm1 on August 16 2008 6:56 AM

The comment regarding enforcing carry on weight and size restrictions is one that I certainly agree with. It is one that many airlines do not enforce.

A trip on Air Canada from Ottawa to Toronto last January was a prime example. I believe that we must have been the only 2 passengers onboard who had checked baggage. The flight departure was delayed by 15 minutes due to the carry on baggage shuffle.

The sad, but humorous, situation was a beautiful setting for a comedy sketch on Rick Mercer's "Mercer Report".

Horizon/Alaska Airlines have no problem discretely letting passengers know that the heavy stuff goes on the floor, directly in front of the travelling passenger.

Posted by: diplomat on August 16 2008 11:25 AM

I have always been amazed at the amount of luggage that people take along when the fly on an airplane! Some people's luggage must weigh more then the person that brings all that luggage!

I have bought a correctly sized carry-on piece of luggage and gradually acquired some wrinkle resisting clothing which is all I will take on the next flight, even if it is overseas.

Small carbon footprint passengers who have only one carry-on and no checked luggage should be rewarded by the airlines with a discount of their ticket price!

Posted by: sunshine on August 16 2008 11:40 AM

I actually am on one of these planes in September. I booked well before I knew about this but it doesn't really affect me.

I travel WestJet because they are a nicer company to travel with. I love their jokes and they are so much happier than Air Canada staff.

When I have flown Air Canada PG to Van, there have been numerous times where the return flight has not taken off in Van due to "fog" whereas the WestJet flights are still flying to PG on the same day. I have been on Air Canada before and gave up my ticket in Van and went to the WestJet counter after being in Van for two extra days, to get a ticket on WestJet to come back to PG.

So I guess the situation doesn't really bother me at all. WestJet is just a better company to travel with.