WestJet flies to smaller cities making it easier & cheaper to visit friends & family

WestJet is making plans to fly into smaller more rural cities throughout Canada, though they have not yet unveiled specific markets it plans to target, WestJet CEO Gregg Sarestsky has been quoted in the local Canadian press giving examples of some cities that could benefit from expanded service including Cranbrook, Prince Rupert, Fort Saint John, and Dawson Creek in British Colombia; Lethbridge, Alberta; Brandon and Thompson in Manitoba; Saguenay, Quebec and Sudbury, Sarnia and Timmins in Ontario.

Bombardier Q400 NextGen

The recent order of 20 Bombardier Q400 NextGen Turboprops will serve the newly proposed routes, as well as used for regular existing routes when they are off peak traveling times to accommodate for fewer passengers. WestJet also signed a contract for an option to order another 25 aircraft within the next 6 years.

WestJet cites at least 30 cities in the Canadian domestic market that are too small to support its 737s where it estimates roundtrip fares on stage lengths of one hour can reach roughly $1200US. That’s where their new fleet of aircrafts will come in to action, to accommodate these smaller rural routes. For years other airlines have monopolized the airline industry, as they have had the market to themselves. Now that is WestJet stepping in, with their low prices, and proposed straight flights to cut total travel times for their customers. WestJet plans to step into this market and give their competitors serious competition.

Do you have family and friends in smaller rural areas that you would be glad to visit but was unable to because of lack of transportation, or if transportation was available was it too expensive?

References

http://www.canada.com/business/WestJet+buys+Bombardier+planes+reported+record+earnings/6546314/story.html

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/westjet-plan-a-new-threat-to-air-canada/article1358800/

http://www.centreforaviation.com/analysis/westjets-plan-to-launch-a-regional-carrier-shows-growing-maturity-of-its-network-69846

http://www.youtube.com

WestJet Vacations

WestJet also offers vacation packages, which include airfare, hotel/ resort accommodations, meal plans (which in many cases are all inclusive) and in some cases even car rental. After visiting the WestJet vacations site, I now know how many options there are for choosing the ideal vacation getaway. From Vancouver BC to Barbados in the Caribbean and all the infamous vacation hotspots in between like, California, Florida, Hawaiian Islands, Mexico, Jamaica, Bermuda, Cuba and so many more! WestJet’s product buyers research hotels, activities, prices and overall quality to help you plan the perfect family vacation or even Honeymoon

WestJet Vacations has partnered with RBC Insurance®, providing coverage in case of emergency medical insurance, coverage for that last-minute vacation cancellation or insurance for other unexpected events. Travel insurance not only provides assistance during medical emergencies, it can also help protect you from financial losses.

WestJet Vacations can also be purchased through third party travel coordiators, such as Itravel 2000, Redtag Vacations, Sell of vacations and also many more. So it’s never hard to book with WestJet Vacations!

Are you planning a vacation for you or your family soon, if so WestJet Vacations would be a great start! Would you consider booking your vacation through WestJet Vacations?

References

http://www.westjet.com/vacations/en/westjet-vacations/travel-insurance.shtml

http://www.westjet.com/vacations/en/home.shtml

WestJet Rewards

Want to get even more out of WestJet? Well WestJet now offers WestJet Rewards! With WestJet Rewards you will earn WestJet dollars® for every WestJet flight flown or vacation package taken. The more you fly, the more you earn.

Here’s how:

Spend between $1 and $1499 annually on WestJet flights and earn 1% back in WestJet dollars or 0.5% back on WestJet Vacation packages.

Once you have spent $1500 on WestJet flights in your qualifying year, you earn a bonus of $35 WestJet dollars and then you start earning 2.5% back in WestJet dollars for every subsequent dollar you spend on WestJet flights that year.  Plus, you can now start to earn 1% back on WestJet Vacations packages.

At $4500 annual qualifying spend, you'll earn a companion ticket where if you buy one ticket you get the second for free to fly anywhere in Canada †. Plus two lounge passes and four advance seat selection vouchers.

After you've spent $6000 annual, you earn another companion ticket – this time to anywhere WestJet flies, including Canada, the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean. Plus you get more lounge passes and advance seat selection vouchers.

WestJet Rewards are easily redeemable starting with $25 WestJet dollars, towards any flight or vacation package booked with WestJet or WestJet Vacations.  You can also use your accumulated WestJet dollars to reduce your travel cost, even on seat sales. Redeeming your WestJet rewards is just as easy as accumulating them, just visit their website at westjet.com/redeem-rewards or for WestJet Vacations, call them at  1-877-737-7001.

Westjet Rewards is a great way to save money on you next trip or vacation, would you be interested in joining the WestJet Rewards program?

Reference

http://www.westjet.com/guest/en/rewards/frequent-guest-program.shtml



WestJets price leader strategies

The airline industry is a tough competitive environment, yet WestJet, a low-cost carrier is one of the most successful airlines in Canadian history. WestJet’s ability to control internal cost structure has given them a “leading edge” (no pun intended) in the airline industry today, allowing them to offer lower fares to their consumers.

Profit is what is left over once all costs are subtracted; being the price leader without the lowest costs is a one way ticket to bankruptcy. That’s why WestJet implemented a price leadership strategy is to ensure an efficient and distinct cost structure. These are some examples of WestJet’s strategies, implemented to keeping costs down and in turn allow for lower airfares for their consumers.

•  Lower staff costs: Pilot salaries are 75% of the industry average. Staff salaries are 95% of the industry median. They offer generous stock options to compensate for this. WestJet uses 75 employees to support each plane, whereas Air Canada uses 180. WestJet employees are also not unionized.
• Lower maintenance and training costs. WestJet uses Boeing 737 airplanes exclusively. They stock parts and train staff based on one model of plane.
• Lower ticketing costs and distribution overhead. WestJet was among the first   to use direct consumer phone bookings and electronic ticketing. They were also leaders in on-line bookings.
• More efficient flight schedule and service model. They use an A to B model rather than a web and spokes model, which is common with airlines such as Air Canada. Air Canada accumulates people in hub cities to get them to the spokes, which are smaller centers. There is a higher cost structure to support the 1-2 hours between flights for the hub and spokes model. WestJet, by efficiently providing a city to city service only, keeps non-flying time to a minimum, and costs down.

Clive Beddoe, President and CEO estimates that WestJet’s costs are half of Air Canada's. Air Canada may lower their fares, paint the planes a different colour and brand them as Zip and Tango, but if the business model is not based on a low cost structure, it cannot remain competitive as a low cost carrier.

Now that you understand how WestJet can make their airfares much more affordable for passengers, would you consider flying with WestJet?




Reference
http://www.charleson.ca/pdfs/issue726.pdf

WestJet's Early Strategy

Picture this… 12 hour drive to go visit Uncle Harry and his twin daughteres in Quebec City. 7 passengers; 3 adults and 4 screaming kids, all of which are on totally different bathroom schedules, not a nice sight at all. Well WestJet’s plan was to conquer this exact segment of customers. The people who travel in a family vehicle to meet friends and family. WestJet identified that if people were given an option to fly cheaper and in a fun environment for a shorter amount of time verses travelling for 8 hours or more with screaming children at the back just to meet friends and family, people would choose to fly instead of drive.

At the time of this assumption there weren’t many options to choose from, Air Canada and Canada 3000 who were both charging premium prices for traveling. WestJet knew they had to cash in on this segment of customers, and so they did. Offering cheaper airfares for domestic travel. All their data displays their assumption to be true. In 1999, they had 4.25% of domestic travelers. In 2000 they had captured 6.61% domestic air travelers. In 2001 and 2002 they had captured 9.83% and 14.16% respectively. By 2013, they are predicting this to capture 50% of domestic air travelers. WestJet started by targeting small segments but knowing it will grow. Now they are trying to capture business travelers, vacation goers and also small local communities.

Reference

http://www.seriousopinion.com/westjet-airlines-initial-segment-rating/

Care + Guarantee = Care-antee

WestJet Care-antee. It's a simple set of values put in writing that let us serve you well.

Promises in the WestJet Care-antee include:

·        We will not overbook your flight.

·        We will not charge you for two checked bags.

·        We will offer free online seat selection 24 hours prior to departure.

·        We will give you free snacks and refreshments.

·        And most importantly: We'll always care. Because that's what owners do

References

http://www.expedia.ca/daily/enc4105/advert/westjet/default.asp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6q2f2gev9c

Reason why to choose Westjet

WestJet serves over 55 destinations in North America and the Caribbean. So whether it’s a quick flight to visit family or that dream vacation, WestJet can make it happen. There are hundreds of reasons why you should choose WestJet for your next flight for business or pleasure. Here are just a few,

• Web Check-In - Use Web check-in and experience the added convenience of this enhanced feature. Select your seat from 24 hours up to 60 minutes before you fly, and print your own boarding pass
• New Jets - Air travel with WestJet is simply more comfortable. Most of their fleet is equipped with live seatback television, more legroom and leather seats. Guests will soon be able to enjoy 24 channels of live Bell ExpressVu satellite programming in every seatback of the Boeing Next-Generation 737-700 aircraft. WestJet's programming offers a selection that includes news, sports, children's and leisure programming that can be individually selected by each guest. All ofthe 737-700 aircraft contain 136 leather-covered seats, with plenty of leg room.
• Incredible On-Time Performance (OTP) - WestJet knows how valuable your time is. That's why their committed to publishing their On-Time performance statistics. While Canadian air carriers are not required to publish these numbers, guests deserve to know how Westjet measures up to others in the industry.
• Buy on Board - Hungry for great value? WestJet’s new Buy on Board service is available on the majority of scheduled flights longer than three hours. Food items sold onboard range from $2 to $5 and include turkey croissants, roast beef sandwiches, grilled chicken sandwiches, beef jerky, Pringles, pepperoni, and Twizzlers licorice.

With all this in mind, will you choose WestJet for your travel nees?

References

http://www.expedia.ca/daily/enc4105/advert/westjet/default.asp

http://www.greatcanadiantravel.com/westjet

Fly with WestJet, work with WestJet!!

WestJet is not only a desirable airline to travel with, but many people are lining up with their resumes in their hand eager to work for them, receiving more than 1000 unsolicited resumes a week. WestJet Cofounder Don Bell says it’s the airlines engaging culture that attracts WestJetter wannabe’s. This culture that WestJet has adapted brings a feeling of equality, as there is no distinction between executive and other staff. The company’s vision statement refers to the company as “Team WestJet”. As valuable team members, employees are even given profit sharing cheques twice a year as an incentive to work harder, with the thought that owners (employees) work harder (than non-shareholder employees). The philosophy is that people will have more incentive to take care of something they have ownership in than something they don’t.