Flying WestJet with Handguns. Any issues?

I found they cared very little compared to the look on the Air Canada customer service reps face.
I had ammunition (declared) and my bag was held and inspected by the RCMP because the CATSA employee didn't care to look for that little slip before freaking out and calling the cops... The RCMP left a little note reminding me to place that declaration slip as close as possible to the ammunition....
 
Definitely less hassle (and fees) with guns with Westjet.
(I wish they had a business class and more flight options on this end of the country, though)

CATSA's been weighing ammo in Halifax lately...be careful ;)
 
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West jet is fantastic when it comes to guns,I even had a chat with a west jet pilot about guns and shooting while I was checking in a pelican case full of ar's one of the ladies working the west jet counter jumped in on the conversation on how her husband just bought her a pink and blue glock for her bday.

#### air Canada!
 
Freedom Ventures said:
Definitely less hassle (and fees) with guns with Westjet.
(I wish they had a business class and more flight options on this end of the country, though)

CATSA's been weighing ammo in Halifax lately...be careful ;)
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Don't worry, it's coming..;)

skoal said:
West jet is fantastic when it comes to guns,I even had a chat with a west jet pilot about guns and shooting while I was checking in a pelican case full of ar's one of the ladies working the west jet counter jumped in on the conversation on how her husband just bought her a pink and blue glock for her bday.

#### air Canada!
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Amen!!:d
 
There's a fellow who is an IPSC shooter AND a Westjet pilot; he posted this on another board:

Folks:

Here is an update that I have been chasing down these past few months in so far as WEAP tagging of bags goes.

THE FOLLOWING APPLIES TO WESTJET ONLY.
I cannot speak for other airlines and to what their particular policy is.
So, if you are flying on Air Canada or any other brand, then the following DOES NOT apply.
You simply comply with whatever that specific company policy is.
No, I don't know what other company policies are.

If you are flying on WestJet and your flight is wholly domestic (remains in Canada) or Transborder (between Canada and the USA, including Hawaii) then you're bags SHOULD NOT BE TAGGED with the green "WEAP" tag. More on this later.

If you are flying WestJet to an international destination (Europe, Mexico or the Caribbean) then your bag WILL BE TAGGED with the green WEAP tag.

Also, if you are travelling on an "interline/codeshare partner" that requires the tag (i.e. Delta or KLM/Air France) and the codeshare partner requires the tag then your bag WILL BE TAGGED.
Example: You are traveling from Alberta to France for world shoot and you've booked a codeshare/interline partner ticket (a single PNR and ticket) with WestJet and KLM/Air France and your itinerary is, for example: Calgary - Montreal - Paris (CDG). In this particular case, your bag WILL BE TAGGED for 2 reasons (regardless of the fact that your first leg is a WestJet domestic leg):
(1) - KLM/Air France policy may require it (and as such WJ will comply); and
(2) - this is an international itinerary (even though you may have a short layover and plane change in CYUL before connecting onto Paris with KLM/AF.

So, back to Domestic and Transborder flights.
Your bag SHOULD NOT BE TAGGED.
If the Customer Service Agent (CSA) insists that it does, then POLITELY refer to the attached PDF below.
Simply (AND POLITELY) ask them to consult the "General Reference Manual (GR) - Airports" for clarification on tagging.
In fact, feel free to hand them the PDF sheet so that they can follow the menu items to get to the correct policy on SSR Codes and WEAP tagging. If the CSA doesn't comply then POLITELY escalate the issue to their station manager. If they still refuse to let you continue without the tag, then feel free to ask for their names or employee numbers and inform them that you will file an email complaint to the email address for Charles Clarke at the bottom of the PDF.

Bear in mind: there are thousands of CSA across a complex network and some are contracted workers, while others are full time WJ employees. It is difficult and challenging to maintain a training standard on an issue that the CSAs do not see every day. So, BE POLITE, give them some space, check-in early to allow yourselves plenty of time to deal with tagging issues, and calmly and POLITELY press the issue on not accepting the bag tag.

One last thing: Did I mention BE POLITE? If I didn't then BE POLITE.
Remember - the company reserves the right to refuse boarding you on the flight if you're a #### (whether you like it or not, or whether you agree with it or not is moot). WestJet will simply refund you your ticket price and point out the location of other airline brands' check-in counters on the departures concourse.
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Not sure where the OP is going, but I thought I'd post anyway for general info.
 
I flew in to Calgary yesterday from Montreal without any issues whatsoever. Didn't weight the ammo or anything, they X-rayed my luggage and sent my stuff through the Oversized luggage department. No drama no bull... I'm impressed
 
Not to derail, but is it simply a matter of going to the ticket counter/agent and declaring your firearms?

Also, is the ammo weight specific by individual airline, or this something national?
 
Melnibonean said:
Not to derail, but is it simply a matter of going to the ticket counter/agent and declaring your firearms?

Also, is the ammo weight specific by individual airline, or this something national?
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Yep, walk up to the counter and declare that your travelling with a firearm. He-she will give you a declaration form to fill out and send you to the 'oversized' baggage drop. There a security agent x rays your luggage and sends it through. If you have more than 5kg of ammo you need to have your travel partner fill the same form. They didn't really check the weight when my wife and I declared my stuff. I picked up all my stuff on the regular carousel in Calgary.

That's for WestJet... Air Canada has the same ammo allowance but are supposedly more complicated
 
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