Pay more to capitalize on seats? Westjet calls it a consumer choice. Critics call it to grab cash
As it happens5:44The Westjet will charge more for the seats on some flights. This expert calls it ‘Cash Grab’
If you want to re-make your seat and hold a little shut-oil on your next Westjet Flight, you may have to pay more for privilege.
The airline has announced that it is re-organizing its 43 Boeing 737-8 Max and 737-800 aircraft to offer “latest range of seating options”.
The seats of the regular economy will have a “fixed reclined design”, which means that your seat will not be able to put back – until you upgrade the better seat.
Westjet says the new design saves space and “fulfills the diverse preferences of our guests”, while keeping rates cheap for those who just want the basics.
Others take more condemnation.
“I would say that it grabbed a cash,” said John Gradek, a faculty lecturer at Supply Network and Aviation Management at Montreal’s McGill University. As it happens Host nil kÓ§ksal.
“They in any way, somehow, you know, create another eClon of service that will allow them to charge more.”
It works like this
Currently, all the seats in the Westjet are 737–8 Max and 737–800 aircraft fare, and the vast majority can re-achieve.
Under the new design, According to Westjet Press ReleaseThe cabin will include a new “premium” section at the front with 12 seats, which would “ergonically seat cushion, re-add the seat bench and a large headrest with a four-way adjustment capacity.”
It will be behind an extended “extended comfort” section with 36 reclining seats that have more legumes than those in the economy.
Behind it, separated by a divisive, there will be an economy section with no additional legroom, and no recurrence.
An email stated in an email, “Westjet has always been a leading lead to providing air travel to more Canadian people, roughly the ability to keep the cost low and offer affordable air fare.”
“To continue doing this, we need to try new products and be ready to see how they work for Canadians.”
Westjet is re -connecting the layouts to many of its aircraft, removing the option for many economy passengers to rebuild its seats. Instead, the airline will currently add a premium cabin section to some economy-cavalry aircraft, which will allow some seats to be rebuilt.
Gradek says that this international budget is already common on the airlines that there are non-transit seats. But in the Canadian market, re -running chairs have always been a standard feature, even in cheap seats.
“The airline’s imagination never stops to surprise me,” he said. “The depth will pass to people in a way, who gives a perception that if I pay more, I get more. But, you know, now, it’s as if you pay more that you had.”
Passengers are divided
While no one likes to pay for low, the etiquette of repetition of the seat is already a controversial subject. In fact, Westjet says that changes are based on their own audience’s response.
The company said, “Through our guest user testing, half indicated that they prefer a certain repetition, so that other guests avoid feeling affected by encroaching in their place.”
They were displaying different opinions at the Vancouver International Airport later this week, where the passengers weighed on the new policy.
17 -year -old Lisa Bayer flew all the way from France, and for an important part of that time, she says that the man in front of her was still leaning back, she was practically in her lap.
“I was not well with it,” he said.
But when she is not getting admitted on her, she admits that on a long flight, it is good to have the option to keep yourself back. And the cost of the journey skys touch, she says that she cannot pay another new fee yet.
Calgary’s Kail Kuchma, a regular bending, more blunt.
“I think it’s a way gaugeing,” he said. “I don’t think it’s really appropriate.”
Meanwhile, traveler Albert McFaden says that it makes sense that you pay more to get more, and he is happy to do so.
“At any time you can improve your comfort on any aircraft, it is worth your time,” he said. “Why wouldn’t I pay for him?”
Passenger Rights Advocate Gorborn Lukx says they do not have more charging for more comfortable seats with Westjet.
“As a consumer, I might like to recur,” he said. “At the same time, my concern is mainly about passenger rights, not passenger comfort.”
But he says that it can become an issue if long or big passengers are forced to pay more to get a seat, in which they fit.
“Relaxation is an option. Adjusting your physical size is part of transport to a passenger,” he said.
Lukak says that if passengers do not know their rights, they can simply do easy work and pay more for guaranteed housing.
Westjet says that anyone who needs additional consideration should call the airline while booking it.
Meanwhile, Gradek says that it is the latest in a long list of airline services, which used to spend free and now extra like free food and checked goods.
“Canadians are used for this strategy,” he said. “The question is, how far do you go? And at what point do we say uncle?”
