WestJet was founded in 1996 by a pilot named Clive Beddoe and his business partners. It was conceived as a low cost airline and followed the business model established by American budget carriers. Originally, WestJet served destinations exclusively in Western Canada, which was the inspiration for the airline's name. WestJet is still headquartered in Western Canada in Calgary, Alberta, but it has since expanded to serve all of Canada as well as the USA, Central America, and the Caribbean. Its hubs are the Calgary International Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport. The WestJet fleet consists of Boeing-737 aircraft capable of carrying between 119 and 174 passengers. Its subsidiary WestJet Encore operates a fleet of Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 NextGen aircraft. Most WestJet flights offer a seat-back in-flight entertainment system featuring television shows provided by Bell TV. WestJet plans to offer tablet rentals and in-flight WiFi in the near future. WestJet is currently the second largest airline in Canada and operates an average of 425 flights per day carrying a total of 45,000 passengers. It serves around 90 destinations – some of which are seasonal – covering all ten Canadian provinces as well as the USA, Mexico, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ireland, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos Islands.

Online Check-In

WestJet offers online check-in via the web or mobile devices starting 24 hours before the flight's scheduled departure time. Check-in at the airport is via guest assistance desk or kiosk and is available starting 3 hours before the flight's scheduled departure time. All passengers are requested to have their WestJet reservation code or WestJet Rewards ID number and photo ID or passport (for international travel) when checking in. Passengers traveling internationally are also advised to have their hotel name or destination address. The check-in cut-off time is 60 minutes before the scheduled departure for domestic travel (or 45 minutes for web check-in) and 60 minutes for travel to the USA or internationally. Passengers who are checking overweight or oversized luggage are advised to allow an additional 30 minutes for luggage screening.

Boarding Information

Passengers flying with WestJet are advised to arrive at the flight gate at least 35 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Except in the case of a delay, the gate will close 10 minutes before the departure time and passengers arriving after this cut-off time will be denied boarding. WestJet will not be responsible if a passenger misses a flight or connection because of late arrival at the gate. Passengers should be prepared to show photo ID (or a passport for international travel) and their boarding pass when boarding a WestJet flight. Passengers who have purchased a "Plus" fare will be offered advance boarding with first access to overhead bins for their carry-on luggage.

Frequent Flyer Information – WestJet Rewards

Westjet's frequent flyer program is known as WestJet Rewards and members can earn WestJet dollars on all flights or vacation packages booked with WestJet. $1 WestJet dollar is equal to $1 Canadian dollar and can be used towards future travel with WestJet. The rate at which WestJet dollars are earned depends on how much the member has spent traveling with WestJet in the calendar year. Within the first price bracket, members will earn back 1% of their expenditure in WestJet dollars. Above a certain threshold, this increases to earning back 2.5% of expenditure in WestJet dollars. A bonus is awarded when a member reaches the aforementioned threshold in a calendar year. A bonus of a complimentary companion flight anywhere in Canada that WestJet flies to (taxes/fees additional), two lounge passes, and four advance seat selection vouchers is awarded when a member reaches threshold of the first bracket in a calendar year. A bonus of a complimentary companion flight anywhere that WestJet flies to (taxes/fees additional), two lounge passes, and four advance seat selection vouchers is awarded when a member reaches the threshold of the higher price bracket in a calendar year. WestJet dollars can be applied to any WestJet flight on any date, to any WestJet destination, with no blackout period or restrictions.

Hand Baggage Allowance

All passengers traveling in a paid seat are entitled to one free carry-on item and one free personal item such as a purse or briefcase. The maximum size for the carry-on item is 21 in x 9 in x 15 in (53 cm x 23 cm x 38 cm). The maximum size for the personal item is 16 in x 6 in x 13 in (41 cm x 15 cm x 33 cm).

Kennels containing animals are considered carry-on items and the maximum size is 16 in L x 17.5 in W x 8.5 in H (40 cm L x 44 cm W x 21.5 cm H). Certain other personal items are permitted in addition to the carry-on allowance, such as diaper bags containing items for an infant; children's car seats; duty-free items; food for onboard consumption; fragile items; medical devices; mobility devices such as crutches or a cane; coats and umbrellas.

Checked Baggage Allowance

All passengers traveling with WestJet are entitled to one free checked bag. The checked item must measure no larger than 62 in (157 cm) in its combined dimension (length + width + height) and weigh 50 lb (23 kg) or less. A fee is charged for a second checked bag, which then increases for third or fourth checked bags and varies depending on the fare class and destination. Overweight or oversize pieces of luggage are also subject to an extra fee. Note that overweight luggage and third or fourth checked items are not permitted on flights to Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago. Sporting equipment up to a maximum length of 9.8 feet – including bicycles, golf bags, scuba gear, skis, snowboards, surfboards, fishing equipment, and hockey equipment - is permitted as checked luggage and will be charged at the same rate as additional baggage. Items that can be checked at no additional charge include medically required wheelchairs, up to two pieces of infant equipment (such as a stroller or playpen) for lap-held infants, and up to one piece of child equipment for fare-paying children.