Travelling with Family and Pets

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Expectant/New mothers

You may travel with Swoop up to and including your 36th week of pregnancy. We recommend that you check with your physician or midwife before travelling. We want you to be as safe and comfortable as possible during your journey with us — here are a few tips that we hope will help.

You may select your seat in advance for a fee. Many expectant mothers reserve an aisle seat to easily access the lavatory and to allow movement during the flight. If you don’t select your seat when booking your reservation, you can select your seat in advance at Manage my Booking or for a fee by calling Swoop at 1 (587) 441-1001. If you do not purchase a seat one will be assigned to you free of charge prior to your flight, although it may not be an aisle.

We ask all travellers to keep their seat belt fastened when seated; as an expectant mother, you should keep the seat belt fastened under your belly and placed low on your hips. If you require a seat belt extender for comfort, your flight attendant will provide one for you.

If you have given birth within the last seven days we recommend that you check with your physician or midwife before travelling.

Newborn infants

We recommend checking with your physician or midwife prior to travelling with infants less than eight days old.

Unaccompanied minors

Swoop does not accept unaccompanied minors for travel.

Children and infants

Once your child reaches their second birthday, Transport Canada requires that they occupy their own seat.

Children under age two at the time of departure are considered infants, and may travel as a lap-held infant (with a traveller 16 years of age or older) without requiring a seat to be purchased for them. Alternatively, you may purchase a seat for your infant provided they travel secured in an approved car seat.

Transport Canada mandates that no person shall be responsible for more than one infant on board. For example, infant twins would need two persons, 16 years of age or older, to travel with them.

Please review the details below as there are restrictions that may affect your travel with an infant.

FREE seat selection for children

When travelling with children under the age of 14, you can select and customize exactly where you sit by selecting your seat during initial booking or through My bookings up to 24 hours prior to departure.  If an adult purchases a seat in the family zone, children will get to select their seat for free in close proximity to the adult they are traveling with.  If no seats are selected we’ll do our best to seat your group together at check-in, for no additional charge. 

Children seating rules

Children under the age of 14 must be seated in close proximity to a parent, guardian or tutor and will have the option to select their seats for free. This proximity will depend on the age of the child:

• Adult (16 yrs+) flying with children under the age of 5: Children will be seated adjacent to their parent, guardian or tutor.

• Adult (16 yrs+) flying with children aged 5 to 11: Children may select a seat in the same row and separated by no more than one seat from their parent, guardian or tutor.

• Adults (16 yrs+) flying with children aged 12 or 13: Children will be separated by no more than a row from the parent, guardian or tutor. 

• Adults (12-16yrs) flying with children between 5-11 yrs old: Children may select a seat in the same row separated by no more than one seat from their parent, guardian or tutor.

• Child aged 12 or 13 flying alone: There are no restrictions as to where they can sit, and regular seat fees will apply. 

• Two children aged 12 or 13 flying together: One child will be considered an adult with regular seat fees, while the second child will be able to select their seat for free within the family zone and must be seated no more than a row from their travel partner. 

• Traveller under the age of 16 flying with children under the age of 5: Pursuant to the Air Transportation Regulation, you will not be allowed to fly. Any children under the age of 5 must fly with an adult over the age of 16.

The Family Zone 

Rows 18-32 will be initially reserved for Family Zone seating. If these are unavailable, rows 8-14 will become available to families flying with children under the age of 14. 

Booking through a 3rd party

Most 3rd parties do not allow you to select a seat when purchasing your flight. Don’t sweat, you can head to My Bookings to purchase and select your seats before your departure.  By purchasing your seat you can customize where you sit and accompanying children will be able to select a seat for free if you purchase your seat within the Family Zone.  If you do not select your seats, we’ll  do our best to seat your group together at check-in, for no additional charge. 

Identification

Travellers of all ages require traveller identification that matches the name and spelling on their ticket. You are responsible for making sure that you, and any child travelling with you, have the proper identification and travel documentation required to enter or connect through each country on your itinerary.

Travel within Canada

• Infants (under two years of age) require proof of age, such as a birth certificate (a photocopy is acceptable).

• We strongly recommend that all children travel with one piece of government-issued identification.

• Children (12-17) travelling alone may be denied boarding if they appear to be less than 12 years old and are not able to present proof of age.

International Travel

Adults, children and infants

A valid (not expired) Nexus card will be accepted for travel to/from the US only, however a valid passport is still required. For country-specific information and other important travel issues, contact the nearest embassy, consulate or www.travel.gc.ca.

A lap-held infant is subject to a $25 CAD fee per flight, plus applicable taxes, when travelling between Canada and international destinations (excluding the U.S.).

Children travelling with one parent

Consult www.travel.gc.ca for information on child custody, consent letters and other documents, as well as the nearest embassy or consulate for the destination you are travelling to as there may be additional documentation required.

Lost or stolen passports

If your passport has been lost or stolen, contact the consulate/embassy of your issuing country immediately. Canadians can report a lost or stolen passport to the nearest Canadian embassy or consulate. Passports located or turned in to a Swoop representative will be returned to the originating country.

Passports

We strongly recommend that you apply for a new passport if your current passport is damaged. Travelling with a passport that is damaged in any way could result in significant delays and may include denied boarding.

Travel to Canada – Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)

If you are a foreign traveller and you do not require a visa to travel to Canada, you’re expected to apply online for an eTA before travelling to Canada by air; exceptions include U.S. citizens and travellers with a valid Canadian visa. Canadian citizens, including dual citizens, and Canadian permanent residents cannot apply for an eTA.

To apply and find out more, visit www.canada.ca/eTA.

If you are a Canadian Permanent resident travelling to Canada, please ensure you are travelling with a valid Canadian permanent resident card or permanent resident travel document. Failure to present a valid Canadian permanent resident card or permanent resident travel document may result in delays in travel. To find out more, visit Canada.ca/eTA.

Travel to, from or over the U.S.

Secure Flight Program

Airlines are required to submit specific information to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for all guests travelling to, from or over the continental U.S. (excluding flights between two Canadian locations). The following information must be submitted 72 hours before travel or at the time of booking for bookings made less than 72 hours before flight departure:

• name (as it appears on the government-issued ID that will be used when travelling)

• date of birth

• gender

• redress number (if applicable)

• known traveller number (if applicable)

For more information, please refer to the TSA’s website regarding the Secure Flight Program.

U.S. Customs and Border Protections (CBP)

U.S. CBP is required to collect the following information from persons entering the U.S.:

1. Full name

2. Gender

3. Date of birth

4. Citizenship

5. Passport number

6. Passport country of issuance

7. Passport expiration date

8. Country of residence

9. Your address while in the U.S.

Note: Address information is not required of U.S. citizens and legal U.S. Permanent Residents (who must provide their alien registration number).

Extra baggage allowances

A traveller with an infant or child can check a child restraint system (car seat, booster seat) free of charge. Any stroller, child restraint system or playpen will be subject to a baby equipment fee. Car seat bases are included with car seat. Any stroller conversion product with wheels will be considered a stroller. Standard baggage fees apply over and above the limit. Weight allowance of 50lbs per piece applies.

Swoop also allows a maximum of one diaper bag per infant as carry-on baggage, free of charge. A diaper bag must contain items for an infant, and must be stowed under the seat in front of the traveller.

Travelling with pets

Swoop does not accept pets or specialty animals for travel in the cabin or as checked baggage. For information on the acceptance of service animals, please see our accessible services page.

Car seats and restraint systems

Swoop accepts Transport Canada or Federal Aviation Administration approved child/infant restraint systems, more commonly referred to as car seats, for use in the cabin provided they meet restraint system standards and Swoop’s carry-on baggage acceptance guidelines.

Swoop does not supply car seats or other restraint systems.

A traveller with a lap-held infant can check one child restraint system (ie. car seat, booster seat) free of charge. Each additional piece of infant equipment can be added for a fee.

Car seat usage restrictions

If you plan on having your child use a car seat on board the aircraft, you must purchase a seat on board for them. Call Swoop at 1 (587) 441-1001 so we can prepare your reservation for a car seat.

• The infant/child must be secured in the car seat for taxi, takeoff, landing or whenever the seatbelt sign is illuminated.

• All infants/children secured in a car seat must be seated beside a traveller 12 years of age or older, and are restricted from some seats on the aircraft (for example over-wing exit row or bulkhead seats).

• May be used with or without a base, as long as it meets the standard and is properly secured.

• Must be used with their internal harness system installed.

• Must be used within the limitations and conditions specified by the manufacturer.

Accepted car seats

Only car seats labelled as follows may be used on Swoop aircraft:

Canadian manufactured systems:

• Manufacturer’s name and, subassembly part number and the CAN_TSO number must be visible.

• The car seat must conform to the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 213 or 213.1, as indicated on the National Safety Mark in the diagram below:

  

  NOTE: XXXX in the National Safety Mark above will have either 213 or 213.1.

American manufactured systems:

The statements of compliance on the car seat must indicate:

• This child restraint systems conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).

• This Restraint is Certified for Use in Motor Vehicles and Aircraft (in red lettering) AmSafe child aviation restraint system “CARES™”.

The child aviation restraint systems “CARES™”, manufactured by AmSafe, is a harness and buckle device that attaches directly to the aircraft seat. It may be used as an alternative to a car seat on the aircraft.

Conditions for acceptance:

• The car seat must bear a legible label that states:

  • “CARES™”;

  • FAA APPROVED in accordance with 14 CFR 21.305(d), approved for aircraft use only;

  • PNR (part number) 4082-1-(X)-(X).

• The car seat must be used within the limitations specified by the manufacturer found on the device.

• The traveller responsible for the occupant must be familiar with:

  • Manufacturer’s installation instructions and limitations for the device.

  • Procedures for evacuating the occupant secured in the device.

The following restraint systems are not permitted for use on board the aircraft:

• Booster cushions;

• Booster seats, including combination restraint systems CMVSS 213.2 when used without the internal harness;

• Belly or loop belts;

• Baby hammock (such as FlyeBaby™).

The following restraint systems are permitted for use on board the aircraft during flight only:

• Infant carriers (such as Snugli®) are allowed to be used in flight, but not during takeoff and landing.

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