Baggage

One medically required wheelchair, per guest, will be carried at no extra charge.
The device must be transported in the cargo compartment.

Braces, crutches, walkers and canes, along with other assistive devices, will also be permitted free of charge.

Lap-held infant

Two pieces of child/infant equipment (infant restraint system, playpen or stroller) are permitted at no charge and can be checked at the gate as you board. No substitutions, e.g. a wagon or stroller wagon, are permitted.

Fare-paying child/infant

One piece of child/infant equipment (approved restraint system (car seat), playpen or stroller) will be permitted at no charge in addition to the checked baggage allowance for the fare class booked. No substitutions, e.g. a wagon or stroller wagon, are permitted.

WestJet only allows infant and child restraint systems approved by Transport Canada or the Federal Aviation Administration to be used on board the aircraft. For details on non-acceptable and acceptable infant and child restraint systems, please see approved restraint systems (car seats).

Equipment must meet the requirements for air travel and is subject to restrictions based on your destination.

The maximum length accepted for checked baggage is 9.8 Feet.

If your itinerary includes an international flight operated by one of our partner airlines, you must contact the other airline a minimum of 72 hours in advance of your travel.

WestJet will review requests for one piece of checked baggage containing humanitarian aid (departing Canada) or return of one rescue animal (to Canada) per guest.

We recommend that whenever your medical equipment fits within the carry-on baggage dimensions you take it as carry-on baggage. Medication should be packed in your personal item.  Although we do not charge a fee for medical equipment, most portable medical devices (PMEDs) must be approved for air travel as they contain batteries which are classified as dangerous goods.

Please review the Medical equipment and medication page well in advance of when you intend to travel to be sure these items arrive safely.

WestJet waives checked baggage fee(s)* for active or veteran Canadian military personnel.
* Note: To have your checked baggage fee(s) waived, WestJet must be the marketing and operating carrier on the entire journey.
Any military personnel travelling for business or personal reasons can do so with a maximum of four bags on WestJet flights and a maximum of three bags on WestJet Encore flights at no additional charge.

We will not charge overweight and/or oversized checked baggage fee(s), fee(s) for military personnel; however, checked baggage exceeding our maximum permitted size or weight will not be accepted as guest checked baggage and must be shipped via cargo (all applicable fees apply).

Please be aware of the following military identification we accept, and what you must produce before you board your flight:

• A CFOne card with "CF" or "V"
• Certificate of Service (CF 54 or CF 75) from any branch of the Canadian military
• Discharge certificate from any branch of the Canadian military
• DND ID card for National Defense (NDI 20)
• Record of Service Card (NDI 75)
• Statement of Service from any branch of the Canadian military
• Valid DND temporary ID card (NDI 10)
• National Association of Federal Retirees with “Canadian Armed Forces Veteran” stated on the card.

WestJet also waives the baggage fees* for active military personnel from other countries who show valid military identification.
This exemption does not extend to:

• Current Department of National Defence (DND) public servants and their families
• Serving and former Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and their families
• Other members of first-response agencies, peace officers, etc.
• Current staff of Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) and their families
• Current staff of Defence Construction Canada (DCC) and their families
• Current staff of Communications Securities Establishment (CSE) and their families
• Honourary Colonels/Captains(N), Lieutenant Colonels/Commanders and their families
• Former Staff of the Non-Public Funds, Canadian Forces with a pension and their families
• Former Staff of Department of National Defence (DND) with a pension and their families
• Family members of the Staff of the Non-Public Funds (NPF), Canadian Forces (CF)
• Family members of the Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC)
  

Small musical instruments

Instruments that fit in an overhead bin or under the seat in front can be taken in the cabin for your flight as a carry-on item. In addition to your instrument, you will be able to bring one personal item. Guests who booked an UltraBasic fare are permitted to bring an instrument as their one (1) personal item provided it meets the personal item size requirements outlined below. 

Maximum size for carry-on bag: 53 cm x 23 cm x 38 cm (21 in. x 9 in. x 15 in.) 
Maximum size for personal item: 41 cm x 15 cm x 33 cm (16 in. x 6 in. x 13 in.) 

During the flight, your instrument must remain stowed in the overhead bin, under the seat or in other approved locations. Seats cannot be purchased for instruments.

The cabin crew may accept an irregular-sized musical instrument in the cabin and carry-on baggage is subject to space limitations, so come prepared to check your instrument if necessary.

Checking your musical instrument

You may need to check instruments that do not fit in the cabin, WestJet strongly recommends that musical instruments be in a hard-sided case and checked baggage fees will apply.

Baggage fees are charged based on fare bundle and WestJet Rewards benefits.
Your cello or xylophone may be subject to excess, overweight or oversize baggage fees.

In the event of an aircraft downgrade

Sometimes with delays due to weather or unexpected maintenance, we need to do a little juggling. So, it’s possible that the plane that you booked is not the plane you will board. When this happens and you’re on a smaller plane, we’ll provide you with options if there is not sufficient space to stow your instrument in the cabin.

Taking a guitar with you?

You will need to loosen the strings on your guitar or cello—or any stringed instrument—before you travel to reduce the risk of the headstock cracking or snapping off with the changes in temperature and pressure of air travel.

Flying with a WestJet partner?

Musical instrument policies can be different between airlines. So, if you’re travelling on a flight operated by any carrier other than WestJet, we recommend that you visit the airline’s website to learn about their policies, fees and terms and conditions of carriage.

Sporting equipment is subject to all applicable baggage fees. Fees are combinable where applicable - if an item is overweight, oversized and a second item, all three fees apply. A handling fee of $50-59 CAD will be charged on firearms and select sporting equipment per direction of travel.

Additional special items include:

• Alcohol    
• Camera film
• Electrical devices
• Identification
• Jewelry
• Keys
• Seafood and perishable items
• Souvenirs
• Wedding attire
• Wrapped item 
  

We strongly recommend that you check your "special" item against the Canadian Air Transport Security Agency's (CATSA) "What Can I Bring?" search tool.