WestJet Rewards - Two Children Traveling Together Question

Hello everyone,

Does anyone know if the following is possible:

I'm looking to send our two children from YYC-YQQ on WS this summer by themselves. My son is 7 years old; my daughter is 13. I used to send them as unaccompanied minors separately when my daughter was less than 12 years of age.

Is this allowed ? Can she be responsible for my son ? FWIW, they are both extremely well-traveled.

Thanks for any information anyone can provide.

Cheers,

Singlepoint

Hello everyone,

Does anyone know if the following is possible:

I'm looking to send our two children from YYC-YQQ on WS this summer by themselves. My son is 7 years old; my daughter is 13. I used to send them as unaccompanied minors separately when my daughter was less than 12 years of age.

Is this allowed ? Can she be responsible for my son ? FWIW, they are both extremely well-traveled.

Thanks for any information anyone can provide.

Cheers,

Singlepoint

Our 11 and 13 year old girls flew together YEG to YLW it went fine but was really stressful for our older daughter (they have travelled a lot). Would wait a while before we did it again.

It is possible to have them travel together as your older child is over 12. You can phone WS when you book to have them add a "more assistance" code and comments to their file so that a customer service agent can point them in the right direction. This is different than being an unaccompanied minor in that the customer service agent will just give them extra assistance, just as we might for someone travelling alone with a baby and gear, for example.

When you arrive at the airport with your children, please remind the customer service agent at checkin/gate of the "more assistance" code and comments so they know and perhaps the kids can preboard.

I hope the kids have a great trip! YQQ is a beautiful town! (And the airport at YQQ is really small, so shouldn't be a problem for them to find their way from the plane to baggage area...just follow all the other guests because there's only one way to go).

Can parents escort children to the gate even if they're not designated as unaccompanied minors? Maybe the "more assistance" designation helps in this situation.

Unfortunately not. Extra tight security restrictions have made that service impossible. Comox airport is very small and there's only one gate. In Calgary, I'd suggest letting the first security person know that the children are travelling alone so that he/she can maybe help make the security procedures a little less daunting for the kids.

Perfect - thanks everyone. They've both flown through YQQ several times (and it is extremely small), so it shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks again,

Singlepoint

Can parents escort children to the gate even if they're not designated as unaccompanied minors? Maybe the "more assistance" designation helps in this situation.

Doesn't hurt to ask - we have made this request in YWG with Westjet and they allowed it, while AC did not. In YYZ neither AC nor Westjet allowed us to do it. The parent who was given a gate pass in YWG had to have photo ID in order to get through security.

I would call Westjet and find out the exact answer.

On AC the situation described by Singlepoint is not allowed. The person looking after the under 12 child must be over 16 years of age.

On Westjet they do not have a UM program, instead one responsible adult is givien a discounted fare to escort the child and then return on the next flight back (must be same day flights).

That said I seem to remember in Open Skies that there was something about the responsible person must be over 16, but there is nothing on the current website and I don't know what is posted into Sabre.