Traveling by plane was once synonymous with comfort, but low-cost companies are transforming the onboard experience into a true lesson in adaptation. Between hidden fares, tight seats and new fees, what was previously included is now starting to cost more and more, and this service, which this airline will start charging, is one of those examples.
The Canadian company WestJet announced that passengers will no longer be able to recline their seats for free. From now on, anyone who wants to tilt the backrest will have to pay an additional fee. The decision is part of a new model of cabins that promises to “offer comfort to all budgets”, as explained by the company, cited by the American newspaper New York Post.
Premium for those who pay, fixed space for the rest
The new interiors will feature a Premium cabin with just 12 seats, equipped with reclining seats, adjustable backrests and ergonomic cushions: the same type used on the company’s Dreamliner planes.
However, the vast majority of passengers, especially those in economy class, will have to make do with fixed reclining seats.
Just behind the Premium zone, an area called Extended Comfort will appear, consisting of 36 seats with more legroom and separated by a divider. Still, according to the same source, these seats also do not recline, being just a slightly more spacious version of traditional economy class.
Less space, more queues
With this change, the company managed to add another row of seats per plane. The strategy allows to reduce the cost per seat and, according to WestJet, cited by the same source, respond to “the growing demand for more affordable options”.
The rear rows, between 20 and 31, will be the tightest, with less space between seats. The front rows, within the same economy class, will have a few extra centimeters, but still far from the comfort of the superior cabins.
“Paying to have what you already had”
Not everyone applauds the news. Passenger rights experts, cited by the same source, criticize the measure, considering it a clear example of how companies are charging for services that were previously standard.
John Gradek, professor of aviation at McGill University, got right to the point in statements: “The imagination of airline marketing departments never ceases to amaze. We are getting to the point where we pay more just to get what we already had.”
New concept of “accessible comfort”
WestJet insists the change is part of a plan to diversify the offering and “improve the travel experience across all price ranges”. However, for many passengers, the result is clear: less space, less comfort and more fees.
With this trend spreading to other low-cost carriers, reclining the seat may soon become a luxury reserved only for those willing to pay for it.
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