Westjet now has Firearms fee
- Thread starter ivan
- Start date
Reminds me of my last AC flight, 300+ guy sitting next to me with the arm up, while his teenager kid and skinny wife sat in row ahead. Told me to keep the arm up while i was in middle seat next to GF. Like hell that was going to happen, told him if he was going to inconvenience anyone, it would be one of his family members. He wasn't spilling over into my seat. Funny as hell when he switched seats with his wife.
Well played.
- Location
- West Quebec
I don't get the each segment charge at all
- Location
- West Quebec
Agreed, I don't see the same service at AC
There should be a link providing the details and possible suggestion is to have that link in a sticky where folks travel with their firearms to destinations for hunting or shooting events.
Oh and I dont travel via a Max 8 no matter how safe the ground staff suggest.
Rob
Cameron SS
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Ground Zero
Which is why I have been exclusively flying with west jet for years. Going to send an angry note to the customer service department.
Well that's going to really suck for 3gun matches.
If they are consistent with Air Canada, its $50 per gun case, not per gun. Max two long guns or five pistols per case.
Means it must be in factory condition. You cant pull the bullets and repack them. They will need to clarify handloads but given international flight regulations, I suspect they will do what everyone else does and officially ban handloads while turning a blind eye. I've never had anyone ever inspect ammo. Most ticketing agents wouldn't know what they are looking for anyways.
Cameron SS
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Ground Zero
To a maximum $250 dollars a year. And thats total refund for baggage, lounge, seat selection etc. So basically one trip a year is covered, two tops.
Its separate. In addition to. ANd even if you are silver/gold/premium member with free checked baggage fees, you still pay the firearms fee.
I just emailed them a complaint. As Western Canada's airline, I always knew them to be, and expected them to be, Canada's gun friendly airline. This blatant cash grab threatens that reputation. And for nothing.
You'd think they would just put a note on the file so the barcode scan brings up the relevant information without the big red tag screaming special.
And yes, CAF personal do not have to pay this fee, as long as its work related travel, which they have no way to confirm.
It's pretty hard to go hunting without a checked bag for clothes/gear. So really you'll be paying $30 for 1st checked bag, $50 for 2nd bag (your firearm), and now an additional $50 handling fee for that firearm. That firearm will actually be costing us $200 round trip. This really sucks but luckily I've already left a rifle on the east and west coasts for my yearly hunts. I guess I won't be changing those out anytime soon.
Cameron SS
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Ground Zero
Wow. Thats brutal, and was not my experience. As much as they don't do anything to deserve the first $50 firearm fee, they REALLY don't do anything to deserve that fee per firearm.
So just double checked on the website and if you wanted to travel with three firearms in one case and another checked bag you would be charged for 4 checked bags (first $30, $50 for the remaining) and looks to be a single $50 firearms handling fee. Really over the top if you ask me.
Cameron SS
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Ground Zero
Perhaps that would be a good social media move, just to show west jet management how many of their customers are gun owners. I will be using my PAL to check in to all west jet flights from now on.
Well, I just copied the information from the Westjet website; see below:
--------
Firearms and ammunition:
While WestJet accepts firearms for scheduled flights within Canada and to/from the United States, regulations differ for some of our international destinations.
Effective March 11, 2019, a handling fee of $50 CAD/USD for firearms.
Although some guidance is provided below for firearm and ammunition restrictions and embargos to/from some of our international destinations, this information may change or new restrictions/embargos may be introduced. Please be sure to contact the country of your destination for the most up to date information.
You are responsible for ensuring that all necessary permissions, documentation and other requirements have been obtained or satisfied before travelling. WestJet accepts no liability in the event that your weapon is denied entry or is confiscated upon entry. Please contact your destination's consulate for further information.
Firearms are restricted on flights to or from:
Bermuda (BDA)
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (POS)
Mexico (this includes any Mexican city that WestJet-operated aircraft, or our airline partners, fly to)
Each firearm item will be considered a piece of your checked baggage allowance.
All applicable checked baggage fees will be charged.
Firearms acceptance criteria
Firearms are permitted ONLY in checked baggage, and ONLY if the firearm is:
Unloaded (declaration must be signed);
Packaged in a locked, heavy-duty container or hard-sided (opaque) gun case;
Restricted firearms must be locked with either a cable lock or trigger lock;
Non-restricted firearms such as hunting rifles and shotguns do not require a cable or trigger lock.
WestJet will accept the following types of firearms:
Shotguns
Handguns
BB guns
Starter pistols
Rifles
Air pistols
Paintball guns (Please note: carbon dioxide cartridges/tanks for paintball guns will only be accepted if empty, with the valve secured in the open position. Please see restricted items for more details.)
Ammunition must be:
Securely packaged and packed separately from the firearm, however it is permitted to be transported within the same container.
Carried in sturdy baggage not weighing more than 5 kg (11 lb.) gross weight per person (excluding ammunition with explosive or incendiary projectiles)
Packaged in the manufacturer's original container or an equivalent sturdy, durable container that provides sufficient cartridge separation
Tasers and stun guns
Tasers and stun guns are prohibited for transport
--------
It says that "each firearm item will be considered a piece of your checked baggage allowance"... It does not say "each firearm"; I would take take to mean $50 per case, not $50 per firearm. In any case, as previously mentioned by others, those new fees do not sit well with me at all. On the other hand, I recognize that travelling with firearm means extra work for Westjet, i.e. complete form, apply tag, etc. But that is not worth $50 per firearm item in my opinion...
--------
Firearms and ammunition:
While WestJet accepts firearms for scheduled flights within Canada and to/from the United States, regulations differ for some of our international destinations.
Effective March 11, 2019, a handling fee of $50 CAD/USD for firearms.
Although some guidance is provided below for firearm and ammunition restrictions and embargos to/from some of our international destinations, this information may change or new restrictions/embargos may be introduced. Please be sure to contact the country of your destination for the most up to date information.
You are responsible for ensuring that all necessary permissions, documentation and other requirements have been obtained or satisfied before travelling. WestJet accepts no liability in the event that your weapon is denied entry or is confiscated upon entry. Please contact your destination's consulate for further information.
Firearms are restricted on flights to or from:
Bermuda (BDA)
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (POS)
Mexico (this includes any Mexican city that WestJet-operated aircraft, or our airline partners, fly to)
Each firearm item will be considered a piece of your checked baggage allowance.
All applicable checked baggage fees will be charged.
Firearms acceptance criteria
Firearms are permitted ONLY in checked baggage, and ONLY if the firearm is:
Unloaded (declaration must be signed);
Packaged in a locked, heavy-duty container or hard-sided (opaque) gun case;
Restricted firearms must be locked with either a cable lock or trigger lock;
Non-restricted firearms such as hunting rifles and shotguns do not require a cable or trigger lock.
WestJet will accept the following types of firearms:
Shotguns
Handguns
BB guns
Starter pistols
Rifles
Air pistols
Paintball guns (Please note: carbon dioxide cartridges/tanks for paintball guns will only be accepted if empty, with the valve secured in the open position. Please see restricted items for more details.)
Ammunition must be:
Securely packaged and packed separately from the firearm, however it is permitted to be transported within the same container.
Carried in sturdy baggage not weighing more than 5 kg (11 lb.) gross weight per person (excluding ammunition with explosive or incendiary projectiles)
Packaged in the manufacturer's original container or an equivalent sturdy, durable container that provides sufficient cartridge separation
Tasers and stun guns
Tasers and stun guns are prohibited for transport
--------
It says that "each firearm item will be considered a piece of your checked baggage allowance"... It does not say "each firearm"; I would take take to mean $50 per case, not $50 per firearm. In any case, as previously mentioned by others, those new fees do not sit well with me at all. On the other hand, I recognize that travelling with firearm means extra work for Westjet, i.e. complete form, apply tag, etc. But that is not worth $50 per firearm item in my opinion...
Just got back from BC traveled Westjet with a firearm. I had booked my flight several weeks ago and they did not charge me an extra fee, but told me that they would be charging $50 from now on. I voiced my objection and was told they had "regulatory fees" that they were charged for the carriage of firearms and they needed to cover them. It sounds like a canned reply to me but, I'm sure that's the programmed response and I have no way to know if its true or false. I did write Westjet a letter voicing my objection and asking for an explanation of the new fee and the difference between their handling of firearms vs skis, golf clubs and scuba gear.
Midnight Rider
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ......the Vanishing Point .
As with most everything else , more profit seems to be the name of the game......it never seems to end .
