Air Canada pet policy: the complete 2026 guide (in-cabin + cargo)

Air Canada lets one cat or small dog ride in the cabin for roughly $50 to $60 within Canada and the US, or about $100 to $120 internationally, as long as the pet plus its soft-sided carrier stays under about 10 kg (22 lb) and fits under the seat. Checked-baggage (cargo hold) shipping costs more and is seasonally limited. Confirm current figures directly with Air Canada before booking.

Flying with a pet on Air Canada comes down to two questions: does your animal qualify to travel in the cabin, and if not, is the checked-baggage hold an option for your route and season? The answers change the price by hundreds of dollars and shape how you pack. This guide decodes the in-cabin rules, the fee bands, the registration steps, and the safety cautions, all cross-checked against Air Canada's official pet page. Because airline policies and fees move, treat every number here as a planning estimate and verify the current figure on Air Canada's traveling with pets page before you pay.

In-cabin travel: the size and carrier rules

According to Air Canada's pets page, you may bring one cat or one small dog into the cabin, one pet per passenger. The combined weight of the pet and its carrier must not exceed roughly 10 kg (22 lb), and the carrier has to slide fully under the seat in front of you. The animal must be able to stand up, turn around, and lie down naturally inside the carrier without poking any part of itself out. If your dog or cat cannot meet all three of those movement tests, it does not qualify for the cabin and you will be looking at the checked-baggage hold instead.

Soft-sided carriers only since June 2025

This is the rule that trips up repeat flyers. According to Air Canada, since June 1, 2025, in-cabin pets must travel in a soft-sided carrier only. Hard-shell carriers that used to be accepted are no longer permitted in the cabin. Soft sides compress slightly to fit the under-seat space, which is why the airline moved to this requirement. If you are buying a new bag, pick one explicitly marketed as airline-approved and soft-sided, and measure your specific aircraft's under-seat dimensions where you can, since they vary by plane. Our guide to the best airline-approved dog carrier walks through what to look for, and the how to choose a pet transport crate guide covers sizing for animals that will not fit the cabin at all.

Air Canada pet fees: in-cabin vs checked baggage

Air Canada charges a per-pet fee each way, and the amount depends on whether the animal rides in the cabin or in the checked-baggage hold, plus whether your trip is domestic (within Canada and the US) or international. The figures below are approximate bands drawn from Air Canada's published pet fees; the airline lists them in CAD or USD depending on where you book, and they are revised periodically. Always confirm the current fee for your exact route and travel date with Air Canada before booking, because a stale number here should never be the basis for your budget.

Two things stand out. First, the checked-baggage option roughly doubles the cabin fee on every route, so cost is a real reason to keep your pet small enough for the cabin if you safely can. Second, the international jump is steep: an international hold booking can run several times a domestic cabin fee each way, which adds up fast on a round trip. For a broader view of what pet flights and ground transport cost across providers, see our breakdown of how much pet transport costs.

Checked baggage is limited and seasonal

Air Canada's checked-baggage pet service is not available on every route, every aircraft, or in every season. Temperature limits in the cargo hold mean the airline restricts or suspends hold travel during heat waves and cold snaps to protect animals. Availability also depends on the specific aircraft type. Because of this, never assume the hold is an option until Air Canada Reservations confirms it for your exact flight. If the hold is off the table for your dates, your realistic alternatives are a different travel window, a different airline, or a professional ground or pet-shipping service.

Cabin or hold? A quick decision framework

Use this logic to figure out which path applies before you call to book:

• Pet plus carrier under ~10 kg and fits under the seat? The cabin is your cheapest, safest, and simplest option. Aim here whenever you can.
• Too big for the cabin but a healthy, non-snub-nosed breed, traveling in mild weather? Checked baggage may work if Air Canada confirms availability for your route and date.
• Snub-nosed breed, very large dog, extreme heat or cold, or no hold availability? Consider a specialist pet-shipping or ground service rather than forcing a flight.

We compare the cabin and cargo paths in depth, including the safety and stress trade-offs, in pet cargo vs in-cabin. That piece is worth reading before you commit a larger dog to the hold. For policies across other carriers and a wider view of flying with animals, our pet airlines hub collects every airline guide in one place.

Brachycephalic and heat cautions for cargo travel

Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds such as Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, and Persian cats have compressed airways that make heat and stress far riskier for them, especially in a cargo hold. The American Veterinary Medical Association notes that brachycephalic animals are more prone to breathing difficulty and heat stress, which is why many airlines restrict or refuse them as cargo. Air Canada applies temperature limits to hold travel for exactly this reason. If you own a snub-nosed dog or cat, the cabin (where it qualifies on size) is strongly preferable, and the hold may simply not be an option. Read our detailed explainer on the snub-nosed dog breeds flying ban before you plan any cargo flight, and confirm the current restrictions directly with Air Canada, since carrier-specific rules change.

How to book and register your pet

Air Canada does not let you add a pet through a standard online booking; you register the animal with Air Canada Reservations. The airline recommends doing this within roughly 24 hours of booking your own ticket, because space for pets is capped per flight and fills up. Here is the practical sequence:

1. Book your own ticket first, then note your confirmation code.
2. Contact Air Canada Reservations within ~24 hours to add your pet and confirm cabin or hold availability for your specific flight.
3. Confirm the fee and the soft-sided carrier requirement for cabin travel, or hold availability and temperature limits for checked baggage.
4. Measure and buy your carrier if you do not have a compliant one, and let your pet get comfortable in it before travel day.
5. Gather any required health paperwork for your destination, and verify import rules well in advance for international trips.
6. Reconfirm a few days before departure, especially for hold travel that can be suspended by weather.

Confirm the current registration deadline, fee, and document requirements with Air Canada before you rely on this list, since the airline updates its process periodically.

Who Air Canada pet travel suits

Air Canada's pet program is a good fit for owners of small cats and dogs who can ride in the cabin, particularly for domestic Canada and Canada to US trips where the fee is modest and the experience is straightforward. It is a reasonable option for medium and larger dogs only when the hold is confirmed available, the weather is mild, and the breed is not snub-nosed. It is a poor fit for brachycephalic breeds, very large dogs on long international routes, and anyone traveling during temperature extremes; those travelers are usually better served by a dedicated pet-shipping or ground service. If you are weighing Air Canada against another major carrier, our Lufthansa pet transport guide makes a useful comparison point for transatlantic trips.

US to Canada: a cross-border note

Flying a pet from the US into Canada (or the reverse) adds an import layer on top of the airline rules. Canada generally requires proof of rabies vaccination for dogs and cats over three months old, and the United States has its own re-entry requirements through the CDC. These rules differ by the animal's age, the origin country's rabies status, and the species, so they are easy to get wrong. Verify the current requirements with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and, for US entry, the US CDC's pet import pages before you travel. For a fuller walkthrough of the paperwork and route logistics, see our guide to pet transport to Canada.

Day-of-travel tips

• Arrive early. Pet check-in often cannot be done at self-service kiosks, so give yourself extra time at the counter.
• Limit food before the flight but keep your pet hydrated, following your veterinarian's guidance for your specific animal.
• Skip sedatives unless your vet prescribes them. The American Veterinary Medical Association cautions that sedation can raise the risk of breathing and balance problems at altitude.
• Exercise your pet beforehand and offer a bathroom break right before you go through security.
• Line the carrier with an absorbent pad and pack a spare, plus a familiar-smelling item to reduce stress.
• Keep documents together in one folder: health certificate, vaccination records, and your Air Canada confirmation.

How we sourced this

The size limits, carrier rules, registration steps, and fee bands in this guide are drawn from Air Canada's official traveling with pets page and cross-checked against the airline's published fee structure. Safety guidance on sedation and brachycephalic breeds reflects American Veterinary Medical Association advice, and the cross-border import notes point to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the US CDC. Airline fees and government import rules change frequently and vary by route, season, and aircraft, so every figure here is a planning estimate. Always confirm the current numbers and requirements directly with Air Canada and the relevant government authority before you book or travel.