Last Updated on August 2, 2026 by Daniel Globe
WestJet is generally considered a safe airline, but its ratings are often misunderstood. Its current AirlineRatings safety score is 7 out of 7. The separate Skytrax 3-Star label measures airport service, onboard products, and staff service rather than operational safety. You should also consider Transport Canada oversight, aircraft configuration, medical requirements, baggage policies, and your individual seating needs before booking.
Quick Answer
Yes. WestJet is generally considered a safe airline. AirlineRatings currently gives it 7 out of 7 for safety, while its separate Skytrax 3-Star label measures product and service quality, not safety. WestJet is regulated by Transport Canada, and affected 737 cabins are being returned to a 30-inch economy seat pitch during 2026.
Key Takeaways
- WestJet currently has a 7-out-of-7 AirlineRatings safety score.
- Its Skytrax 3-Star rating covers service and product quality, not operational safety.
- WestJet reversed a tighter 737 seating configuration and is restoring a uniform 30-inch economy pitch on affected aircraft during 2026.
- Medical documentation is not required for every health condition, but WestJet recommends submitting required forms 10 business days before departure.
- You should verify the aircraft, seat map, medical rules, and accessibility arrangements for your specific flight.
What WestJet’s 3-Star Rating Actually Means
WestJet’s Skytrax 3-Star Airline rating is not a safety rating. Skytrax uses that label to assess the quality of an airline’s airport service, seats, cabin features, food, and staff service. A 3-Star result generally means the airline provides an average or acceptable level of product and service quality, with Skytrax noting that WestJet’s Business cabin on the Boeing 787 performs well while some short-haul product standards are more middling.
WestJet’s separate AirlineRatings safety score is 7 out of 7 as of mid-2026, and AirlineRatings also recognizes WestJet as a “Seven Star” safety-rated carrier. That private rating considers factors such as audit status, operating standards, accident history, serious incidents, and government restrictions.
WestJet’s 3-Star label measures service quality. Its current third-party safety score is 7 out of 7.
Note: A private safety rating is useful for comparison, but it is not a government certificate and cannot guarantee that an airline will never experience an incident.
AirlineRatings also placed WestJet Group at number 23 on its list of the 25 safest low-cost airline groups for 2026, a ranking topped by HK Express, Jetstar, and Scoot. Inclusion supports a generally strong safety profile, although the ranking should be read within its category and methodology, and AirlineRatings itself notes that the score gaps between airlines on the list are small.
How WestJet Safety Is Regulated
WestJet operates under Canadian aviation laws and Transport Canada oversight. Transport Canada certifies commercial air operators and uses planned and reactive surveillance, inspections, audits, and enforcement to check whether airlines comply with the regulatory framework.
The Transport Canada Civil Aviation oversight program uses airline risk profiles to help decide where surveillance is needed. This is more meaningful than relying only on customer reviews or a single online score.
Canadian regulations also require airlines to maintain approved training programs. Under section 705.109 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations, a person cannot work as a flight attendant unless the required airline training, line indoctrination, and first-aid certification have been completed.
How WestJet Cabin Safety Compares
WestJet’s current ratings and regulatory status support the view that it is generally safe to fly. However, cabin safety should not be judged by seat comfort alone. Safety also includes aircraft maintenance, crew training, operational procedures, emergency equipment, regulatory compliance, and how the airline responds when a concern is reported.
Canadian flight attendants receive approved training related to normal operations and emergencies. Required first-aid instruction covers topics such as medical-event management, breathing emergencies, choking, cardiovascular emergencies, bleeding, fractures, burns, allergies, and altitude-related conditions.
You still have an important role during every flight. Keep your seat belt fastened whenever you are seated, listen to the safety briefing, locate the nearest usable exit, and read the safety card for the aircraft. Your closest exit may be behind you.
Service quality should also be kept separate from safety. Delays, baggage problems, uncomfortable seats, or poor customer support can damage an airline’s reputation without proving that its aircraft operations are unsafe.
What the Cramped Seating Changes Mean
WestJet’s seating controversy involved a portion of its Boeing 737 fleet — mainly aircraft inherited from Swoop, Sunwing, and Lynx Air — that had been converted from 174 seats to a denser 180-seat configuration. Rows in the rear of economy received fixed-back seats and had their pitch reduced to 28 inches, well below the 29- to 30-inch pitch typical on most other carriers’ lower-tier seats.
Passengers and flight attendants raised concerns about comfort, movement, brace positions, and the ability of larger or taller travelers to leave their rows easily. A viral video of a couple unable to fully straighten their legs helped drive national media attention, and Transport Canada nevertheless stated that the reconfigured cabins had gone through an approved certification process.
- The denser layout added one row and six seats to affected aircraft.
- Roughly a dozen rows in the reconfigured cabins had a 28-inch seat pitch with no recline.
- WestJet paused the wider rollout after passenger and employee criticism, having originally planned to convert 43 aircraft.
- On January 16, 2026, WestJet announced it would remove one row from the aircraft already reconfigured.
- The updated cabins are being returned to a uniform 30-inch economy seat pitch, cutting the layout back from 180 to 174 seats.
By the time of the reversal, around 22 to 23 aircraft had received the denser layout. WestJet says the rollback depends on engineering certification and logistics, and expects the process to continue through the end of 2026.
Warning: The retrofit is still a transition process. Your flight may use an aircraft with a different seat layout, and airlines can substitute aircraft for operational reasons. Check your seat map again before departure if legroom, mobility, or extra space is important to you.
The controversy does not prove that WestJet was operating an uncertified aircraft. It does show that a configuration can meet technical requirements while still creating serious comfort, accessibility, and usability concerns for some passengers.
How WestJet Handles Medical Travel Forms
WestJet does not require every passenger with a medical condition to submit an Air Travel Requirements Assessment Form, or ATRAF. The form may be needed when there is uncertainty about whether you can complete the flight safely, when your condition is unstable, or when special medical accommodation is required.
Examples listed on WestJet’s travelling with health concerns page include:
- A need for in-flight oxygen
- Unstable heart or lung symptoms
- Certain recent surgeries or medical procedures
- A recent stroke, seizure, serious head injury, or transient ischemic attack
- Some fractures or recently applied casts
- Medical uncertainty about completing the flight safely
- A previous airport or onboard medical event that required attention
- A condition that may require extraordinary assistance during the flight
WestJet recommends submitting required medical documentation at least 10 business days before departure. This gives its medical team time to review the information, but the wording is a recommendation rather than a universal rule that applies to every passenger or condition.
WestJet accepts fully completed Air Canada or Air Transat assessment forms if they are dated within 90 days of submission to the WestJet Medical Desk. The airline keeps ATRAF records for a minimum of three years and handles them under its privacy policy.
For flights to or from the United States, WestJet may accept a medical certificate from your physician as an alternative to the ATRAF. The certificate must be dated within 10 days of departure and confirm that you can fly safely without extraordinary onboard medical assistance. It must also confirm that you do not have a contagious disease that presents a risk to others.
If you need oxygen, WestJet accepts approved portable oxygen concentrators but does not provide oxygen for purchase. You must bring sufficient battery power for at least 1.5 times the scheduled flight duration.
Warning: This article cannot determine whether you are medically fit to fly, and it is not official WestJet guidance. Review your condition with your healthcare provider and contact WestJet’s Medical Desk before travel. WestJet states that refunds are not provided for flights taken before required approval has been granted.
Which WestJet Aircraft and Cabin Should You Choose?
WestJet operates several aircraft types, and the experience can differ noticeably between them. Its fleet includes Boeing 737 aircraft, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, and De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft operated by WestJet Encore.
The WestJet fleet page provides current aircraft and cabin details:
- Boeing 737 aircraft: Primarily used for domestic, transborder, and leisure routes, with Economy and Premium cabins on many aircraft.
- Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner: WestJet’s wide-body aircraft, with Business, Premium, and Economy cabins.
- Dash 8-400: A regional turboprop operated by WestJet Encore, normally used for shorter routes and smaller communities.
WestJet calls its middle cabin Premium, not Premium Economy. Business is available on the Boeing 787-9 and includes a different seat, meal, and service experience from Premium.
Aircraft assignments can change because of maintenance, weather, scheduling, or other operating needs. A seat map is therefore useful, but it is not a guarantee that the same aircraft will operate your flight.
What to Check Before Booking WestJet
Before booking, focus on the details that affect your actual flight rather than relying on one rating or a collection of old customer reviews.
- Check the operating airline: A ticket sold by WestJet may include a flight operated by a partner with different aircraft and policies.
- Review the aircraft and seat map: Look at seat pitch, exit-row restrictions, proximity to lavatories, and whether your seat reclines.
- Confirm medical requirements: Start the medical-review process early if your condition appears on WestJet’s list.
- Request accessibility support: Contact WestJet in advance if you need an attendant, an adjacent seat, mobility assistance, or additional space because of a disability.
- Read the safety card: Emergency procedures and exit locations differ between aircraft.
- Keep essential medication with you: Carry permitted medication and important medical supplies in your cabin baggage rather than checked baggage.
- Understand baggage and fare rules: WestJet’s lower fare classes often carry stricter baggage, seat-selection, and change-fee limits than legacy carriers, so check the fare conditions before you book.
- Review travel insurance terms: Pre-existing conditions, medical cancellation, and missed-flight coverage may have exclusions.
Pro Tip: Recheck your booking and seat map shortly before departure. An aircraft change can alter your seat location, cabin features, legroom, and accessibility arrangements.
Recent customer reviews can help you identify service trends, but they should not replace regulatory information or verified safety data. Separate complaints about fees, delays, baggage, or customer support from evidence about flight safety. If you have a safety concern rather than a service complaint, you can raise it directly with WestJet or, if it involves a possible regulatory issue, with Transport Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WestJet one of the safest airlines?
WestJet is generally regarded as a safe airline. It currently has a 7-out-of-7 AirlineRatings safety score and ranked 23rd in AirlineRatings’ 2026 low-cost airline safety list. That supports a strong safety profile, although it does not make WestJet one of the top three airlines in every ranking.
Does WestJet Airlines have a good reputation?
WestJet has a generally solid safety reputation, but opinions about service, fees, seat comfort, disruptions, and customer support are mixed. Its Skytrax 3-Star rating describes an average product-and-service standard rather than a safety problem.
Does WestJet have a 3-Star safety rating?
No. WestJet’s 3-Star Skytrax label measures airport service, onboard products, and staff service. Its separate AirlineRatings safety score is currently 7 out of 7.
Did WestJet cancel its cramped seating layout?
WestJet stopped the densified approach and is removing one row from the roughly 22 to 23 aircraft already reconfigured, restoring 174 seats and a 30-inch pitch. The reversal was announced in January 2026 and is expected to continue through the end of 2026, so cabin layouts may still vary during the transition.
Do I need a WestJet medical travel form?
Not everyone needs one. An ATRAF may be required if your condition is unstable, you need in-flight oxygen or special medical accommodation, you recently had certain procedures, or there is uncertainty about whether you can complete the flight safely. Review WestJet’s official health page and speak with your healthcare provider.
Which airline has the worst safety record?
There is no permanent, universally accepted answer. Rankings change, airlines change their fleets and procedures, and different sources use different time periods and methods. Check current government restrictions, audit status, recent serious incidents, and transparent safety data instead of relying on an old headline.
What are the top three safest airlines in the world?
AirlineRatings’ 2026 full-service ranking lists Etihad first, Cathay Pacific second, and Qantas third. Other organizations may produce different results because they use different categories, data, and scoring methods.
Conclusion
WestJet is generally safe to fly based on its current 7-out-of-7 AirlineRatings score, its position in the 2026 low-cost safety ranking, and its operation under Transport Canada regulations. Its Skytrax 3-Star label should not concern you as a safety score because that rating measures product and service quality.
The 2025 and 2026 seating controversy raised valid comfort and accessibility concerns, but WestJet has reversed the densified approach and is restoring a uniform 30-inch economy pitch on affected aircraft. Because that work continues through 2026, check your aircraft and seat map before departure. If you have medical or mobility needs, contact WestJet early and obtain individual guidance from your healthcare provider.
Sources
- AirlineRatings: WestJet Safety Rating — current safety score, audit status, and rating factors.
- Skytrax: WestJet Airlines Rating — explanation of WestJet’s product-and-service star rating.
- AirlineRatings: World’s Safest Airlines for 2026 — current full-service and low-cost airline rankings.
- Transport Canada Civil Aviation Program Manual — regulatory surveillance, inspections, audits, and enforcement.
- WestJet: Travelling With Health Concerns — ATRAF requirements, submission guidance, medical certificates, and oxygen rules.
- Global News: WestJet reverses cramped seat configuration — retrofit scope, aircraft counts, and reversal timeline.
