Westjet Car Seat and Stroller Policy
Can I Bring a Car Seat on Westjet Flights?
If you have bought a ticket for your child on Westjet flights (whether between 0-2 years old, or between 2-12 years old) and they have their own assigned seat, you are responsible for providing a Transport Canada approved car seat that is approved for Air Transportation. Westjet will not provide a car seat. Car seats cannot be used in the Business Class section of Westjet flights.
This means that you will bring your Transport Canada approved car seat with you to the gate, board the aircraft early to install your car seat, and you child must be securely strapped into their car seat during taxiiing, take-off, landing, turbulence, and whenever the seatbelt sign is on. You MUST call Westjet by phone (1-888-937-8538) after making your reservation to let them know that your child will be flying in a car seat, so they can prepare the seat appropriately for your flight.
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When making your reservation, keep in mind that rear-facing car seats are typically placed in a window seat, and there are also other restrictions on which seats a carseat may be installed (for example, carseats are not allowed in Business Class, in bulkhead rows, over the wings, and in exit rows).
Your child must be seated and buckled into the car seat appropriately using the car seat's installed internal harness system. All car seats must be used under the restrictions and guidelines laid out by the manufacturer.
Bringing a Car Seat on Westjet for Lap Baby Under 2 Years Old
If you are flying with an infant under 2 years of age without their own assigned seat (your baby will be flying on your lap), your baby will be flying in your lap without a car seat. However, Westjet will allow you to bring your child's car seat as a piece of checked luggage, free of charge. You can either do this at the check-in desk, or by bringing your car seat to the gate, and giving it to the check-in agent to be "gate-checked" when boarding the flight, along with your stroller.
Protecting Your Car Seat during Travel on Westjet
When checking-in your baby's car seat as a piece of luggage, it will be sent along to the belly of the plane together with the regular suitcases. Many parents prefer to bring their car seat to the gate, and "gate-check" their car seat so it doesn't suffer and potentially risk being damaged or lost in the airport luggage sorting maze.
When gate-checking your car seat, we recommend protecting in a car seat protective travel cover to prevent your car seat from getting stained, torn, damaged, or lost. Many car seat travel covers are brightly coloured, to catch the eye of the baggage handlers to minimize the chances of your car seat getting lost in transit.
Bringing a Baby Stroller on Westjet Flights
Westjet allows you to bring your baby's stroller as a piece of checked luggage free of charge. You can either check-in the stroller at the check-in desk together with your suitcases, or choose to go through security and "gate-check" your stroller when boarding the plane.
Westjet allows you to bring 2 pieces of baby equipment free of charge in addition to your standard checked luggage allowance, meaning you can bring both a car-seat and a stroller for free. If you can also check-in a baby's playpen instead of the car seat or stroller if you prefer.
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