Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Silverjet Airlines - Must try to fly.

Read Passenger Review below.


POSTED : 8 January 2008 by Brian Harrison (UK)

Customer Trip Rating :
Recommended:
Value for Money:
London - Dubai. Flight a real pleasure, but the main reason to fly to Dubai with Silverjet are the private terminals. Valet parking at Luton, no queue for check-in or security. At Dubai, we were ushered into the lounge and our passports were stamped with visa while we had a glass of champagne. They were returned shortly and our bags were ready to collect from the from the front of the terminal near to taxis. Anyone who has flown into Dubai will know what a difference this makes.
POSTED : 4 January 2008 by Arron Zubier (UAE)

Customer Trip Rating :
Recommended:
Value for Money:
Another superb Silverjet flight Luton to Dubai leaving on New Years Day. Crew very professional, friendly and have a smile you can see is not fake. My only worry is that on the 3 occasions I have flown Silverjet between London and Dubai the planes have been virtually empty, so I sincerely hope that the numbers pick up as it would be a great shame if they had to stop the service.
POSTED : 3 January 2008 by R Sandhu (UK)

Customer Trip Rating :
Recommended:
Value for Money:
Flew to Dubai and service brilliant. Private terminal at Luton check in, arrival and departure at private terminal in Dubai marvellous. One has to pay more than twice to experience this service with other airlines. Silverjet staff are friendly and helpful.
POSTED : 27 December 2007 by R Grantham (UK)

Customer Trip Rating :
Recommended:
Value for Money:
Luton-New York-Luton. I felt the crew were not as experienced as an airline like BA but they were very friendly. Meals tasty. I appreciated the personal space in a cabin that's all business class. A small point, but there were no trolleys. Everything was served individually from the galley on a tray which felt more special. Inflight amenity kit was disappointing, presumably a money saver. Luton surprised me as an excellent airport, or at any rate the Silverjet terminal which is outside the main terminal. Check in at Luton and at Newark was at the entrance to the Silver Lounge close to where the taxi drops you off. I thought this arrangement was much better than queuing at desks with other airlines. Silver Lounges had snacks and drinks available including champagne and a good selection of magazines and newspapers and Luton had its own security channel which was hassle free. A different way of flying transatlantic and in almost every way much better.
POSTED : 24 December 2007 by R Hayes-O'Connor (UK)

Customer Trip Rating :
Recommended:
Value for Money:
The Luton experience could not be beaten. We arrived at the Silverjet terminal having pre-booked valet parking. We were met kerbside and invited into the terminal whilst the baggage was unloaded. It took no more than two minutes for the bags to be tagged and the cars keys taken care of and then we were off to the lounge. I would recommend taking breakfast in the lounge prior to the 10.00 departure to Newark. Check in was completed over a coffee in the lounge, and the staff changed our original seats to better accomodate our party. From lounge to a/c via a bus was hassle free. On board, the crew were very friendly and attentive. The seat was comfortable but mine would not recline fully. As it was a day flight this was not an issue. The in flight entertainment via your own portable screen is great until you want to keep watching a movie whilst dining. There isn't enough room for two screens and two laid up dining positions. We decided to share one screen. The toilets on board are clean but a little functional for a business class service. The food was very good, although the pre arrival snack into Newark was very average. the cabin crew were attentive throughout the flight. At Newark we were off the flight and through customs in less than 20 minutes. Our friend in Newark was waiting for us in the Silverjet lounge having been invited to wait for us there. Our return flight was as hassle free as the outbound journey. Other comments on this site cover the lounge at Newark. Crew were again very friendly and professional. Food was again very good, although breakfast a little disappointing. The angled lie flat seat was a little uncomfortable for me but everyone else seemed to be sleeping. Arrival into Luton faultless. We were sat in the car, bags loaded within 30 minutes of the aircraft landing. The car was parked 50 yards from the terminal when we arrived. The Silverjet staff brought the car to the door of he terminal and loaded the luggage whilst we waited inside. Punctuality in both directions very good. The bottom line is that this is a good product for the price, we would certainly use Silverjet again and would recommend them.
POSTED : 20 December 2007 by A Brathole (USA)

Customer Trip Rating :
Recommended:
Value for Money:
The whole setup at Luton with a private security channel is very convenient, and about as hassle free as an airport experience can be these days. The Luton lounge is decent enough, at least on par with an average business class lounge, but not nearly in the same league as the Virgin Clubhouse at Heathrow. The Newark lounge is just a partitioned area in the arrivals hall, without its own bathrooms etc, so left a little to be desired. Also, the security at Newark is just the standard lane shared with other airlines. In flight experience was similarly a slightly mixed bag. The flight attendants were friendly but seemed rather inexperienced, and the food service was not particularly impressive. But the seat provided a good level of personal comfort, which is really what matters most on a long flight. It had a continuous range of adjustments, from upright to various reclining angles to (almost) flat, and was more than adequate for getting some good sleep. I preferred this to the more plush Virgin Upper seats, where the lie-flat design offers no positions between a limited initial reclining range and being turned fully flat. Overall, the airline left you with the feeling that they are not quite as slick and professional as they would like you to think, as some aspects of the end to end service package seemed a little half baked and improvised. But the positives easily outweighed the minor shortcomings, and the bottom line is a great value for the money.
POSTED : 20 December 2007 by A Brathole (USA)

Customer Trip Rating :
Recommended:
Value for Money:
The whole setup at Luton with a private security channel is very convenient, and about as hassle free as an airport experience can be these days. The Luton lounge is decent enough, at least on par with an average business class lounge, but not nearly in the same league as the Virgin Clubhouse at Heathrow. The Newark lounge is just a partitioned area in the arrivals hall, without its own bathrooms etc, so left a little to be desired. Also, the security at Newark is just the standard lane shared with other airlines. In flight experience was similarly a slightly mixed bag. The flight attendants were friendly but seemed rather inexperienced, and the food service was not particularly impressive. But the seat provided a good level of personal comfort, which is really what matters most on a long flight. It had a continuous range of adjustments, from upright to various reclining angles to (almost) flat, and was more than adequate for getting some good sleep. I preferred this to the more plush Virgin Upper seats, where the lie-flat design offers no positions between a limited initial reclining range and being turned fully flat. Overall, the airline left you with the feeling that they are not quite as slick and professional as they would like you to think, as some aspects of the end to end service package seemed a little half baked and improvised. But the positives easily outweighed the minor shortcomings, and the bottom line is a great value for the money.
POSTED : 20 December 2007 by J Gregson (UK)

Customer Trip Rating :
Recommended:
Value for Money:
Luton to Dubai. Punctuality good, service in the lounge was excellent, inflight food very good and overall general service great. Seat doesn't recline to flat, but I easily managed to get sleep. The lounge at the executive jet terminal in Dubai is a little cramped, however the hassle free experience of using that terminal rather than the main one in Dubai is great. My only negative points are that on arriving at Luton Parkway I didn't see any of the Silverjet free taxis, and got a wet walking from the bus stop to the Silverjet Terminal. But both are minor points and I will be using Silverjet again on this service.
POSTED : 10 December 2007 by R Wilson (UK)

Customer Trip Rating :
Recommended:
Value for Money:
I flew Silverjet last Sunday - late leaving my home in Richmond and was sure I was going to be late getting to Luton airport. I arrived 25 minutes before the flight was due to leave and the process could not have been smoother. There was no check in - they took my bag, gave me a cup of coffee and brought my boarding card in the lounge. I was onboard 15 minutes after getting out of my car (which they parked for me!). Food was simple but really tasty. Seat very comfortable. The lounge at Newark is small but they have the same check in and boarding process (although security was shared with a BA flight).
POSTED : 30 November 2007 by A Solum (UK)

Customer Trip Rating :
Recommended:
Value for Money:
I give them very high marks for product and service - the only let-down is the seat not going 180-degree flat - which hinders sleep a bit as I tend to slide down. The leg rest is firm and presses on my feet, but after all these flights I've worked out a solution - sleeping on my front and I don't seem to slide. Service is great, food delicious. Canapes, menus done by Le Caprice restaurant in London, meal service served properly (no tray service), excellent breads, and more. Top of the list goes for lounge at Luton - a haven of comfort. It removes the airport experience, and passengers board in a calm and relaxed manner. I understand that EWR lounge is being improved. Only once have I had immigration lines at EWR (and this was due to a computer glitch), never any security issues - another huge boon in using this airline. Improvements and changes are constantly being introduced, including better wines, different catering, re-designed lavatories, availability of toothbrush & paste, etc. Being a small carrier, they can easily react to customer feedback and change things quickly. Great value for money, with good levels of friendly service and comfortable seating equals a winning proposition for me! My last flights were 99 out of 100 pax outbound, 76 out of 100 inbound - so good loads. From disembarking at LTN last month to car = 17 minutes. Speedy. From landing it was all of 26 minutes.
POSTED : 30 November 2007 by I Ponton (UK)

Customer Trip Rating :
Recommended:
Value for Money:
Silverjet LTN to EWR, and very impressed with the service. Great seat, good IFE and excellent food. The angled flat seat was good for at least 3 hours sleep. The crew were friendly and very attentive. The only points that I think need addressing are the toilets need sprucing up, they don't look like toilets on a business class only service, and more storage - teres nowhere to store anything around your seat. Apart from these minor points Silverjet is well worth the money and their private lounge at LTN is brilliant and very easy.
POSTED : 27 November 2007 by Arron Zubier (UAE)

Customer Trip Rating :
Recommended:
Value for Money:
Just flew in this morning on their new service from Luton to Dubai, and being a Silverjet first timer, I have to say I had a great flight. Being 6ft and of large build, I have yet to be able to sleep for anything more than 20mins or so on a flight, imagine my delight at having slept for 5.30hrs. The ground crew at Luton very friendly and professional and crew a delight. I think the toilets on board could do with some modernising, as they do not reflect the feel of the rest of the plane. Silverjet for me is way to go now when flying London-Dubai and vice versa.
POSTED : 9 November 2007 by Maurice Frankel (UK)

Customer Trip Rating :
Recommended:
Value for Money:
LTN-EWR-LTN. just flew Silverjet for the first time. Having read the various customer reviews prior to my trip, one of the most pleasing thing was to see that various complaints had been addressed by the company i.e. the toilets onboard appear to have been refurbished; ambient temperature onboard certainly was not too high; leaving Newark we had use of the fast track security channel. I found the flight times very convenient. Furthermore there are few flights arriving into Terminal 2 Newark at the same time so security was a wizz. Similarly we arrived back into Luton after the early morning rush so again no waiting. I noticed that a good proportion of the people on the return flight had been with me on the outward journey and i think that this is where Silverjet really scores best as the alternative full fare economy or premium economy is far inferior. If you look at Silverjet as an alternative to BA Club or Virgin Upper you will be disappointed simply because that seats are not comfortable enough.
POSTED : 6 November 2007 by J Barr (UK)

Customer Trip Rating :
Recommended:
Value for Money:
Luton-Newark-Luton. I found this for the money an excellent service, with just a few niggles. Plus points are the really excellent and stylish lounge at Luton; the quick and simple check-in and boarding procedure there; polite and enthusiastic staff on the ground and in the cabin; the food and its presentation; and general impression of stylishness and design. Personally I find Luton perfectly accessible from central London: trains from Blackfriars (London Bridge, Farringdon and Kings Cross are other stops) every 20 minutes or so and a cab to the terminal. There is simply no comparison between the check-in and security experience with Silverjet at Luton and Heathrow or Gatwick whatever the airline and however elevated the class. The niggles: though I had printed out my confirmation and several other web pages, my computer packed up a day or so before I left and I could neither check in online nor order a car from Newark to Manhattan. I tried to ring Silverjet to arrange the latter but could find no telephone number on the website; obtained the number from new, unimproved directory enquiries but despite my 'phoning several times at various hours over the next two days no-one ever answered. When I checked in they agreed to send an e-mail requesting this, but it was almost as if this was an innovative and brilliant solution! I did not find the non-availability of duty-free shopping at Luton any problem - it's the quid pro quo for the private channel: but prospective passengers should be aware of this, indeed the website (otherwise informative re the terminals) should state it. I am also quite happy not to have duty-free goods flogged in flight. Arriving at Luton Parkway on a filthy wet day no taxis were evident and none of the station staff seemed to have heard of the Silverjet-branded free taxis as advertised (this despite the fact that they obviously pull up or wait in front all day). A very scruffy and decrepit minicab eventually showed up - quite a way from the canopied forecourt, and then a silver 'black' cab. The procedure was not obvious, and I got very wet. At Newark I had to wait about 20 minutes in the rather crowded Silverjet lounge before my car came: the ground staff were not efficient in locating me. On that subject, I agree with the comments of many other passengers that the Newark lounge is inadequate: but this seems to be a feature of all US so-called premium lounges and no doubt Silverjet has had to be grateful for what it can get. Also Luton sets a very high standard for comparison. Immigration at Newark was amazingly quick for the US, and courteous and friendly: and the baggage was already on the carousel. I would agree also that the seat is not as comfortable as it looks, especially when reclined (too short and not flat, as people have noted). Still, pretty good for the money. The outward flight in particular was very lightly loaded, with the rear cabin almost unoccupied. Pleasant though it is to fly without crowding, I do hope that they get higher load factors, or they will not be in business much longer. I do hope there is no truth in the suggestions that flights are cancelled for lack of sufficient passengers - there is no way one is prepared to risk this happening. I would give a 5 but for the niggles, and really do hope Silverjet succeeds.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Westjet Airlines : Low Cost Airline.





Cheap Flights at westjet.com!



WestJet - by W Coulton


29 December 2007 Customer Trip Rating :

Edmonton - Nassau Bahamas - Edmonton, via YYC outbound and YYZ on the return. Westjet provided a consistent product on all four flights. Staff were friendly and appeared keen to make the trip a pleasant one. Aircraft well maintained, with fairly confortable leather seats, reasonable seat pitch and live seat back TV. Food for purchase satisfactory and regular non alcoholic drink runs were made. All flights early and baggage arrived safely. Even NAS airport was quick on the arrival. Travelling at Christmas can be extra stressful




WestJet - by Pat Grillas


12 November 2007 Customer Trip Rating :

Montreal-Toronto-Ottawa. I feel that there is a genuine effort by the cabin crew for making the flights enjoyable. The entertainment satellite TV system is excellent. The cabin crew were polite on all my flights.



WestJet - by Paul Browne


4 November 2007 Customer Trip Rating :

YVR-LAS-YVR on a somewhat worn 737-700 outbound and a newer version inbound. Online check-in easy to use. No lines at YVR even at US Customs. Onboard crew friendly and professional. No Westjet song on either flight tho'! Whilst everything is for sale on board inc headphones, movies, and food, complimentary tea/coffee/soda and cookies or pretzels are offered also. Outbound I bought the standard hoagie, inbound I made sure I ate before I headed for the airport - enough said about Westjet's gourmet offerings. Leather seats, adequate legroom for a 2.5 hr flight tho' not much longer. Outbound I snagged bulkhead at the gate, inbound I picked 12F, the exit row without a seat in front - just like First Class! Would use them again if schedule and price were favourable.



WestJet - by Kevin McDougal


26 October 2007 Customer Trip Rating :

Winnipeg to Montreal and back with WestJet and found it to be a good experience. Online check-in with seat selection, available from 24 hours before departure, was quick and easy to use; checking in early managed to get me seat 5A outbound and 2F inbound. Baggage drop was also done quickly and courteously at both airports. At the gate, there were no overbooking issues and both flights departed in a timely manner. And in the air, the seats (each equipped with IFE) were comfortable and the flight attendants were pleasant. The only things that travelers need to be wary of are that the airline does charge for both food and headsets, and that the Barney-esque "WestJet Song" might make some cringe. All in all, even though WestJet's fares often seem high compared to those promoted by Southwest, Ryanair or EasyJet, WestJet is a well-run, reliable airline that seems to do a good job of getting people from A to B without stressing them out.



WestJet - by Tony DiCocco


23 October 2007 Customer Trip Rating :

Three stars is about right. First of all, its somewhat of a myth that WestJet is Canada's discount airline, since often Air Canada is about the same price (and not uncommonly more expensive). That being said, flying on WestJet is like Southwest in the States (without the cattle call for seats). Clean, no thrills, pay for your food, only 737's, and domestic (and some sun) destinations. One good thing about WestJet is that they fly to Southwestern Ontario airports, such as Hamilton, Kitchener and London that Air Canada doesn't serve, allowing me to avoid Toronto's Pearson Airport (although WJ has good service to YYZ as well, although not as many flights as AC). Unlike other posters, I didn't find service on WJ to be superior to AC, they're about the same in my eyes. Anyways, when flying in Canada, go with whatever airline is cheaper. Both have average service, but both do the job of getting you from point A to B.



WestJet - by B McMichael


11 June 2007 Customer Trip Rating :

YXU-YYC - pretty awesome flight for 7:00 in the morning. The flight attendants were cheery. Professional, and did their job properly. The food on the flights you have to buy, and is kind of expensive, so bring your own food onto the plane. The ticket was expensive, as well. The personal TVs are great when you are travelling with children. The plane was new and clean.



WestJet - by Dawn Isadore


11 June 2007 Customer Trip Rating :

For all the people who don't appreciate being called by your first name - stop taking yourself so seriously. For all those who don't like the fact that there isn't a business class section - book on another airline. For those who say that WJ is responsible for the 'soaring cost' and 'lack of service' on the bigger, 'full-service' airlines, there is a reason that they are trying to copy what WJ is doing. They know that if they were to continue offering all those perks, no one would be able to fly. Also - to those who are lamenting the fact that Ward Air and CP Air were so much classier and offered a better deal for a better price - there is a reason they no longer exist. In the airline business in Canada, survival of the fittest is real.



WestJet - by G Mair


22 May 2007 Customer Trip Rating :

I have flown WestJet a lotthe last few years (Vancouver to Toronto, Ottawa, Thunder Bay, Halifax, Montreal among others), since Air Canada ticked me off one time too many. I always find the service is professional, planes are very clean and modern, and on-time performance is good. The few of times things have gone "wrong" with WestJet - a couple of delayed flights and once my bags didn't arrive due to me making a last minute change of itinerary - their service in keeping you informed and resolving the problems has been excellent. I still fly Air Canada every now and again, and it amazes me that it is Canada's "low- cost" airline that offers in-seat TV and free snacks/cookies with your drinks. Prices may be similar between AC and WestJet, but if WestJet flies there, I'll choose them over Air Canada every time. Bottom line is that with WestJet I have never arrived at my destination in a bad mood due to airline screw-ups. With Air Canada it happened all too often.



WestJet - by Kelly Bass


12 April 2007 Customer Trip Rating : n/a

I fly regularly from Edmonton to Vancouver and Edmonton to Toronto. They are by far the best air carrier between these destinations, and for the prices offered, I do mind having to pay $5.00 for a sandwich. From Edmonton to Vancouver (90 minutes), it is not even necessary anyhow



WestJet - by Jay Franske
1 April 2007

I recently flew Westjet from YYC-YEG, this was my first time flying with Westjet. I have travelled all over the world on many different airlines, and I have no idea why some people get excited about this airline. The check-in experience was ok, the flight departed on time. The flight attendants were nothing special a couple young ,and older. The seats were not comfortable, had to pay for everything they offered, (not sure about washrooms) did not use. Westjet considers themselves as a low cost carrier with great service, I find that Air Canada prices are the same if not cheaper and the service is just as good, with more flight options. The so called low cost airline with great service is no cheaper or customer friendly than any other airline.



WestJet - by Joan Rickerby
9 March 2007

YYZ - UVF (St Lucia). What a nice change to be on-time when you consider other Canadian charters. Each seat has it's own TV on the back of the seat in front of you and for $5 CND you can select from numerous movies. Bring a set of your own universal headphones or buy theirs for $3 CDN. More legroom than we are used to when we go down south each year! Food quite good. FAs looked like they enjoyed their job. Miracle of miracles - we arrived home on-time too!



WestJet - by Russell Clements
9 January 2007

Used this airline twice in the last 3 weeks - Calgary to Kelowna and Kelowna to Vancouver. I always enjoy these particular flights with either Westjet, (or alternatively on some previous trips, with Jazz - the times and availability determine the choice). This trip, the Westjet flights were as good as ever. Since I last flew with this airline 2 years ago, they seem to be more professional. Clean aircraft, smooth flights, and good though basic service from courteous and efficient attendants Always a satisfactory experience with Westjet, though I do miss the more laid back, more rustic, approach of Jazz, (in my experience anyway). Would happily fly with either of these carriers again.



WestJet - by David Howe
10 October 2006

Just a short leg Ottawa to Toronto on Sept. 21, but I wanted to say that I noted a vast improvement in the level of professionalism. This flight was on a new 737-600 series, no tvs or winglets retro-fitted yet, but on such a short flight not a problem. The crew were friendly but without the "cheesey awe-shucks" folksiness prevalent on this carrier in the past. They had proper bilingual announcements too, and no joking around during the safety announcements. Keep up the good work Westjet, though I have to say both major Canadian carriers really lack in terms of onboard service and fares charged per mile compared to my recent travels in the UK on BA (see review)



WestJet - by John Adams
22 September 2006

Charlottetown-Toronto 15 September 2006. Excellent flight! We checked in online that morning, and got the seats we wanted. The flight left and arrived on-time, and the seat-back TV was superb. Cabin crew were friendly and efficient. The only strange thing was that we were asked to stop reading and put away books/newspapers for takeoff - obviously some H&S executive has been bored and has carried out a full risk assessment of reading during takeoff.



WestJet - by Jennifer Smith (a WestJet employee)
30 July 2006

Just a quick note to Mr. Gary Roberts who claimed 'Is West Jet that dumb?' When you ask a question you'll get an answer. The reason why your always changing your seat is because for certain 'weight and balance' reasons of an aircraft, men, women and children are pre seated accordingly on the aircraft to ensure the aircraft will take off properly and to ensure the safety of all the passengers on board! Before you bash, ask !



WestJet - by Gary Robertson
18 July 2006

I travel by West Jet a lot, and I always have to go on line and change my seat. I always sit as close to the front as necessary and want an aisle seat. Not once have I been given a seat up front and aisle. What does it take to have your computers make the selection for your valued clients? Is it that hard? Do I have to change the seat every time? Is West Jet that dumb?



WestJet - by Bart Omand
2 May 2006

Actually, its a 12 hour web check in, not 24 hours as the previous post states. It is very easy to use and is a great feature for a LCC. I have flown WestJet and have always been very satisfied.



WestJet - by Michelle Tanner
23 January 2006

Regina-Calgary route quite often and have never been dissatisfied. The leather seats are comfy and roomy, there is free satellite tv on the back of every seat, and the airplane is always very clean. For a one hour flight, the 'snack pack and a drink' they provide is adequate. I've never had a problem with my luggage not arriving and the most I've had to wait for it on the baggage carrier is 15 minutes. Just a note to the recent poster who was upset about the seat booking. WestJet offers online booking, so you can book your seat online 24 hours ahead of your flight (maybe that's what those passengers did?). This way you can skip the regular check-in line and go straight to baggage drop, with your seat already picked by yourself online. I used this feature for the first time about a month ago and I plan on doing this from now on, very quick and convenient.



WestJet - by J Pernal
14 January 2006

My first experience with West Jet, not bad, except when it came to seat booking . Being aware of a first come policy , arrived at the airport quite early [2nd in line], was surprised to find seating available only in the last 20 rows. Seeing people from the rear of the line sitting in the first ten rows makes your policy a bit fishy. Thanks for wasting at least 2 hours of what is already a stressful time for some.



WestJet - by Tanya Eastman
14 January 2006

I give top marks to WestJet flight attendants who are friendly if not quirky. I was not impressed by the service provided from ticket agents to boarding agents. WestJet had deleted my 'confirmed' seats and actually had me wondering if we might be bumped. We did get on the plane but the comfort level was unacceptable. My seat did not fully recline while I may as well have been a pillow for the fellow in the seat in front of me whose seat seemed to be compensating for mine. I think my feet were numb due to the lack of leg room and I just could not get comfortable the whole flight. I submitted a compliant to WestJet, but they worded their reply so that when I finished reading their response, I was almost convinced they were doing me a big favour by allowing me to fly with them at all. Still, I give credit to the flight attendants who remained friendly and empathetic as they told me "there's really nothing more we can do." It was a strange statement considering they really hadn't done anything.



WestJet - by David Howe
5 January 2006

My previous comments are based on years of experience, and my own preferences and tastes to which I am entitled. My company chooses WestJet because they fall for the myth that WestJet is so good as most people in Calgary think. I have since requested that they no longer fly me on WestJet if at all possible I never said WestJet was bad, just not as great as they would have you think. Their inflight magazine and website are full of self-praising slogans based on their own opinions. How could you possibly say that WestJet is as good as Wardair was? Wardair served filet mignon on Royal Doulton China, on a wide-bodied aircraft and at a much lower cost, even counting for inflation. They were world renowned. CP Air was also world class. I dont think your opinions are based on fact, just loyalty to WestJet for whatever reason. If WestJet is so devoted to low cost flying as they claim, how come it costs so much more now in real dollars than it did ten or fifteen years ago?



WestJet - by W Campbell
21 December 2005

Just a short comment to Mr Howe. Those "free meals and booze" were never free. One way or another someone other than Air Canada or Canadian paid for them. At least WestJet doesn't serve up a meal that cost them a dollar, then claim that the cost of the meals is the difference in the prices, as AC has done. I have flown on all the schedules airlines that operate or have operated in Canada, including AC, Canadian, Canada 3000, CPAir and PWA, to name a few. I would suggest WestJet is as good as or better than any. There must be some reason other than falling for the advertising that the company you work for chooses WestJet. Otherwise, why not just not fly with them? I don't mean to be insulting, but I don't think your comments are based on good information.



WestJet - by Andrew Smith
21 December 2005

Halifax-Toronto. Check-in was quick and the women behind the desk very friendly. The plane boarded and took off on time, and landed in Toronto 10 minutes early. This flight was serviced by one of WestJet's Boeing 737-700's with Bell ExpressVu backseat Tv. This made the time fly! The cabin crew was friendly, and passed through the cabin regularly, however they were not as upbeat as I had expected. Service consisted of pretzels or cookies and a drink, along with a number of things to buy. When we landed, the baggage was out within 15 minutes, which is a record for me in Toronto! The only fault with WestJet is that their crew's are not fluent in English and French, and all announcements in French were already pre-recorded.



WestJet - by David Howe
27 September 2005

I fly Westjet a lot - too much, only because my company is based in Calgary and they have fallen for the WJ spin that they are so much better than AC. I fly them between Ottawa and Calgary a lot. They appeal to the less experienced traveller and WestJet did a great job of persuading such people to fly. However they offer nothing to business travellers or those who travel frequently. There is nothing great about free pretzels and soft drinks for a flight that is anything but low cost, and yet they make it sound like such a big deal A few years ago on Air Canada or Canadian for a lot less money you got a free hot meal with free booze. At least Air Canada still feed you from Ottawa to Calgary. I blame airlines like Westjet for deglamorizing air travel without reducing the cost. Yest the planes are nice and clean, the TV is OK, but all our airlines offer modern aircraft and if not TV then at least a movie.



WestJet - by Susan Johnson
23 September 2005

Just a note to Darran on the Westjet TV's. They will not be charging for them at all. The credit card swipe will only be used when they introduce the pay per view movies possibly later next year.



WestJet - by Darran Burr
23 September 2005

Flew Vancouver to Toronto September 14th, this is a superb low cost airline. I live in the UK and Westjet surpass all the UK low cost carriers in every aspect, service, comfort and professionalism. The only thing I recommend you avoid is any seat in Row 11 on their 737-700 aircraft, the seats on this row do not recline and therefore are not the most comfortable, however, the legroom is superb and beats most UK and Canadian Scheduled airlines, Row 12 have the best seats, these are over the emergency exits and do recline! The in-flight Live TV is brilliant, when I was flying I watched a Manchester United v Villareal European Champions League Game live, just amazing, and it made the 4 hour flight pass so quickly! Book any flight with Westjet and you are in for a treat! Keep up the good work Westjet, don't become complacent in the very competitive market place that you are in and you will always be on the "skies to success", also, please don't start charging for the live TV, i noticed that the screens had a credit card swipe facility installed on them and I guess that you have plans to charge for this great facility very soon.



WestJet - by Dave Graubard
23 September 2005

Last week flew WestJet from Calgary to Ft. McMurry via Edmonton both directions. Excellent flights on new 737-700 aircraft. It is a bit torturous with the Inflight TV on such short flights (34 minutes from Calgary to Edmonton and 45 minutes from Edmonton to Ft. McMurry) as you just get to watching a show and the FA's turn it off due to the beginning of the descent. Professional and fun FAs, ontime flights and comfortable seats (except seat 1A/F and 2 A/F as they are just when the fuselage begins to get smaller and the window seats are a bit cramped). I always fly WestJet when I'm in Canada and wish they were tied to a US airline to link up with.



WestJet - by A Baird
16 September 2005

We have just returned from Vancouver to Ottawa flight 801 Sep 12/05 The service from all the FA's was equal to or surpassed the more expensive flight airlines. My complaint is that when we arrived in Ottawa we asked the FA for customer assistance to the baggage claim area and were informed that WestJet did not have that service at the Ottawa airport which meant that we had an exceedingly long walk. I am 84 yrs old and my wife is 80. We had to stop and stand several times to catch our breath and then continue on. I had noticed when we were waiting in the Vancouver boarding area that mobile service was available to WestJet passengers there. We were offered the use of a wheelchair but then we would be in worse shape trying to push one of us or take turns. For such a pleasant flight it was a very disappointing ending.



WestJet - by Karim Mapara
9 September 2005

Just flew from Vancouver to Toronto aboard the Westjet Boeing 737-700 aircraft on August 15/05. Overall, it was an excellent flight with good legroom, leather seats, satellite TV and a cheerful crew. It was my first experience with this "up and coming airline" and I must say, I'm hooked. They've just got themselves another repeat passenger! I had a very pleasant experience right from check-in to disembarkation.



WestJet - by Doug Crummey
30 August 2005

Toronto - St. John's. Free drinks and snacks are wonderful. Live seatback TV is great for filling the time. However, the flight attendants are enough to keep you amused.



WestJet - by Keith Martin
29 August 2005

Toronto - Vancouver - Montreal - Toronto. Found this to be an excellent "low cost" airline. Far better than its European counterparts (although more expensive to be fair). Most of their planes (all by the end of the year) have free satellite TV in the back of the seat in front of you, which is great. There's free pretzels or cookies as well as soft drinks. Crew come and take your order, then return later with the drinks. After that, go to the galley for as many more drinks as you like. I found the crew very good. They were in good spirits on all the flights I took, and seemed happy to be there (unlike crew with some of the European budget airlines). They didn't mind providing attentive service or being friendly. I would highly recommend this airline.



WestJet - by Ian Dickie
19 August 2005

I have flown WestJet many times and I'm always dismayed at the long wait for a drink and watching the confused faces of the attendants as they try to sort and deliver the from the drink trays... This is all so silly. Get some carts! The fake smiles start to irritate you after a while. They lost my luggage and 18 days later it was returned with a 30.00 dollar future flight credit. (they did compensate me for incidentals). WestJet really is low cost - so don't expect too much when things go wrong with your luggage or with flight delays. If the price is the same, and lately it is - fly Air Canada! It's just more real!



WestJet - by Geoff Lucien
16 August 2005

Toronto to Panama City. Good service, lots of plastic smiles and corny jokes that only Canadians love. On arrival at Panama City, there was lots of confusion as the airlines did not hand out immigration forms to many passengers. Overall, better than Air Canada!



WestJet - by Tracy Wong
15 August 2005

Vancouver to Halifax for the first time with WestJet and I had my mother and 2 boys with me ages 6 and 3. I cannot saying anything but excellence about this airline. The flight attendants on all the flights there and back were great. We had singing, humour, airplane yoga, trivia and much more. We will be flying with you again.



WestJet - by J Hendren
22 July 2005

I recently flew West Jet from Winnipeg to Calgary. As this was a 2.5 hour flight I was expecting to be on a 737-700 series with TV's but was dissapointed to find out that a older 200 series would be used - with no TV. The check in agent was quite "matter of fact" on everything. The check in line was a mess due to the 200+ Sea Cadets trying to fly somewhere. The boarding process was ok, I noticed that three of the gate staff were not wearing uniforms, didn't look very good. They called people by first name! Onboard the aircraft it was quite clean. The cabin attendants seemed a little disorganized. I was hoping for a corny free flight but was greeted with a barrage of jokes - some are ok but not constantly. The service was okay - but why they don't use a bev/snack cart. I cannot figure out it takes 30 minutes to get your drink when you place your order - use a cart! The cabin staff offered a second bev service which was nice. On arrival in Calgary the in-charge made her applicable jokes, but then decided to sing this awful "we love West Jet" "Clive Beddoe is a Hero" "everyone loves us" song - I was insulted and was not suprised to find that when she was finished sqwaking that not one of the 110 pax on the plane clapped - just silence. To add insult to injury it took 45 minutes for our bags to appear on the Baggage belt. Will I fly westjet again - only when I have to. And why is it that their fares are always more than Air Canada.



WestJet - by Todd Chan
19 July 2005

First time flying WestJet Toronto - Vancouver direct. It would have to be the best flight I've ever taken, for the cheapest price. The check-in and boarding was very friendly and quick. Cabin crew were friendly and humourous. The head flight attendant was narrarating the safety demo (this was a 747-800 with no entertainment system whatsoever, no radio), saying things like "And if you haven't seen this in the last 40 years, it's a seatbelt. You buckle it when the seatbelt sign is on .....(Sarcastically) This beautiful oxygen mask that matches your hair colour will fall when the oxygen pressure changes ...... And now, the safety demo again in the beautiful language of French. Everyone take a breath of new airplane air in...Mmm...Smells like new car air.... I'm willing to entertain you, but it may get nasty!." The seating was extremely comfortable, leather! Headrest adjustable and reclinable. Complimentary drinks and snacks served 3 times during a 4.5 hour flight. The flight arrived early by 35 minutes. I like the laid back, informal attitude, wearing jean jackets as uniforms, and addressing everyone by their first names. They treat the "VIPs" (Children flying alone) very attentively. Now, there have to be some low points. I think there should be some sort of entertainment other than a magazine for a 4.5 hour flight, no tv, no radio. They said their should normally be an inflight entertainment system, but this was a new aircraft, and they had not installed an entertainment system on this model. (We were flying the one and only plane without TVs...How lucky.) They take everyone's drink orders on a pad then prepare them all and then serve them. The drinks come about 20 minutes after you order them. Way too long. They don't have a food serving cart, so they serve their drinks in a drink holder bucket. The Buy On Board food selection is good, but the product is bad. I ordered a "Turkey and Swiss Cheese on a Croissant", and I got a croissant with a slice of turkey and cheese in between a cut in half croissant. Not even any sauce or dressing. The orders are unprofessional there. Money is collected in a cup, and the food is held in a bucket. Baggage is slow. I don't know if that's the fault of the airport, but it took 20 minutes after landing before the first piece of baggage came out.



WestJet - by Glen Pickersgill
3 July 2005

Recently returned from a Calgary Vancouver Calgary trip. Really was hesistant about booking Westjet as I find the inflight jokes a joke in themselves and make the crew look unprofessional. Lo and behold it happened again on the outbound leg but to a lesser extent than previously experienced. On the return was complete satisfaction without a single inflight joke! Truly professional on that leg and much appreciated! Would I book them again? Yeah why not! Plane was stunning inside and out and crew great on the return! Just stop being so darn "campy". Leave that to TV clothing commercials and on charters. I also agree that the calling of passengers by first name appalling. The 50ish suit clad business man infront of me was abit chalk white by it as was I during boarding. All in all a great experience finally!



WestJet - by Peter Mulhern
29 June 2005

Flew Calgary to Toronto part of a Canadian Affair holiday last week. Very good plane spotless and the crew very attentive. The Chief Steward was very good and was able to relay all the safety announcements with a touch of humour. The seatback satellite entertainment very good my 12 yr old was even able to watch WWF. My wife who is not a good flyer enjoyed it and felt at ease throughout. Would fly with them again no problem.



WestJet - by David Howe

28 June 2005

I wish WestJet would stop calling passengers by their first name on boarding.when they tear your boarding card. On a recent Calgary to Ottawa flight the eldely lady next to me was most offended. I myself do not like someone in their early 20s using my first name. I was glad to see that they had stopped telling the same corny jokes - long may that continue. Fares have increased a lot since the demise of Jetsgo, not sure where "lowcost" comes into the equation - certainly not compared to Southwest, Ryanair or Easyjet. I dont buy the Canada has a low population volume argument, plenty of remote areas in Euripe and the USA are served by lowcost fares now. On the positive side WestJet's leather seats are nice and the planes always immaculate. Crews are invariably pleasant and friendly, just wish they would curb the need to overdo it, but I think that is slowly evolving. Business people flying from Ottawa to Toronto are not the same market as the family travel serving prairie routes and WestJet has been slow to recognize the difference. Personally I would rather have a proper movie with additional short features as on Air Canada than Live TV - the reception is bad and its mostly plain old network Tv.



WestJet - by Nick Simmons

12 May 2005

Ottawa to Kelowna, via Calgary. Being a bit of a point collector, it was with hesitation that I chose to fly WestJet rather than Air Canada for this weekend vacation. After this expereince, I have no hesitation in opting for the low cost option. The Ottawa- Calgary leg was on a 737-700. I love the seat back TV with live satellite TV. The audio was a little poor on some stations, but I have no complaints. There were 20 (I think) channels to chose from, which gives the passenger far more choice than the single screen often still seen onboard planes today. The Calgary-Kelona leg was on an older 737 series plane without the live TV facility, but for what is effectively a short hop of 40 minutes, it wasn't needed. As an added bonus, we arrived early. My overall impression is very positive. The cabin crew were great. Friendly, helpful and seemed to be enjoying themselves. They injected humour into what must be a very mundane routine - such as the English safety announcement followed by one "in the beautiful language of French". Will I fly them again - yes. Will I fly Air Canada again - yes. But just because I'm a point junkie and I'm chasing elite status with them!




Credit by http://www.airlinequality.com

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Question: Can a low-cost airline achieve 5 Star status, or is that reserved for full service airlines ?

Answer: 5 Star status is achievable by low-cost and full service airlines. We apply different ranking evaluation for each type of airline. A 5 Star ranking indicates a low-cost or full service airline is achieving a level of customer service excellence within their respective type of markets.

 
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