A Detailed Review of WestJet

WestJet is one of our favourite airline choices if you’re traveling in North America. Since it was first founded in 1994, it has become a leading airline for Canada, with a fleet of over 180 aircraft and a global network of over 100 destinations. Known for their Canadian friendliness and competitive prices, it’s a great option. But is it the right airline choice for you? Let’s deep dive into when you should choose WestJet, and when you might want to consider other options.

Key Facts

• Founded: February 29, 1996
• HQ: Calgary, Canada
• Alliance: None, WestJet only
• Fleet Size: 180+ aircraft
• Destinations: Over 100 across North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Europe
• Passengers: Approximately 25 million annually

Our Ratings

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

????Global Connections ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

????Wi-Fi Performance ★★★★☆ (4/5)

????Value for Money: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

????Sustainability: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

⏰Reliability: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

When To Use WestJet

WestJet is a fantastic choice if you’re flying within North America or to popular nomad destinations in the Caribbean and Central America. The good news is that as of 2025, they’re expanding their transatlantic links from the East Coast of Canada to include Paris (France), Dublin (Ireland), and Edinburgh (UK), making it easier for travelers to ‘cross the pond’ on a budget.

It’s worth noting that although they are not members of an Alliance, WestJet do have codeshare and interline agreements with certain airlines like KLM, Air France, and Delta. For us, this means that these airlines communicate with each other to provide smoother transfers (and hopefully reduce the risk of us losing our luggage en route).

Best For:

• North American Professionals: With over 100 destinations, WestJet connects the major cities and hubs. This is perfect for remote workers who need to hop between tech and business hubs like Toronto, Vancouver, San Francisco and Austin.
• Eco-Conscious Travelers: WestJet has committed to achieving net zero by 2050 and was one of the first Canadian airlines to use Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Its ongoing efforts to make aircraft more sustainable, align well with travelers who want to minimize their carbon footprint.
• Frequent Flyers: Although not part of an alliance, their own WestJet Rewards program allows members to collect ‘WestJet Dollars’ to spend on future flights or upgrades. This is great for people who have regular flight routes.
• Remote Workers: The two-seat Premium cabin option has extra legroom, power outlets and generally a quieter environment, which is helpful if you need to set up a “sky office”.

“WestJet is my go-to airline for flying between Europe and Canada. It’s the perfect combination of cheap and comfortable. The staff are the friendliest I’ve ever experienced on any North American airline” – Laura, Digital Nomad World member

When NOT to Use WestJet

Whilst WestJet has great benefits, there are definitely situations where it might not be the best fit:

Potential Drawbacks:

• Global Travelers: If your work and adventures take you across the world to Asia, Africa, or South America, WestJet’s limited international network might be too restrictive. Competitors like Air Canada or United Airlines offer way more global destinations.
• Luxury Travelers: WestJet is comfortable but simple. Their Premium cabin does offer more space, but you won’t have the luxurious amenities that can be found on airlines like Emirates.
• Budget Short-Haulers: For shorter domestic routes within Canada and the US, where comfort isn’t as important, budget airlines like Flair or Spirit usually offer cheaper fares.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Great North American network with growing European links
• Commitment to sustainability and achieving net zero emissions
• Accessible loyalty program for travel perks
• Comfortable Premium cabin option for remote working
• Wi-Fi is available on most flights (more about this below)

Cons

• Limited global network compared to larger international airlines
• Fewer luxury options for high-end travelers
• More expensive compared to budget airlines for short-haul routes
• No alliance membership, limiting options for more complex routes

Booking Experience

Website and App Usability ★★★★☆ (4/5)

The WestJet website and app are simple and intuitive, with plenty of options to customize your seats, meal preferences and baggage allowances before and after booking. Downloading your boarding passes is super easy and the app will ping you with important flight info. Our favourite feature, however, is their fare calendar which lets you clearly see the flight prices for each day of the week or month – a game-changer for travelers on a budget.

Payment and Transparency ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Compared to other North American airlines, WestJet is fairly transparent about additional fees for seat selection and checked baggage. They also offer multiple payment methods, including the option to pay with your collected WestJet dollars. While the extra seat selection and baggage can add up, their pricing is still pretty competitive, especially for transatlantic and longer routes.

Tip: You might want to consider the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard for earning WestJet dollars on your purchases – these add up quickly and can significantly reduce travel costs!

In-Flight Experience

Food and Dining ★★★★☆ (4/5)

On all flights over 1 hour you can expect a complimentary Canadian snack (usually a pretzel or cookie), which is a nice treat compared to budget airlines. On longer routes over 2.5 hours, you can buy food from their menu (or stuff a homemade sandwich in your pocket) and you get a tasty meal for their transatlantic flights. They also cater for dietary needs including vegetarian, gluten-free, and kosher meals, but it’s worth checking if your flight requires pre-ordering. You can find more info here: Food and Drink

Entertainment Options ★★★★☆ (4/5)

WestJet Connect is the airline’s in-flight entertainment system where content can be streamed directly to your device (via the WestJet app) or viewed on the built-in screen on certain aircraft. This is a great option because we’ve all been on a flight where our screen was the only one not to work! For the more curious flyers, WestJet also includes educational content like LinkedIn Learning courses and documentaries in their library.

Does WestJet Have Wi-Fi Onboard?

Availability and Performance ★★★★☆ (4/5)

As of January 2025, WestJet is in the process of upgrading their in-flight connectivity with Starlink-powered Wi-Fi. They plan to have installed this on all smaller aircraft by the end of 2025 and all wide-body aircraft by the end of 2026. This is going to be a game-changer, giving passengers access to high-speed, low-latency internet, just like on land! Since December 2024, WestJet has also ditched outdated paid plans to offer free Wi-Fi to all WestJet Rewards members (which you can easily become by creating an account online before your flight). Note:  We can’t give it five stars because the upgrades technically haven’t happened yet.

Service and Reliability

Customer Service ★★★★☆ (4/5)

WestJet’s in-flight customer service is well known for its attentiveness and typical Canadian friendliness. However, despite having a live chat feature within their app, some people have reported experiencing technical glitches and a lack of customer support on the ground during disruptions. We therefore recommend contacting their social media team who are usually quicker to respond when you need immediate solutions.

Punctuality and Reliability ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

In 2024, only 71% of WestJet flights arrived within 15 minutes of their scheduled time. Although this is an improvement from previous years, and considered punctual compared to other Canadian airlines, it still ranks poorly compared to other North American airlines like Delta (83%) and United Airlines (81%). We always recommend factoring in extra travel time if you have tight turnarounds or connections.

The Future of WestJet

Here are some ways that WestJet is investing in technology and sustainability, to improve their service for passengers.

• Enhanced mobile app features: improvements to delivering real-time flight info are a priority for WestJet. This will help us passengers navigate disruptions much quicker.
• AI-powered customer service: WestJet was the first Canadian airline to use AI-powered customer service chatbot. They continue to improve the bot, named Juliet, who helps to resolve over 50% of online queries and keeps customer service wait times lower.
• Expanded European routes: WestJet are looking to increase the number of destinations and the frequency of flights to and from Europe. This is exciting as some major direct routes e.g. Vancouver (Canada) to Gatwick (UK) do not run all year round, forcing travelers to take longer and more complicated journeys.

Alternative Airlines

It’s always worth comparing similar airlines to make sure you are choosing an airline that works for your priorities. Below are some similar suggestions.

Conclusion

For travelers based in North America and who enjoy the occasional trip to Europe or the Caribbean, WestJet offers a solid balance of comfort, reliable internet, and value. Whilst it’s not the cheapest option for shorter flights, it has been our team’s favourite transatlantic airline from Canada to Europe.

Who Should Fly WestJet?

• North American-based travelers hopping between business hubs
• Remote workers who need reliable Wi-Fi during flights
• Eco-conscious travelers looking for sustainable options
• Frequent North American Flyers who can benefit from WestJet dollars

Who Should Consider Alternative Airlines?

• Travelers seeking a variety of global destinations
• Luxury travelers who prioritize premium service and amenities
• Budget-conscious short-haul travelers
• Travelers who need the flexibility of an airline alliance for complex international itineraries

Have you flown with WestJet before? Share your experiences in the comments below – your experience could be invaluable to our Digital Nomad World members.

Check out our reviews of other airlines here.