Advisories and requirements

• In compliance with Transport Canada regulations, to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), we require all guests to respond to a health questionnaire.
• We urge guests to respond truthfully as providing false or misleading information could result in a $5,000 fine under the Aeronautics Act.

• If you are displaying COVID-19 symptoms or feeling unwell, you cannot board a flight.
• If you have a medical condition that presents symptoms similar to those of COVID-19, you will need a doctor’s note or medical certificate that states your medical condition to board the flight.

• If you have been ordered by the provincial or territorial government or local public health to self-isolate or quarantine you will be denied boarding.
• If you are denied boarding for a domestic flight, we will rebook you to travel at least 14 days after the original date.
• Guests denied boarding for repatriation flights will not be re-accommodated. 
• To travel earlier, a valid medical certificate stating that you are not affected by the COVID-19 virus is required.

Guests travelling to/from the United States

United States Federal Law requires that guests two years of age and older must wear a non-medical mask or face covering to cover their nose, mouth and chin during travel. Failure to comply will result in denial of boarding, removal from the aircraft, and/or penalties under United States Federal Law.

Acceptable conditions to remove the mask:

• ID check during boarding
• eating or drinking on board for no more than 15 minutes
• communicating with someone hard of hearing
• using oxygen
• a guest is unconscious

Exemptions:

• Children under two
• Guests who have submitted and received approval for a special medical exemption (view/download application form here)

Guests travelling within/from Canada

Transport Canada requires that all guests, six years of age or older, have a non-medical mask or face covering to cover their nose, mouth and chin during travel. Children ages two to five are encouraged to wear a mask at all times. If a child is unable to tolerate wearing a mask, it is not mandatory, but their guardian must have a mask readily available to the child prior to the boarding process. Children under two are not required to wear a mask.

See Transport Canada’s guidance on acceptable masks and face coverings.

General guidelines for currently approved masks:

• a surgical mask or cloth mask that is made of multiple layers of tightly woven material (such as cotton or linen) and is secured to the head with ties or ear loops
  • this includes “no-sew masks” that are made using a folded scarf, bandana or piece of material and secured using elastic, hair ties or fabric ties.
• a face covering associated with religious garments, providing they cover the nose and mouth and are made of at least two layers of tightly woven fabric
• a face covering with a front clear plastic panel for lip reading if the entire mask is not made of plastic or other non-breathable material

General guidelines for masks that are currently not approved:

• contains exhalation valves (including N95 masks with exhalation valves)
• does not attach around the ears or head with loops (e.g. neck gaiter or neck warmer)
• masks made completely of plastic or other non-breathable materials (e.g. gas masks and painter’s masks)
• anything exclusively made of materials that can easily fall apart (e.g. tissue, paper towel)
• bandanas or scarves that are not folded and secured into the “no-sew” style.

When travelling by air, guests will be required to cover their mouth and nose:

• at Canadian airport screening checkpoints
• while boarding their flight
• at all times during the flight
• when instructed to by a crew member

Guests may momentarily remove their mask if they are actively eating or drinking.

Many Canadian airports have made masks mandatory in all public spaces. Please check your airport's requirements before departing.

Exemptions:

• Children under two
• Guests who have submitted and received approval for a special medical exemption (view/download application form here)

Zero tolerance mask policy

To support Transport Canada mask requirements guests who do not comply will face penalties including denied boarding and suspension of travel on any WestJet Group aircraft for up to one year. The WestJet Group includes WestJet, WestJet Encore, WestJet Link and Swoop.

Non-compliance will be managed through a three-step process:

1. Guests will first be asked to put the mask on in a discussion with cabin crew.
2. A warning (yellow card) that masks are required, and compliance is necessary.
3. A note from the captain and notification that non-compliance will result in follow-up notification that they will be placed on a no-fly list for 12 months.

Inputting the contact information for all guests on your booking is mandatory during the 24-hour check-in process online and at the kiosk.

You're no longer able to bypass the information screen, and you must input up-to-date information before a boarding pass will be issued. Guests remain responsible for providing accurate information.

Medical Exemptions
 

1.  Download the medical exemption form

Please note:

• Foreign nationals entering Canada are not eligible for a medical exemption.
• Foreign nationals travelling on a domestic flight in Canada must have supplementary medical information from a Canadian doctor. Foreign medical information will not be accepted.

2.  Submit the completed medical exemption form to the WestJet Medical Desk a minimum of 14 days before the flight.

Please note:

• You will not be able to check in for your flight until your medical exemption has been approved, and validation of your required valid molecular* COVID-19 test result has been conducted.
• Medical exemption forms will not be accepted at the airport, and exemption requests cannot be made through our call center. All requests must be directed to the WestJet Medical Desk at the email address indicated on the form. 
• The Medical Desk's hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 0800-1630 MT; requests received after hours, weekends and statutory holidays will be processed as soon as we are able if the forms are received fully completed.

If the medical exemption is approved

If the Medical Desk approves the medical exemption, the guest will receive an email confirming their exemption.

• The guest will need to submit a valid COVID-19 test to the WestJet Medical Desk prior to departure in order to utilize self-serve check-in. If you are unable to submit it in advance, it can be presented at the airport during check-in. A valid COVID-19 test can be either of the following: 
• A negative molecular* COVID-19 test result 
• This test must be performed no earlier than 72 hours prior to the scheduled departure time of the first flight of any same-day itinerary, or the first flight of any direct connecting itinerary.
• The guest will need another negative molecular* COVID-19 test for their return journey if the departure of their return trip exceeds 72 hours from the time the test was taken OR
• Proof of a previous positive test result taken between 14 and 180 days before the flight 
• Test result must include:
• Traveller name and date of birth
• Name and civic address of the laboratory/clinic/facility that administered the test
• The date on which the test was conducted
• The type of test conducted
• The test result
• The guest must also carry their proof of a valid COVID-19 test with them. They may be required to present their test results at any time.
• If the guest does not submit their proof of a valid COVD-19 test result to the WestJet Medical desk a minimum of 48 hours before their flight, they will not be able to self-serve check in, and will be required to present the test result to a WestJet agent on the day of travel at the airport. Please ensure you arrive a minimum of 2 hours prior to departure. 
• The guest will be required to complete the health questionnaire and symptom screening during check in, and will be required to present their valid COVID-19 PCR test result to a WestJet agent at the airport prior to receiving a boarding pass.
• The guest will be required to follow the current face mask policy.
• The medical exemption will be valid for 3 months from the date of approval. The approval may be revoked at any time if requirements change.

If the medical exemption is denied

If the Medical Desk denies the medical exemption, the guest will receive an email and will not be permitted to fly.

• The guest can choose to change or cancel their flight. They will be subject to the change and cancellation policy and fees for their fare type.
• If the guest does not change or cancel their flight, our no-show policy will apply.
• WestJet’s decision to approve or decline any exemption is final and not subject to appeal.  

^{* Accepted molecular tests include:}

• ^{PCR-Polymerase chain reaction}
• ^{NAT/NAAT-Nucleic acid amplification test}
• ^{RT-LAMP-Reverse Transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification}

Temporary COVID-19 Exemption Request Due to Essential Medical Services or Treatment

Download the Temporary COVID-Exemption request due to essential Medical Service or Treatment form 

Please note:

• All temporary exemptions of this nature must be submitted to meddesk@westjet.com
• or faxed to 1-866-737-1202 (14 days before flight)

You will not be able to check in for your flight until your medical exemption has been approved, and validation of your required valid molecular* COVID-19 test result has been conducted.

These forms will not be accepted at the airport, and cannot be made through our call centre.

^{* Accepted molecular tests include:}

• ^{PCR-Polymerase chain reaction}
• ^{NAT/NAAT-Nucleic acid amplification test}
• ^{RT-LAMP-Reverse Transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification}

 

Religious Exemptions

1.  Download the religious exemption form

Please note:

• Foreign nationals entering Canada are not eligible for a religious exemption.
   

2.  Submit the completed religious exemption form to the Regulatory Guest Relations team at a minimum of 3 weeks before the flight.

Please note:

• You will not be able to check in for your flight until your religious exemption has been approved, and validation of your required valid PCR COVID-19 test result has been conducted.
• Religious exemption forms will not be accepted at the airport, and exemption requests cannot be made through our call center. All requests must be directed to the WestJet Regulatory Guest Relations team at the email address indicated on the form. 
• The Regulatory Guest Relations team hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 0900-1700 MT; requests received after hours or on weekends will begin to be processed on the next business day.

If the religious exemption is approved:

If the Regulatory Guest Relations team approves the religious exemption, the guest will receive an email confirming their exemption.

• The guest will need to submit a valid COVID-19 test to the WestJet Regulatory Guest Relations team prior to departure in order to utilize self-serve check-in. If you are unable to submit it in advance, it can be presented at the airport during check-in. A valid COVID-19 test can be either of the following: 
• A negative molecular* COVID-19 test result 
• This test must be performed no earlier than 72 hours prior to the scheduled departure time of the first flight of any same-day itinerary, or the first flight of any direct connecting itinerary.
• The guest will need another negative molecular* COVID-19 test for their return journey if the departure of their return trip exceeds 72 hours from the time the test was taken
• Proof of a previous positive test result taken between 14 and 180 days before the flight 
• Test result must include:
• Traveller name and date of birth
• Name and civic address of the laboratory/clinic/facility that administered the test
• The date on which the test was conducted
• The type of test conducted
• The test result
• The guest must also carry their proof of a valid COVID-19 test with them. They may be required to present their test results at any time.
• If the guest does not submit their proof of a valid COVD-19 test result to the WestJet Regulatory Guest Relations team a minimum of 48 hours before their flight, they will not be able to self-serve check in, and will be required to present the test result to a WestJet agent on the day of travel at the airport. Please ensure you arrive a minimum of 2 hours prior to departure.
• The guest will be required to complete the health questionnaire and symptom screening during check in, and will be required to present their valid COVID-19 PCR test result to a WestJet agent at the airport prior to receiving a boarding pass.
• The guest will be required to follow the current face mask policy.
• The religious exemption will be valid for 3 months from the date of approval. The approval may be revoked at any time if requirements change.

If the religious exemption is denied:

If the Regulatory Guest Relations team denies the religious exemption, the guest will receive an email and will not be permitted to fly.

• The guest can choose to change or cancel their flight. They will be subject to the change and cancellation policy and fees for their fare type.
• If the guest does not change or cancel their flight, our no-show policy will apply.
• WestJet’s decision to approve or decline any exemption is final and not subject to appeal.  

^{* Accepted molecular tests include:}

• ^{PCR-Polymerase chain reaction}
• ^{NAT/NAAT-Nucleic acid amplification test}
• ^{RT-LAMP-Reverse Transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification}

Mask Exemptions

If guests have a physical or medical condition that prevents them from wearing a non-medical mask or face covering for air travel, they may submit approval for a special medical exemption. View/download application form here. You will need your healthcare provider to complete, sign and stamp page 3 of the form. Forms must be completed by one of the following medical professionals: physician, nurse practitioner, dentist or physician assistant. Please submit your completed form to the WestJet Medical Desk a minimum of 14 days before the flight.