Car seats and restraint systems
We appreciate that travelling with your infant or small child can be stressful. By providing some guidelines here, we hope we can help to make you and your child more comfortable. WestJet accepts Transport Canada or Federal Aviation Administration approved child/infant restraint systems, more commonly referred to as car seats, for use in the cabin providing they meet restraint system standards and WestJet's carry-on baggage acceptance guidelines.
WestJet does not supply car seats or other restraint systems.
WestJet allows child and infant equipment, including car seats, to be checked in addition to a guest's checked baggage allowance at no charge.
We are pleased to offer a bassinet for use on our 787 Dreamliner in the Economy cabin.
You can request one bassinet when you book your flight. Check availability of seats 9B, 9D, 9F, 9J or 25E on the 787-9. We may also be able to reserve a bassinet for you at the check in counter at the airport if one is available.
Things to know:
- The infant must only be a maximum of 25lbs (~9 kg), a maximum length of 26 in. (66cm), and unable to sit upright.
- Seats with a bassinet are only available in the bulkhead row, and these seats do not have under-seat storage.
- The bassinet must not be used to store items or as a change table. Service dogs, pets and carry- on items are not permitted in the bassinet at any time.
- The infant seat belt (safety net) must be fastened whenever the infant is in the bassinet.
- The infant cannot be left unattended in the bassinet.
- The infant must be lap held any time the seat belt sign is illuminated.
- Only a cabin crew member is permitted to attach or remove the bassinet from the wall mount.
When using a car seat, please remember that:
- If you plan on having your child use a car seat on board the aircraft, you must purchase a seat on board for them. Contact us by phone so we can prepare your reservation for a car seat.
- Car seats may not be used in the Business section of the aircraft.
- The infant/child must be secured in the car seat for taxi, takeoff, landing or whenever the seatbelt sign is illuminated.
- All infants/children secured in a car seat must be seated beside a guest 12 years of age or older, and are restricted from some seats on the aircraft (for example over-wing exit row or bulkhead seats).
- In most cases, rear-facing car seats will be seated in a window seat.
Conditions for car seat:
- May be used with or without a base, if it meets the compliance labelling standards outlined below and it is properly secured.
- Must be used with their internal harness system that is installed in the car seat.
- Must be used within the limitations and conditions specified by the manufacturer.
The following restraint systems are not permitted for use on board the aircraft:
- Booster cushions
- Booster seats, including combination restraint system CMVSS 213.2 when used without the internal harness
- Belly or loop belts
- Baby hammock (such as FlyeBaby™)
The following restraint systems are permitted for use on board the aircraft during flight only:
- Infant carriers (such as Snugli®) may be used in flight, but not during takeoff and landing.
Car seat compliance labelling
Car seats must be labelled according to the requirements of the country where they were manufactured. Only car seats labelled as follows may be used on WestJet aircraft:
Canadian manufactured systems:
- Manufacturer's name and, subassembly part number and the CAN-TSO number must be visible.
- The car seat must conform to the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 213 or 213.1, as indicated on the National Safety Mark in the diagram below:
NOTE: XXXX in the National Safety Mark above will have either 213 or 213.1.
American manufactured car seats:
The statements of compliance on the car seat must indicate:
- This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and
- This Restraint is Certified for Use in Motor Vehicles and Aircraft (in red lettering)
Australian/New Zealand manufactured systems
- Must bear two labels:
- A red Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1754: 2013 or later, and
- A green label indicating that it is acceptable for use on board aircraft
European and U.K. manufactured systems
A child restraint system must bear two labels:
- The UN standard ECE R44 - revision 03 or later series and ECE R129-02 or later series, and
- A qualification “For Use in Aircraft” according to the German “Qualification Procedure for Child Restraint Systems for Use in Aircraft” (TÜV Doc.: TÜV/958-01/2001)
AmSafe child aviation and Special Cares restraint systems
The child aviation restraint system "CARES™", and the Special CARES™ aviation restraint systems are manufactured by AmSafe, and are a harness and buckle device that attaches directly to the aircraft seat.
If you plan on using the Special CARES™ restraint system on board the aircraft, after you have completed your reservation contact us so we can prepare for you to use this system.
Conditions for acceptance:
- The harness and buckle device must bear a legible label that states:
- CARES™
- FAA APPROVED in accordance with 14 CFR 21.305(d), approved for aircraft use only
- PNR (part number) 4082-1-(X)-(X)
- The harness and buckle device must be used within the limitations specified by the manufacturer found on the device
- The guest responsible for the occupant must be familiar with the:
- Manufacturer’s installation instructions and limitations for the device
- Method of securing and releasing the occupant from the device
- Procedures for evacuating the occupant secured in the device
In addition to the information above, guests travelling on a WestJet Vacations package should also be aware that car seats are not provided by the transfer company.