WestJet Removes Reclining Function for Economy Seats to ‘Preserve Personal Space’

WestJet Airlines has announced an update to its economy class seating that will see traditional reclining seats replaced with fixed-back designs.

A cabin makeover on the Boeing 737-8 MAX and 737-800 aircraft operated by the Calgary-based airline will bring a new range of seating options, including “fixed recline” seats in the economy section to help “preserve personal space,” a Sept. 23 WestJet press release says.

WestJet confirmed in a statement to media that the recline for most economy seats cannot be adjusted.

Where passengers sit on the plane will also determine how much leg room they will have.

Seating in economy will offer a variety of options, ranging from “less space at the back to more space near the front of the cabin,” the WestJet press release says. Standard economy seating will also feature “seatback contouring to maximize legroom” and “ergonomically designed, contoured bottom and back cushions.”

“Exit row seating in the Economy cabin remains an option for travellers who want the most legroom,” the airline added.

The new design also comes with upgraded premium seats and more “extended comfort” seating options.

The extended comfort section will feature 36 seats with extra legroom that will be separated from the economy cabin by a cabin divider, the company said. Both extended comfort and premium seats recline and cost more than the regular economy seats.

All seats feature a new “ultra slim-line” design, which provided the airline with enough space on-board to incorporate an additional row of seats, a change that WestJet said will lower ticket prices.

WestJet’s website says rows 20 to 31 at the back of the cabin have less available space, while middle rows 15 to 19 offer slightly more space. Seats positioned toward the front of the cabin provide the most legroom.

The revamped cabin design and seat changes come a little more than one year after the airline announced its “no-frills fare” known as UltraBasic, a ticket option that replaced WestJet’s Basic fare on all domestic and trans-border routes.

Some online travel services and websites criticized the fare, saying it offered no additional value to travellers, noting that those with UltraBasic tickets would be given pre-assigned seats at the back of the aircraft and would lose the option to stow a carry-on bag in an overhead bin unless they are travelling on a transatlantic or transpacific flight.