Clarity from WestJet Airlines
What's new at WestJet? Well this is that place to find out! Press releases may be edited for content and can be found in their entirety at WestJet.com
WestJet sets new single-day record today
Students and families return home from mid-term break
CALGARY, Feb. 26, 2012 /CNW/ - WestJet today announced it will fly 52,992 guests today, setting a new single-day record for the airline. The previous record, set on December 22, 2011, saw 52,397 guests fly across the airline's network.
The new single-day record follows a busy week for travel which saw students at many Canadian post-secondary institutions head out for mid-term break. In provinces with a Family Day holiday, families took the week off to enjoy a warm-weather vacation.
"We love to welcome our guests on board and with each new record, it's clear that more Canadians are choosing our low fares and high value, our great guest experience and to travel with our fun and friendly WestJetters," said Bob Cummings, WestJet's Executive Vice-President, Sales, Marketing and Guest Experience. "We would like to thank our growing base of business travellers and, for this week in particular, students and their families for choosing to fly with us. We hope they had a fabulous break and we look forward to welcoming them on board a WestJet flight again in the very near future."
On average, WestJet flies approximately 40,000 guests on 425 flights per day. To reduce line-ups and save time, especially on busy travel days like today, WestJet offers four convenient check-in options:
•Web check-in is available at westjet.com. Guests can check in from 24 hours to 60 minutes before scheduled departure.
•Mobile check-in allows guests to check in with a cell phone from 24 hours to 60 minutes before scheduled departure.
•Self-serve check-in kiosks are available at most Canadian and U.S. airports in WestJet's network from 24 hours to 60 minutes before scheduled departure. Select serve-serve kiosks also offer self-serve bag-tagging, allowing guests to print and attach their bag tags as part of their check-in process.
•Traditional counter check-in is available in all airports. Our friendly WestJetters are always happy to greet guests and help them on their way.
WestJet celebrates 16th birthday with special offer
CALGARY, Feb. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - In celebration of its 16th birthday this month, WestJet today announced it will offer guests born on February 29 of any year the chance to fly to any of WestJet's Canadian destinations for just $16 one way, plus applicable taxes and fees, on February 29, 2012.
WestJet shares its birthday with Leap Day babies, having launched on February 29, 1996, with three aircraft, 220 employees and five destinations - all in Western Canada. Sixteen years later, the airline has grown to 98 aircraft, 8,600 WestJetters and 76 destinations throughout Canada, the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean.
"Being born on February 29 is pretty special," said Bob Cummings, WestJet's Executive Vice-President, Sales, Marketing and Guest Experience. "The odds of being born on that day are one in 1,400 or 1,500 , and three out of every four years, you get to decide on which day to celebrate your birthday - either February 28 or March 1. Now that's cool!"
Between now and February 29, 2012 (11:59 p.m. MT), guests born on February 29 of any leap year may book a flight for travel on February 29, 2012, anywhere WestJet flies within Canada for just $16 one way, plus all applicable taxes and fees. Guests may take a maximum of two flights that day as part of this special offer.
To take advantage of this birthday offer, guests born on February 29 must email leapyear@westjet.com and include their name, telephone number and a scanned copy of their government-issued photo identification with their birth date. A member of the WestJet Sales Super Centre team will contact them to make their booking.
About WestJet
WestJet is Canada's favourite airline, offering scheduled service throughout its 76-city North American and Caribbean network. Inducted into Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures Hall of Fame and named one of Canada's best employers, WestJet pioneered low-cost flying in Canada. WestJet offers increased legroom and leather seats on its modern fleet of 98 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. With future confirmed deliveries for an additional 37 aircraft through 2018, WestJet strives to be one of the five most successful international airlines in the world.
It's not business as usual at WestJet
CALGARY, Feb. 9, 2012 /CNW/ - WestJet today introduced a new way to think about airline travel, literally unrolling a welcoming mat to welcome guests on board its growing 76-city, 14-country North American and Caribbean network. With the launch of new WestJet Rewards offerings and national campaign, the airline invites new guests to give WestJet a try, while generating a little friendly competition among its competitors.
"Today, we are here to tell travellers that it is not business as usual at WestJet," said Bob Cummings, WestJet's Executive Vice-President, Sales, Marketing and Guest Experience. "It's not business as usual for an airline to be owned by more than 80 per cent of its eligible employees. It's not business as usual to call your customers guests, or reward your guests with real dollars they can actually use in a rewards program they can actually understand. We are the only airline that puts out a welcome mat at the door of every aircraft for a reason, and we are here to earn the trust and confidence of travellers one flight at a time."
Starting today, travellers who join WestJet Rewards (formerly the WestJet Frequent Guest Program), and take a WestJet flight before March 31, 2012, will get off to a flying start and receive a welcome bonus of $50 WestJet dollars. For more information, please visit westjet.com/rewards.
"WestJet Rewards is just one of many ways we're offering unprecedented value for the business traveller," Bob Cummings continued. "Our revamped, business-focused schedule in the eastern triangle, combined with our industry-leading on-time service promises, is having a significant impact on travellers in the largest business travel market in Canada. We also begin flying between Toronto and LaGuardia in June, and our growing list of code-share partners across the world, particularly in the U.S., offer business people connections to many of the key destinations they're looking for."
A multi-platform advertising campaign also begins today. The campaign, centered on WestJet's challenge of "business as usual," spans print, radio and digital fronts, with many of the ads featuring a letter directly to guests inviting them on board.
"This new campaign is about welcoming travellers to WestJet," Bob Cummings continued. "We are an airline they can trust, an airline that continues to serve their needs, and an airline that wants, appreciates and rewards their business."
About WestJet
WestJet is Canada's favourite airline, offering scheduled service throughout its 76-city North American and Caribbean network. Inducted into Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures Hall of Fame and named one of Canada's best employers, WestJet pioneered low-cost flying in Canada. WestJet offers increased legroom and leather seats on its modern fleet of 97 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. With future confirmed deliveries for an additional 38 aircraft through 2018, WestJet strives to be one of the five most successful international airlines in the world.