When you get your Posting Message you realize you have to make arrangements to move your pets.
You can take them with you while you drive, or you can fly with them.
Air Canada Pet Policy
Pets are allowed on Air Canada planes either in the cabin, in the baggage compartment, or in cargo. Only cats and dogs are permitted to travel in the cabin and baggage compartment, while a wider variety of animals is permitted to travel via cargo.
Pay attention to “codeshare” flights – those marketed by Air Canada but actually operated by one of the airline’s partners. If the flights are not actually operated by Air Canada, you will not be able to travel with your pet. If the flight is both marketed and operated by one of Air Canada’s partners, you may be able to travel with your pet – but you’ll need to contact the partner airline (the one actually operating the flights) in order to make arrangements.
Service animals assisting Air Canada customers are allowed in the cabin, free of charge, and permitted to stay at the customer’s feet. Service animals must be pre-registered with Air Canada via their Medical Assistance Desk (contact information here). All service animals must be:
- Certified as having been trained to assist a person with a disability by a professional service animal institution
- Harnessed at all times
Pets are allowed in Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges only if:
- The pet remains in its carrier and with its owner at all times
- The pet carrier is leak-proof and well-ventilated
- No part of the pet extends outside the carrier
Important Tip:
You must register your pet in advance of your flight by contacting Air Canada (contact information here). If you don’t register your pet ahead of time, your pet will not be permitted on the flight. Air Canada recommends you do this within 24 hours of booking your flight. That way, if your pet can’t be accommodated on the flight you have booked, your ticket can then be refunded without charge. If you register your pet after that 24-hour period and your pet can’t be accommodated on the flight you chose, your ticket is “subject to applicable change and cancellation fees.”
Air Canada, you can fly with your pets either in the cabin with you, in the baggage compartment or even ship them with Air Canada Cargo. There are a few details you do need to be aware of, though. Air Canada strongly recommends that you let them know you are travelling with a pet within 24 hours of booking your flight, in case there are any issues with bringing a pet on the flight. In the case of a dog, Air Canada will need to know the breed and the dimensions of your pet carrier. You will also need to check in a full 30 minutes prior to the recommended check-in time, and you will not be able to use web check-in or airport self-service kiosks.
If you decide to bring your pet in the cabin with you, the pet and pet carrier’s combined weight can be no more than 10 kg, and the dimensions of the pet carrier can be no larger than as follows:
- For a hard sided carrier: height: 23 cm (9 in), width: 40 cm (15.5 in), and length: 55 cm (21.5 in)
- For a soft sided carrier: height: 27 cm (10.5 in), width: 40 cm (15.5 in), and length: 55 cm (21.5 in)
- In general, the cost of bringing your pet in the cabin with you ranges from approximately $50 for domestic to $100 for international, per direction. It is important to remember that your pet carrier will count as one standard item towards your carry-on baggage allowance.
- A limited number of pets are allowed on flights operated by Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge, or an Air Canada Express flight operated by Jazz, Sky Regional, Air Georgian, or Exploits Valley Air.
Should you decide to have your pet fly in the baggage compartment on the same flight as you, then the combined weight of pet and pet carrier can be no more than 32 kg, and the dimensions of the pet carrier no bigger than 292 cm (115 in) in linear dimensions (length + width + height). This will cost approximately $105 per direction. If you want your pet to fly with Air Canada Cargo, it is best to call 1-(866)-615-1155 for details and reservations. Perhaps conveniently, pets flying with Air Canada Cargo do not need to be accompanied. There are restrictions, however, on when your pet can fly in either the baggage compartment or with Air Canada Cargo. From June 20 to Sept. 10, pets are not allowed in the baggage compartment due to the potential of extreme heat – a serious issue for standard June or July postings. For Air Canada Cargo, there are only summer restrictions if you are flying into certain American cities. There are also winter restrictions on flying pets in either the baggage compartment or cargo, but it is best to contact Air Canada or Air Canada Cargo for full details on these restrictions.
Driving With Your Pets
You can take your pet with you if you are driving to your new location. Many hotels are pet friendly and have specific rooms set aside for guests with pets. This information can often be found on most hotel’s websites. TripAdvisor is a great tool for taking trip with pets, as it allows you to find pet-friendly hotels and also provided you with reviews of hotels. There are many other websites available that offer travel tips and resources for traveling with pets, and they too include links to pet-friendly accommodations. Some common tips for travelling:
- Keep your pets safe and secure in a well-ventilated crate or carrier. There are a variety of wire mesh, hard plastic and soft-sided carriers available. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s large enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down and turn around in. And P.S., it’s smart to get your pet used to the carrier in the comfort of your home before your trip.
- Get your pet geared up for a long trip by taking him on a series of short drives first, gradually lengthening time spent in the car. And please be sure to always secure the crate so it won’t slide or shift in the event of a quick stop.
- Your pet’s travel-feeding schedule should start with a light meal three to four hours prior to departure. Don’t feed your furry friend in a moving vehicle-even if it is a long drive.
- Never leave your animal alone in a parked vehicle. On a hot day, even with the windows open, a parked automobile can become a furnace in no time, and heatstroke can develop. In cold weather, a car can act as a refrigerator, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
- What in your pet’s traveling kit? In addition to travel papers, food, bowl, leash, a waste scoop, plastic bags, grooming supplies, medication and a pet first-aid kit, pack a favorite toy or pillow to give your pet a sense of familiarity.
- Make sure your pet has a microchip for identification and wears a collar with a tag imprinted with your home address, as well as a temporary travel tag with your cell phone, destination phone number and any other relevant contact information. Canines should wear flat (never choke!) collars, please.
- Don’t allow your pet to ride with his head outside the window. He could be injured by flying objects. And please keep him in the back seat in his crate or with a harness attached to a seat buckle.