At first I was excited to share with our Canadian visitors the “half-price” offer to Hawaii on Westjet. I’ve received numerous requests for Canadian deals, and unfortunately they have been virtually non-existent.
On first glance this sale seemed good though not great. The prices are listed without taxes and surcharges of nearly CAD 100 each way. Unfortunately, that took the steam out of my sails and got me thinking about how this relates to a much bigger picture.
Airlines and customer dissatisfaction.
The greater problem I see in this offer is that because it isn’t a deal, it sets false expectations for Westjet’s customers. While this situation is Westjet specific, it relates to an industry-wide problem. The issue is that customers have become increasingly dissatisfied with airlines. That is true even without regard to ticket prices.
In any event, here’s what the Westjet deals portends:
Details:
To Honolulu, Oahu (RT)
To Kahalui, Maui (RT)
With the addition of their separately priced fuel surcharge, the Westjet deal is in fact no better than the American Airline offer (although the routing is more convenient). Lastly, I find the Westjet website to be among the most difficult to navigate airline sites I’ve encountered.
I promise to keep a lookout for something better, both in terms of price and honesty.
Beth (3 years ago)
Unfortunately, Westjet announced yesterday they’ll be charging extra for advanced seat selection. $10 for aisle or window, $15 for the emergency row or front row.
Our budget carrier is no longer.