Advisories: COVID-19 and more
International guests
If it is less than 72 hours to your scheduled departure and you do not have a valid test, please call our contact centre to discuss your options.
If you booked through a Travel Agent (online or directly), Corporate Travel arranger, or another airline, please contact them directly.
Find the most up-to-date information below for events or policies that may impact your day of travel.
Airport travelling to/from | Advisory | For travel on or between | Posted date | Additional info |
---|---|---|---|---|
Canada's West Coast | Winter storm system | January 24, 2021 - January 24, 2021 | January 23, 2021 |
This may cause delays or cancellations. Flexible change/cancel guidelines in effect. Check flight status |
Select domestic airpoirts | COVID-19 route suspensions | November 2, 2020 - November 2, 2021 | January 18, 2021 | |
All WestJet Destinations | Travel will be affected due to COVID-19 | March 2, 2020 - September 29, 2021 | September 9, 2020 |
Before you go: |
Flexible change or cancellation
There’s no fee to change or cancel flights booked before February 28, 2021.
The full value of your cancelled flight will be credited to a Travel Bank, valid for 24 months from the date of issue.
WestJet Vacation packages booked prior to August 4, 2020 can be cancelled with the value credited as WestJet dollars, valid for 24 months. For bookings after August 4, protect your vacation with the Travel Protection Plan. To request cancellation of a WestJet Vacations package, please contact us directly.
If you booked through a Travel Agent (online or directly), Corporate Travel arranger, or another airline, please contact them directly.
Additional advisories
WestJet is adhering to Transport Canada’s decision to temporarily ground Boeing MAX aircraft, and has taken the necessary steps to safely remove all Boeing MAX aircraft currently in service.
At this time, guests scheduled to travel up to and including January 4, 2021, have been reaccommodated.
Due to the unknown end date of the grounding, if your itinerary is affected, you will receive an email from WestJet, or your travel agent will be advised.
Please read our frequently asked questions and our blog on how to determine which type of aircraft you are travelling on.
Calgary International Airport (YYC) WestJet check-in counter |
The domestic check-in counter is moving permanently to near Doors 1 to 4 on the Departures level.
When you arrive at YYC, please follow the directional signage to our new location.
The closest spot to park is in Parkade 1 - Level 4 at the north end of building. |
International travel restrictions
As other countries implement travel restrictions due to COVID-19, please check your destination country's entrance requirements before travel. For additional information about Coronavirus please refer to the Government of Canada's website and the IATA Travel website.
Legalization of Cannabis
Effective October 17, 2018, the Cannabis Act will come into effect allowing for legal purchase, use, and possession of cannabis for personal purposes. WestJet would kindly like to remind you that crossing international borders with cannabis remains illegal and guests are responsible for ensuring they follow all laws and regulations as it pertains to cannabis. Holding a medical authorization for cannabis in any Country, including Canada, does not grant the ability to take cannabis into or out of Canada. Please refer to the following Government of Canada website for additional information and resources.
Canada accepting digital declarations from travellers
Canada is now accepting digital declarations from travellers arriving by air at select airports. To learn more about Primary Inspection Kiosks and the eDeclaration mobile app, visit www.cbsa.gc.ca.
Travel to Canada – Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
Canada has introduced a new entry requirement, known as an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). If you are a foreign traveller and you do not require a visa to travel to Canada, you're expected to apply online for an eTA before travelling to Canada by air. Exceptions include U.S. citizens and any travellers who currently hold a valid visa.
The application process is affordable, doesn’t take long to complete, and in most cases the eTA will be granted within minutes of applying. To apply and find out more, visit Canada.ca/eTA.
ID requirements for travel within Canada
You must have valid (not expired) identification to take any flight within Canada. Adhering to the Secure Air Travel Regulations, WestJet will not allow you to fly if you do not have proper, valid ID. In addition, the name on your identification must match the name on your airline reservation or boarding pass. Public Safety Canada has information available on its Documents Needed for Air Travel webpage. For more information on all ID requirements please visit WestJet.
Basic fare travel between Canada and Europe
On June 4, 2019 the Government of Canada began issuing Canadian passports using the code X in the gender field for non-binary Canadians.
WestJet welcomes the government’s announcement and is currently making changes to our systems and processes to fully support non-binary gender guests for domestic and international travel.
Until WestJet has completed the system upgrades to support the code X in the gender field you may be asked to provide your gender information as either male or female at time of booking and check-in.
Please visit the government of Canada’s website for further guidance on travelling with a gender X passport.
Serious Threat: African Swine Fever
African Swine Fever is a serious viral disease affecting pigs that could harm the Canadian pork industry and Canada’s economy.
The disease can be spread very easily through pork products, as well as contaminated clothing and/or footwear.
Do not bring pork products to Canada. If you do, the Canada Border Services Agency will take them away for safe disposal.
Every passenger must declare all food, plant and animal products brought to Canada to a border services officer upon arrival. Failure to do so will have consequences, and may include a $1300 fine.
Travellers must also advise if they have recently visited a farm outside of Canada. Find out more on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s website at www.inspection.gc.ca
Alcohol – Be your best guest
You can help create a great experience for everyone on board by consuming liquor responsibly.
It is our duty to let you know that it is unlawful to consume your own alcohol in the airport prior to departure and onboard any WestJet flight. If you would like to enjoy a drink on board, our aircraft are licensed to serve alcohol. To ensure the safety of all guests and crew, if you are believed to be impaired by alcohol or drugs, before your flight, our crew has the right to deny you boarding.
Canadian Aviation Regulations prohibit us from allowing any guest to board our aircraft when there are reasonable grounds to believe the person's faculties are so impaired by alcohol or a drug that they may present a hazard to the aircraft or to guests.
High volume of Sargassum (seaweed) in Mexico and the Caribbean
If you are travelling to Mexico and the Caribbean in the near future, it’s possible you will encounter a higher-than-normal volume of sargassum (seaweed). Please note; at any time of year, multiple locations can be affected, and the amount this year is above average.
WestJet and WestJet Vacations want you to be aware - before you book - of the possibility of sargassum during your vacation.
Hotels in the affected areas use different methods for removal of sargassum that may wash up on the beach. In some regions, beaches are considered natural reserves or protected areas, and there are limitations on what action hotels connected to these beaches are able to take.
Allergy notification for all WestJet flights
We kindly ask that any guest allergic to nuts or peanuts, nut products or tree nuts, self identifies at the time of booking, at check-in and notifies inflight crew upon boarding any of our aircraft. WestJet food products do not directly contain peanut and/or derivatives; however, some items may contain traces of peanuts from manufacturing processes.
Travelling with portable self-balancing recreational scooters (lithium battery powered) is prohibited
Please be advised that due to safety concerns; hoverboards, powerboards, airwheels and other self-balancing lithium battery powered scooters are forbidden from transport on any WestJet or WestJet Encore flight, in carry-on, checked baggage or cargo. The safety and comfort of our guests is a top priority and this rule will stand until further notice.
Be on the lookout for fraudsters posing as legitimate WestJet representatives. If you feel that you have been the target of suspicious activity, please contact the RCMP Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1 888 495 8501, or visit their website.
Email (phishing) and telephone scams are common methods used by criminals to lure people into disclosing personal information such as credit card numbers and account information. These scams intentionally impersonate trusted brands to leverage goodwill and avoid suspicion. They appear to be authentic and may go so far as to use logos and official sounding email addresses.
Email scams
Phishing is the practice of sending phony email messages to trick recipients into sharing sensitive information. These scams often ask for personal information such as usernames, passwords and email addresses — WestJet will never ask you to share any of this information through an email. Phishing scams may also make a false claim that your account is in urgent need of attention. This sense of urgency drives the recipient to click a link to an authentic looking website which is actually a spoof site used to gather credit card information and account details. Avoid clicking on any attachments to these emails as they may contain viruses or spyware.
Key indicators of a phony email are:
- a false claim that a prize or flight has been awarded;
- a false claim that there is a problem with the recipients account that needs "fixing";
- the existence of typos or poor grammar, spellings such as "Westjet" instead of "WestJet";
- the sender's email address and any links in the document may appear authentic;
- other authentic looking material such as logos or company colours.
Online surveys and Facebook scams offering tickets for free or a nominal amount
Internet marketers are falsely claiming to represent WestJet Airlines Limited using online surveys and Facebook sharing. The scams offer tickets for free or a nominal amount in exchange for answering questionnaires and then sharing the surveys with your friends on Facebook. We are always happy to hear about your experiences with us, and ask you not to participate in these scams or share them through your Facebook profile. For more information, please see our blog post.
Misdial trap
Numerous guests attempting to reach WestJet by phone have found themselves in the ‘Misdial Trap’ – a scheme used by fraudsters and telemarketing companies to profit from misdial traffic.
There are many active toll-free numbers created intentionally close to WestJet phone numbers in an attempt to catch guests who misdial to harvest their personal information and credit card details. This marketing strategy relies on clumsy dialing and high-pressure tactics. These types of scams are rapidly increasing. Please dial carefully and remember, the toll free phone number for WestJet is 1-888- WESTJET.
As a Canadian registered air carrier, WestJet is required by several countries to spray insecticide in the flight deck and guest cabin prior to traveling to those countries. This is a preventative measure against the importation of foreign insects that may carry disease or damage crops.
WestJet uses Permethrin #216, an insecticide approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for application onboard commercial aircraft. According to the WHO, short-term exposure when spraying this insecticide has not been found to cause any adverse health effects.
More information on disinsection can be found on the Transport Canada website at:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/standards/commerce-ohs-disinsection-westjet-2094.htm
or at the U.S. Department of Transportation website at:
https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/spray.