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Canadian North Pet Policies
Travelling with Animals
Your Pets
At Canadian North, our first priority is your animal's safety and comfort.
Our expert personnel have years of experience transporting a wide variety of live animals, and their expertise is at your disposal from the moment your pet boards the plane at our cargo terminal to the time it leaves the destination airport.
Animal Transport
When traveling with your animal as checked baggage on a Canadian North ticket, there is a one-way kennel charge of CAD 100 for transporting animals regardless of the size of the kennel. Space may be limited, and animals traveling as baggage will be accepted on a first booked, first served basis. Animals travelling as checked baggage or shipped as cargo must be booked a minimum of 24 hours in advance of flight.
Please check your booking to ensure that the scheduled aircraft can accommodate your requirements.
Pets are precious too!
We pay extra-special attention to your pet's safety, comfort and security. That's also why properly constructed containers and careful preparation for transport are so important.
When shipping pets, a favourite toy or article inside the container helps to calm the animal.
Marking the pet's name on the outside of the container is also important. We can better reassure the animal when we talk to it using its name.
Containers
For your animal's well-being as well as the safety of all our guests' baggage, your pet's container must:
Be leak-proof and escape-proof
Be well-constructed, and able to withstand damage caused by other freight in which there is buckling or bending of the container structure.
Be constructed in such a way as not to cause the animal to injure itself, and must be made of non-toxic material such as fibreglass or rigid plastic. One entire end of the container must be open and covered with bars, weld mesh or smooth expanded metal, securely attached to the container.
Comply with IATA Live Animals Regulations and adhere to points (1) and (2). Access to the container should be by means of a sliding or hinged door adequately secured to prevent accidental opening.
Be large enough to permit the animal to stand in a natural position, turn around and lie down. Make sure kennels are nose and paw-proof: that is, ventilation openings are of a size that makes it impossible for your pet to get his nose or paws outside the kennel.
General
Feed the animal only a light meal and a short drink two hours before its scheduled departure on Canadian North.
Exercise the animal immediately before it leaves your premises.
Shipment of females in heat is not recommended.
Nursing females with unweaned young will not be accepted for air transport.
Weaned puppies younger than eight weeks should not be shipped due to possible dehydration during the flight.
Codeshare
Animals can only be accepting on flights operated by Canadian North. If your travel plans include a flight operated by another carrier your itinerary must be booked through the operating carrier directly.
Live Animals as Carry-on Baggage
Live animals will be accepted as carry-on baggage (PETC) with a service charge of CAD 50.00 (plus GST/provincial taxes) each, provided the following is met:
Minimum 24 hours advance notice is required, and is subject to space availability. Applies to flights operated by Canadian North only. Passengers must make direct arrangements with other carrier if transferring to another airline.
Passengers cannot purchase an extra seat for PETC and pets accepted in the cabin cannot be strapped into a seat. Passengers with pets must not be seated at the bulkhead or in an exit row.
Animals must be harmless, inoffensive, odorless, and require no attention during transit. Animals cannot be removed from kennel at any time while onboard the aircraft.
Acceptable animals include small domestic dogs and cats, birds, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, hedgehogs, and chinchillas. All other types including reptiles, snakes, lizards, turtles, rats, mice, ferrets, and weasels are not permitted and must be referred to Canadian North Air Cargo.
Animals must be contained in a passenger supplied kennel which is large enough for the animal to stand in a natural position, turn around and lie down. The kennel must be able to fit under the aircraft seat (23 cm x 41 cm x 57 cm/9" x 16" x 22.5") and provide good ventilation from two or more sides, with a leak-proof bottom. Hard-sided plastic and soft-sided kennels will be accepted. Cardboard boxes will not be permitted.
Kennels may carry 2 dogs or 2 cats (must be the same species) only if they are between 8 weeks to 6 months and they must be small enough to fit in 1 kennel with adequate ventilation and room to move about. Dogs and cats over 6 months old must be in individual kennels. Multiple compatible birds of any age may fly together provided there is adequate room to move about.
Passengers will be permitted one cabin kennel as part of their carry-on allotment. However, there is a limit of five (5) kennels accepted as PETC on any given flight. This does not include any service animals that may be on board.
Live Animals as Checked Baggage
Live animals accepted as checked baggage (AVIH) will be assessed a service charge of CAD 100.00 (plus GST and provincial taxes) each and will not be counted as part of the passenger's free allowance. The following conditions must be met:
Minimum 24 hours (prior to scheduled departure) advance notice is required, and is subject to space availability.
It is recommended by Canadian North that passengers travelling with an animal as checked baggage should check in a minimum of 60 minutes prior to departure to allow time for proper and safe handling.
Animals must be harmless, inoffensive, odorless, and require no attention during transit. They must be contained in a passenger supplied kennel or container subject to inspection and approved by Canadian North. The kennel must be large enough for the animal to stand in a natural position, to turn around and to lie down. Cardboard boxes, soft based and wire kennels or containers will not be accepted.
Total weight of animal(s), including kennel, must not exceed 182 lbs (83 kg). All AVIH exceeding this weight must be shipped as cargo.
Limit of two (2) containers allowed per passenger, however this may be further restricted based on aircraft type. All kennels will be measured to ensure within allowable size/dimensions for each aircraft type: B737 and Dash 8 - 27" W x 40" D x 30" H (extra large kennel) Total weight of animal(s), including kennel, must not exceed 182 lbs (83 kg).
A maximum of 2 adult animals, use to cohabitation, may be shipped in the same kennel/container. Maximum of 3 animals from the same litter, up to 6 months old, permitted in the same kennel.
Females in heat, or with suckling young, and weaned puppies under 8 weeks old will not be accepted.
Interlining of live animals will not be permitted.
Please note - live animals may not be accepted as checked baggage if your travel includes a codeshare flight (
Click here for information on codeshare flights.)
Please see Live Animals as Carry-on Baggage section above on this page for applicable charges when live animals are accepted as carry-on (PETC) baggage.
PETS AS SPECIAL CARGO
Acceptance and carriage of live animals
When sending your animal via cargo, measure your kennel and call your local cargo office to get your quote on shipping your pet.
Shipments of live animals are subject to advance arrangement.
Live Animals shall mean all mammals (other than humans), birds, crustacean, insects, reptiles, worms and amphibians.
Carrier will accept shipments for transportation provided that:
Shipments of live animals will only be accepted if advance arrangements are made and they include the name and telephone number of the consignee/responsible party who can be reached on a 24-hour basis and clear delivery instructions/arrangements made for the shipment once it arrives at the destination airport. This information must also be included on the air waybill.
Shipments are tendered to carrier in clean containers and do not emit an offensive odor. As used in this rule, offensive means unpleasant to the senses, disgusting, revolting or repugnant. Containers must have a label affixed identifying contents and setting forth any special instructions for handling.
If the shipper determines, after making advance arrangements with the carrier, that feeding or watering of the animal will be necessary while the shipment is in the custody of carrier, shipper shall provide written instructions for feeding and watering and provide non-perishable food for the entire journey.
Shipments of live animals must be presented to the carrier at least two hours prior to flight departure.
Containers:
Except as otherwise provided, containers must be constructed:
Of wood, metal or composition material to withstand normal handling;
So as to prevent the escape of the animal or physical contact between the animal and handling personnel;
So as to prevent any part of the animal from protruding from the container;
So as to provide adequate ventilation;
So as to enable personnel to feed and water when necessary without opening the container;
Of a size to insure freedom of movement; and
So as to prevent loss of food, water and waste matter.
For further information on special cargo contact your local Canadian North Cargo office.
Baby poultry under 72 hours old baby poultry must be shipped in standard poultry industry fibre-board containers especially made for this purpose with heavy paper or excelsior mats beneath the poultry. Cartons must have separators securely fastened to prevent suffocation.
Birds excluding baby poultry less than 72 hours old. Containers for birds must be made of either wood, metal or composition material with one or more sides open and covered with wire mesh. The gauge of the wire mesh must be fine enough to retain all birdseed within the container. Food and water containers must be within the container. Perches are required for species of birds which are not ground dwellers.
Fish - fish must be packed in a leak proof insulated container, which provides protection from a water temperature variation greater than 5 degrees celsius.
Monkeys / if approved by C.O.S./ containers for monkeys and other primates must be constructed:
Entirely of metal or wood strong enough to permit stacking three deep when fully loaded and not exceeding 90 cms high and 60 cms long and 60 cms wide for primates under 4 kgs each and 30 cms wide and 90 cms high and 90 cms long for primates 4 kgs and over each. The floor must be slatted or meshed with a removable tray containing absorbent material. The door must be equipped with a positive locking device.
Containers for primates under 4 kgs each, may not contain more than 12 animals and containers of primates over 4 kgs each, may not contain more than one primate each.
Reptiles:
Lizards and alligators over three feet in length must be placed in wooded or metal boxes.
Lizards and alligators over 90 cms in length must be placed in wooded or metal boxes.
Disposition of animals in the event carrier is unable to deliver shipment within 4 hours of arrival and is unable to contact consignee for instructions, the animal will be placed in a commercial kennel operated by a licensed veterinarian. Any charges incurred by the carrier applicable to placement in a kennel subsequent to such 4-hour period will attach to the shipment. If instructions are not received within 7 days after the date of arrival at destination, carrier will dispose of such animals in accordance with RULE 23 (Notice of Disposition of Property).
Service Animals
Any certified trained service animals assisting persons with disabilities or injury are accepted with no additional charge. These service animals are carried in the passenger cabin at the customer's feet. Notification must be given to the Meda Desk (The Medical Desk) prior to departure.
The Medical Desk (Meda Desk)
Dedicated to meeting specialized medical requirements as well as assisting disabled passengers, the Canadian North Meda Desk staff demonstrate sensitivity and awareness toward all specific travel needs. Please call the toll-free reservations number and ask for the Meda Desk.
Special Needs - Making our Flights Accessible to Everyone
In order to serve you better, we ask that passengers requiring assistance notify Canadian North 48 hours prior to departure. Regardless, with less than 48 hours, we will still make every effort to accommodate your requests. For further information, please call Canadian North Reservations at 1-800-661-1505.
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