WestJet has raised checked baggage fees for tickets purchased on or after April 23, 2026, with higher prices now showing on the airline's official service fees page and baggage fee changes page.
For most Canadian travellers, the headline is simple: the cheapest first checked bag on a standard WestJet economy fare now starts at $45-53 CAD when prepaid, while waiting until airport check-in can push that first bag to $70-83 CAD.
The increase is especially painful for families, sun-destination travellers, ski trips, and anyone who buys the cheapest fare without checking what bags are actually included.
What changed
The new baggage table applies to tickets purchased on or after April 23, 2026. WestJet's previous table still applies if you bought your ticket before that date, so two passengers on the same flight may see different bag pricing depending on when they booked.
For travel within Canada and between Canada and the U.S., WestJet's current published prepaid bag fees now look like this:
| Fare | First checked bag | Second checked bag |
|---|---|---|
| UltraBasic | $55-65 | $70-83 |
| Econo or Member Exclusive | $45-53 | $60-71 |
| EconoFlex | No fee | $60-71 |
| Premium / PremiumFlex | No fee | No fee |
| Business / BusinessFlex | No fee | No fee |
Those are the prepaid prices. If you wait until check-in, the same bags cost more.
| Fare | First bag at self-serve check-in | First bag at airport check-in |
|---|---|---|
| UltraBasic | $70-83 | $80-94 |
| Econo or Member Exclusive | $60-71 | $70-83 |
| EconoFlex | No fee | No fee |
| Premium / Business | No fee | No fee |
The same fee structure applies to the first two bags on Latin America, Caribbean, and Mexico routes for most economy fares, though third and fourth bags are more expensive on those routes. Europe and Asia have their own higher second-bag pricing, so always check the route-specific table before assuming the North America numbers apply.
How much more expensive is this?
Compared with WestJet's previous fee table for tickets purchased from September 16, 2025 through April 22, 2026, the minimum prepaid first-bag fee has moved up by about $5 CAD on UltraBasic and Econo fares.
The bigger jump is at the airport and on extra bags:
| Common scenario | Old starting price | New starting price |
|---|---|---|
| Econo first bag, prepaid | $40 | $45 |
| Econo second bag, prepaid | $55 | $60 |
| Econo first bag, airport check-in | $60 | $70 |
| UltraBasic first bag, prepaid | $50 | $55 |
| UltraBasic first bag, airport check-in | $70 | $80 |
| Third bag in Canada/U.S., self-serve check-in | $100 | $150 |
| Overweight or oversized bag | $100 | $150 |
That lines up with what The Canadian Press reported via CityNews: prepaid first and second bags are up by $5, airport-paid first and second bags are up by $10, and excess, overweight, and oversized bag fees are up by $50.
The effect is small on a solo traveller checking one prepaid bag, but it compounds quickly. A family of four checking four Econo first bags on a round trip within Canada is now looking at a minimum of roughly $360 CAD in prepaid checked bag fees, before any taxes or variation within WestJet's published ranges.
Why this matters for Canadians
WestJet is one of Canada's two largest airlines, and many Canadian travellers use it for exactly the kinds of trips where checked bags are hard to avoid: ski trips, winter sun trips, family visits, and domestic travel from Western Canada.
The increase also lands in a broader period of airline fee pressure. Air Canada recently moved on checked baggage pricing too, and several U.S. airlines have also lifted bag fees in response to higher operating costs. For travellers, that means the headline fare is becoming a weaker guide to the real trip cost.
This is especially important with UltraBasic. WestJet's lowest fare can look appealing in search results, but the bag math can erase much of the savings if you need more than a personal item. UltraBasic guests also generally do not get a standard carry-on bag unless an exception applies, such as certain long-haul routes or buying Extended Comfort for all flights in one direction.
How to reduce the damage
The easiest move is to prepay for bags. WestJet says the lowest prices on the first two checked bags are available when prepaid through booking or Manage Trips up to 24 hours before departure. Waiting until airport check-in is now meaningfully more expensive.
You should also attach your WestJet Rewards ID before buying bags. WestJet says members without complimentary bag benefits can access lower first-bag pricing only when their Rewards ID is attached and the bag is prepaid through eligible WestJet channels.
If you fly WestJet even a few times a year, the free-bag benefits become more important. WestJet says first bag fees are included for:
- WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard primary cardholders and up to 8 guests on the same booking
- EconoFlex, Premium, and Business fares
- Silver, Gold, and Platinum WestJet Rewards members
Second bags are included for Premium and Business guests, as well as Silver, Gold, and Platinum members. Platinum members also get excess bags included, though overweight and oversized rules still need careful checking.
For a deeper look at the program itself, see our WestJet Rewards guide. If you are deciding whether to concentrate more spending in the WestJet ecosystem, the newer WestJet and Triangle Rewards partnership is also worth understanding.
Is the WestJet RBC World Elite card now easier to justify?
For travellers who check bags, yes, the math has become easier.
The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard has a $139 annual fee and includes a first checked bag for the primary cardholder and up to eight companions on the same booking when the eligible ticket is paid with the card and the cardholder's 9-digit WestJet Rewards ID is on the reservation at check-in.
At the new Econo prepaid minimum of $45 per first checked bag, a single round trip with two travellers checking one bag each can represent about $180 CAD in avoided bag fees. A family trip can clear the annual fee even faster.
The card is less compelling if you usually travel with carry-on only, avoid WestJet, or book fares that already include bags. But for households that fly WestJet once or twice a year with checked luggage, the baggage benefit is now the main reason to run the numbers.
What to do before your next WestJet flight
Before booking, compare the total trip cost, not just the fare. Add bags, seats, and any payment or bundle differences before deciding that UltraBasic or Econo is actually cheaper than EconoFlex.
After booking, add your WestJet Rewards number and prepay bags through WestJet's own tools if you need them. If you have a free-bag benefit through status, fare type, or the WestJet RBC World Elite card, make sure the relevant WestJet Rewards number is attached before check-in.
And if your ticket was purchased before April 23, 2026, check WestJet's previous price table before assuming the new fees apply. WestJet says bag fees are based on booking date, so the purchase date now matters almost as much as the fare itself.
Bottom line
WestJet's latest checked bag fee increase is not a massive hit for every traveller, but it is another clear sign that Canadian airfare comparisons need to include baggage from the start.
For a solo traveller paying in advance, the change may be a $5 annoyance. For a family, a skier, or anyone paying at the airport, it can be a much larger bill. The best play is straightforward: prepay, attach your WestJet Rewards number, avoid UltraBasic when you need bags, and revisit whether a free-bag benefit now saves more than it costs.
Source notes: WestJet's media resources page says the downloaded aircraft and logo assets are brand-approved for digital media use. Fee details were checked against WestJet's official service fees and baggage fee changes pages on April 26, 2026. Card fee and free-bag conditions were checked against WestJet/RBC's current World Elite Mastercard pages.
