WestJet increases fees for checked baggage, matching recent Air Canada move

WestJet is increasing the price many passengers will pay to check baggage, starting today.

Travellers paying at the airport to check their bags will see prices increase by $10 each for the first and second bag. If paying in advance, the fees will go up by $5 per bag for the first and second bags.

The airline told CBC News its new fees will be effective for reservations booked from April 23 onward.

While discounts that apply to certain WestJet Rewards members remain in place, this increase is the third in as many years to the airline’s baggage fees. It comes less than a year after the last hike.

In a statement, a WestJet spokesperson told CBC News the increases are because of industry trends and “impacts from current global conditions.”

Passengers on cheapest fares could pay $60 for one bag

When travelling in Canada, passengers on the airline’s cheapest ultra-basic fares will now pay between $60 to $93 for their first bag, and $75 to $111 for a second, depending on when and where they choose to pay.

Within Canada, standard econo passengers could pay between $45 to $81 for their first bag, and $60 to $99 for a second.

WATCH | Fewer options and higher costs to fly this summer:

Air Transat, Lufthansa cut flights over soaring jet fuel costs

Air Transat is cutting six per cent of its flights due to the soaring cost of jet fuel triggered by the war in the Middle East, while German air carrier Lufthansa is cutting 20,000 flights until October.

Passengers to Asia or Europe could see baggage fees ranging from $85 to $123 for a single item of checked luggage if they are travelling on ultra-basic.

Fees for excess, overweight and oversized baggage are seeing the biggest increase, with a hike of $50. In some scenarios, an overweight bag could cost up to $168.

WestJet move follows a similar Air Canada move

This is not the first price increase announced by a Canadian airline in recent weeks.

Last Monday, Air Canada announced higher baggage fees for economy basic passengers, with the first bag increasing from $35 to $45 for travellers within Canada or to and from the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. The fee for the second bag increased from $50 to $60.

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Fuel surcharges have also been introduced for certain bookings or vacation packages by both Air Canada and WestJet. Air Transat has also said it would be adjusting fares or fuel surcharges in recent weeks. On Monday, WestJet also said it was cutting capacity due to increased fuel costs.

Jet fuel prices have skyrocked in the last few weeks, due primarily to Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, triggered by the U.S. and Israel’s war against the country. Air Canada and Air Transat have been cutting routes in response to higher costs, as have other international airlines.

Overall, air travel experts say the combination of higher surcharges and fewer flight options could mean the cost to fly won’t drop anytime soon.

“It’s going to be an expensive summer to travel,” predicted Vancouver-based travel agent McKenzie McMillan in an earlier interview with CBC News.