Travel question: For WestJet flights, can I book luggage space online?

Have a question? Ask our expert Simon Calder

The carrier’s luggage policy is unusual but cheap (Getty)

Q I’ve found some really cheap flights to Canada in May on WestJet. I want to check in one bag, but WestJet seems to be saying I can only pay for baggage at check in rather than at the point of booking. Is that correct? Just want to make sure I’m not going to find myself at the airport with a big bag I can’t take or facing paying a fortune to check it in.

Chloe H

A For three years, WestJet has operated a busy network of transatlantic flights from Gatwick (and Glasgow) to a range of Canadian destinations. I have travelled on the carrier and find it just fine as well as excellent value. But compared with European budget airlines I agree that the baggage policy takes a bit of getting used to. Not only is there no penalty for just turning up at the airport with a bag to check in – the rates are lower than for other airlines’ “basic fares”.

You just turn up at the airport and, if you want to check in one bag weighing up to 23kg, you can do that at the airport for C$30 (about £17). Note that charges for additional bags are higher – the opposite of economies of scale.

Having said that, WestJet also has a reasonably generous cabin baggage allowance: one piece measuring 53x38x23cm, or 46 litres, and the second measuring 41x33x15cm, which is a maximum of 20 litres. The only weight stipulation is that the items should be “light enough to allow you to place the bag in the overhead compartment unaided”. So you may be happy with just hand luggage. In my experience, they may check it in for you anyway at the gate for free.

Every day our travel correspondent Simon Calder tackles a reader’s question. Just email yours to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder