WestJet introduces no-recline economy seats as part of new cabin overhaul

The standard economy section will maintain the usual seat pitch but remove reclining functionality. According to Jennifer Booth, a spokesperson for WestJet: "Through our guest user testing, half indicated they preferred a fixed recline, to avoid feeling impacted by other passengers encroaching upon their space." The airline believes this could reduce disputes over reclining during flights.

Seats at the back of the plane are less spacious than those at the front. Exit-row seats remain part of standard seating but provide extra legroom.

A third option called "Extended Comfort" offers between 34 and 36 inches of seat pitch and provides two to four inches of recline. These seats are located at the front of the economy cabin behind Premium and allow earlier boarding and disembarkation.

The first aircraft featuring these changes is expected to enter service later in October. WestJet aims to complete retrofitting all 43 targeted planes by early 2026. The airline primarily operates within Canada but also flies to destinations in the United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.

To help passengers identify which configuration they will experience when booking or before departure, WestJet will label flights using older layouts as "economy seating only." Travelers can check their flight's setup through various methods provided by WestJet before departure.

Passenger response has been mixed; some support fixed seats while others object to paying for what was previously included in ticket prices. Industry analyst Henry Harteveldt commented: "Christmas won't arrive for another two and a half months, but WestJet just gave Air Canada an early holiday gift," he said. "Of all the dumb ideas I have seen airlines do in my career, this is one of the, if not the, dumbest. I strongly believe WestJet's decision will backfire quickly and badly. I urge the airline to abandon this foolhardy idea and look for ideas that will actually attract, rather than repel, passengers."