by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 11:30 AM ET, Wed October 8, 2025
Bag fees are going up again at WestJet. The increase affects tickets bought on or after Sept. 16, 2025.
Baggage fees are based on where passengers are travelling, the cost of their fare, which fare tier they have purchased and how many bags they are checking (second and allowable subsequent bags are more expensive than the first).
Overall, most fee categories have increased $5. Note that fees are generally charged in the currency the ticket was bought in, but sometimes are charged in the currency of the destination. Passengers should double check to avoid surprises.
Last time WestJet increased fees, Air Canada followed suit within about a month. When asked by CBC News if it intended to also increase baggage fees again, Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick replied, "Our policy is to monitor the industry closely to remain competitive in every market we serve."
The increase, which WestJet states was introduced "to align with industry pricing and revenue trends," is part of what airlines refer to as “unbundling” services. The idea is that passengers pay only for the services they want.
Whether unbundling is in the best interest of passengers is certainly debatable. "It's not consumer-friendly. It looks like it's the Wild West," John Gradek, a faculty lecturer in supply networks and aviation management at Montreal's McGill University told the CBC. A common criticism levelled at the airlines is that the optional fees make it difficult to compare fares and that customers may be blindsided by how much the fees add up to. "The gap between the base fare and what you actually pay is going to get bigger," says Gradek. "Consumers are going to get more confused."
Fiztpatrick refutes that, saying "We are very clear at each stage how much these extra optional services cost, so people can knowingly choose to pay for them or not, and at what price.”
You can find details on the new fee structure here.
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