WestJet announced Monday it will charge passengers a $25 fee for their first checked bag on economy fares.

The fee will apply to flights within Canada, and between Canada and the U.S.

The new fee will apply to bookings made as of Sept. 15 for travel on, or after, Oct. 29, 2014 and will be subject to provincial tax, meaning it could reach a total of $29.50 in some provinces.

The company said the new fee will affect approximately one in five WestJet passengers.

David Duval is the director of the University of Manitoba's Transport Institute. He said he is somewhat sympathetic to airlines because are dealing with razor thin profit margin because people are always looking for the cheapest ticket.

Winnipeg professional organizer Brenda Raill said packing a carry-on works well for short trips, but packing a carry-on for a week-long trip would be challenging for some.

She said it is especially hard for people to pack some things like shampoo and other products that contain liquid.

She said, however, people can find ways to pack a carry-on for a week's trip.