WestJet

IATA WS ICAO WJA Canada · www.westjet.com (opens in a new tab)

Powered wheelchairs accepted · carried free · 48 h notice.

Advance notice: 48hours before departure
Powered wheelchair: Yes
Lithium, battery installed: Not published
Cost to carry: Free

Who to contact

Transcribed from the airline’s own pages, exactly as it labels them.

Phone

+1 888 937 8538

Canada & U.S. — WestJet contact centre (new/existing bookings, accessibility services, TTY relay target)

24 hours a day, seven days a week
Phone

+1 833 380 3263

Accessibility Plan feedback — Director of Regulatory Affairs & Accessibility (toll-free)
Phone

+1 403 444 2268

Accessibility Plan feedback — local/long distance (Calgary)
Phone

+1 877 495 2276

Complaint Resolution Official (CRO) — mobility aid delayed/damaged on Canada–U.S. flights
Phone

+1 866 693 7853

Guests with disabilities having difficulty using westjet.com (toll-free)
Phone

+1 877 952 0100

TTY for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing (toll-free, listed on the Accessible travel page)
Phone

+1 866 666 6224

Missing or damaged bags (toll-free North America)
Email

Accessibility@westjet.com

WestJet Accessibility — accessibility plan feedback, alternate formats (Attn: Director of Regulatory Affairs & Accessibility, 22 Aerial Place N.E., Calgary, Alberta T2E 3J1)
Online form

WestJet accessibility form (requests and feedback) (opens in a new tab)
Online form

Add or update mobility assistance in Manage Trips ('Edit guest info' → 'Request mobility assistance to the aircraft') (opens in a new tab)
Online form

Share feedback / contact form (opens in a new tab)
Relay / text

Dial 711; when the operator gives the go-ahead, type 1-888-937-8538 then type GA. The operator connects and translates to WestJet.

TTY via relay

There is no separate disability phone line: accessibility requests go through the general 24/7 contact centre (1-888-937-8538) or the online accessibility form. The 1-833-380-3263 / Accessibility@westjet.com channel is for accessibility-plan feedback and alternate formats, not day-of-travel assistance.

Read it from the source

Powered wheelchairs & batteries

The part that goes wrong. Battery chemistry and watt-hours decide whether your chair flies, and the rules differ depending on whether the battery can be removed.

Powered chairs accepted

Yes

'Powered wheelchairs and scooters travel in the aircraft's cargo compartment. Size limits and battery requirements must be confirmed before traveling.' Devices are kept upright throughout: 'It will not be tilted or placed on its side at any point during loading, transport, or unloading.' Refused if they exceed the per-aircraft weight/size limits or if the battery type is not permitted.

Wheelchairs and mobility aids (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29 WestJet Domestic Tariff CTA(A) WS2 — Rule 40 Persons with a Disability; Rule 95 Baggage Liability (PDF, eff. 2026-06-18) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29

Lithium-ion batteries

Not published

Not published for mobility aids. WestJet says to confirm your battery type with the manual or manufacturer and that agents will verify it at check-in, but publishes no lithium acceptance statement for wheelchairs. (The general baggage page's 'batteries carry-on only' rule is written for consumer devices, not mobility aids.)

Watt-hour cap — battery stays in the chair

Not published

Not published; no watt-hour figure for mobility-aid batteries appears on westjet.com or in the tariff. ICAO/IATA default applies — see global rules.

Watt-hour cap — battery removed into the cabin

Not published

Not published; WestJet says only that it will confirm at check-in 'whether removed batteries must travel in the cabin or as checked baggage'. No Wh cap given.

Watt-hour cap — spare battery

Not published

Not published for mobility aids. The only Wh-style figures on the site are Korea-specific ICN departure rules for consumer devices (under 100 W / 100–160 W / over 160 W), which are not a mobility-aid limit.

Spare batteries permittedmaximum number under any published configuration

Not published

Not published as a number. WestJet says agents will verify 'how many batteries are allowed' at check-in.

Battery must be removed

Not published

Device-dependent and decided at check-in, not published as a rule: 'Know whether your battery must stay attached, be disconnected, or be removed.' If removal or disconnection is needed, WestJet can help at the airport provided you bring the manufacturer's instructions and any required tools.

Non-spillable batteriesgel, AGM, sealed lead-acid, dry cell

Not published

Not published. No gel / AGM / sealed-lead-acid / dry-cell statement appears on the mobility-aid, baggage or tariff pages.

Wet / spillable batteries

Not published

Not published. WestJet's mobility-aid page says only that it accepts 'batteries and battery-powered devices that are permitted and properly prepared for transport' and will verify requirements at check-in; it names no battery chemistry.

Terminal protection & immobilisation

Yes

WestJet checks at the counter 'how removed batteries must be packaged, including protecting battery terminals from contact with metal'.

Wheelchairs and mobility aids (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29

Paperwork the airline wants

Yes

No battery spec sheet or MSDS is demanded, but the tariff requires the passenger to provide disassembly/reassembly instructions and any specialised tools where the aid must be taken apart (Rule 40 F(5)), with refusal if they are not supplied. WestJet also asks you to bring the device manual so agents can confirm size, weight and battery information.

Size limit for a powered chairAirline’s stated maximum wheelchair size

101.6 cm wide · 88.9 cm high

Smallest published figure per axis: 35 in (88.9 cm) height on the Boeing 737; 40 in (101.6 cm) width for 787-9 bulk-loaded devices. Powered aids are measured 'in the fully upright position' because WestJet keeps them upright throughout handling. Exceeding the limit means refusal.

Weight limit for a powered chair

136.1 kg

300 lb (136.1 kg) on the Boeing 737 and Dash 8-400 (Q400) and for 787-9 bulk-loaded devices; 500 lb (226.8 kg) only for 787-9 ULD container loading. Where an itinerary mixes aircraft types 'the most restrictive capability applies to the entire itinerary'.

Returned at the aircraft door

Not published

Not published. Powered chairs travel in the cargo compartment; WestJet does not state whether they are returned at the aircraft door or at the baggage hall.

Powered aids must be upright at all times during handling, including when moved into the hold — a protocol WestJet introduced in 2024 and credits with a ~24% drop in motorised-wheelchair damage reports between 2024 and 2025.

Manual wheelchairs

Manual chairs accepted

Yes

Manual wheelchairs are carried free of charge. On all aircraft except the 787-9 they travel in the cargo compartment. Small medically required aids (canes, walkers, braces) are free and need no advance notice; those within carry-on size limits may come into the cabin.

Folding chair may travel in the cabin

Conditional

Only on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner: 'up to two guest-owned folding wheelchairs may be stored in the cabin on a first-come, first-served basis (one per guest)'. If cabin storage isn't available the chair goes in the hold. On all other aircraft manual wheelchairs travel in the cargo compartment. Tariff Rule 40 F(3) promises 'every reasonable effort' to allow cabin stowage of a walker or manual chair where it can be safely stowed.

In-cabin stowage limit

Not published

WestJet does not publish dimensions for the 787-9 in-cabin wheelchair stowage space — only that up to two guest-owned folding wheelchairs fit, one per guest.

Size limit for a checked manual chairAirline’s stated maximum wheelchair size

101.6 cm wide · 88.9 cm high

Smallest figure in each axis from WestJet's per-aircraft mobility-aid table: height 35 in (88.9 cm) on the Boeing 737, width 40 in (101.6 cm) for 787-9 bulk-loaded baggage. Full table in aircraft_hold_note. 'If your device exceeds these limits, we won't be able to transport it.' Measure with no one sitting in it.

Weight limit for a manual chair

136.1 kg

300 lb (136.1 kg) on the Boeing 737 and De Havilland Dash 8-400 (Bombardier Q400) and for bulk-loaded 787-9 baggage; 500 lb (226.8 kg) only where the 787-9 loads the device in a ULD container. The most restrictive aircraft on the itinerary governs the whole itinerary.

Returned at the aircraft door

Not published

Not published as gate/aircraft-door return. Tariff Rule 40 F(2) says only that WestJet will make every reasonable effort to let you keep your mobility aid until it must be stored, and will return it 'as promptly as possible upon flight arrival at destination'; it does not say where.

Footrests, cushions and anything else that cannot be securely attached should be removed and packed separately. You must supply disassembly/reassembly instructions and any specialised tools (Tariff Rule 40 F(5)); WestJet may refuse the aid if they are not provided.

Booking & cost

Advance notice requiredhours before scheduled departure

48h

Tariff Rule 40 C: WestJet 'recommends that all reservations for Persons With A Disability be made at least 48 hours in advance of travel, including advising WestJet as to the assistance required', and that the 48 hours include one full business day. The accessible-seating page repeats 'at least 48 hours before departure'. Recommended, not absolute; canes/walkers/braces need no notice.

WestJet Domestic Tariff CTA(A) WS2 — Rule 40 Persons with a Disability; Rule 95 Baggage Liability (PDF, eff. 2026-06-18) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29 Seating options for accessibility (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29 Wheelchairs and mobility aids (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29

How to request assistance

Select 'Request mobility assistance to the aircraft' on the Guest details page when booking, or add/update it later in Manage Trips → Edit guest info; the contact centre or a travel agent can also add it

The same step asks whether you are bringing a manual (non-powered) wheelchair/mobility aid or a powered wheelchair or scooter, including battery details. Then arrive at the airport at least 30 minutes before the check-in cut-off and go to the check-in counter so agents can review the device and battery.

Wheelchairs and mobility aids (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29 Mobility assistance (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29

Charge for carrying the aid

No fee

'You can travel with your own wheelchair or personal mobility aid, such as a scooter, walker, crutches, or cane, free of charge, in addition to the checked baggage included with your fare.' Tariff Rule 40 F(1): carried free of charge as priority baggage.

Mobility devices carried free

Not published

WestJet does not publish a number of mobility devices carried free per passenger; it says mobility aids travel free in addition to the fare's checked baggage allowance without stating a count.

If they damage your chair

Full replacement cost or equivalent model, plus a temporary replacement aid and reimbursement of expenses (CTA ATPDR standard, Tariff Rule 95 C)

If a mobility aid is damaged, destroyed or lost in WestJet's care it must provide a temporary replacement aid meeting the person's needs, reimburse expenses caused by the loss, and repair the aid without delay — or, if it cannot be adequately repaired, replace it with the same or an equivalent model or reimburse the full replacement cost. Same remedy if the aid is not returned within 96 hours of arrival. On Canada–U.S. flights a CRO is reachable at 1-877-495-2276.

WestJet Domestic Tariff CTA(A) WS2 — Rule 40 Persons with a Disability; Rule 95 Baggage Liability (PDF, eff. 2026-06-18) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29 Wheelchairs and mobility aids (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29

On board

On-board aisle chair

Yes

'All WestJet aircraft are equipped with an onboard wheelchair to help you move between your seat and the washroom.' In 2025 WestJet bought the Airchair II model and began rolling it out across the 737 fleet.

Wheelchairs and mobility aids (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29 Mobility assistance (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29 WestJet Group Accessibility Plan (2026 edition) and feedback process (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29

Accessible lavatory

Not published

Not published. WestJet describes cabin-crew assistance to and from the washroom and an onboard wheelchair, but does not state which aircraft have an accessible lavatory. It notes it is preparing for the U.S. DOT visual-barrier requirement applying to single-aisle aircraft delivered from 2 October 2026.

Crew help you transfer

Yes

Staff transfer guests using an onboard aisle chair, approved transfer equipment or a mechanical lift where the airport has one and staff are trained; otherwise a manual transfer. 'For safety reasons, transfer assistance is available for guests weighing up to 200 kg (440 pounds).' Cabin crew also assist transfers between seat and washroom.

Mobility assistance (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29

Seating & movable armrests

Yes

WestJet publishes per-aircraft seats that are easier for transfers: Dash 8-400 rows 7-10 seats C/D; 737 rows 5-12 seats D/E/F; 787-9 rows 15-24 seats D/E/F (second set: Dash 8-400 row 3 C/D, 737 rows 1-3 D/F, 787-9 rows 6-8 D/H). Exit-row seats are barred. A medical seating accommodation needs the Air Travel Requirements Assessment form at least 48 h ahead (10 days recommended).

Seating options for accessibility (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29

Fleet detail. WestJet's published per-aircraft mobility-aid limits (weight; height × width, measured upright, no one sitting in the device): De Havilland Dash 8-400 / Bombardier Q400 — 300 lb, 59 in H × 51 in W (136.1 kg, 149.9 × 129.5 cm); Boeing 737 — 300 lb, 35 in H × 48 in W (136.1 kg, 88.9 × 121.9 cm); Boeing 787-9 bulk-loaded — 300 lb, 45 in H × 40 in W (136.1 kg, 114.3 × 101.6 cm); Boeing 787-9 ULD container-loaded — 500 lb, 64 in H × 61 in W (226.8 kg, 162.6 × 154.9 cm). Container sizes may vary. Where an itinerary involves multiple aircraft types the most restrictive capability applies to the whole itinerary (Tariff Rule 40 G(1)).

Worth knowing

WestJet publishes an unusually explicit per-aircraft maximum wheelchair size table (and repeats it in its CTA tariff), but publishes NO watt-hour limits, no battery-chemistry acceptance list and no spare-battery count for mobility aids — everything battery-related is deferred to a check-in verification. The trap is a mixed-fleet itinerary: the most restrictive aircraft governs the whole trip, so one 737 leg caps the chair at 35 in / 88.9 cm high. WestJet is a 'large carrier' under the Canadian ATPDR (Parts 1-3) and also follows 14 CFR Part 382 on U.S. flights; a CRO is available by phone for all flights starting or ending in the USA. The WestJet Group covered by the accessibility plan includes WestJet Encore, WestJet Vacations and Sunwing Vacations. The site's 'De Havilland Dash 8-400' is the tariff's 'Bombardier Q400' — same aircraft.

Sources

Every figure above traces to one of these.

s1 Accessible travel (hub) (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
s2 Wheelchairs and mobility aids (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
s3 Mobility assistance (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
s4 WestJet Group Accessibility Plan (2026 edition) and feedback process (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
s5 WestJet Domestic Tariff CTA(A) WS2 — Rule 40 Persons with a Disability; Rule 95 Baggage Liability (PDF, eff. 2026-06-18) (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
s6 Baggage — Before you pack (prohibited / restricted / carry-on-only items) (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
s7 Contact us — accessibility support and TTY (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
s8 Seating options for accessibility (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29

Record status researched · confidence high · 8 official sources · 12 contacts · 53% of the fields this reference tracks are answered. Newest source read 29 July 2026, the day before this page was built. What these mean.

WestJet

Who to contact

Read it from the source

Powered wheelchairs & batteries

Manual wheelchairs

Booking & cost

On board

Worth knowing

Sources

Record quality