WestJet has expanded its partnership with Germany’s Condor Airlines in a pact that makes it easier for British Columbians in many cities outside Metro Vancouver to fly to Germany.
“The main benefits of a codeshare, or interline agreement, involve one itinerary, as opposed to two, and being able to check baggage all the way through to your final destination,” WestJet spokesman Robert Palmer explained to Business in Vancouver.
“Another benefit is the assurance that the timing of connecting flights will work – which is a huge deal if you’ve ever tried to book connecting flights separately.”
There is unlikely to be any change in flight pricing as a result of this agreement, he said.
Condor is based in Frankfurt, Germany, and carries about seven million passengers annually between 75 destinations. Its Canadian gateways are Vancouver, Whitehorse, Calgary, Toronto and Halifax.
Beginning in early May 2015, travellers will be able to fly on WestJet planes to Condor’s Canadian gateway cities, where they would then board a Condor flight using the same itinerary.
That means, for example, that a traveller in Kelowna could fly on a WestJet plane to Vancouver and transfer to a Condor flight to Frankfurt and have their bags sent all the way through. That traveller would also have the peace of mind that they will be able to catch their connecting flight, or be compensated, because the flight is all on the same itinerary.
On days when Condor does not fly out of Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Vancouver passengers will be able to fly WestJet to Calgary and then transfer to a Condor flight all on one itinerary.
