Flying from Canada to the U.S.? New rule leaves room for confusion
Travellers from Canada to the U.S. now have an additional requirement that they should be aware of before their trip.
All international air passengers heading to the U.S., including those departing from Canada, must sign an attestation or declaration confirming that they haven’t been to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the 21 days before boarding a flight to the U.S.
But how passengers submit those requirements has been left to individual airlines, creating some uncertainty for travellers.
“Airlines and aircraft operators are responsible for collecting and retaining attestations,” states the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Several Delta passengers have since turned to Reddit to ask how to access and complete the form, while another WestJet passenger asked for advice on filling out the mandatory form.
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According to the health agency, while the overall risk to the American public and travellers remains low, as of Nov. 12, the current Ebola outbreak in the DRC “is spreading substantially faster” than previous outbreaks, with over 1,000 confirmed cases.
While Canada does not have a similar requirement for international passengers, foreign nationals who’ve been in the DRC within the past 21 days won’t be able to enter, board a plane, or transit through Canada. The restrictions are in place until Nov. 27.
Also, if you’re travelling from Canada to the U.S. by land, it’s important to note that the declaration is only required for air travel.
“The requirement does not apply to land border crossings or seaports,” states the CDC.
If you’re flying from Canada to the U.S., here’s how some Canadian airlines are handling the requirement.
Air Canada
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Air Canada passengers can complete their attestation before their flight when they check in online. You can fill it out online via the airline website or app, at the airport kiosk, or with an airline representative at the airport.
Flair
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If you’re flying to the U.S. with Flair, you’ll be asked to fill out the attestation digitally to confirm that you haven’t been to the DRC in the 21 days before boarding. A parent, guardian, or authorized person must confirm the information for any passenger younger than 18. A family member, travel companion, or other authorized person can confirm the information for a passenger with a disability. The airline also has PDF forms available online.
Porter
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In an email to Daily Hive, Porter Airlines said that passengers must fill out an Ebola attestation form, which will be collected during the boarding process. The form will be available at check-in counters and at the gates. The airline said it’s currently exploring digital options to complete the attestation.
WestJet
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WestJet’s website does not specify details about how attestations will be collected, but states that passengers must sign a statement that they haven’t been to the DRC during the 21 days before their flight leaves for the U.S.