WestJet UltraBasic: Is It Worth It?

WestJet has been in the news a lot lately.

They introduced a seating arrangement that could be generously called Spartan, but which has been referred to online with much less glowing terminology, and even four-letter words. This is not an ideal position for a company still competing with Air Canada, Porter Airlines, and Flair Airlines for market share.

But here’s the thing: even if the seating arrangement (since rolled back) hasn’t been perfect, is WestJet still worth flying with in Canada in 2026? More importantly, is their lowest-tier fare class, called WestJet UltraBasic, actually worth booking? Is it just a trick to tease customers with optimized search results? Or, as with so many things in life, is it something in the middle?

What is WestJet UltraBasic?

So before we establish whether WestJet UltraBasic is worth it, we need to determine what it actually is.

In short, UltraBasic is, as the name would suggest, the least flowery of WestJet’s multiple fare classes. In theory, it exchanges the low price for a variety of sacrifices.

This means there are no free goodies. While WestJet does provide basic non-alcoholic beverages and snacks on almost all flights, that, plus complimentary bathroom access, is all you can expect. But hey, you do have a seat on the plane, and that might be all you are looking for.

With UltraBasic fares, there are no changes to flights, including no same-day flight changes. There are no cancellations once 24 hours have elapsed since booking. Amenities? No checked bags, and you don’t even get a full-size carry-on; only a small personal item measuring 16in. X 6in. X 13in. In theory, you can’t even put it in the overhead bin, and it goes under the seat in front of you; expect this to be enforced on full flights.

On international flights where UltraBasic is a bookable option, you do get a full carry-on. You can also purchase the (often not cheap) Extended Comfort add-on, sometimes offered aggressively via email marketing, which offers more bags and better seats.

Speaking of: is free seat selection included? Not a chance, the only thing you’ll be selecting for $0 on UltraBasic is what time you choose to show up at the airport, preferably early.

Not that there will be any space in the overhead bins by the time you board, as even if your seat is assigned closer to the front of the plane, your boarding zone is assigned as 8 or 9, so you’ll be getting on last. Such a late boarding zone feels as if it veers into the realm of self-parody with how far back it is.

You also don’t get to earn anything towards WestJet Rewards on Ultrabasic fares. So no WestJet points, no WestJet status qualification earning – nada.

Understanding the product is the first step to maximizing it. Just because it’s inexpensive and no-frills doesn’t mean there’s no value to be found. We’ll get further into strategies on how to mitigate the suck in the next section, then show some example fares. But until then, why does this product exist?

Part of the reason is to give customers the flexibility to select the cheapest flight. And there’s no shame in that: sometimes, people need to get from A to B and can’t afford or don’t want to spend more than they need to on anything fancy. WestJet isn’t wrong to try to serve the lowest-margin sector of the market.

But there’s another reality: flight prices are aggregated on Google Flights. The lowest price appears on a public search.

However, when we click and go into the specifics….

We can see that this price is an Ultrabasic fare. A checked bag between Toronto and Calgary is $159 (according to Google Flights, which is inflated). I will call a spade a spade: this tactic is designed to either get some money out of people who mistakenly forget their baggage policy or, more often, to upsell a flight at a higher price. 

For what it’s worth, you are able to filter out basic economy fares when searching on Google Flights if you want to avoid dealing with fares like this.

To be fair to WestJet, they make you click a disclaimer acknowledging you know what you’re buying when selecting an UltraBasic fare, so caveat emptor:

Of course, you can always pay for checked luggage ahead of check-in; we’ll get to that in a moment.

Managing Baggage with a WestJet UltraBasic Fare

There is one way to get a free checked bag on the UltraBasic fare: you need to be a cardholder of the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard. You also need to be the primary cardholder, not a supplementary holder or other person booked on the same itinerary. Most importantly, you must have paid for the entire fare in full with the card, or have booked using WestJet points and paid for the taxes and fees portion with your Mastercard.

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

Apply Now Learn More Terms & Conditions apply

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard offers a WestJet companion voucher on approval (with the ability to earn one each anniversary year through spending), plus a first free checked bag on WestJet flights.

Check out our WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard review for more details.

OFFER
45,000 WestJet points

MINSPEND
$5,000

EST. VALUE
$450+

ANNUAL FEE
$139

FOREX FEES
Yes

EXPIRY
Aug 31, 2026

That’s for checked luggage, though, and I think it’s clear this isn’t a great fare option for families or people who have a lot of cargo to haul with them. You can pay less by booking in advance (at rates often far below what is stated on Google Flights for the checked bag fee). 

For example, from Toronto to Calgary, I found it was $56.50 for the first checked bag fee, and $73.45 for the second checked bag fee on an UltraBasic fare.

When it comes to carry-on baggage allowance, a WestJet UltraBasic fare does not permit passengers to bring or pay for a carry-on bag, except in the following situations:

• UltraBasic guests travelling to and from Europe and Asia are allowed to bring one carry-on bag and one personal item.  
• UltraBasic guests are allowed to bring one carry-on bag and one personal item when Extended Comfort has been purchased for all flights in a single direction, including connections. 

However, all UltraBasic passengers are permitted to bring one personal item aboard. The big thing here is that your personal item is limited to dimensions of 16in. X 6in. X 13in (41cm X 15cm X 33cm). In practical terms, this is approximately the size of a thick-ish laptop satchel or handbag.

Whether these limitations are worth it is up to you, and we will show you how to make this as convenient to you as its rules can allow.

Is It Worth It to Book WestJet UltraBasic?

Okay, so should you actually bother booking this fare?

Before we start, just know: you get what you pay for. You’ll probably never have an “amazing” experience flying UltraBasic. But that’s not really the point. This product exists to get listed as cheaper on the flight aggregator algorithm, and occasionally cut a deal to the budget traveler who doesn’t need to be picky about cancellation policies and other extras, past having a seat on a plane.

If that makes sense, go for it. Let’s look at some niche examples where this makes good economic sense, assuming you can commit to traveling on the given dates and don’t need luggage.

First up is the example I’ve been using for many of my screenshots in the article so far:

A Toronto (YYZ) to Calgary (YYC) flight at 1700 hours. This isn’t bad if you have to work during the day, as you can leave after your work day (or maybe leave the office a little early), get to Calgary in time for dinner, and visit family or friends.

The difference in price is about $100 even, or a 61% increase in price to Econo. I’d call this a good deal. If you’re only going for a few days, there is nothing wrong with this. At the time of writing, this is also a week about a week and a half away, so UltraBasic on specific routes only a few days out can be a great way to save on last-minute travel.

Here’s another example, a few weeks later, this time originating in Calgary and going to Kelowna:

This is about one month from the time of this article’s writing. But look at that pricing. It’s $81 on its own, or $162. In percentage terms, that’s a 100% increase in price. Or get the credit card, book this flight on it, and pack some rollerblades to enjoy warm Kelowna without guilt.

So basically, this isn’t a luxury product, but it can be a great way to fly for much cheaper, so long as you’re flexible with when you fly and how much stuff you want to bring.

How to Maximize a WestJet UltraBasic Ticket

Look, if you’re booking UltraBasic, you’ve already accepted that this isn’t going to be a pampered experience. The goal is to lean into the constraints, not fight them.

That 16in. x 6in. x 13in. personal item limit is tight, but it’s not impossible. A well-packed backpack or satchel can hold a surprising amount if you’re strategic. Roll your clothes, ditch the “just in case” items, and remember you’re not packing for a month. You’re packing for a long weekend.

And yeah, just wear anything you’re taking with you. Flying to the cold parts of Canada in winter? Your parka, hoodie, and boots don’t count as luggage if they’re on your body. Yes, you’ll be warm at the gate. Suffer through it. Layer up, stuff your pockets, and waddle onto the plane like the frugal genius you are. When I go to weddings, I often wear my suit (sans tie) through security (phone charger in ticket pocket), then iron it at the hotel before the ceremony.

If you fly WestJet with any regularity, the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard pays for itself fast. The free checked bag on UltraBasic alone can save you $100+ a round trip, and you’ll earn points on the fare to boot – not any from the flight itself, just the 2% multiplier on all Westjet flights.

Conclusion

So, is WestJet UltraBasic worth it? It can be. If you’re flying short-haul, traveling light, and committed to your dates, the savings are real. We’re talking 50-100% price increases to step up to Econo on some routes, so it can be a no-brainer for really cheap fares.

But let’s be honest about what this product is. It’s designed to win on Google Flights and either convert you to a higher fare or squeeze ancillary revenue out of you at checkout. That’s not evil, it’s just business.

Know the restrictions, pack accordingly, and consider picking up the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard if you’re going to make booking WestJet UltraBasic a habit. Do that, and the fare bucket becomes a useful tool rather than a trap.