WestJet is once again making some change to their fare class options and what is or isn’t included in those fares. The latest update sees the airline replacing their lower Basic Economy Fare with what one could call an even lower fare class called UltraBasic.
The new UltraBasic Fare
The new UltraBasic fare, is just that it is bare bones basic and is very much like the base fares seen from Ultra Low Cost Carriers like Flair Airlines. The big change with this fare over the previous Basic Economy is that it does not include carry on baggage (except for Transatlantic and Transpacific routes). You are allowed one personal item that can fit below the seat in front of you but that’s it.
UltraBasic offers guests the following options at the lowest possible fare price including:
- a personal item to be stored under the seat
- a pre-assigned seat at the back of the aircraft
- the option to add checked baggage and seat selection for additional fees
- the option to purchase Extended Comfort for additional benefits
- the same friendly service, onboard food and beverage offerings, and access to the WestJet Connect inflight entertainment and connectivity system as before
The UltraBasic fare differs from what existed with WestJet’s Basic fare offering:
- guests are not permitted a carry-on bag (UltraBasic guests flying on transpacific and transatlantic routes only will be permitted to bring a carry-on bag in addition to a personal item)
- guests will be last to board
Like other fares with the airline, customers choosing UltraBasic Fares will still be able to pay for checked luggage, seat selection etc. You can avoid paying for a checked bag if you have the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard which provides the first checked bag free on WestJet flights.
If you have WestJet Rewards Elite status and book an UltraBasic Fare you should know they are not eligible for complimentary upgrades, same day flight changes or even free seat changes or selection at check in:
Wrapping it up
WestJet has made their Basic Fares even more basic with the introduction of their UltraBasic Fare. The primary difference between the two is with carry on bags as the new fare does not include them, only a personal item. Part of this move is to hopefully speed up the boarding process but only time will tell if this will happen. The other question is if this will actually make fares cheaper, and initial reports I have seen across social media and various forums are mixed. Some people have noticed fares have dropped on some routes while others have remained near the same as before. Of course with airline ticket pricing being so dynamic this is a metric that is hard to actually pinpoint.