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Airlines, particularly in Europe, have increasingly embraced stopover programs to encourage travellers to explore hub cities rather than simply transit through them. Programs offered by carriers such as Icelandair, TAP Air Portugal, and Qatar Airways have long allowed passengers to extend layovers into short city breaks at little to no additional airfare cost. WestJet is now bringing a similar concept closer to home with the launch of its new Calgary stopover program, allowing travellers on eligible international itineraries to add time in Calgary as part of a single reservation. The new program permits stopovers of up to seven days on WestJet-operated itineraries.
City of Calgary
The new stopover program is available on WestJet-marketed and operated flights to all destinations, except for exclusively domestic itineraries. Reservations can include up to five one-way segments, including open-jaw itineraries where the arrival and departure cities differ. Travellers also have flexibility to mix fare bundles by segment, allowing them to tailor pricing and benefits throughout the itinerary. WestJet Rewards points may be used as full or partial payment.
WestJet network out of Calgary (YYC)
The program is primarily geared toward international travellers connecting through Calgary. For passengers travelling between Canada, Europe, Asia, and the United States, Calgary will now become more than simply a transfer point. Travellers will have the option to spend a few days exploring Calgary itself or using the city as a gateway to destinations such as Banff or Jasper National Parks. The booking structure will also be straightforward, since the stopover and onward flights all remain under a single reservation and confirmation code.
Booking a Calgary stopover can be done through WestJet’s multi-city booking tool. From there, they can add Calgary as an intentional stop between the origin and final destination while selecting dates for either side of the stay. The entire itinerary is then ticketed under a single reservation.
WestJet Calgary Stopover Program – Provisions and Exclusions
The stopover program applies only to WestJet-operated flights, meaning codeshare and interline itineraries are excluded. Any changes to multi-city itineraries must be handled through the WestJet Contact Centre, although cancellations can still be managed online through WestJet’s Manage Trips portal.
For Europe itineraries, travellers may book a stopover of up to seven days in the Canadian gateway city. The gateway city refers to the final Canadian city before departing for Europe or the first Canadian city upon returning from Europe. Importantly, the stopover must align with a valid WestJet connection and cannot be created through an arbitrary break in the itinerary.
The Asia stopover rules are more flexible. Travellers flying to or from Asia may book up to two stopovers in each direction, and these stopovers can occur in any city. Each stopover may last up to 21 days, provided it is built around a valid WestJet connection.
Takeaway
For travellers who already connect through Calgary on international itineraries, the new stopover program introduces additional flexibility with relatively few downsides. The ability to add several days in Alberta without additional stopover fees may encourage more travellers to intentionally schedule time in Calgary rather than simply passing through. Whether used to explore the city itself, visit the Rockies, or simply break up a long-haul journey, the program gives travellers another tool to build more flexible itineraries within the WestJet network.
Featured Image Credit: WestJet
