Special items
There's a wide range of special items to make note of, so we've listed everything here for you. We strongly recommend that you check your "special" item against the Canadian Air Transport Security Agency's (CATSA) "What Can I Bring?" search tool. Also, if your final destination is outside of Canada, check with the agency responsible for security in the country you are travelling to.
- Duty-free alcohol purchased after you have passed through security is allowed as carry-on baggage on direct flights operated by WestJet aircraft. Non duty-free purchased alcohol must be checked on WestJet flights with transfers or connections, or when it is purchased before clearing security.
- Duty-free liquids, including duty free alcohol purchased before security and containing more than 100 ml is permitted as long as it is carried in a duty-free issued Secure Tamper-Evident Bag. Guests with transfers should be aware that the security bags are valid for a maximum of 48 hours. Purchases must be accompanied by a receipt and the security bag must not be tampered with, or opened prior to going through security at a transfer airport. While in Canada, United States, and European Union countries will accept the Secure Tamper-Evident Bag for transfers, not all airports in other countries do. Guests with transfers in other countries may still be asked to place their duty free in checked baggage or risk having the item confiscated.
- Homemade alcohol is not permitted because the alcohol content cannot be verified. Commercially produced alcohol containers are accepted as checked baggage, providing they are in their original retail packages. Beverages over 24 per cent alcohol by volume must not exceed five litres per guest. The percentage of alcohol must not exceed 70 per cent by volume. For more information, see restricted items.
Film should be packed in carry-on baggage, as screening machines for checked baggage may affect it. Film below ISO 800 won't be harmed by carry-on screening machines. However, you can request a hand inspection.
- Transmitting Portable Electronic Devices (T-PED) such as a cellular phone, entertainment/gaming device or tablet can be used as long as it's in "airplane mode". In fact, you'll need to put these items into "airplane mode" if you plan on using WestJet Connect, our inflight entertainment system.
- You may not use any AM/FM transmitter, remote-controlled toy (e.g. drone), CB radio or portable two-way radio communication device.
- Any laptop computer or electrical item will need to be removed from its carrying case at the security gate before being X-rayed.
- The following electrical devices are permitted on board: voice recorders, calculators, laptop computers, hand-held MP3 players, hand-held electronic devices, computer games and photography equipment.
All ID and travel documents (e.g.: visas, passports, driver's licenses) should be carried on your person or packed in your personal carry-on item that you will store under your seat, or in the overhead bin.
Jewelry should be packed in your personal carry-on item that you will store under your seat.
These may be carried on your person, or packed in your personal carry-on item; however, they may not hold any item that is prohibited. Please refer to the Canadian Air Transportation Security Agency's "What Can I Bring?" search tool.
For information about bringing medication on board, please see our medical equipment and medication information page.
WestJet does not accept liability for spoilage of seafood and perishable items for any reason, including delays.
WestJet will accept perishable items (including floral products, fruit, meat etc.) as part of your checked baggage and/or carry-on baggage allowance. Improperly packaged items will not be accepted for transport in carry-on, checked baggage or cargo. Live fishery products (lobster, crab, etc.) are not allowed on flights to Dublin – all products must be eviscerated, and fishery products including prepared lobsters must not exceed 20 kilograms or one fish per person.
Perishable items must meet the weight and size guidelines, and must also meet the following requirements:
- be packaged in a leak proof container (e.g. a metal or plastic cooler which can be lined with polystyrene (Styrofoam™) that is able to withstand shock, normal handling, vibration, changes in temperature and in air pressure.
- the container must be marked as "This Side Up" and "Perishable" or "Seafood"
- have a "Fragile" tag attached
- if a polystyrene (Styrofoam™) cooler contains dry ice as coolant, the cooler must be specifically designed to transport dry ice and vent carbon dioxide gas. The contents of the cooler must be in solid form, e.g. frozen.
- if the contents are liquid or the cooler is not designed to transport dry ice, your cooler will be denied transport. if the contents of the polystyrene (Styrofoam™) cooler are liquid and cooled using a method other than dry ice (e.g. gel packs), they can be accepted, but must be packaged inside a clear plastic bag to prevent spills and leaks.
- you must not package a cooler containing dry ice into a clear plastic bag, as gas will not be able to escape
Ice is not an acceptable coolant for perishable items and seafood, in carry-on or checked baggage.
Please note, polystyrene (Styrofoam™) coolers are not accepted as a carry-on container for:
- perishables or seafood if dry ice is the coolant
- seafood unless the polystyrene cooler (Styrofoam™) is inserted in an approved container, e.g. plastic
Seafood, including shellfish such as crabs, crayfish, lobsters, mussels, shrimp and ocean plant life (such as kelp) will be accepted on flights (with the exception of Dublin):
- when packed with protective padding (Styrofoam™) inserts as provided by commercial seafood retailers)
- when packed with absorbent material between the plastic bag and the inner wall of the outer packaging
- when cooked, provided it is in a sealed plastic bag before being packed
- when live, provided it is accompanied by an acceptable coolant (see above) to keep the shellfish damp during transportation
Some items made from wood, natural products or with different manufacturing standards may be restricted or confiscated. If you plan to bring souvenirs home, you should check the Government of Canada's website for "What you can bring home to Canada" to familiarize yourself with import restrictions. If your final destination is outside of Canada, please check with the agency responsible for importation of goods to ensure your item is not confiscated.
You may bring your wedding attire on board in a garment bag as your personal item, however you should be aware that there are no closets in the cabin. We recommend waiting until all other carry-on baggage has been loaded and place your wedding attire on top to avoid wrinkles or damage. We do not recommend bringing your wedding attire in checked baggage.
Any item taken onboard as carry-on must be inspected. As such, wrapped items will be opened by security screening. We recommend that you either leave your packages unwrapped or consider travelling with wrapped items in checked baggage.
Limits of liability
For domestic travel only, WestJet's maximum liability as a result of damage and/or loss is 1,288 Special Drawing Rights per bag (approximately $2,300.00 CAD). For international travel, WestJet's liability will be limited by either the Montreal Convention or the Warsaw Convention, as applicable. In most cases, the limitation amount will be 1,288 Special Drawing Rights. If you have purchased excess valuation ‑ which is available at the airport, prior to departure, for a fee ‑ the maximum liability is $3,000.00 CAD/USD (which includes the standard 1,288 SDRs).
In the event that a bag is lost, guests will be reimbursed for their baggage fee in addition to settlement for the loss of baggage.
You may wish to consider the purchase of travel insurance for items valued exceeding WestJet's maximum liability.