WestJet lets cats, dogs and birds fly in the cabin in a soft kennel no larger than 16 x 8.5 x 10 inches that fits under the seat, and it carries larger pets checked in the hold at up to 45 kg (100 pounds) for the pet and kennel combined. The fee for a cabin pet is $50 to $59 each way on flights within Canada and the US, and checked pets cost $100 to $118. Snub-nosed and strong breeds must fly through WestJet Cargo, and WestJet does not take pets at all to or from Hawaii, the UK, Ireland, Barbados or Jamaica.
WestJet is the airline most US and Canadian families use for a cross-border move with a pet, so the details matter. The rules below come from WestJet's own pets page and fees page. For the border paperwork, see our guides to pet transport to Canada and pet transport from Canada to the US.
WestJet's three ways to fly a pet
WestJet offers three options, and the right one depends on your pet's size, breed and route. Cabin travel is for small pets that fit under the seat. Checked travel puts your pet in the hold of the same flight you are on. Cargo, through WestJet Cargo, is for pets traveling without you, for certain breeds, and for some routes such as London Heathrow.
| Rule | In the cabin | Checked (hold) |
|---|---|---|
| Animals accepted | Cats, dogs, birds | Birds, cats, chinchillas, dogs, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, rabbits |
| Kennel | Soft-sided, max 41 x 21.5 x 25.4 cm (16 x 8.5 x 10 in) | Hard-sided, max 101 x 68 x 81 cm (40 x 27 x 32 in) |
| Weight | Must fit and move comfortably in the kennel | Pet plus kennel up to 45 kg (100 lb) |
| Fee, within Canada and the US | $50 to $59 each way | $100 to $118 each way |
| Fee, other routes | $100 to $118 each way | $200 to $236 each way |
| Limit per guest | One pet, one kennel | Up to 6 on a 737, 4 on a 787, 2 on a Dash 8 |
| Kennels per flight | Limited, not published | 3 on a 737, 2 on a 787, 1 on a Dash 8 |
| Minimum age | 8 weeks | |
| Booking | Request space at least 48 hours before departure, by phone | |
Flying in the cabin
Cats, dogs and birds can fly in the cabin, one pet per guest, in one kennel. The kennel must be soft-sided, airline-approved, leak-proof, secure and well ventilated, and your pet must be able to stand, sit, turn around and lie down inside it. The maximum size is 41 cm long, 21.5 cm high and 25.4 cm wide (16 x 8.5 x 10 inches). Under-seat space varies by aircraft, so you may need to squash the kennel slightly, or sit at a window seat where there is more room.
The kennel counts as your personal item, so anything else you bring on board has to be your regular carry-on. Your pet must stay inside the kennel, under the seat in front of you, for the whole flight. WestJet warns that taking a pet out on board can lead to a ban on traveling with pets in the cabin on future flights. Pets are not allowed in the Business cabin on the 787 Dreamliner. If a guest with a severe allergy is on board, you may be moved toward the back of the plane.
Flying checked in the hold
WestJet accepts a wider range of animals as checked pets: birds, cats, chinchillas, dogs, guinea pigs, hedgehogs and rabbits. The pet and kennel together can weigh up to 45 kg (100 pounds), and the kennel must be hard-sided, not soft or collapsible, with a maximum size of 101 x 68 x 81 cm (40 x 27 x 32 inches). Space is very limited: three kennels per flight on a 737, two on a 787 and only one on a Dash 8 turboprop. That last number matters on regional routes, where a single other passenger with a pet can fill the hold space.
For checked pets, WestJet asks you to check in 120 minutes before domestic flights and 150 minutes before international flights. Checking in less than 90 minutes before departure can mean being denied boarding. Feed and water your pet within the 4 hours before check-in. Our guide to pet cargo versus in-cabin travel explains how hold travel works and what to ask before you choose it.
Fees
WestJet's fees page lists pets in the cabin at $50 to $59 on flights within Canada and the US, and $100 to $118 on flights outside Canada and the US. Checked pets cost $100 to $118 within Canada and the US, and $200 to $236 elsewhere. The fees apply in each direction, so a round trip costs double. WestJet does not say what sets the exact price within each range, and the currency shown depends on where you book, so check the amount on the phone before you pay. Pay through the WestJet contact centre by credit card or Travel Bank funds when you reserve the pet's space.
Booking: call at least 48 hours ahead
You cannot add a pet in the normal online booking flow. Buy your ticket, then call WestJet to request space for your pet. WestJet says pre-booking is the only way to guarantee space, and if you do not request it at least 48 hours before departure, space may not be available and you may not be allowed to travel with your pet. Pets are also not accepted on itineraries that include codeshare or interline partner flights, so book an itinerary operated entirely by WestJet.
A pet cannot travel with an unaccompanied minor, and WestJet can refuse a pet that seems aggressive, unruly or distressed. Our guide on how to book a pet on a flight lists the questions to ask on that call.
Snub-nosed and strong breeds go through WestJet Cargo
For bookings made after July 4, 2023, WestJet does not carry brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds in the baggage hold. They must be booked through WestJet Cargo. The list includes cats such as British Shorthair, Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan, Persian, Selkirk Rex and Scottish Fold, and dogs such as Boxers, Boston Terriers, all Bulldogs, all Pugs, Shih Tzus and apple-headed Chihuahuas.
Strong breeds, including American Bulldogs, Dobermans, all Mastiffs, all Pit Bull types, Rottweilers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, must also go through WestJet Cargo and travel in a CR 82 crate, a reinforced crate standard. Small snub-nosed pets that fit under the seat can still travel in the cabin with you. Our guide to snub-nosed breeds and flying explains why these breeds are handled differently.
Where WestJet will not fly your pet
WestJet does not accept pets to or from Barbados, Hawaii, Ireland (Dublin), Jamaica or the United Kingdom. Pets going to London Heathrow must travel as cargo. Birds cannot be imported into the Dominican Republic. WestJet also applies seasonal and heat restrictions on some routes for checked pets, so a summer booking can be refused even if everything else is in order. If your route is on the restricted list, look at another airline or at professional pet transport for that leg.
Small animals and birds: an unusual WestJet option
WestJet is one of the few North American airlines that accepts rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and hedgehogs at all, although only as checked pets in the hold, not in the cabin. Birds are accepted both ways, subject to the entry rules of your destination. If you are moving with a rabbit or a pair of guinea pigs, that makes WestJet worth a look, but think carefully about the hold. Small mammals are sensitive to heat, cold and stress, and a hold transfer adds both. Talk to an exotics vet first, use a sturdy hard-sided kennel with a water bottle that will not leak, and avoid connections.
For birds in the cabin, keep a light cover over the kennel to reduce stress, and check that your destination allows the species. Some countries restrict bird imports entirely, which is why WestJet flags the Dominican Republic on its pets page.
Pets traveling without you: WestJet Cargo
If your pet is not flying on the same flight as you, it is a cargo shipment, not a checked pet. WestJet's fees page says to contact WestJet Cargo for pets traveling on their own, and cargo is also the required route for snub-nosed and strong breeds and for pets going to London Heathrow. Cargo shipments are booked separately, usually from a cargo facility rather than the passenger terminal, and pricing is quoted per shipment. Many owners book cargo through a professional pet shipper, who handles the crate, the paperwork and the drop-off times.
Planning a US to Canada move with a medium-size dog
A medium dog that is too big for the cabin is the most common WestJet pet booking for a cross-border move. A sensible order of steps looks like this:
- Check the breed is not on the snub-nosed or strong-breed lists. If it is, start with WestJet Cargo instead.
- Buy a hard-sided kennel that meets the size limit and let your dog sleep in it at home for two to three weeks.
- Pick a nonstop WestJet flight on a 737 or 787 where possible, since the Dash 8 takes only one checked kennel.
- Book your ticket, then call WestJet the same day to request the pet space and pay the fee.
- Book a vet visit for rabies records and any certificate your destination needs.
- On travel day, check in at least 120 minutes before departure and have a leash ready for the kennel inspection.
Weather: winter cold and summer heat
Checked pets spend time on the ramp during loading, and Canadian winters and southern summers both affect that. WestJet says seasonal and heat restrictions apply on some routes, without listing them on the pets page, so ask when you call to book. Early morning or late evening flights are usually cooler in summer. In winter, choose a direct flight to cut time on a cold ramp, and put a warm, absorbent bed in the kennel.
Service dogs and emotional support animals
WestJet accepts trained service dogs that meet its training and behavior criteria. It has not accepted emotional support animals in any cabin since August 5, 2021, as it announced in its policy change notice. An emotional support dog now flies under the normal pet rules: in a cabin kennel if it fits, or checked in the hold if it does not.
Crossing the border: Canada and US paperwork
WestJet's job is to carry your pet. Meeting the entry rules is yours. For pet dogs going into Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency sets the requirements on its dog import page, with separate rules for commercial dogs under 8 months. For dogs going into the US from Canada, the CDC requires every dog to be at least 6 months old, microchipped and registered through the CDC Dog Import Form. Cats have lighter rules in both directions, but carry rabies records anyway.
WestJet's own pages also link to general entrance requirements for each destination. Check them for any country beyond Canada and the US, and start early for places with long lead times.
Travel day with a pet on WestJet
Arrive at the gate at least 40 minutes before departure. Arriving less than 10 minutes before departure means you will be denied boarding. Depending on the aircraft, you may be asked to sit at a window because there is not enough space under the other seats. At security, you carry your pet through the scanner while the kennel is screened, so a harness and leash help. On board, keep the kennel zipped and under the seat for the whole flight.
Is WestJet a good choice for flying a pet?
For cross-border moves between Canada and the US with a small cat or dog, WestJet is a practical choice, with moderate fees and a clear cabin option. Its checked option helps owners of medium dogs, though the one-kennel limit on Dash 8 flights means you should book early on regional routes. It is less suitable for snub-nosed or strong breeds, which need the cargo process, and for routes to Hawaii, the UK and Ireland, where it does not carry pets at all. For those trips, compare Air Canada or a professional pet transporter.