How early can you check in luggage westjet

Primary recommendation: arrive at the terminal with hold bags no later than 45 minutes before scheduled departure for domestic and transborder flights, and no later than 60 minutes for international departures; most major airports allow bag-drop to open up to 3 hours prior to departure. For predictable processing, aim for a terminal arrival of 60 minutes before domestic departures, 90 minutes for flights to the United States, and 120 minutes for overseas services.

Practical actions: complete web registration and download a mobile boarding pass up to 24 hours before travel, tag any hold items at the bag-drop desk on arrival, and keep photo ID and booking reference ready. If travelling without hold items, proceed directly to security and plan to be at the gate 30–45 minutes before pushback; passengers with priority status or premium fares should still allow the same window for oversized items or verification checks.

Allocate extra time when carrying sporting equipment, musical instruments, pets, or non-standard parcels – add 30–60 minutes to the baseline arrival. Small regional airports sometimes enforce earlier bag-drop cutoffs; for tight connections or group bookings, confirm exact deadlines via the carrier’s official website or the departure airport’s information line before leaving for the terminal.

Advance bag-drop timing for hold bags – carrier guidance

Recommendation: Present hold bags at the airport counter or at a self-service drop-off no later than 90 minutes before domestic departures, 120 minutes before transborder (Canada–U.S.) flights and 180 minutes before international departures; aim to arrive earlier at major hubs (YYC, YVR, YYZ) or during holiday peak periods.

Operational tips: complete online boarding pass issuance 24 hours before departure and use the bag-drop kiosk when available to save time; keep passport and travel documents ready for transborder and international processing; for group travel or oversized/oversize items allow an additional 30–60 minutes; check airport advisories for temporary counter opening changes or construction at origin airport.

Hold-baggage drop-off timelines prior to departure for the carrier

Minimum presentation times: Present bags at the ticket counter or dedicated drop desk no later than 60 minutes before scheduled departure for domestic and transborder (U.S.) services; 90 minutes for international services. Some long-haul or special-document routes require up to 120 minutes–plan accordingly.

Counters and automated bag-drop kiosks generally open between 2 and 3 hours before departure, though exact opening hours vary by airport and flight type. Arrival at the terminal with allowance for security lines and processing reduces risk of missed drop deadlines.

Exceptions and special cases

Allow extra time (add 30–60 minutes) when travelling with oversized or special items, sporting equipment, live animals, unaccompanied minors, or group reservations. Charter flights, codeshares, and certain international gateways may enforce earlier cutoffs–confirm on the booking confirmation or the airport’s official page.

Practical recommendations

Bring passport/ID and any required travel documents to the counter for rapid verification. If using a mobile boarding pass, have it ready to display. If bag drop is missed, ask the airline agent immediately about late-drop options, though additional fees or denied acceptance may apply.

Route and airport differences: domestic, U.S. and international bag drop cutoffs

Present hold baggage at the bag-drop desk according to route: domestic Canadian flights – minimum 45 minutes before scheduled departure; U.S. transborder departures – minimum 60 minutes; international departures – minimum 90 minutes at major hubs, 60 minutes at smaller international ports that process outbound clearance.

• Domestic (within Canada)

  • Standard cutoff: 45 minutes pre-departure at most airports.
  • Major hubs (YYZ, YVR, YYC, YUL): allow 60 minutes during peak travel (mornings, holidays) because of security lines and busy bag operations.
  • Small regional airports: some desks accept hold bags as late as 30 minutes pre-departure; verify airport-specific rules when time is tight.

• U.S. transborder

  • Standard cutoff: 60 minutes pre-departure for flights to the United States.
  • Airports with U.S. preclearance (e.g., YYZ, YVR): allow an extra 15–30 minutes if processing lines are long; late arrivals at the bag-drop risk denied acceptance.
  • When transporting items that require extra handling (sporting equipment, pets), target 90–120 minutes to complete documentation and handling.

• International (outside North America)

  • Standard cutoff: 90 minutes at most international hubs; some airports and routes enforce 120 minutes (Europe/long-haul) – follow airport signage or carrier advisories.
  • Flights requiring additional checks (visas, health documentation, export paperwork): add 30–60 minutes to the baseline cutoff.
  • For oversized cargo, musical instruments in cargo hold, or firearms, arrive 2–3 hours before departure to complete manifesting and security clearance.

Airport-specific tips

• Airline-operated self-service kiosks at major airports often speed up tag printing; still, bags must be presented at the staffed bag-drop within the route-specific cutoff.
• Domestic connections leaving from a remote terminal sometimes require earlier bag acceptance to allow inter-terminal transfers – allow an additional 15–30 minutes for transfers.
• When packing carry-on plus a personal item, consider a compact option such as the best travel backpack for men personal item to avoid excess hold-baggage at busy counters.

Operational exceptions and sensible margins

• Severe weather, strikes, system outages or unusually high passenger volumes may force earlier cutoff enforcement; build a 15–30 minute buffer above the published minimums.
• For inflating large sports gear or checking items that require pressure testing prior to transport, consult technical guidance such as how to measure cfm of an air compressor a step by step guide and allocate extra time for preparation.
• When itinerary includes mixed carriers or interline segments, follow the most restrictive bag-drop requirement among the involved carriers and airports.

Online boarding pass retrieval and bag-drop kiosk: step-by-step requirements

Retrieve boarding pass via the airline web or mobile portal at the opening window (commonly 24 hours prior to scheduled departure); pre-pay hold-bag fees and confirm allowance and permitted dimensions/weights on the reservation.

Before airport arrival

Reservation access: Have confirmation code and passenger surname ready for portal login; for international itineraries, upload passport details and visa information where requested.

Baggage preparation: Verify number of included hold bags for the fare class; typical weight limits are 23 kg (50 lb) per bag for standard economy and up to 32 kg (70 lb) for higher classes, with maximum linear dimensions of 158 cm (62 in). Redistribute contents if any bag exceeds published limits.

Special items and restrictions: Place spare lithium batteries, e-cigarettes and other forbidden items in the cabin baggage only; declare oversized or special items in the portal so staff guidance appears on the bag-drop receipt.

At the kiosk and bag-drop counter

Mobile or printed boarding pass: Open the mobile boarding pass offline or print a paper copy; at the kiosk, scan the boarding pass barcode to begin the bag-drop sequence.

Tagging and weighing: Select the bag(s) to be deposited, place each piece on the integrated scale, print bag tag(s) from the kiosk and attach to the main handle; confirm destination airport code printed on each tag before finalizing.

Payment and receipts: If additional fees are required, pay via card at the kiosk; retain the bag-drop receipt and photograph the tag barcode for tracking and recovery purposes.

Document checks and outbound formalities: After bag-drop, present passport/ID and any required immigration forms at the outbound verification counter if prompted; keep the receipt until arrival at final destination.

Overnight holds, last‑minute exceptions and fees for bags deposited in advance

Recommendation: deposit baggage overnight only after direct confirmation from the airport’s baggage operations desk; without explicit acceptance the item may be refused for next‑day carriage or routed to airport storage with applicable charges.

Overnight holds – what to expect

Airports operate one of three outcomes for bags left prior to travel day: retained within the carrier’s secure baggage system and re‑tagged for the scheduled flight; transferred to airport short‑term storage with a storage fee; or classified as unaccompanied freight and moved to cargo handling (different paperwork, higher cost). International departures often require passenger presence for customs clearance, so overnight retention for international flights is frequently restricted.

Practical steps before leaving a bag overnight: obtain written or photographed confirmation from baggage operations, verify that the bag receives a flight tag valid for the next day, remove perishables and restricted items, record the tag number, and leave a local contact number on the tag.

Last‑minute exceptions, operational waivers and likely fees

Operational exceptions occur during disruptions (delays, cancellations, irregular operations). Agents may accept late deposits at gate or ticket desks at their discretion; acceptance usually requires reissuance of tags and may involve a late‑deposit handling fee. Elite customers and passengers rebooked by the carrier because of a cancellation often receive fee waivers–but documentation of rebooking is typically required at the desk.

Fees commonly encountered: short‑term storage charges when baggage is held beyond the carrier’s accepted window; unaccompanied baggage handling fees if the item is processed through cargo; late‑processing or special handling surcharges when staff must re‑tag or move bags outside normal operations. Refunds of these fees are rare unless the carrier initiated the overnight hold or accepted responsibility for the delay.

At airports with strict security or limited baggage facilities, expect stricter cutoffs and higher likelihood of storage charges. When operational flexibility is needed, call the airline’s baggage operations or the departure airport desk and request written confirmation of any fee waivers or acceptance terms before leaving the item.