Budget airline's changes to plane seats raise concerns as passenger shares footage of family barely able to fit into the space
A family has shared footage of their tight squeeze on a recent flight - prompting social media users to call out the Canadian airline over its 'illegal' seat design.On 26 December, Amanda Schmidt, alongside her father and mother, boarded a WestJet flight from Edmonton to Toronto, en route to the Dominican Republic. A video shared to Reddit shows the passenger and his wife struggling to sit comfortably in their ultra-basic economy seats, which were non-reclining. The Redditor declared: 'WestJet changed their seats, and this is how much leg room basic fares get.' Designed as a 'no frills' option, WestJet first introduced its UltraBasic fare - the airline's lowest priced option - in 2024 for budget-conscious customers who are able to 'tailor a travel experience that meets their needs.'Though 'ultra-basic' passengers are the last to board the plane and are not permitted a carry-on bag, they can, however, choose to add certain extras like reserving a seat in advance or adding a checked bag. One-way tickets for journeys across the United States start at $300 (around £223), according to WestJet's website. In the footage, captured by the couple's daughter, the pair can be seen in a visibly cramped position with their knees unable to stretch out under the seat in front. A family has shared footage of their tight squeeze while seated on a recent WestJet (pictured) flight in December 2025 Amanda Schmidt had been travelling with her father Manfred Schmidt and his wife (pictured), who can be seen visibly cramped in their UltraBasic seats Amanda Schmidt had been travelling with her father Manfred Schmidt and his wife (pictured), who can be seen visibly cramped in their UltraBasic seatsIn the clip, Amanda asked her father if he was able to stretch out his legs, to which he replied, 'It's impossible to straighten out my knees to the front'.Her mother claimed to be even more cramped, as she remarked, 'Well I'm going to be sharing my leg space with him'. A bewildered Amanda quipped: 'New planes... you have to pay for the other leg.' Social media users also chimed in with their thoughts, as one said: 'Seat's a coffin, price is a joke. WestJet's lost the plot.' Another wrote: 'WHAT!? I have more seating area in my Mini Cooper. I'd have an anxiety attack!' while a third added, 'There is not even enough room to brace yourself for impact if something goes wrong'.Some questioned the legality of the aircraft's seat design, as one wrote: 'This should be illegal. This is opposite of safe flying', while another added, 'This is safe? It should be made illegal.'Another shared: 'People discovering WestJet’s new economy seats with 28-inch pitch, 2 inches less than before. 'WestJet charges full service carrier pricing with low cost carrier amenities, legroom and service and hidden fees everywhere. Awful.' After asking her father whether he was able to stretch out his legs, Mr Schmidt said to his daughter: 'It's impossible to straighten out my knees to the front' Amanda's mother claimed to be even more cramped, as she added, 'Well I'm going to be sharing my leg space with him'But some viewers were less empathetic, as one person quizzed: 'Why would you buy budget seats on a budget airline then complain?' Another said: 'The only way to stop the pain is to refuse to board the plane. If you can’t drive to a place, don't go. They need coach passengers to fill up the planes.' A third suggested: 'Why don't they at least make the seats higher then? Bar height seats would at least give more legroom. 'Still wouldn't be very comfortable but maybe better than that.'The Daily Mail has contacted WestJet for comment.
