Intégration de Sunwing Airlines à WestJet le 29 mai: ce que les pros doivent savoir
- Passion Varadero
- Apr 15
- 5 min read
SunwingAirlines to join WestJet on May 29: what pros need to know will take place on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. From the following day, the company will be fully integrated into WestJet Airlines. No surprise here: this integration was announced when the WestJet group acquired all of Sunwing's North American operations .
Nevertheless, this change will not be merely cosmetic: it will have very tangible effects for travel consultants and their customers.
But what exactly?
Sunwing Vacations Group's Vice President, Quebec , Lyne Chayer, met with industry media to provide an update.
"We realize that travel consultants still have a lot of questions about integration," agreed Ms. Chayer.
One thing never changes: Sunwing Vacations stays!
One of the most frequently asked questions is "Is Sunwing Vacations disappearing?" Lyne Chayer's answer is categorical: no.
"Sunwing Vacations remains," she says. The tour operator remains, with its privileged partnerships with the RIU and Blue Diamond chains. Vacances WestJet Québec, which was launched last May, also remains, as do its preferred partnerships with Bahia Principe and Barcelo.
Both tour operators are managed by the same team in Laval. Their customers fly on the same aircraft and are greeted at destination by Nexus. In short, there are no changes.
And while some may have thought that Sunwing Vacations was withdrawing from Quebec City due to the closure of the YQBbase , Lyne Chayer would like to make it clear that this is not the case.
The Sunwing Vacations Group continues to offer vacation packages from Montreal and Quebec City year-round, as well as seasonal service from Saguenay-Bagotville during the winter season.
One change: SWG booking with WestJet PNR
Lyne Chayer nevertheless points out an important integration-related change at the passenger check-in stage: a PNR code will now be required for check-in. This change stems from the fact that flights will now be operated by a scheduled airline - present in the GDS - rather than by charter.
The PNR code will be required for online check-in, 24 hours before departure, on the WestJet website or app. Passengers will have three opportunities to obtain this code:
Five days before departure, it will be available in the My Reservationsportal of Sunwing Vacations and WestJet Vacations Quebec.
Seventy-two hours before departure, WestJet will send a " Be ready to travel" email containing the PNR code to the passenger or their travel consultant.
Finally, a check-in reminder, again including the code, will be sent 24 hours before departure.
"This code is only required at the check-in stage, and not at stages such as seat selection or adding baggage," says Lyne Chayer.
She adds that passengers who don't know their PNR code will have to check in at a counter - the WestJet Airlines one, of course, since Sunwing Airlines counters will disappear!
One thing that's changing: baggage allowance
As of May 29, baggage and seat selection rules will be harmonized with those of WestJet. "We're reversing the current offer," says Lyne Chayer.
At present, the purchase of a package includes free checked baggage (up to 23 kg), while hand baggage is charged. As of integration, it will be the other way around: one personal item and one carry-on bag will be included free of charge, while checked baggage will become chargeable.
Fees will vary depending on when the bag is added to the reservation:-35 + taxes if the bag is checked in well in advance,- $45 if it is added 24 hours before departure,- $55 if it is checked in at the WestJet airport counter.
To encourage bookings made well in advance, Sunwing Vacation Group is offering free baggage check-in if the booking is made before the 1st of the month for a departure scheduled in two months or more. This promotion is in effect until at least the beginning of 2026," explains Lyne Chayer.
For groups, no change: checked baggage remains included, since group bookings are always made at least 60 days before departure.
One thing that's changing: in-flight services
As of May 29, on-board service on flights operated by WestJet Airlines will differ in some respects from that of Sunwing Airlines.
Passengers will be entitled to complimentary non-alcoholic beverages (coffee, tea, soft drinks, etc.) and snacks (such as pretzels or cookies). Additional food and beverages will remain available for purchase à la carte.
On the other hand, the duty-free store and in-flight excursion sales will no longer be offered on WestJet flights. Presumably, no travel agent will regret the disappearance of the direct excursion sales service!
As for aircraft layout, Lyne Chayer points out that although WestJet's aircraft are configured like Sunwing's, the Elite Plusseating option will no longer be available as of May 29. Passengers will only be able to choose between standard seats and seats near the emergency exits, until the redevelopment is complete.
One thing that's changing: who to contact in the event of a problem
As of May 29, any problem related to air travel - flight delay or cancellation, lost or damaged baggage, etc. - will be handled by WestJet. - will be handled by WestJet.
On the other hand, Sunwing Vacations Group's customer service department will continue to deal with requests relating to the stay: accommodation, room, meals, etc. There will therefore be two separate customer services, depending on the nature of the problem.
So there will be two separate customer services, depending on the nature of the problem," explains Lyne Chayer.
Resources
Sunwing Vacations Group's VP Quebec invites advisors to take advantage of the tools available to them on the Travel Agent Portal of Sunwing Vacations and WestJet Vacations Quebec. The site features a comprehensive FAQ section , including information on Sunwing's integration into WestJet. She adds that these FAQs are constantly being improved. The portal also features a webinar section - including a brand-new webinar on integration.
In addition, Lyne Chayer reminds us that Quebec advisors can count on the good services of their BDM Gustavo Moor (gmoor@sunwing.ca) as well as those of two internal sales managers, Hélène Brault (hbrault@sunwing.ca) and Cynthia Gasbarrino (cgasbarrino@sunwing.ca).
Good to know!
● Since Sunwing Vacations' summer runs from May 1 to October 31, some customers will fly on a Sunwing Airlines Boeing 737 on the outbound leg and on a WestJet Airlines Boeing 737 on the return leg, if their vacation straddles the May 29 date.
"They've been notified of the situation... but it shouldn't change anything for them," says Lyne Chayer. There's even a chance that the on-board staff will be the same on the outbound and inbound flights, since Sunwing Airlines' Quebec employees (around 500 pilots, co-pilots and flight attendants) will be assigned to WestJet Airlines' Quebec flights.
● Lyne Chayer mentions that aircraft in Sunwing's colors will be in operation until the end of the year, while the fleet's cabins are repainted and interiors refurbished. Nevertheless, these orange aircraft will indeed be operated under WestJet Airlines license, with WestJet staff, dressed as WestJetters are.
● Lyne Chayer points out that the integration of Sunwing Airlines into WestJet Airlines goes hand in hand, in the other direction, with the integration of tour operator WestJet Vacations into the Sunwing Vacations Group. She points out that one of WestJet's goals in acquiring Sunwing was to benefit from its expertise as a tour operator and the strength of its hotel partnerships.
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