Hulse, Playfair & McGarry Inc.

Losing a loved one is difficult enough, but knowing and planning to meet requirements ahead of time can help you avoid unneeded tress. 

Before Heading to the Airport

Ask your funeral director about temporary containers for transportation purposes. The container must be made of a material that allows the X-ray to clearly scan its contents. Due to differences in thickness, shape and material, some cremated remain containers are more likely to pass through security screening. 

A) Traveling With Cremated Remains (within Canada)

You may bring cremated remains in a suitable cremation container or urn on the plane with you, but first it must pass through the X-ray and pass security screening. 

However, some airlines do not allow cremated remains in checked baggage, so please check with your airline first to learn about possible restrictions.

The container cannot be placed in checked baggage if it has been X-rayed at pre-board screening and its contents could not be determined.

Documentation from Hulse, Playfair and McGarry does not provide an exemption to this requirement.

Screening officers are not permitted to open a cremation container, and they will not inspect the contents if you open it yourself.

It is an option to bring your empty permanent urn with you and arrange for a funeral home at your destination to transfer the container contents.

B) Traveling By Air With Cremated Remains (internationally)

Cremation container and documentation requirements when travelling can vary depending on your destination. If you are travelling internationally, we suggest you contact the embassy for the country of your destination before you fly to determine their specific requirements concerning the transport of cremated remains. Our funeral directors can also offer you invaluable assistance regarding the requirements.

C) Mailing of Cremated Remains (within Canada)

According to Canada Post, you may mail, using its trackable parcel service, both human and animal cremated remains as long as one meets the documentation and packaging requirements, for example:

- You can mail them using a trackable parcel service

- Make sure the destination and return addresses are correct and complete.

- The cremated remains are packed in a sealed container and put inside a sift-proof outer container. If the inner container is fragile, you will have to protect it with packing material.

- The cremated remains are accompanied by a certificate of cremation issued by our funeral home, or in the case of a pet, the cremation provider, and placed inside a plastic envelope and attached to the top of the parcel.

Transportation Guidelines from The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA)

https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/cremated-remains

Canada Posts ABCs about Mailing Cremated Remains Internationally

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/support/articles/abcs-of-mailing/cremated-remains.page

For more information, please email us at contact@hpmcgarry.ca