WestJet Boeing 737-700 Seat Guide (2026)

Quick specs

Premium Class

Rows 1-2 only. 2-3 layout with standard width. Row 1 is the flight deck bulkhead - extra legroom but zero recline and tray table pops from the armrest. Row 2 is the best premium choice with full recline and normal overhead bins. Priority boarding and free drinks included.

Economy Class

Rows 3-20 in a 2-3 layout. Row 11 is the exit row with immovable armrests and no recline - skip it regardless of price. Rows 18-20 are the last three rows and suffer from galley noise, lavatory odors, and zero recline on row 20. The acoustic sweet spot is rows 5-8, well clear of cockpit noise and rear turbulence. Middle seats (C on 2-3 rows) are slightly narrower due to armrest positioning.

Best seats

Seats to avoid

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⚡ Power & Connectivity Reality Check

WestJet's 737-700 fleet offers minimal power infrastructure. USB ports are not standard on any seat, and AC outlets are entirely absent. A handful of aircraft in the fleet may have USB charging at select bulkhead or exit row seats, but availability is inconsistent and fleet-wide rollout has stalled. Do not rely on onboard charging; bring a fully charged portable battery pack rated for at least two full phone cycles.

Entertainment is seatback IFE screens on most 737-700 aircraft, though some newer deliveries are transitioning to the WestJet mobile app for streaming to personal devices—check your booking confirmation or call ahead to confirm. The seatback system offers a modest library of movies, TV shows, and moving maps, with inconsistent content updates between aircraft.

WiFi Provider: WestJet uses Viasat satellite connectivity on this aircraft type. Real-world speeds on domestic routes (Toronto–Vancouver, Calgary–Ottawa) average 2–4 Mbps download, 0.5–1 Mbps upload—adequate for email and messaging, frustratingly slow for video streaming. Connection drops are common during climb and descent. Bluetooth audio pairing is not available on 737-700 seatback systems; you must use the headphone jack or bring wired headphones.

🧳 Overhead Bin Strategy

The 737-700's overhead bins are notably smaller than those on WestJet's 737-800 and MAX 8 aircraft—a legacy of earlier-generation narrow-body design. Forward bins (rows 1–8) are marginally roomier but still tight; aft bins (rows 15–25) compress significantly due to fuselage taper. Expect bins to reach capacity 30–45 minutes before departure on peak routes.

Gate-Check Likelihood: On full flights during peak hours (7–9 AM, 4–6 PM departures) from Vancouver, Calgary, or Toronto, gate-checking is nearly certain if you board in Groups 3–5. Busy Friday/Sunday flights routinely gate-check 15–20% of carry-on bags.

Overhead Space Guarantee: Only rows 1–5 (First Class and premium cabin customers) are reliably assured overhead bin access directly above their seats. Economy passengers in rows 7–10 who board in Group 1–2 will find space; rows 12+ should expect to stow 4–6 rows forward or accept gate-checking.

Luggage Fit Test: A standard 22-inch roller bag (56 cm) fits wheels-in in forward bins but requires sideways insertion in mid-to-aft rows. Anything larger than 22 inches will not fit wheels-first; you'll need to rotate it. Soft-sided bags compress better than hard shells—consider fabric luggage for 737-700 flights.

🏃 Boarding & Exit Strategy

WestJet Boarding Groups (737-700):

• Group 1 (Priority): First Class, Altitude Elite members (Diamond, Platinum, Gold), plus passengers with mobility assistance.

• Group 2 (Plus): WestJet Plus (premium economy) passengers, Altitude Silver members, and families with children under 2.

• Groups 3–5 (General): Assigned by row, back-to-front (rows 20–25, then 14–19, then 7–13, then 1–6). Each group includes roughly 5–7 rows.

Early Boarding Eligibility: To board in Group 1 or 2 without elite status, you must either purchase WestJet Plus fare (+$30–50 depending on route) or hold Altitude Silver status (12+ segments per year or $3,000+ annual spend). General passengers enter one of the five standard groups based on seat assignment.

Gate Arrival Strategy: Arrive at the gate 45 minutes before departure on regional routes, 60+ minutes on cross-country flights. Groups 1–2 typically board 30–35 minutes pre-departure; if you're in Group 3, plan to board 15–25 minutes pre-departure. Arriving after Group 3 has begun will land you in the overhead bin crunch.

Fastest Deplane Seats: Rows 7–10 (forward-to-mid cabin, near the front door) empty first, followed by rows 1–6 (front rows, slight delay due to volume concentration). Rows 20–25 deplane last, typically waiting 3–5 minutes while forward rows clear. Rows 18–20 experience moderate backup from the rear door if both doors are used.

Door Usage: WestJet operates both front and rear doors on this aircraft at busy hubs (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa) during peak hours. When dual-door service is active, rows 18–25 benefit from ~45-second faster deplane times. Call the airport or check WestJet's mobile app 2 hours pre-arrival to confirm door usage; it's not guaranteed and depends on ground crew availability and airport procedures.

📱 Booking Intelligence

Seat Selection Timing by Fare Class:

• Econo: Seat selection opens at online check-in (24 hours before departure). Premium seats (bulkhead, extra legroom, exit rows) are blocked until 24 hours before, then released to the highest bidder. Do not expect to select a premium seat at booking on Econo fares.

• WestJet Plus: Seat selection available at booking, plus priority access to premium seats. Exit rows and bulkhead seats unlock to Plus passengers 48 hours before departure.

• First Class: Seat selection guaranteed at booking; premium seats reserved for First Class until 12 hours pre-departure.

Premium Seat Release Pattern: Exit row seats (rows 11, 12, 19, 20 on the 737-700) are held for Altitude members and First Class until 36 hours before departure, then released to WestJet Plus passengers for a $15–25 fee, and finally to Econo passengers (if any remain unsold) at check-in. Bulkhead seats (row 1 forward cabin, row 13 aft) follow a similar 48-hour release schedule but are less frequently available.

Forward Cabin Seat Availability (Rows 2–6): On popular routes (YVR–YYJ, YYC–YEG, YYZ–YOW), preferred forward economy seats typically sell out 10–14 days before departure for weekend flights, 5–7 days for weekday flights. If your desired seat vanishes between booking and check-in, it was snatched by a Plus passenger or released to an upgrade list.

One Practical Tip: Set a calendar reminder for 24 hours and 1 minute before departure, open the WestJet app, and immediately check in and select your seat. Within 60 seconds of check-in opening, premium seats and exit rows are claimed. If you miss this window by 5 minutes, you'll be relegated to a middle seat in rows 14–18. This is non-negotiable on full flights.