Quick answer: Whether WestJet charges you to change your flight comes down to your fare. UltraBasic can’t be changed after the first 24 hours. Econo, Premium, Business, and Member Exclusive fares can be changed for a fee plus any fare difference. EconoFlex, PremiumFlex, and BusinessFlex change for free, just the fare difference. One detail most guides miss: the fee is charged per direction, per person, except on flights to and from Europe and Asia, where it’s charged per transaction, per person instead.
Most people assume a flight change fee is a flat, simple number. It isn’t, and the way WestJet actually calculates it depends on more than just your fare type.
The 24-Hour Window: Your Best Shot at a Free Change
You can change or cancel your WestJet booking within 24 hours of purchase without a fee, as long as your flight isn’t departing within the next 24 hours either. This follows the same general shape as the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 24-hour rule. Cancellations specifically need to be made more than 2 hours before your flight’s scheduled departure, so this window closes earlier than you might expect if you’re booking and travelling on a tight timeline.
How Fare Type Decides Your Flexibility
UltraBasic is the most restrictive fare WestJet sells. Once you’re past the 24-hour window, changes generally aren’t available at all, not simply expensive, just off the table. This fare also charges a fee if you want to change a pre-assigned seat, since UltraBasic doesn’t include standard seat selection the way other fares do.
Econo, Premium, Business, and Member Exclusive fares can be changed up to 2 hours before departure, but expect a change fee plus any fare difference if the new flight costs more.
EconoFlex, PremiumFlex, and BusinessFlex are the flexible tier. No change fee here, just the fare difference if applicable.
The Fee Calculation Most Guides Get Wrong
Here’s the detail that trips people up: WestJet’s own change and cancellation policy confirms that change fees are charged per direction, per person, for most routes. But flights to and from Europe and Asia work differently, the fee there is charged per transaction, per person instead. That’s a meaningful difference on a multi-segment international itinerary, and it’s not something most third-party guides mention, probably because it’s easy to miss if you’re only looking at domestic route examples.
Because the exact dollar amount depends on your route, how far out you’re changing, and current fare rules, the only reliable way to know your real cost is to check the fee shown in Manage Booking or the app before you confirm anything. Published fee ranges you’ll find online vary wildly between sources and are frequently outdated, so treat any specific number you see elsewhere as a rough guide at best, not a guarantee.
Same-Day Flight Changes
If your plans shift on the day of travel itself, WestJet lets you move to an earlier or later flight, provided it’s the same calendar day, the same origin and destination, and there’s a seat available in your original cabin.
A few conditions apply:
- The new flight has to be operated by WestJet or WestJet Encore, not a codeshare partner.
- UltraBasic fares and charter flights aren’t eligible.
- Requests generally need to go in before departure, and earlier is always safer than waiting.
- Gold and Platinum WestJet Rewards members get same-day changes without a fee. This doesn’t apply if you’re on an UltraBasic fare, even at elite status.
How to Request a Change
Online, through My Trips:
- Log into the WestJet website or app.
- Open My Trips and pull up your booking with your reference number and last name.
- Select the change flight option.
- Choose your new date or flight.
- Review the fee and any fare difference before confirming.
- Pay whatever’s still owed.
At the airport: Grab a WestJet agent in person, your best bet if it’s last-minute or same-day.
By phone or chat: Available if you’d rather not handle it online, though wait times can be longer during busy periods.
What Happens With the Fare Difference
If your new flight costs more, you pay the difference on top of any change fee. If the fares are roughly equal, you’re just covering the change fee itself, if one applies to your ticket type. If the new flight is actually cheaper, WestJet generally doesn’t refund the difference in cash, it’s more typically issued as a WestJet Dollars credit for a future booking rather than money back on your original payment method.
Booked With WestJet Points? Changes Work Differently
If you paid for your flight partly or fully with WestJet points, standard online date changes generally aren’t available the same way. Any amount owed after a change, fare difference or added fees, needs to be paid with another payment method like a credit card, and you’ll typically need to call WestJet directly to make the change rather than doing it through Manage Trips. Member Exclusive fares, the ones booked entirely with points, work differently still: changing one usually means cancelling the original booking and making a brand new one, subject to whether that fare is still available, rather than modifying the existing reservation.
A Few Things People Get Wrong
- Assuming the fee is the same everywhere. Europe and Asia routes are charged per transaction rather than per direction, a real structural difference from domestic and North American routes.
- Trusting a specific dollar figure found online. Published numbers vary a lot between sources and change over time. The number shown in your actual booking is the one that matters.
- Not checking elite status benefits before a same-day change. Gold and Platinum members skip the same-day change fee entirely, UltraBasic excluded.
- Expecting a cash refund on a cheaper new fare. It typically becomes travel credit, not money back.
- Trying to change a points-booked fare online. Changes to bookings paid with WestJet points, especially Member Exclusive fares, generally require a phone call rather than self-service.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I change a WestJet UltraBasic fare?
Generally no, once you’re past the 24-hour window after booking. UltraBasic doesn’t support standard date changes.
Is a WestJet flight change ever free?
Yes, within 24 hours of booking (as long as your flight isn’t within the next 24 hours), and on EconoFlex, PremiumFlex, and BusinessFlex fares, where only the fare difference applies.
How is the WestJet change fee actually calculated?
Per direction, per person, for most routes. Flights to and from Europe and Asia are charged per transaction, per person instead.
Can I change my flight on the day of travel?
Yes, to an earlier or later WestJet or WestJet Encore flight on the same route and calendar day, if a seat is available in your original cabin. UltraBasic and charter flights don’t qualify.
Do Gold and Platinum members pay a same-day change fee?
No, that fee is waived for Gold and Platinum WestJet Rewards members, except on UltraBasic fares.
What if my new flight is cheaper?
WestJet generally doesn’t refund the difference in cash. It’s typically issued as travel credit instead.
Final Word
The WestJet flight change fee isn’t one fixed number, it depends on your fare, your route, and whether you’re flying to Europe or Asia, where the calculation actually works differently than it does elsewhere. Before assuming a cost based on something you read online, pull up Manage Booking and check the real number for your specific flight. If you’d rather have someone walk through your options with you, the team at Xora Travel can help.
This guide is independent travel information and isn't affiliated with or endorsed by WestJet. Policies, fees, and processing timelines can change, so always confirm the specifics of your own booking directly with the airline before making a decision.
Whether it's a cancellation, date change, name change, seat upgrade, or any other booking issue, our team can help you sort it out. Call us at +1-844-522-6968.
