Introduction
Flying 8.5 hours for a convenience store egg muffin breakfast?
WestJet’s international economy serves a decent main meal, then follows up with grab-and-go quality breakfast and zero snack options for the remaining 6 hours.
Their premium economy gets business-class presentation while economy passengers get left hanging.
The WestJet Experience
WestJet operates completely different products depending on your route:
International 787 routes – Complimentary meals, drinks, and spacious modern cabins.
Domestic Canadian flights – No frills with buy-on-board options.
Calgary to Paris
The 8.5-hour Calgary to Paris flight provided a good test of their international economy product.
The cabin felt modern and well-maintained, while the crew delivered friendly service that made the journey pleasant.
Legroom was adequate for the route length.
The Food
Service began shortly after takeoff with drinks plus pretzels or cookies – a nice way to ease into meal service rather than jumping straight to the main course.
The meal offered braised chicken or vegetarian pasta. I chose the chicken, which arrived as a competent but unremarkable dish.
The meat wasn’t dry or overcooked, but it lacked flavour entirely.
The accompanying sides were similarly functional – vegetables reheated without becoming mushy and starches that filled space on the tray without adding excitement.
Think airline food that does the job without making you remember it.
I did appreciate the upgraded dessert and sustainable packaging, showing WestJet is making an effort to enhance presentation and environmental responsibility.
These small touches create a premium feel even when the core food remains average.
The Snack Gap Problem
Here’s where WestJet’s service falls apart for long-haul flights: absolutely no additional food options throughout the journey.
No galley snacks. Nothing available for purchase. No mid-flight service beyond the main meals.
Most airlines stock at least basic snacks for passengers who get hungry between services, but WestJet apparently decided two meals are sufficient regardless of timing or passenger needs.
This becomes a real problem on 8+ hour flights.
Breakfast Disappointment
About 1.5 hours before landing, breakfast consisted of an egg muffin and a drink.
That’s it – no fruit, yoghurt, or additional components that would constitute a proper meal.
The egg muffin was edible but uninspiring.
Exactly the kind of grab-and-go breakfast you’d get from a convenience store rather than an airline trying to provide satisfying service.
This felt particularly inadequate for passengers who might not have eaten in 6-7 hours.
Premium Economy
I photographed the premium economy meal service, and the difference was striking.
While economy felt light and basic, premium economy passengers got a full business-class style presentation with fresh side salad, upgraded dessert, proper glassware, elevated salt and pepper shakers, and local Quebec cheese.
The portion sizes looked significantly more satisfying, creating one of the most impressive premium economy meal presentations I’ve seen.
This proves WestJet understands how to deliver quality food service – they choose not to extend it to economy class.
Conclusion
WestJet’s international economy delivers a decent travel experience with room for improvement in catering.
The upgrades since 2020 show they’re paying attention to passenger feedback, but they need to address food quantity and variety for long-haul routes.
The premium economy meal service proves they can deliver impressive food when they invest in it.
The question is whether they’ll eventually bring some of that quality down to economy class.
If you’re flying WestJet internationally, consider the premium economy upgrade if your budget allows – the meal service alone justifies the extra cost.
Economy passengers should pack snacks to bridge the gaps between limited meal services.
Would I fly WestJet’s 787 economy again?
Yes, but I’d definitely bring backup food options for those long stretches between meals.