Restricted and prohibited items

Some items may be restricted or not accepted for air travel. Before you pack, check whether your item can travel in  carry-on baggage, checked baggage, or must stay with you during the flight. Items that are damaged, leaking, swollen, defective, recalled, improperly packed, or cannot be safely identified may be refused. 

General dangerous goods

  1. Some everyday items may contain compressed gas, flammable material, dry ice, alcohol, fuel, chemicals or other regulated materials. These items may be limited, require approval, or may not be accepted. 

    The examples below are not a complete list. Security screening rules and destination requirements may also apply. 

  1. Alcoholic beverages

    Carry-on baggage: Yes 

    Checked baggage: Yes 

    What guests need to know: May be accepted when in retail packaging and within permitted alcohol content and quantity limits. 

  2. Ammunition

    Carry-on baggage: No 

    Checked baggage: Yes 

    What guests need to know: May be accepted in checked baggage only when securely packaged, declared and within permitted limits. Approval is required. 

  3. Dry ice

    Carry-on baggage: Yes 

    Checked baggage: Yes 

    What guests need to know: May be accepted when used to keep perishables cold, if package and quantity requirements are met. Approval may be required.

  4. Lighters and matches

    Carry-on baggage: On person only

    Checked baggage: No

    What guests need to know: Only certain small personal-use lighters or safety matches may be carried, and only as permitted. Fuel, lighter refills and prohibited lighter types are not accepted.

  5. Aerosols and toiletries

    Carry-on baggage: Yes, subject to security limits

    Checked baggage: Yes

    What guests need to know: Medicinal or toiletry aerosols may be accepted in limited quantities. Aerosol release valves must be protected from accidental release.

  6. Camping equipment and fuel containers

    Carry-on baggage: No

    Checked baggage: Case-by-case

    What guests need to know: Camping stoves or fuel containers may be accepted only when prepared so no fuel hazard remains. Fuel, gas refills and flammable liquids are not accepted. 

  7. Items not accepted

    Carry-on baggage: No 

    Checked baggage: No 

    What guests need to know: Fireworks, bear spray, mace, pepper spray, fuel, lighter refills, gas refills, corrosive cleaners, toxic substances and other dangerous goods not permitted by WestJet are not accepted. 

Rechargeable battery-powered devices

  1. Rechargeable batteries and devices are common travel items such as phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, smart bags, power banks and e-cigarettes. These items must be packed correctly so they can be accessed quickly if needed. 

    Whenever possible, pack rechargeable devices in carry-on baggage. If a permitted device is placed in checked baggage, it must be fully powered off and protected from damage or accidental activation. 

  1. Personal electronic devices

    Carry-on baggage: Yes 

    Checked baggage: No 

    What guests need to know: Examples include phones, laptops, tablets, cameras and similar rechargeable devices. If checked, the battery must be removed from the device and carried in a carry-on bag. 

  2. Power banks / portable chargers

    Carry-on baggage: Yes 

    Checked baggage: No 

    What guests need to know: Must be carried on your person and kept accessible (ex. In a seat pocket). Not permitted in checked baggage or overhead bins.

    Maximum one per guest.

  3. Vapes / e-cigarettes

    Carry-on baggage: Yes 

    Checked baggage: No 

    What guests need to know: Must be carried on your person and kept accessible (ex. In a seat pocket). Not permitted in checked baggage or overhead bins. Use and charging onboard are not permitted.

    Maximum one per guest.

  4. Smart bags

    Carry-on baggage: Yes 

    Checked baggage: No, see below for exception

    What guests need to know: If the bag is planned to be checked, the rechargeable battery must be removed and carried in the cabin. Smart bags with non-removable rechargeable batteries must be approved by WestJet in advance of travel.

  5. Rechargeable personal hygiene items

    Carry-on baggage: Yes 

    Checked baggage: Yes

    What guests need to know: Items such as electric toothbrushes and shavers may be accepted when batteries are installed if the item is protected from accidental activation and damage.

  6. Damaged, swollen or recalled devices

    Carry-on baggage: No

    Checked baggage: No

    What guests need to know: Damaged, defective, swollen, leaking or recalled batteries and devices containing these batteries are not permitted.

  7. Onboard charging note

    Charging a power bank onboard aircraft is not permitted. Using a power bank to charge another device is not permitted when onboard power is available.

Spare or loose batteries

  1. Spare or loose batteries must be packed carefully to prevent short circuits, damage, overheating or accidental activation. 

  1. Spare lithium batteries up to 100 Wh

    Carry-on baggage: Yes 

    Checked baggage: No 

    What guests need to know: May be carried in carry-on baggage when individually protected from short circuit. 

  2. Spare lithium batteries over 100 Wh up to 160 Wh

    Carry-on baggage: Yes 

    Checked baggage: No

    What guests need to know: Require WestJet approval. A maximum of two spare batteries in this range may be carried per guest.

  3. Spare lithium batteries over 160 Wh

    Carry-on baggage: No 

    Checked baggage: No

    What guests need to know: Not permitted unless another specific WestJet provision applies.

  4. Small consumer batteries

    Carry-on baggage: Yes 

    Checked baggage: Yes, if permitted and protected 

    What guests need to know: Common consumer batteries such as alkaline or nickel metal hydride batteries may be accepted when protected from short circuit and appropriately packed (ex. In retail packaging). In all cases, consumer lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries are not permitted in checked baggage. 

  5. Rechargeable Batteries removed from a device

    Carry-on baggage: Yes 

    Checked baggage: No

    What guests need to know: Removed batteries must be protected from short circuit and damage and must be carried in carry-on baggage.

  1. How to protect spare batteries:

    Protect batteries by keeping them in original packaging, taping exposed terminals, or placing each battery in a separate protective pouch, case or plastic bag. 

  2. Watt-hour tip:

    Watt-hour information for lithium-ion batteries can typically be found in the products owner or user manual, or by searching the web. For individual or loose lithium-ion batteries, the Watt-hour rating may be printed or stamped on the battery itself. If not present as described, Watt-hours can be calculated by multiplying the indicated Voltage(V) by amp-hours(Ah). (If in milliamp-hours, divide by 1,000 first to convert to amp-hours)

Battery-powered mobility aids and Personal transportation devices

  1. Battery powered mobility aids may be accepted when WestJet can confirm the battery type, how the battery is installed, whether it can be removed, and how the device is protected for travel. All mobility devices must be inspected and approved prior to its loading.

To help prevent delays, guest travelling with battery powered wheelchair, scooter or any mobility aid are strongly encouraged to contact WestJet before travel.  

Guests Should Be ready to confirm:  

  • The battery type; 
  • The battery power rating; 
  • Whether the battery can be removed; 
  • *Weather manufacturer provided tools are needed to remove the battery (tools must be provided if required) 

If this information is not already on the reservation, guest must be able to provide it to a WestJet airport representative before departure 

*Guests requiring assistance with battery removal must be able to clearly instruct WestJet staff in accordance with the manufacturer-approved removal procedure. 

  1. Lithium battery installed or integrated into a mobility aid

    Carry-on baggage: Case-by-case 

    Checked baggage: Yes  

    What guests need to know: If lithium battery remains installed in the mobility aid, or is not designed to be removed, the device must be protected from accidentally turning on (such as removing a key, disconnecting control unit etc.). The battery must also be secured and protected from damage and short circuit. 

  2. Lithium battery powered mobility aid with a removeable battery

    Carry-on baggage: Case-by-case 

    Checked baggage: Yes, Mobility aid only

    What guests need to know: If lithium battery is designed by the manufacturer to be removed (without the use of tools), it may be required to be removed before the mobility aid is checked. Remove lithium batteries must be protected from damage and short circuit and must travel in the cabin.

  3. Non-spillable, dry or gel battery mobility aid

    Carry-on baggage: No

    Checked baggage: Yes  

    What guests need to know: May be accepted when the battery is secured and protected from damage and the device is protected from unintentional activation during transport. If the battery designed by the manufacturer to be removed (without the use of tools), it must be protected from short circuit and packed to prevent damage.

  4. Spillable wet battery mobility aid

    Carry-on baggage: No

    Checked baggage: Yes  

    What guests need to know: Spillable battery mobility aids may be accepted only when the battery is securely attached, protected from short circuit, and the mobility aid can stay upright while being loaded, stored, secured and unloaded. If mobility aid cannot stay upright, the battery must be removed and packed separately.

  5. Hoverboards, e-scooters and balance boards

    Carry-on baggage: No

    Checked baggage: No 

    What guests need to know: Small battery-powered personal transportation devices that are not intended to provide mobility aid are not accepted as passenger baggage.

Help with restricted and prohibited items

If you are not sure whether your item is allowed, contact WestJet before traveling. Final acceptance is determined at the airport based on the item, its condition, battery type, whether the battery can be removed, how it is packed, and applicable travel requirements. 

Contact us