WestJet flying with pets

What is WestJet’s policy on pet acceptance?

You may fly with your pet with WestJet as a carry-on pet or as a checked pet. Pets are not allowed to travel with an unaccompanied minor. An unaccompanied pet may travel on domestic flights through WestJet Cargo.

Pets are not accepted on flights operated by WestJet’s codeshare and interline partners. Also, pets are not accepted on flights operated by WestJet that were booked through one of its partners. Pets are not accepted on WestJet flights to/from Hawaii, Barbados, Jamaica, Dublin, London, and Glasgow.

Which pets are allowed to travel on WestJet flights?

The following pets are accepted as carry-on pets: cats, dogs, birds, and rabbits. You may take only one pet as a carry-on pet.

For checked pets, WestJet admits dogs, cats, birds, chinchillas, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, and rabbits. For checked pets, WestJet will permit 2 pets of the same species (e.g. two dogs or two cats) to travel in one kennel if they reside in the same household, except for WestJet Link flights operated with Saab aircraft (only one animal per kennel).

WestJet admits a limited number of pets per flight so you should make your reservation in advance. The total number of carry-on pets accepted per flight depends on the type of aircraft.

Which are the conditions for acceptance?

If you plan to travel with your pet, you should call WestJet so they can add it to your travel plans since this cannot be done online. The amount of pets permitted per flight is limited so you should always request space for your pet at least 48 hours prior to your departure. The following conditions of acceptance apply on flights operated by WestJet:

  • Pets must be in good health and older than eight weeks.
  • They must remain in their kennels at all times. If traveling in the cabin they must remain under the seat in front of you.
  • Aggressive pets or those under distress may be denied to fly with WestJet.
  • Kennels must be approved by WestJet at check-in.

Carry-on Pets

Pets traveling as carry-on must have room to stand, sit and move naturally in the kennel. Hard-sided kennels are not accepted. If you are traveling with a cat on a flight where a guest with a severe allergy to cat dander is also traveling, WestJet is required to move you to the rear of the aircraft.

Kennel Information for Carry-on Pets
Pet types acceptedBirds, cats, dogs, rabbits.
Number of pets per guest per kennelOne
Maximum number of kennels per flightFour – WestJet Encore Bombardier Q400
Two – Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800
Not accepted on Boeing B787 9 aircraft in Business Class
Size restriction per kennel (L x W x H)41 x 25.4 x 21.5 cm (16 x 10 x 8.5 inches)
Kennel must beSoft-sided, airline approved, leakproof, secure, well ventilated.

Fee

A pet in a kennel, or even an empty kennel, will be counted towards your carry-on baggage allowance as a personal item. A pet kennel fee applies to pets traveling in the cabin:

  • $50-59 CAD – domestic flights and to/from the US.
  • $100-118 CAD – flights between Canada/the US and all other destinations.

Checked Pets

For pets traveling as checked baggage, a Live Animals Handling Declaration must be completed. WestJet will provide this form and sticker at the check-in counter upon request. Your pet must have room to stand, sit and move naturally in the kennel, which cannot be collapsible.

Kennel Information for Checked Pets
Pet types acceptedBirds, cats, dogs, rabbits, chinchillas, guinea pigs, hedgehogs.
Number of pets

accepted per guest

WestJet – Boeing B737 aircraft – 6 pets

WestJet – Boeing B787 aircraft – 4 pets

WestJet Encore – 2 pets

WestJet Link – 1 pet

Maximum number of

kennels per flight

(except holiday season)

WestJet – Boeing B737 aircraft – 3 kennels

WestJet – Boeing B787 aircraft – 2 kennels

WestJet Encore & WestJet Link – Dash8 Q400 & Saab 340 – 1 kennel

Maximum number of

kennels per flight

(during the holiday season)

December 23 to January 3 inclusive – no pets accepted on domestic flights

December 15 to January 6 inclusive – no pets accepted on international flights

Weight restrictions45 kg (up to 100 lbs) (pet + kennel)
Size restriction per kennel 101 x 68 x 76 cm (40 x 27 x 30 inches) (L x W x H)
Kennel must beHard-sided, airline-approved, secure, lined with absorbent material

like a towel, be marked with “Live Animal”, be marked with “This way up”

arrows on two sides, well-ventilated, have food and water containers,

have a lifting device, have a 3/4 protecting rim.

To avoid putting your pet’s health in danger, heat restrictions apply, and you won’t be allowed to travel with your pet as checked baggage:

  • Year-round on any flight to or from: Aruba, Belize, and Trinidad and Tobago, Huatulco, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, and Merida (Mexico), La Romana (Dominican Republic), and Liberia (Costa Rica). To/from these destinations, your animal may be able to travel as carry-on baggage if all other restrictions are met.
  • From May 15 to October 31 to some countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico (Mexico City excepted), Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Turks and Caicos, and theUnited States (Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Sarasota, Tampa Bay, and West Palm Beach).

Fee

A pet kennel fee applies to pets traveling in the baggage hold:

  • $100-118 CAD – domestic flights and to/from the US.
  • $200-236 CAD – flights between Canada/the US and all other destinations.

Service Animals

All people with a disability can fly with their Service Dog free of charge. On WestJet flights, Service Dogs are accepted to most destinations. If you are flying to Bridgetown (Barbados), Montego Bay or Kingston (Jamaica), you must take into account that Service Dogs are not allowed on those flights.
WestJet only accepts Service Dogs that have been individually trained by an organization or person specializing in Service Dog training. Except for itineraries that include the U.S., where two Service Dogs per person with a disability are accepted, WestJet accepts one Service Dog per passenger.
You must be sure that your Service Dog has all the documentation and meets all the entrance and quarantine requirements for the destination you are traveling to. If you are flying to the following locations: Antigua, Cayman Island, Hawaii, Mexico, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, France, Ireland, the U.K., you must first contact them well in advance for pre-approval.

You must notify WestJet at least 48 hours prior departure that you’re traveling with a service dog. If you are traveling as part of a WestJet Vacations package booking, you must notify WestJet at least seven days before departure. You must provide the animal’s length, weight, and height in order for the airline to accommodate your animal.

Starting August 2021, Emotional Support Animals are no longer accepted for travel in any cabin as Service Animals.

More information here >>