WestJet Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Policy – What is the WestJet Airlines Unaccompanied Minor policy for children traveling alone?
Children between the ages of 8 and 18 traveling alone on domestic flights within Canada can use WestJet’s Unaccompanied Minor services as long as the flights are non-stop or direct and don’t require a change of planes.

The Unaccompanied Minors service is: 

• If your child is 8 to 12 years old, you have to do this.
• You don’t have to do this if your child is 12 to 18 years old.

WestJet’s parent Fare Program lets a parent travel with a child for a lot less money if the child doesn’t qualify for the Unaccompanied Minors program (on foreign or connecting trips).

WestJet Vacation package bookings don’t include either service.

WestJet Airlines Rules for Unaccompanied Minors

How old can an unaccompanied be to travel alone on WestJet?
Based on the age of the child, WestJet has the following rules for Unaccompanied Minors:

Program	Age (in Years)
	0 – 1	2 – 5	6 – 7	8 – 11	12 – 15	16 – <18
Unaccompanied Minor Program	Not allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed	Mandatory	Optional	Optional
Guardian Fare Program		Mandatory		Mandatory	Optional
Travel Alone	Not allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed	Optional	Optional
Travel with sibling(s) or children older than 2 years	Not allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed	Allowed
Travel with sibling(s) or children older than 5 years	Not allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed	Allowed	Allowed

The Reservations of Unaccompanied Minor Service on WestJet Airlines

How do I book the Unaccompanied Minor service or Guardian Fare Program on WestJet?
Here’s how to book the Unaccompanied Minor Service/Guardian Fare Program:

WestJet Unaccompanied Minors Program Details

As per WestJet Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Policy, unaccompanied minors program details are:

• The Minimum Age Requirements:
  • When you travel, your child must be at least 8 years old.
  • You must use the Unaccompanied Minors Program or Service.
    • If your child is between the ages of 8 and 12 and is traveling alone.
    • If your child is traveling alone and is between the ages of 12 and 18, this is not required.

• A few exceptions
  • The service for Unaccompanied Minors does not help:
    • Children who are blind or deaf.
    • Children who need a service dog.
    • Kids with allergies need to bring epinephrine auto-injectors like Epi-pens with them when they travel.
    • Little kids who need help taking their medicine.
    • Children with challenges who need to travel with a known adult may be able to get help from the Guardian Fare Program.
    • The kids can’t talk or write in French or English.

• The Flight Restrictions
  • The Unaccompanied Minor’s flight must meet the following requirements to be approved for travel:
    • To use the Guardian Fare Program, the flight must be a domestic one within Canada (for trips outside of Canada, including those to the US).
    • Must be run by WestJet Airlines and not a partner company.
    • Mustn’t have a linking flight or more than one flight number.
    • If WestJet has more than one flight to the target every day, the plane can’t leave before 5:30 am or return after 10 pm.
    • Must not be a flight that lasts all night.

Note – Unaccompanied Minor Flight Bookings are not eligible for Air Miles or RBC Points.

• Reservations for Unaccompanied Minors
  • On the phone.
  • Through the form on WestJet’s website. WestJet will email you back within 48 hours. To confirm the ticket, you have 24 hours to do so and pay a CAD 100 service fee each way. You have to make a new request if you don’t pay in 24 hours.

• Number of Unaccompanied Minors Accepted
  • WestJet accepts up to 4 unaccompanied minors per flight.

• Snacks and drinks
  • WestJet might give you a snack and a drink for free, and you can buy other things on board.

• Identification and Other Requirements
  • The following things must be with your child:
    • A legal ID with your full name, date of birth, and gender written on it.
    • The full names (as they appear on official IDs), addresses, and phone numbers of the following people:
      • The person(s) responsible for taking the child to the airport to leave.
      • The person(s) who will be picking up your child at the airport when they arrive.
    • A copy of the child’s birth certificate or government ID that shows the date of birth and the child’s gender.
    • The adult guardian (18 years or older) you choose must show a government-issued photo ID when they pick up your child at the airport of arrival.
    • To the person who booked the flight, the unaccompanied minor ticket form and gate pass will be emailed to them after you send them in. For both routes (if planned), the form must be filled out.
    • Make sure you fill out the form and gate pass before you get to the airport. This will make sure the flight doesn’t get delayed and your child doesn’t miss it.

• Travel Tips 
  • The carry-on and checked baggage allowance for your child is the same as for adults.
  • Pets are not allowed by airlines to travel with unaccompanied minors.
  • Make sure your child doesn’t have any things that aren’t allowed on their person.
  • Make sure your child has enough snacks and food in case of delays, to make sure you don’t include any things that aren’t allowed.

• At the airport
  • The Departure Airport
    • Arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes before your flight at the check-in counter.
    • Take your child to the gate area with the Gate Pass.
    • Stay at the airport or in the gate area until the flight leaves.
    • Stay reachable by phone until the adult guardian you choose picks up your child at the airport of arrival.
    • Make sure that both you and the child’s pick-up parent have a copy of the child’s schedule and your or their IDs.
    • Put your name and your child’s name on a baggage tag and put it both inside and outside of your child’s bag.
    • Make sure your child gets on the plane early.
  • Arrival airport
    • The adult guardian you choose must get to the airport at least 30 minutes before your flight is supposed to arrive.
    • Your child will be taken to the area where people arrive.
    • The person who is supposed to take care of your child must show a government-issued ID before you can let them go.

• Interruptions in Flight
  • If for some reason your child’s flight is delayed or canceled, they will be given priority boarding on the next flight that comes along. As needed, WestJet will take care of all of your child’s care needs, such as transportation, food, and lodging.

Guardian Program for Fares

For children traveling alone between the ages of 2 and 12 on the majority of WestJet trips, the Guardian Fare Program is required. The service is available for children between the ages of 12 and 18 years. A Guardian who is always sitting next to or close to the child will accompany children traveling on the Guardian Fare Program.

Guardian Reservations for Fares. You can book Guardian Fares by calling WestJet’s customer service line, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or by going to their special care desk, which is open from 6:30 am to 5:30 pm MST.

Guardian Reservation Fares are subject to the following conditions:

• On foreign trips and flights with connections.
• Children traveling alone who are between the ages of 2 and 11 must have one.
• For children aged 12 to 18 who are traveling alone, this is an option.
• The Guardian needs to be at least 18 years old.
• At the time of booking, you must choose a Guardian.
• When you book The Guardian, you can get 50% off the lowest fare that is offered at the time of booking.
• A Guardian Fare can only be bought for one person.
• Guardians can take more than one child with them when they travel.
• You can name two different people as Guardians for planes going out and coming in.
• The Guardian’s return flight has to leave within 24 hours of the first flight, but it doesn’t have to leave until at least 2 hours after the first flight gets at its location.

WestJet does not permit Guardian Fare bookings on WestJet 787 Dreamliner flights

FAQs of WestJet Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Policy