Canadian airline to charge fee for passengers to recline seats

WestJet passengers will soon have to pay more to sit in adjustable reclining seats.

In September, the airline announced that it's revamping the cabins of its economy-only Boeing 737-8 MAX and 737-800 aircraft, aiming to provide travellers with various seating options at different price points on flights.

Customers may have missed a small but potentially significant detail in the upgrades.

According to WestJet, the new economy seats will have adjustable headrests and enhanced cushion and back support with a fixed recline design that "helps preserve personal space." This means that passengers who choose the economy class price point won't be able to move their seats further back.

"The cabin has been thoughtfully designed to offer WestJet's welcoming service at every budget," stated Samantha Taylor, WestJet executive vice-president and CEO, in the announcement. "It reflects our commitment to elevating every aspect of the travel experience and meeting guest demand for a broader range of product offerings."

Passengers can choose from three types of standard seating in economy. The back of the cabin will offer less space (rows 20 to 31), while the middle will offer a bit more space (rows 15 to 19). Seats closer to the front of the cabin will have the most space (rows 10 to 12).

Flyers who want the option to adjust their reclining seats will need to shell out more cash.

Adjustable reclining seats will be available in the economy section, but will be sold as extended comfort seats. The extended comfort section will include 36 seats and extra legroom.

The carrier's premium cabin will feature reclining seatbacks, ergonomically contoured seat cushions, and a large headrest with four-way adjustment capability. This section will include 12 new seats, identical to those found on WestJet's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet.

The first of 43 planned aircraft with the redesigned cabins will be in use starting this month.

We reached out to WestJet for information on the prices of these various seating options.

Check out the airline's announcement for a preview of what the new planes will look like.