Advisories: coronavirus and more

Transport Canada requires that all guests, over the age of two, have a non-medical mask or face covering to cover their mouth and nose during travel. 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 at least two 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 plastic window considering that 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.

Zero tolerance mask policy

Effective September 1, 2020, to support Transport Canada’s requirement for all guests to wear masks or face coverings, guests that do not comply will face penalties including denied boarding, return of the aircraft to the gate to offload the guest 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.

Medical exemptions

Transport Canada requires that guests who are unable to wear a face mask due to a medical condition, must present an official medical note from a physician specifying this exception or they will be denied boarding.

Medical certificates must be issued by a medical professional holding the Doctor designation. There are many different types of medical professionals; however, only those with the Doctor designation may issue a valid medical certificate. In addition, medical certificates must:

• be on official letterhead
• be dated
• clearly state the guest’s name and that they have a medical condition which prevents them from wearing a face mask
• be the original certificate

Mask exemption cards will not be accepted as a form of medical exemption.

See all safety measures

As per Transport Canada requirements mandatory temperature screening will be conducted prior to boarding at all international locations, and by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority prior to proceeding through security at select Canadian airports.

Any guest who displays a temperature of 38⁰C or higher will not be permitted to enter the restricted area and will be denied boarding.

By checking into your flight, you are confirming your understanding of this policy.

Guests who display an elevated temperature during the screening will not be permitted to board a flight to Canada or must not enter a restricted area at any airport in Canada, for a period of 14-days, unless a medical certificate certifying that the elevated temperature is not related to COVID-19 is provided.

For the most current list of Canadian airports conducting mandatory temperature screening, please refer to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority website.

Health questionnaire

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

Symptom screening

• We will conduct non-contact temperature checks at all airports
• If you are displaying COVID-19 symptoms, or feeling unwell, you cannot board a flight.
  • If you have a medical condition which 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.

Denied boarding

• If you have been ordered by 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.
  • To travel earlier, a valid medical certificate stating that you not affected by the COVID-19 virus is required.
• Guests denied boarding for repatriation flights will not be re-accommodated.

See all safety measures

Effective September 1, 2020, the input of guest contact information will become mandatory at the 24-hour check-in process online and at kiosks. Mandatory information at WestJet check-in kiosks will be phased into the policy change by the end of September.

Guests will no longer be able to bypass the information screen and will be required to input up-to-date information prior to the issuance of a boarding pass. Guests remain responsible for providing accurate information.

Please refer to the provincial or territorial government websites of your arrival destination prior to travel for the most up to date information on interprovincial travel restrictions. You may be subject to travel prohibitions which restrict entry to certain provinces or territories or additional measures, such as a mandatory 14-day self-isolation when you arrive.

In accordance with the mutual agreement between Canada and the United States to limit non-essential travel, and in an ongoing effort to contain the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, non-essential travel will be restricted between Canada and the United States. These new restrictions prohibit any foreign national, including United States nationals, from entering Canada for optional or discretionary purposes. 

Non-essential travel includes, but is not limited to: tourism, recreation, shopping for non-essential goods, and/or sight-seeing. 

For the most current information please refer to the Government of Canada's website and the IATA Travel website.

Use the ArriveCAN app. Submit your information easily and securely within 48 hours before your arrival back into Canada.

The app helps you

• provide mandatory information that's required for entry into Canada
• reduce your wait time and points of contact at the border
• provide the Government of Canada with voluntary updates on your quarantine compliance and the development of any symptoms during the 14 days after arriving in Canada

Download the ArriveCAN app (iOS, Android or web format).

Guests age 11 years or older travelling to and from France are required to wear a disposable surgical mask. Children 2 to 10 years of age are required to wear a suitable non-medical face mask.

Anyone travelling from the U.S. through Canada or has been in the U.S. for the past 30 days will be required to:  

• Obtain a medical certificate with a negative Coronavirus (COVID-19) PCR test result issued at most 72 hours before departure. This does not apply to guests younger than 11 years.
• Complete an International Travel Certificate and a declaration on honor to state that they do not have symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19). The certificate can be obtained at consulates or at www.interieur.gouv.fr. 

The Jamaican Government requires that all passengers travelling to Jamaica (both Jamaicans and non-nationals) must obtain a travel authorization within 72 hours of departure.

• Foreign nationals can apply at https://www.visitjamaica.com/ 
• Residents of Jamaica can apply at https://jamcovid19.moh.gov.jm/immigration.html

Guests will need to save the electronic or printed copy of the Travel Authorization for the airline agent at check-in, or when boarding your flight to confirm acceptance for travel.

For travel on or after August 20, guests from the United States, Mexico, Dominican Republic and Brazil are required to provide a negative COVID 19 test result within 10 days of travel in order to obtain a Jamaican Travel Authorization. Travel to Jamaica from Canada does not require COVID-19 negative testing.

Guests traveling to and from Mexico must complete an online QUESTIONNAIRE OF IDENTIFICATION OF RISK FACTORS IN TRAVELERS. A print out of the completed questionnaire response or an electronic copy displayed from a mobile device to be presented to the Immigration officer when entering or departing Mexico.

Guests arriving in the UK from Canada are subject to a mandatory 14 day self isolation and must complete the following online Public Health Passenger Locator form 48 hours prior to arrival: www.gov.uk/provide-journey-contact-details-before-travel-uk.

For more information, please visit www.gov.uk/uk-border-control

The U.S. Government has imposed updated entry requirements. Air carriers must not allow foreign individuals to board a flight to the U.S. if they have been present in, or travelled through (in the last 14 days):

• China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau)
• Iran 
• 26 Schengen nations of the EU and EEA
• Effective March 16, 2020 at 2359 ET, the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland.

Exceptions to this are:

• U.S. citizens holding a U.S. passport;
• Lawful permanent resident of the U.S. holding a U.S. PR card or letter of Parole;
• Crew Members, or;
• Any legal U.S. aliens, including spouses, parent or legal guardian, sibling, child, individuals invited by the U.S. government, or government officials