WestJet Introduces UltraBasic Fares | Prince of Travel

In late May 2024, WestJet announced its plans to soon introduce a new ultra-low option to its lineup of fares, which came on the heels of the debut of Extended Comfort.

The time has come, and WestJet passengers are now able to choose an UltraBasic fare when making a booking. UltraBasic fares have replaced Basic fares, and come with a number of incremental restrictions.

WestJet Introduces UltraBasic Fares

WestJet has introduced UltraBasic fares – a new, unbundled fare – to the options it presents to passengers. This new fare is the lowest in WestJet’s family of fares, replacing the former Basic fare, and it also comes with the most exclusions and restrictions in the lineup.

UltraBasic fares offer the lowest price to passengers, and WestJet describes them as “no-frills fares” on its website. 

 Specifically, if you book an UltraBasic fare, you’ll be subject to the following restrictions:

• No carry-on bags for flights in North America and Central America (unless Extended Comfort has been purchased for all flights per direction of travel)
• No changes, cancellations, or refunds (unless made within 24 hours of booking)
• No seat changes or seat selection at the time of booking or at check-in without an additional fee
• No earning WestJet Rewards or qualifying spend
• No Platinum and Gold benefits (no same-day flight changes, no free seat changes, no free seat selection at check-in, no complimentary upgrades)
• No Silver benefits (no free seat changes, no free seat selection at check-in, no complimentary upgrades)

In other words, an UltraBasic fare gets you a seat on the plane, but not much else. 

In fact, WestJet also notes that you’ll be assigned a seat at the back of the aircraft, and that if you’re travelling with another passenger, you may not be seated together. (This doesn’t apply to families with children, who must be seated together as per Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations.)

UltraBasic fares have officially replaced Basic fares; however, if you booked a Basic fare prior to the launch of UltraBasic fares, you’ll still have all of the inclusions that were in effect at the time of booking.

Are WestJet UltraBasic Fares a Good Deal?

With the introduction of UltraBasic fares, WestJet is offering passengers the ability to choose the lowest possible price for a flight.

It appears that UltraBasic fares are a stripped-down version of the previous Basic fares –…