US EditionWestJet to remove free reclining seats in economy as part of major cabin overhaul
- This month, WestJet is eliminating free reclining seats in standard economy on its refreshed Boeing 737-8 MAX and 737-800 planes and will reconfigure 43 aircraft by early next year.
- Preserving personal space motivated WestJet's shift to a fixed-recline design, while ultra-slim seats add one extra row per aircraft to lower cost per seat and keep fares affordable.
- Standard-Economy travelers will get ultra-slim seats with adjustable headrests and in-seat power, while Premium and Extended Comfort seats will retain reclining backs, matching features on the 787-9. WestJet is also expanding WestJet Wi‑Fi presented by TELUS, offering high-speed internet and free access for Rewards members.
- Passengers wanting to recline will have to pay more on WestJet's redesigned planes, as recline is only in Premium and Extended Comfort; testing with WestJet Rewards members and employees found half preferred a fixed recline.
- The overhaul positions WestJet to match its narrowbody cabins to 787-9 Dreamliner standards and unify the guest experience, while WestJet Executive Vice‑President Samantha Taylor said, `The layout for our refreshed cabin caters to our guests' diverse preferences`.
39 Articles
39 Articles
Is it rude to recline on an airplane? What an expert says you should do
(NEXSTAR) – WestJet, a Canadian airline based in Calgary, will soon debut the first of its newly configured Boeing planes with “fixed recline” seating for most passengers — meaning there will no longer be an option for Economy travelers to put their seats back on certain flights. When contacted, a representative for WestJet said the seats will be set to a “slight recline that cannot be adjusted,” and suggested their fixed positions are more resp…
WestJet to retrofit some cabins where reclining seats may cost more
It's a move that has created quite a media firestorm: Canadian airline WestJet announced it will begin converting some of its aircraft to a layout including a new, no-recline economy section and new first-class seating. The airline says this will help it offer cheaper fares for some passengers. The trade-off, however, comes at the expense of passengers' recline ... unless they're willing to spend more.While not the first low-cost carrier to pion…
One airline is cutting economy class reclining seats
Travel-minded folks who find it rude when the people in front of them on an airplane recline their seats have a new ally.That ally would be WestJet, a prominent Canadian airline that shuttles people all over the world. WestJet recently announced that all Economy class seats on its passenger jets will now have a "fixed recline" design. In other words, those who pay for the cheapest seats won't be able to recline anymore. There will still be some …
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