WestJet starts flights to Halifax Feb 28

[WJguy]

WestJet Announces Service to Halifax

CALGARY, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 7, 2002--WestJet today announced that it is adding service to the new market of Halifax, Nova Scotia starting February 28, 2003. WestJet will offer four flights daily between Hamilton and Halifax, with connecting service to other WestJet destinations. One-way fares between Halifax and Hamilton will start as low as $124.

This new Halifax service is made possible by the addition of WestJet's fifteenth Next-Generation Boeing 737-700 series aircraft to be delivered in the first quarter of 2003. In March 2003, WestJet will also add increased frequency between Hamilton and Ottawa, Hamilton and Calgary, and Hamilton and Moncton.

Yay! More chances to get fresh lobster! images/icons/grin.gif

[ACstew]

Hi WJGuy!

These must be exciting times for you guys--expanding all over the place.

I'm really curious about WJ. What is working for them like? What kind of hours do you fly monthly? How's the pay? Is it mostly salaried or profit-sharing based? What's the flying like--turns, layovers, both? Do you guys bid or get assigned trips? Does seniority matter? Is it fun? Hard work? Much turnover, or do people tend to stay forever like at AC? Is it fun? Boring? Hard work?

Just curious. images/icons/grin.gif Thanks!

[WJguy]

ACStew - check your PM's

[skygirl90]

HI WJ guy, good questions by ACSTEW I'd like to hear what you have to say about westjet and how things are run over there. They seem to have a great group of employees, and genereally a great attitude. It must be nice with your routes expanding and hiring more, not like us over at AC where the atmosphere is toxic, downsizing, layoffs senority issues are getting in the way of everyones sense of security. I wonder if they will start a base in YHZ. Anyway all the best to you and your airline.

[yvr01]

Goof for you guys! Now I am always waiting for Montreal though.... It will be so easy to commute when you start flying here. It is a bit selfish though. But that is very great news for you and I am happy that you are doing well images/icons/wink.gif images/icons/wink.gif images/icons/wink.gif

[WJguy]

Sorry...I replied privately to ACStew, but what I had to say was that I'm not an FA - I started out 4 years ago (whoa....that's 8 profit shares cheques ago images/icons/grin.gif ) as a reservations agent - what we now call a Sales Super Agent. I now work doing a research & development & writing & communications role deep within the bowels of WJ HQ. I've gotten my fingerprints over a few guidelines that impact guests both internal (fellow co-workers) and external (i.e. customers).

I'm a bit off the wall, sarcastic, surreal, witty, and completely open as to who I am. In most companies you'd have to hide that, but not at WJ. That's not to say that sometimes there isn't the politics, but that comes with any job. I'm not sure what the secret is, but maybe it's that the company tries to treat the guest and the staff as a person to be heard, not just another cog in the wheel (or bum in the seat).

As for Montreal....well, someday. Right now I'm just wishing we flew to Seattle! I'm trying to visit a friend down in SAT, and travelling SWA interline (which involves me flying YYCYVR, busing SEA, and then flying out of SEA). Hopefully we'll go to the States someday....

[wsyvrguy]

Hi all

I can add a little information. WestJet is non unionized (personally hope we stay that way). Anyhow, FA's use a tenure system, as you work you accrue points, more points, better lines. But, when you add in that we are still 80% shorthaul, there really aren't a lot of perks to tenure. Maybe weekends and holidays, but little more.

We do receive profit share.... twice a year. Just about to go pickup the new Echo after I finish this. Also, we have a kickass stock purchase program. You can buy up to 20% of your paycheck in stock, and whatever you buy WestJet matches, dollar for dollar. That adds up in a hurry.

It's not a perfect place, but I have to say that after working in CAIL Res, and Greyhound Res, what I like best is that I am empowered to do whatever I need to do to fix a problem for our guests (their not passengers). That can include waiving fees and price changes, or even cancellations, refunds, buying taxis, food, hotels, or airline tickets on other carriers. All I have to do is back up my actions with comments. You have no idea how liberating that is to me. In previous work situations I always had more than enough rules to enforce, but was never trusted to make the decisions needed. And we knew what the answers were. Why do you have to plead your case to Customer Service or a supervisor? You all know the answers.

Anyhow, we're a wild bunch and we're always looking for more. Anyone in Vancouver who wants to work at the airport, we're adding 6 flights for Christmas, and there's always people moving up and moving on.... apply at www.westjet.com (http://www.westjet.com)

wsyvrguy.

PS. All the info I have released in this info is given freely at interviews and can therefore by disclosed publicly.

[Pikin]

Hi wsyvrguy,

Do you mean to say Westjet is currently hiring airport customer service agents for Vancouver? I submitted my resume online about 1 month ago, for the position of customer service agent, and I stated "vancouver" as the location. I understand that my resume stays in the resume bank for 3 months, or should I resubmit my application?

Thanks for your help!

[alitalia_747]

do you know when Westjet is gonna start flying to Montreal?? I hear it many times that Westjet will start flight to YUL

[wsyvrguy]

Hi all

The quick answer to this is: when the company managing the airports gives us a decent price to land there and use facilities!

These damn airports charge so much to land and use facilitiies, and then there are all the extra costs that get passed on to the guests. Sometimes it's airport management who hold us back the most.

It's a part of what puts us where.

wsyvrguy

[alitalia_747]

I see what you mean. I remeber reading an article that they wanted to fly to Montreal but use St-Hubert airport instead of Dorval. If I am not mistaken St-Hubert is not ready to handle any passanger planes.

[wsyvrguy]

Precisely!

In the case of Montreal it's the same management company for either Dorval or Mirabel... so no competition. On top of that, the same management company is trying to get control of St. Hubert.... isn't that special?

And yes, St. Hubert is not ready for us. The runway is too short, and, I think, made of the wrong materials. The federal government is unwilling to put the money in to fix the runway issues, so no service. Dorval and Mirabel want too much money, so no service.

It's an all around losing proposition. Add into the mix the new agreement between the Quebec government and Air Can and it's no wonder we're avoiding it. I guess if someone really wants to fly with us they have to get to Ottawa... sorry.

Things will improve, but slowly at best.

[wsyvrguy]

Hey there

I can answer the base issue. It's not in the plan. One of the things we've built is that we have one base for flight crews and that's Calgary. All the shift pairings start from there and end there. we have a number of commuters, but they mostly live in Vancouver.

We've posted internal placements for Halifax airport CSA's and team leaders. Don't know if we'll get a full crew listing for it internally or if we'll need to hire externally.

If you're interested all applications are made online at;
www.westjet.com (http://www.westjet.com)

I've talked about basic info in another post, so I won't get into details here... but if you're interested I'd say go for it! We're still young, still growing, still have lots of opportunities coming down the pipe in all areas.

And I can tell you, personally, what I love most about WestJet is my ability to make the decisions I need to in order to make our guests happy. No supervisors or begging required. If I say I need to do it, then I can do it. Plane and simple.

[JazzYHZ]

I was talking to a WJ fa in yow on Sunday, is it true you guys are opening a base in yhz? I have a lot of soon to be ex-jazzers who could really use the jobs?

[wsyvrguy]

Hi all

Again, our Flight Attendent base is in YYC, and any potential FA would have to be willing to move there or be able to commute to start and end pairings there.

As for Halifax, we're hiring CSA's, and a Team Leader. Base Manager is moving from Hamilton. Still don't know if we have filled all positions internally, or if we are looking for external CSA applicants. Best idea is to apply.... online at www.westjet.com (http://www.westjet.com)

We don't accept paper applications, only online ones.

thanks
wsyvrguy

[italian_chick]

Hello, I was just told that last week, West Jet puled out of Halifax.... I know that they were looking for agents to be based here, but I was wondering if the rumor was true.
Happy Holidays :laugh:

[WJguy]

Nope...as far as I know, we're still on to start flights into Halifax Feb. 28.