Introduction to Westjet’s New Seating Policy
Sitting back and relaxing is a privilege for this airline. Budget Canadian airline Westjet has announced that customers will not be able to recline seats on their plane – unless they pay extra.
The New Cabin Experience
The airline said it is configuring its Boeing 737-8 Max and 737-800 aircraft to offer a "modern cabin experience" with new seating options. Economy seats will have a fixed back design to help passengers “preserve personal space.” While fixed recline seating isn’t necessarily a new idea, Westjet is asking flyers to pay extra if they want to recline.
Premium Cabin Features
The new aircraft interiors feature a premium cabin with 12 new seats with reclining backs, a large headrest with four-way adjustment capabilities and ergonomically contoured seat cushions. Although there are still no reclining seats in the new and larger, expanded Economy Cabin comfort section, the 36 seats directly behind Premium have additional legroom and are separated by a cabin divider.
Design and Layout
The cabin has been thoughtfully designed to offer Westjet’s welcoming service at every budget. It reflects our commitment to elevating every aspect of the travel experience and meeting demand for a broader product offering. The new seating layout allows the airline to add a row of seats compared to the previous layout, ultimately reducing the cost per seat.
Seat Space and Pricing
According to Westjet, seats in cabin 20-31 will have the least space, there will be slightly more space in rows 15-19, and the forward economy seats will have the most space in that cabin. The layout for our refreshed cabin addresses the diverse preferences of our guests. Whether they choose premium seating with additional amenities and legroom or more affordable ticket prices with less space, we are excited to bring this range of products to our guests.
Criticism of the New Policy
An airline passenger rights lawyer told Canadian national broadcaster CBC that this move asks people to pay more for a feature they already had and have now lost. The fantasy of airlines never ceases to amaze me: the depths they go through give people the impression that if I pay more, I get more, more. Right now it’s like you’re paying more to get what you had.
