Toronto Travellers Brace For Higher WestJet Checked Baggage Fees Right Before Summer

Planning a summer getaway out of the GTA? You need to budget a little extra cash for your suitcase. WestJet officially increased its checked baggage fees this week. The Calgary-based carrier matched a similar price hike rolled out by Air Canada just days ago.

What The New Luggage Rules Cost You

Travellers now face steeper penalties for bringing extra items, especially if they wait until the last minute to pay. WestJet implemented these price bumps across the board for both domestic and international flights.

Here is exactly how the new WestJet checked baggage fees break down:

• $10 increase for your first and second checked bags when paying at the airport.
• $5 increase for your first and second checked bags when prepaying online.
• $50 increase for any excess, overweight, or oversized luggage.

Depending on when and where you pay, passengers flying on the airline’s ultra-basic fare will now fork over anywhere from $60 to $93 just for their first bag. If you pack heavy, an overweight bag could slap you with a staggering fee of up to $168.

You can check your exact flight costs directly on WestJet’s official baggage fee page. Frequent flyers do catch a small break, as WestJet Teal Rewards members keep their $5 discount on the first prepaid checked bag.

Why Flights Out Of Pearson Are Getting More Expensive

Skyrocketing jet fuel prices forced Canadian airlines to scramble for revenue this month. The ongoing Middle East conflict and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz triggered massive spikes in global aviation fuel costs.

Air Canada set the trend last week when it raised its basic economy baggage fee from $35 to $45. Now, both major airlines operating out of Toronto Pearson International Airport pass those surging operational costs directly onto passengers.

Aviation experts predict these fees will not drop anytime soon. Beyond raising luggage prices, major international carriers also slashed thousands of summer flights to conserve fuel.

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