tracon

Measures take effect Sept. 1, 2020, airline's CEO, Ed Sims, says in interview with CBC News

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/wes...fety-1.5703063

Interview with Ed Sims Friday evening on the National.

tcook052

Here's the new WS policy as outlined this AM

Zero tolerance mask policy

Effective September 1, 2020, the WestJet Group will implement a zero-tolerance policy in support of the requirement for all guests over the age of two to wear masks and face coverings. Non-compliant guests will face penalties including denied boarding, return of the aircraft to the gate to offload the passenger and the suspension of travel on any WestJet Group aircraft for up to one year.

Non-compliance on board the aircraft will be managed through a three-step process:

• Passengers will first be asked to put the mask on in a discussion with cabin crew.
• Passengers will be given a warning that masks are required, and compliance is necessary.
• Passengers will receive notice that non-compliance will result in follow up notification that they will be placed on a no-fly list for 12-months.

Since April 20, 2020, it has been mandatory for travellers to wear protective face coverings throughout their travel journey, including at the airport, while in flight and at the airport. As outlined by Transport Canada, travellers requiring an exemption to the regulation for health reasons must produce a certified medical note or will be subject to the measures as outlined. Complete guidelines on non-medical masks are available here.

Prior to flying, it is important that travellers understand the current regulations and modifications to services in response to COVID-19. Please visit westjet.com/coronavirus before departure to ensure you are aware of the policies.

Another initiative is better contact tracing:

Contact tracing enhancements

Effective September 1, 2020, the input of contact information for those travelling on WestJet, WestJet Encore, WestJet Link and Swoop will become mandatory at the 24-hour check-in process online and at kiosks. Mandatory information at WestJet check-in kiosks will be phased into the policy change by the end of September.

Once implemented, guests will no longer be able to bypass the information screen and will be required to input up-to-date information prior to the issuance of a boarding pass. It is the responsibility of the traveller to provide accurate information.

Please note that when travellers check in for a flight, they should input their personal contact information, including their own email address.

Sunny Day

So airline is asking us to play our part with this policy, what about doing their part in preventing covid by blocking out all middle seats? I don't see that happening. We hold up our end of the bargain, where is their end of the bargain? What about kids who try to wear the mask but take it off mid-flight while having a melt down and parents are really making a genuine effort to get them to put the masks back on? Will they be kicked off the flight and banned?

tcook052

See the above policy as the compliance steps WS crew will take is quite clear.

YYCguy

I would imagine that parents who are seen to be at least trying to get their children to comply will be treated accordingly, but parents who just aren’t giving a f&$k what their kids do could be subject to the policy above.

tracon

Blocking the middle seat was never designed to prevent COVID.
It was a theatrical measure to make passengers feel good.
If the middle seat is blocked you're less than 3' away from the other pax.

Often1

What about passengers and crew who simply don't wanted to be infected and don't really care whether the virus is transmitted by someone who is 2 or 20?

Finkface

It sounds like there is still the option to get around the policy by providing a doctor’s note. So really still far less stringent than some US airlines. It makes this about as toothless as the ESA regulations.

As outlined by Transport Canada, travellers requiring an exemption to the regulation for health reasons must produce a certified medical note or will be subject to the measures as outlined. Complete guidelines on non-medical masks are available here.

PHXflier

3' is better than 1'. I have flown exclusively on airlines that block the middle seat for the past few months, and I am willing to pay a bit extra for it too. The blocked middle seat may not prevent transmission altogether, but it is a lot better than sitting next to an asymptomatic carrier in a sardine can. With 100 people on the plane chances of infection are just less than with 150 passengers.

Badenoch

I hope so.

mxqisit

There's an inherent risk assumed by each person in choosing to get on an airplane during a pandemic. Let's not take personal responsibility out of the equation here.

Badenoch

The "inherent risk" is assessed based on people wearing masks and the airline maintaining a zero tolerance policy for those who don't. The risk is not based on parents who decide they won't or can't keep a mask on their children. If you can't keep the mask on your kid then don't fly. If you fly anyway be prepared to accept the consequences.

Badenoch

Two WestJet passengers fined for refusing to wear masks.

YYCguy

Strange that the article is about a Westjet flight but the pictures airline cabin is most definitely not the inside of a westjet aircraft!

aerobod

That’s a Southwest Airlines 737-700 on a flight between Burbank and Las Vegas on 3 June 2020 https://www.latimes.com/travel/story...ot-so-friendly