A Canadian-American national is warning other dual citizens about Canada’s air travel entry requirements after he wasn’t allowed to board a Westjet flight for not providing valid proof of his citizenship.
Jamak Golshani, a dual Canadian-American citizen, was travelling from Paris to Vancouver with a layover in Calgary on Nov. 3, 2023, but was denied boarding because the airline said his identification did not meet the government’s standards to fly.
Golshani, who resides in Vancouver, B.C., told Now Toronto he checked Canadian entry requirements before his flight and concluded, based on government guidelines, that as a Canadian-American dual citizen he could enter Canada by showing either of his valid passports.
Golshani says he presented his American passport at check-in and his expired Canadian passport as proof of his Canadian citizenship.
“As a dual Canadian and American citizen, I presented my valid American passport at the check-in counter. When asked about my Canadian citizenship, I showed my expired Canadian passport as proof,” Golshani wrote in an email to WestJet dated Nov. 22, 2023.
“Contrary to the recognized regulations that as a dual citizen I am not required to carry both valid passports, I was denied boarding. I tried to resolve the misunderstanding by showing the official information from the Canadian government and WestJet’s website but to no avail,” the email stated.
The Canadian government’s website stated at the time of his flight that if dual Canadian-Americans travel with just a valid U.S. passport to Canada they will need to carry identification that proves their Canadian citizenship.
Golshani told Now Toronto in an interview on Monday that he had a NEXUS card and a Canadian driver’s licence with him, both of which are listed by the Canadian government as valid proof of citizenship.
He says he offered both to Westjet before being informed that only a valid U.S. and Canadian passport would suffice and that he would not be allowed to board.
Golshani added that he felt staff conducted themselves in an unacceptable manner.
A few months after the incident, Golshani brought legal action against the airline.
In a letter to WestJet, dated Feb. 7, 2024, his lawyers, from Calgary-based law firm Wiebe Wittmann Robertson LLP, wrote the following:
“WestJet’s crew members obviously overreached in a manner way beyond their authority. Mr. Golshani was wrongfully denied boarding and was subjected to humiliating and embarrassing treatment by WestJet crew members.”
“He was forced to abandon the use of that portion of his airfare and to purchase another ticket. As a result, absolutely unnecessary expenses and mental and physical stress were imposed on him,” the letter continued.
But in a response addressed to Golshani on June 24, WestJet’s counsel said the airline’s record states he simply failed to present any valid Canadian documentation.
“Upon review of our records, you appear to have presented gate agents with a valid U.S. passport and an expired Canadian passport prior to boarding…WestJet’s records also indicate that you did not present documentation denoting your Canadian identity and citizenship as required by Canadian authorities,” the letter stated.
“In view of the above, we see no claim to be made here,” it concluded.
Similarly, WestJet told Now Toronto that Golshani was denied boarding as he was “unable to provide the required documentation in alignment with the Government of Canada’s entry requirements.”
“We understand how frustrating it is when travel does not go to plan, and we are sincerely sorry for the inconvenience this may have caused,” the airline wrote.
But Golshani maintains that he presented the necessary documentation.
“I had my NEXUS card on me. I had my driver’s licence on me,” he said.
He also claims the WestJet check-in clerk said that if he had shown his U.S. passport and told them that he was just visiting Canada there would have been no issue.
But because he disclosed he was a Canadian citizen he had to prove it.
Golshani ended up booking flights from Paris to Istanbul, Istanbul to Seattle and then driving across the border to Vancouver. In its entirety, the journey took two days and cost him about $900.
Upon his return and after many failed attempts to reach WestJet directly, Golshani hired lawyers who told him he had a case.
In the February letter to WestJet, Golshani’s lawyers asked for “full reimbursement” for his flight and for all costs resulting from “wrongful action of WestJet ground crew members,” as well as $1,000 compensation for public humiliation, embarrassment and mental and emotional stress.
In total, Golshani demanded $4,046.26 from WestJet.
But, Golshani opted to drop the case because it became increasingly costly. As a result, he did not receive compensation.
Golshani described the ordeal as “frustrating” and “aggravating.”
“There was a lack of transparency, and then also a lack of willingness to help when you find out that there’s an issue,” he said.
“I couldn’t get a single soul to give me an answer…They make it so difficult,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, WestJet stands firm that Golshani was denied boarding because he could not produce Canadian citizenship through valid documentation.
