Traveling with a pet on Air Canada is all about navigating specific rules to ensure your companion stays safe and welcome on board. Since June 2025, the airline has shifted strictly to soft-sided carriers for in-cabin travel, phasing out hard crates to better fit varying under-seat spaces. If you’re planning a trip, keep in mind that your furry friend counts as your standard carry-on item. You’ll need to pay a fee roughly $50 to $60 for domestic hops and around $100 to $120 for international routes. For larger dogs, the cargo hold remains an option, though it’s subject to strict temperature and seasonal “blackout” dates. Success really comes down to early registration; since flight spots for pets are limited, it’s best to call and add them to your booking right after you buy your own ticket.
What Is Air Canada Pet Policy?
Traveling with a pet on Air Canada requires some serious homework, as their rules have become quite strict recently. As of June 2025, the airline officially moved to a soft-sided carrier only policy for pets in the cabin. This means hard-sided crates are now strictly for the cargo hold. The height limits have also dropped significantly on many aircraft sometimes as low as 20 cm (7.87 inches) making it a tight squeeze for anyone but the smallest dogs or cats.
Expect to pay around $50–$60 for domestic flights and $100–$120 for international trips. Your pet also counts as your standard carry-on, so pack light. For larger animals, the cargo hold remains an option, but seasonal heat and cold restrictions often block travel during peak summer or winter months. Always call within 24 hours of booking to secure a spot.
What Is The In-Cabin Pet Travel Fee?
When you’re bringing a small dog or cat into the cabin, Air Canada treats the pet fee as a flat service charge per direction. Think of it as purchasing a “seat” for your carrier, though your pet must stay tucked under the seat in front of you the entire time. It’s a bit of a premium for the convenience of having them right by your feet, but it saves you the stress of checking them into cargo. Just remember that the pet and their carrier replace your standard carry-on bag, so you’ll likely need to check your own suitcase.
Quick Fee Breakdown:
- Canada & U.S. (Domestic): Expect to pay between $50 and $60 (CAD/USD).
- International Destinations: The cost jumps to roughly $100 to $120 (CAD/USD).
- Booking Rule: You must call Air Canada to register your pet within 24 hours of booking your own ticket to ensure there’s actually room for them.
- Carrier Type: Only soft-sided carriers are allowed in the cabin as of late 2026.
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What Is Air Canada Pets As Checked Baggage?
When your pet is too big for the cabin, they’ll need to travel in the aircraft’s baggage compartment. This is essentially a pressurized, temperature-controlled section of the cargo hold where they stay in a sturdy, hard-sided kennel. Unlike the cabin rules, you cannot use soft carriers here; it has to be a rigid, airline-approved crate that gives them enough room to stand and turn around. It’s a solid middle ground for medium-sized dogs who don’t quite need the full “Air Canada Cargo” treatment but have outgrown the under-seat space. Just keep a close eye on the calendar, as Air Canada often pauses this service during extreme summer heat or winter cold to keep the animals safe.
Key Pointers:
- Fees: Generally $105 to $126 for flights within Canada/The United States and $$270 to $324 for international routes.
- Weight Capacity: Weight of your pet and kennel combined can not exceed 45 kg (100 lbs).
- Restrictions: “Short-nosed” breeds (brachycephalic) such as Pugs and Bulldogs are normally not permitted in the hold, because of breathing hazards.
- Reservations: You have to book your pet at least 24 hours in advance of departure, and the earlier the better because there are only so many spaces.
- Check-in: You will need to get to the airport earlier than you would for a regular pet check as you will have to see an agent so they can physically inspect the kennel.
How To Make A Booking For Air Canada Pet Travel?
To secure a spot for your pet on Air Canada, you have to be quick and a bit old-school, as the airline doesn’t currently allow you to add a pet through their online booking tool. The best strategy is to book your own flight first, then immediately pick up the phone. Air Canada recommends calling within 24 hours of booking your ticket; this way, if the flight’s pet quota is already full, you can change or cancel your own ticket without a penalty. When you call, have your pet’s weight, breed, and the exact dimensions of their carrier ready. If you wait until you get to the airport, you’re essentially gambling on there being an empty spot, which is risky given how popular pet travel has become.
Booking Steps to Follow:
- Reserve Your Flight: Be sure that you first reserve a seat online to obtain your reference number.
- Do It Now: Contact Air Canada Reservations at +1 (855) 510-7629 within 24 hours.
- Give Details: Inform the agent of your pet’s breed, as well as the length, width and height of the carrier.
- Confirm the Space: The agent will search for a “pet inventory” on your aircraft and tie the pet to your reservation.
- Arrive Early: On the day you travel, get to the check-in counter at least 30 minutes earlier than normal so you have time to pay the fee and get your carrier checked.
Read more: Air Canada Senior Discount (2026): Eligibility, Savings & Travel Perks for Seniors
What Is The Checked Baggage Pet Travel Fee?
When your dog or cat is too big to fit under the seat, they’ll have to travel as “checked baggage” in the aircraft’s hold. This isn’t just a standard suitcase fee; it’s a specialized service charge that covers the extra care and climate control required for the baggage compartment. For flights within Canada or to the U.S., you’re looking at a fee ranging from $105 to $126 each way. If you’re heading further abroad on an international route, that price jumps significantly to between $270 and $324. Keep in mind that these fees only cover the transport itself. You’re responsible for providing a sturdy, IATA-approved hard-sided kennel that meets strict safety specs. Also, because Air Canada prioritizes animal safety, they often hit the “pause” button on this service during peak summer heat or extreme winter cold. It’s always smart to double-check the forecast and the airline’s current “embargo” dates before you get your heart set on a specific flight, as temperature-related boarding refusals can happen right at the gate.
What Is The Pet Travel In Air Canada Cargo?
When your pet needs to fly but you aren’t on the plane with them or if they exceed the size limits for checked baggage Air Canada Cargo (known as AC Animals) is the professional-grade solution. This isn’t just “checking a bag”; it’s a specialized freight service where your pet is handled by a dedicated cargo team at separate airport facilities. It is the only way to ship very large dogs (over 45 kg) or specific breeds, and it’s mandatory for certain international destinations. Your pet travels in a climate-controlled, pressurized environment that is monitored closely, but because it’s a logistics service, you’ll need to manage waybills, health certificates, and customs clearances. It’s more expensive and involves more paperwork, but it offers the highest level of priority and specialized care for your animal.
What Documents Are Required For Air Canada Pet Travel?
When you’re prepping for a trip with your pet on Air Canada, the paperwork is just as important as the carrier. For quick domestic flights within Canada, you usually don’t need a mountain of forms often just a simple vaccination record is enough to show at the counter. However, the moment you cross an international border, the requirements get much heavier. You’ll need a formal International Health Certificate signed by a licensed vet, and for most destinations, this must be endorsed by a government official (like the CFIA in Canada or USDA in the U.S.). Because every country has its own “invite list” for vaccines and blood tests, you really have to start this process at least a month out to avoid being turned away at the gate.
Read more: Air Canada Lap Infant Policy – Cost, Age Limit & Seat Rules
Essential Document Checklist:
- Rabies Certificate: I call this the “golden ticket”. It has to be up to date, and it must clearly indicate the make of vaccine used and the expiration date.
- International Health Certificate: Generally necessary for international flights performed within 10 days of travel.
- Import Permits: Some locations (Hawaii, UK) require permits to import that you must apply for 2-3 weeks in Advanced.
- Government Stamp: Make sure a government stamp conditions your vet’s health certificate if leaving the country.
- Identification: Your pets don’t carry passports, but they do still need a microchip to enter certain areas such as the European Union.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, it’s all about striking a balance between carefully planning everything out and being a little bit flexible. Whether your friend snuggles beneath the seat in a soft carrier, or catches some zzz’s in an air-conditioned hold (as is the case with Delta and American), the airline’s system is predicated on safety over comfort. By 2026, the shift toward standardized soft-sided carriers for the cabin and strict seasonal embargoes for the hold shows that Air Canada is leaning heavily into predictable safety protocols. The secret to a stress-free trip isn’t just following the rules it’s about beating the clock. Since space is so limited, your travel success depends on that “24-hour window” for registration and having your vet paperwork perfectly aligned with your destination’s laws. It’s certainly more work than a standard solo flight, but for those of us who can’t imagine leaving a family member behind, the extra legwork is a small price to pay for a shared adventure.
FAQ
Q.1 What Is The New Pet Policy On Air Canada?
Ans: All pets travelling in the cabin must be transported in soft-sided carriers. After this date, hard kennels will no longer be accepted on board any flights operated by Air Canada.
Q.2 How Much Does Air Canada Charge For Pets?
Ans: The pet fee for one-way travel within Canada/US is $105 – $126 and for one-way international flights is $270 – $324. Air Canada may refuse animals traveling in the hold if temperatures are too high.
Q.3 Can I Buy My Dog a Seat On a Plane?
Ans: You generally cannot buy a standard passenger ticket for a dog, but some airlines allow you to purchase an extra seat for a small dog’s carrier to fit in the foot space.
Q.4 What Documents Do I Need To Fly With A Dog?
Ans: You will need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection to travel and some airlines require an acclimation certificate.
