You're standing in the middle of Calgary International Airport, or maybe Pearson, and you see that look on a traveler’s face. It’s the "wait, how much is the bag?" face. Honestly, dealing with check in baggage WestJet rules shouldn't feel like a math test you didn't study for, but here we are. The airline has changed its fee structure a few times recently, and if you aren't paying attention to the specific fare bundle you bought, you might end up paying $60 or $70 just to get your suitcase from point A to point B.
It’s expensive. It’s confusing. And it’s mostly avoidable if you know the quirks.
The Reality of WestJet Checked Baggage Fees Right Now
WestJet moved to a model where your bag price depends heavily on when you pay. If you wait until you're at the airport counter, you’re basically handing them extra money for no reason.
Let's look at the "UltraBasic" fare. It’s the lowest tier they offer. When they introduced it, people were a bit shocked because it doesn't even include a carry-on bag for the overhead bin—just a personal item under the seat. If you’re flying UltraBasic, your check in baggage WestJet costs are going to be your biggest headache. For most domestic flights, prepaying for that first bag online at least 24 hours before your flight is the only way to keep the cost around the $35 to $42 range. If you wait until the 24-hour check-in window starts, the price jumps. If you wait until you’re talking to the agent at the terminal? You’re looking at an additional $10 to $20 "airport load" fee on top of the base price.
It feels like a penalty. Because it kind of is.
Size and Weight: The Hard Limits
WestJet isn't kidding about the tape measure. Your bag needs to be within 157 total centimeters. That’s length plus width plus height. If you’re rocking one of those massive hard-shell suitcases from Costco, double-check it.
Weight is the bigger deal. 23 kilograms. Or 50 pounds.
Go over by even a single pound and you hit the "overweight" category. That’s an automatic $100 to $118 fee depending on the route. It’s a flat fee. It doesn't matter if you're one pound over or ten; the price is the same. I've seen people at the terminal frantically moving socks into their pockets to get under that 50-pound limit. Save yourself the sweat. Buy a cheap luggage scale. They cost fifteen bucks and save you a hundred.
✨ Don't miss: What Time in South Korea: Why the Peninsula Stays Nine Hours Ahead
Strategic Ways to Get Free Bags
Nobody likes paying for luggage. The good news is that WestJet actually has some of the most straightforward ways to bypass these fees if you play your cards right.
The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard is basically the "get out of jail free" card for baggage. If you have this card, your first bag is free. Not just for you, but for up to eight other people traveling on your same reservation. It’s probably the most effective way to handle check in baggage WestJet costs if you fly even twice a year. The annual fee on the card often pays for itself in just one family trip to Hawaii or Florida.
Status matters too. If you’ve clawed your way up to Silver, Gold, or Platinum status in the WestJet Rewards program, you get two or even three bags for free.
Fare Bundles and the "Hidden" Value
Sometimes the cheapest ticket isn't the cheapest way to travel.
- Econo: Usually requires you to pay for the first and second bag.
- EconoFlex: Includes the first checked bag for free on domestic flights.
- Premium and Business: You get two checked bags included.
If you’re moving a kid into a university dorm or going on a three-week ski trip to Kelowna, do the math. If an EconoFlex ticket is $50 more than an Econo ticket, but it includes a bag that would cost you $40 plus it gives you better seat selection and cancellation options, the "more expensive" ticket is actually the better deal.
What Happens With Connections and Partner Airlines?
This is where things get messy. WestJet has partnerships with Delta, Air France, and KLM. If you book a flight through WestJet but the plane says "Operated by Delta," you usually follow the baggage rules of the airline that checks you in for your first leg.
But keep an eye on those international flights. If you're heading to London (Gatwick or Heathrow) or Paris, the baggage allowance sometimes changes. On transatlantic flights, even some of the basic fares might include a bag, though WestJet has been moving toward the "unbundled" model even on long-haul routes. Always check your specific itinerary "Manage Trips" page. Don't assume.
🔗 Read more: Where to Stay in Seoul: What Most People Get Wrong
Oversized and Special Items
WestJet is actually pretty cool about some things.
If you’re traveling with a car seat or a stroller, those are usually checked for free at the gate or the counter. They don't count toward your baggage allowance.
Bikes, golf clubs, and skis are a different story. They count as one of your checked bags, but you’ll likely have to pay a handling fee for "oversized" items if the box is huge. For a bicycle, there's usually a $50 handling fee plus the bag fee.
Pro tip: if you’re flying with sports gear, arrive an extra 30 minutes early. You can’t just drop a surfboard at the kiosk; you’ve got to take it to the "Oversize" belt which is usually at the far end of the terminal.
The Self-Tagging Process
Most Canadian airports now use self-serve kiosks. You print your own tag, wrap it around the handle, and drop it on the automated belt.
It’s fast. But it’s also unforgiving.
If your tag isn't stuck on right, or if you've left an old tag from your trip to Mexico last year on the handle, the scanners will get confused. Your bag might end up in a holding pen instead of on your plane. Rip off those old stickers. All of them.
💡 You might also like: Red Bank Battlefield Park: Why This Small Jersey Bluff Actually Changed the Revolution
Handling Lost or Damaged Luggage
It happens. Not often, but it happens. If you land and your bag isn't on the carousel, do not leave the airport.
Go to the WestJet baggage office immediately. You need a PIR (Property Irregularity Report). Without that piece of paper, claiming compensation later is a nightmare. WestJet is generally good about delivering delayed bags to your hotel or home once they find them, but you have to start the paper trail before you exit the arrivals hall.
Moving Forward With Your Trip
To keep your check in baggage WestJet experience painless, follow a simple checklist. First, check your fare class on your confirmation email. If it says UltraBasic, you are paying for every single thing that doesn't fit under your seat. Second, pay for your bags the moment you book or at least 24 hours before departure via the app. Third, weigh your bag at home.
If you're over the limit, it’s almost always cheaper to move some heavy items into a second smaller bag and pay for a second checked item than to pay the "overweight" penalty on one single heavy bag. Two bags at 20kg each is cheaper than one bag at 25kg. It’s a weird quirk of airline logic, but it’s the truth.
Final step: Take a photo of your bag and the baggage tag receipt. If the airline loses your suitcase, having a photo of what it actually looks like helps the ground crew find it much faster than just saying "it's a black suitcase." Because every suitcase is a black suitcase.
Check your flight status, get to the airport two hours early, and keep those receipts handy. Safely getting your gear to your destination is half the battle of a good vacation.