(NEXSTAR) – WestJet, the low-cost airline based in Calgary, Alberta, has stirred up discussions among travelers with its recent announcement regarding the new seating arrangements on some of its planes.
The airline revealed that 43 of its Boeing 737-8 MAX and 737-800 planes will undergo significant modifications, where only the Premium and Extended Comfort seats will have the ability to recline.
Currently, the majority of seats on these aircraft are economy, and, according to reports, most can recline in some capacity.
The newly configured aircraft will include 12 seats in the premium cabin that feature “ergonomically contoured seat cushions, reclining seatbacks, and large four-way adjustable headrests,” similar to those found on WestJet’s 787-9 Dreamliner.
Beyond the division, there will be an Extended Comfort section and another for Standard Economy. The standard seats in the economy section will come with fixed backrests, with variations in space available from the back to the front of the cabin.
According to WestJet’s spokeswoman, Jennifer Booth, feedback from guest testing indicated that half of the participants preferred fixed recline to maintain their personal space.
“I don’t typically recline my seat, but I’ve had some long flights with WestJet recently that definitely made me think about it. Reclining would be a nice option,” remarked a member from the WestJet community on Reddit. They specifically mentioned flights to Iceland and Mexico City, noting that being on a plane for over six hours without a reclining option was less than ideal.
That said, selling non-reclining seats isn’t exactly a new practice for budget airlines like Spirit, Allegiant, and EasyJet.
WestJet operates flights to 19 states, along with Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. The introduction of these “ultra slimline seats” is claimed to create enough room for an extra row of seats, which could lead to lower fares.
However, some critics argue that this change favors the airlines rather than passengers.
John Gradek, a lecturer at McGill University with expertise in aviation management, expressed skepticism about the marketing tactics of airlines. He noted that while the impression is created that paying more offers better experiences, passengers are essentially paying more for what they previously had.
The first of the revamped aircraft is set to take to the skies later this month, with the remaining 42 planes scheduled for early next year, according to Booth.
