A couple from Regina is vowing never to fly with WestJet again after a recent flight from Mexico left them feeling unsafe and physically uncomfortable due to the airline's newly reconfigured seating.
A Five-Hour Ordeal Sparks Outrage
Lindsay and Robert Noble returned to Regina from Cancun on January 7 aboard a WestJet Boeing 737 with the carrier's updated cabin layout. The experience was so distressing that Lindsay Noble posted a video on social media showing her six-foot-four husband crammed into his window seat. "This seat design was something that I wouldn't have been able to protect myself in, let alone my husband," Lindsay stated, expressing her fear that the tight space would prevent proper bracing during an emergency.
She described how difficult it would have been to assume the recommended safety position. Her husband's situation was even more extreme, with his knees pressed firmly against the seatback in front of him for the entire five-hour journey. "Had we hit some nasty turbulence or something, he was cracking his knees on those metal bars," she said, noting his previous ACL injury added to her concern.
The New Configuration: Less Space, No Recline
The issue stems from a fleet-wide change WestJet implemented in October 2025. The Calgary-based airline introduced a "new seat configuration" on 43 of its Boeing 737 aircraft, which reduces the seat pitch—the distance from one seatback to the next. In some cases, this measurement has been trimmed to as little as 28 inches, down from the typical standard economy pitch of around 30 inches shown on the company's website.
Lindsay Noble reported that when they booked their tickets, they were not explicitly warned about the significantly reduced legroom or the fact that the new seats do not recline. The configuration is only indicated online by the phrase "economy seats only." She submitted a formal complaint to WestJet but had not received a response by the following Monday. The Regina Leader-Post also sought comment from the airline but received none by Tuesday afternoon.
A Broader Fear About Passenger Safety
For the Nobles, the problem extends beyond personal discomfort to a fundamental question of airline accountability and passenger safety standards. Lindsay voiced a critical worry shared by many travelers: "If we don't say something now, what's stopping them from tweaking this further in the future to make us take even worse precautions or lessen our safety on these flights?"
She expressed surprise that a 28-inch pitch meets Transport Canada's safety requirements and is calling on WestJet to revert to its previous seat layout, especially for longer-haul flights. Robert Noble experienced claustrophobia and anxiety during the trip, compounded by the lack of personal space.
The couple's experience has led to a complete shift in allegiance. Lindsay, who is five-foot-four, estimated she had only about an inch of space between her knees and the seat ahead in her middle seat. Their cramped journey from a sunny vacation destination back to a Saskatchewan winter has resulted in a firm resolution: they will not be booking with WestJet in the future.
