WestJet Cabin Crew
Calgary's friendly challenger, growing into widebody flying — but Canadian cabin crew pay starts painfully low.
Entry · per month
$1,800–2,500
Rank 33 of 59 for entry pay
Senior · per month
$3,500–4,800
+93% to senior
Tax-free
— No
Not provided
Crew rating
6.6 / 10
Crew score rank 41 of 59
Overview
WestJet grew from a five-plane Calgary startup in 1996 into Canada's second airline, and under Onex ownership it has repositioned as a Calgary-hub carrier concentrating growth in Western Canada with Boeing 737s, 787 Dreamliners to Europe and Asia-adjacent leisure markets, and a large sun-destination network to Mexico and the Caribbean. Cabin crew bases sit in Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver, with Calgary overwhelmingly the center of gravity — applicants unwilling to live in or commute to Alberta should think carefully before applying.
The pay conversation at WestJet mirrors the national one. Crew unionized with CUPE in 2018, ending the founder-era 'owners' culture of profit-share-instead-of-union, and the union's 'Unpaid Work Won't Fly' campaign has targeted the same boarding-pay and low-wage grievances that drove the Air Canada strike. Starting pay is among the lowest of any airline in this guide — junior crew on reserve in Calgary commonly report needing roommates or second incomes — while top-of-scale narrowbody crew reach a livable but unspectacular wage. Contract cycles through the late 2020s are expected to chase the ground-pay precedent Air Canada's crew set in 2025.
What WestJet genuinely offers is culture, growth and geography. The airline still runs warmer and less bureaucratic than a legacy, the 787 expansion has opened Rome, Paris, Barcelona, Tokyo-adjacent and Dublin-style layovers to a workforce that a decade ago flew only 737s, and Calgary is one of North America's more affordable major crew bases — a real advantage over Toronto or Vancouver-based competitors. For Western Canadians especially, it is the accessible route into aviation, with hiring windows opening several times a year and a selection process that screens hard for friendliness over polish.
Salary
Paid in CAD with hourly flight-pay rates that start near the bottom of the North American scale; per diems on layovers and 787 international premiums help, and CUPE's current bargaining push targets boarding/ground pay following Air Canada's 2025 precedent.
Estimates in USD compiled from public sources and crew reports; actual offers vary. Compare all airlines →
Requirements
Minimum age
18
Height / reach
No published minimum
Education
High school diploma.
Languages
Fluent English; French, Spanish and other languages are advantages for sun destinations and European flying.
Tattoo policy
Small tattoos not visible in uniform, or modest visible pieces within policy limits; nothing on face, neck or hands.
Also required
Canadian citizenship or permanent residency, valid passport with unrestricted travel to the US and sun destinations, Transport Canada security clearance, and ability to swim.
Do you meet the requirements at WestJet?
Check your age, reach, tattoos, languages and documents against WestJet and every other airline in the index — two minutes, no sign-up.
See how these compare industry-wide on the requirements comparison page.
Base & accommodation
Calgary · Not provided
No housing support, but Calgary's cost of living is meaningfully lower than Toronto or Vancouver, which softens the low junior pay more than at any other Canadian base.
Roster & layovers
Roster style
Seniority-based bidding with reserve blocks for new hires; the network mixes multi-leg domestic days, sun-destination turns and, for senior crew, 787 widebody pairings. Reserve in Calgary is typically shorter than at Air Canada's big bases.
Layovers
Short Canadian and US overnights plus Mexico and Caribbean layovers of 12–24 hours; the 787 network adds 24-hour European layovers (Rome, Paris, Barcelona, Dublin, Edinburgh) that were unthinkable at WestJet a decade ago.
Benefits beyond the paycheck
- ★Profit-sharing program surviving from the founder-era 'owners' culture
- ★Free standby travel on WestJet plus interline agreements with partner airlines
- ★Employee share purchase plan with company matching
- ★Extended health and dental benefits on top of provincial healthcare
- ★Calgary base affordability — the best pay-to-rent ratio of any major Canadian crew base
- ★787 international flying accessible at far lower seniority than at legacy carriers
How to apply, step by step
- 01
Apply online during a posted hiring window on the WestJet careers site.
- 02
Complete an online assessment and recorded video interview.
- 03
Attend a group assessment day in Calgary with team exercises and a panel interview.
- 04
Receive a conditional offer, then clear Transport Canada security clearance, background and medical checks.
- 05
Complete ~5 weeks of initial training in Calgary and start on reserve at your assigned base.
Career progression
Crew rating
Why crew love it
- +Friendliest major-airline culture in Canada with an accessible hiring bar
- +Calgary's low living costs stretch a junior paycheck further than any big Canadian city
- +787 growth means European layovers at low seniority
- +CUPE representation with momentum from the Air Canada ground-pay precedent
Watch out for
- −Starting pay is among the lowest of any airline in this guide
- −Career ceiling and network breadth trail Air Canada significantly
- −Calgary-centric strategy limits base choice for eastern Canadians
Frequently asked questions
How much do WestJet flight attendants make?
Junior crew take home roughly CAD 2,400–3,400 (about USD 1,800–2,500) monthly including per diems, among the lowest starting pay in North American aviation. Senior crew reach about USD 3,500–4,800, with CUPE bargaining pushing for ground pay and higher scales.
Where are WestJet flight attendants based?
Calgary is by far the main base, with smaller crew bases in Toronto and Vancouver. WestJet's strategy concentrates growth on Calgary, so new hires should expect and plan for Alberta.
Is WestJet cabin crew unionized?
Yes — WestJet cabin crew voted to join CUPE in 2018, ending the airline's non-union founder era. The union's 'Unpaid Work Won't Fly' campaign is pursuing boarding pay and wage gains following the precedent Air Canada crew set with their 2025 strike.
Hiring status
Hiring windows open several times a year, centered on Calgary base; French and Spanish speakers and candidates already living in Alberta clear screening fastest.
Compare with other North America airlines
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Preparing to apply? Start with our step-by-step hiring roadmap and interview question bank.