WestJet treats sports equipment as checked baggage. The earlier version of this article also covered musical instruments. WestJet keeps its instrument rules on a separate page that we did not re-read, so this update covers sports equipment and the points that apply to both.
The basic rule
- Sports gear is handled as one checked bag, which means every standard baggage fee can apply.
- Charges stack: an item that is heavy, large and also an additional piece pays each of the three fees.
- Firearms and some sports equipment carry a handling fee of CAD 50 to 59.
- Equipment travels on domestic, international and charter flights when it follows the packing, weight and size rules. No item may be longer than 3 m (118 in), vaulting poles aside.
Items WestJet lists
Archery equipment, bicycles and helmets, curling equipment, golf clubs, hockey, ringette, lacrosse and football gear, kayaks, paintball equipment, parachutes, scuba gear, skateboards, longboards and scooters, skis, water skis and snowboards, sports balls, racquets, sport wheelchairs, surfboards, boogie boards and windsurfers, and vaulting poles. WestJet's page gives the packing rules for each one.
Flights with partner airlines
On a trip with a partner airline, check the partner's fees. The airline operating the first flight in each direction collects the fee, on a one-way basis.
If your gear is too big
If the equipment is larger than the limits or you want to send it ahead, WestJet suggests its cargo service.
Liability and valuation
- For domestic trips, WestJet's responsibility for a damaged or lost bag stops at 1,519 Special Drawing Rights per bag, roughly CAD 2,800 at current rates.
- On international trips the Montreal or Warsaw Convention sets the limit, normally the same 1,519 SDRs.
- You can buy excess valuation at the airport before departure for a fee. The maximum liability then becomes CAD or USD 4,000.
- If a bag is lost, WestJet refunds the baggage fee as well as paying the settlement.
Consider travel insurance for valuable gear. For musical instruments, read the instrument section of WestJet's special items and baggage pages before you travel.
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