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Westjet Pet Policies
Flying with Pets on Westjet - General Information
When to consult a veterinarian
For your pet's health and safety, WestJet recommends that you consult your veterinarian prior to reserving travel if your pet is:
Pregnant, in heat (estrus) or less than eight weeks old.
A snub-nose (brachycephalic or short-nosed) pet. These types of pets suffer from respiratory problems that increase with stress and heat, and therefore may not be suitable for travel.
Additionally, you should not administer any tranquilizer or other medication to your pet before travel without first consulting a veterinarian.
Conditions for acceptance
Your pet must remain in the kennel at all times for safety and operational reasons.
If you remove your pet from the kennel while onboard, you may be banned from travelling with your pet in the cabin on future WestJet flights.
The kennel must be stored at your feet at all times.
Pets that appear to be aggressive, unruly or in distress may be denied for transport at our discretion.
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You must ensure your pet meets all entrance and quarantine requirements for your destination. You must also obtain all required documentation for your destination. This avoids a situation where your animal will be denied entry.
How to reserve space for your pet
For your pet's comfort, we recommend that you consider non-stop or direct flights, as well as early morning or late evening flights in the summer and midday flights in the winter.
Space for pets cannot be reserved online. To add your pet to your travel plans, please contact us at 1-800-581-9499.
We strongly recommend requesting space for your pet as soon as you have completed your booking and a minimum of 48 hours prior to your scheduled departure. If you check in without requesting space for your pet(s) 48 hours prior to departure, you may not be permitted to travel with your pet(s) as we limit the number of pets permitted on each flight. See below for fees and kennel information. WestJet cannot assume responsibility for pets that are not accepted for travel.
Entrance requirements for pets
We are unable to keep track of all requirements for all pets, and we assume no responsibility for your compliance with any such requirements. If you are taking your pet(s) in or out of any province, territory or country, you are responsible for meeting customs and/or regulatory entrance requirements.
Entrance and documentation requirements are subject to change and may vary depending on your destination or breed of pet. For example, the import of pit bull terriers is regulated in some areas.
Contact your consulate, embassy or government authority to ensure your pet will meet the entrance requirements for your destination. If you are taking a round trip, your pet will be subject to re-entry requirements at your country of origin.
Pets may be denied entry to another country if they are in poor health, and may be subject to a medical examination.
Most pets travelling to the U.S. will require a health certificate from their veterinarian as well as proof of rabies vaccination in the last year.
When travelling with a bird, an import permit may be required and may need to be arranged in advance. You should contact the local country's embassy or consulate to confirm the import regulations for pet birds. There are also additional import regulations that require advance arrangements in order to return to Canada or the U.S. with a pet bird.
Before your flight
Your pet must be fed and watered in the four (4) hours prior to check in. Feed your pet only a light meal prior to departure and provide a quick drink of water before check in. Food and water is not permitted in the kennel.
An empty water dish should be placed inside the kennel and attached securely to the kennel door to avoid movement. In the event of a delay, our ground handlers may provide water to your pet without opening the kennel door.
Exercise your pet before leaving for the airport. Some airports may require pets to remain in the kennel at all times.
Please ensure you check in a minimum of two (2) hours prior to your flight time. You may be required to accompany your pet through additional security screening prior to proceeding through passenger screening.
If travelling to or from the United States, we cannot accept your pet for check-in more than two (2) hours prior to the scheduled departure of your flight.
Limits on Destinations
WestJet does not accept pets for travel to/from Barbados, Hawaii, Ireland (Dublin), Jamaica or the United Kingdom (Glasgow or London Gatwick).
Birds of any type may not be imported into the Dominican Republic.
Endangered birds and the remains of extinct birds may not be exported from Mexico at any time.
When travelling with a bird, an import/export permit may be required and may need to be arranged in advance. You should contact the local country's embassy or consulate to confirm the import/export regulations for pet birds. There are also additional import regulations that require advance arrangements in order to return to Canada or the U.S. with a pet bird.
Specific rules and regulations apply per destination country - please see the Westjet page for exact rules and requirement details regarding your destination: <a href="https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/pets/general-entrance-requirements" target="_blank">https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/pets/general-entrance-requirements</a>
Westjet Pets in the Cabin
Pets travelling as carry-on must have room to stand, sit and move naturally in their kennel. Depending on the type of aircraft, you may be required to sit in a window seat due to space limitations beneath non-window seats. Please be aware that if you are travelling with a cat on a flight where a guest with a severe allergy to cat dander is also travelling, we may be required to move you toward the rear of the aircraft to meet the Canadian Transportation Agency's buffer zone requirement for the allergic guest. If this is required, you will be notified before you board your flight, and you will be seated to allow for a minimum of a bank of seats between the persons with a disabling allergy to cats and your cat.
Space for pets cannot be reserved online. To add your pet to your travel plans, please contact us at 1-800-581-9499.
Westjet Pet Fee - Pets in the Cabin: $50 CAD/USD for travel within Canada and US
Westjet Pet Fee - Pets in the Cabin: $100 CAD/USD for travel Internationally outside of US/Canada
Your kennel is considered to be your personal item in your carry-on baggage allowance. You may need to adjust your kennel to fit within the maximum height and depth available beneath the seat. Please note, space beneath the seat varies by aircraft type.
Kennel size dimension limits: 41 cm L x 21.5 cm H x 25.4 cm W (16 in. L x 8.5 in. H x 10 in. W).
Kennels must be Soft-sided, Airline-approved, Leak-proof, Secure, and Well-ventilated. They must not be able to allow the animal's head to stick out, or be a duffle bag, gym bag or other type of non-kennel bag.
Pets Flying on Westjet as Checked Baggage
Space for pets cannot be reserved online. To add your pet to your travel plans, please contact us at 1-800-581-9499. It is important to reserve your pet's space as soon as possible, as there is a limited number of kennels that are allowed per flight, depending on the aircraft type.
Three (3) on flights with WestJet 737 aircraft, including MAX
Two (2) on flights with WestJet 787 aircraft
One (1) on flights with WestJet Dash 8 or Saab aircraft1
Westjet Pet Fee - As Checked Baggage: $100 CAD/USD for travel within Canada/US
Westjet Pet Fee - As Checked Baggage: $200 CAD/USD for travel Internationally Outside of US/Canada
A "Live Animals Handling Declaration" must be completed for a pet travelling in checked baggage. We will provide the live animal declaration form and sticker at the check-in counter upon request. Please be prepared with a contact number, destination address and destination contact number.
Pet Kennel Requirements when Flying on Westjet
Your pet must have room to stand, sit and move naturally in the kennel.
Maximum kennel dimensions allowed: 101 cm L x 68 cm W x 76 cm H (40 in. L x 27 in. W x 30 in. H)
All Kennels must:
Be hard-sided and have the wheels removed
Be airline approved
Be secure
Be well ventilated
Be lined with absorbent material like a towel
Be secured with the device originally intended by the manufacturer
Be marked with "LIVE ANIMAL"
Be marked with directional "THIS WAY UP" arrows on two sides, and should be marked with your pet's name
Have food and water containers
Have devices for lifting the kennel
Have a ¾" protecting rim
Have a solid bottom and roof
Kennels must NOT be made of welded or wire mesh, be collapsible, nor have a plastic door.
A maximum of 2 pets of the same species (eg. 2 dogs, or 2 cats) that reside in the same household will be permitted to travel in one kennel
Pets Flying as Cargo on Westjet Flights (unaccompanied)
For more information about shipping your pets with WestJet Cargo, please contact our customer service team at [email protected] or 1-866-WJCARGO (952-2746).
If you wish to transport an unaccompanied pet to a U.S. or international destination, you must make arrangements through transportation companies and/or commercial businesses that meet specific shipping and administrative criteria.
Service Animals on Westjet Flights
Westjet has changed its service dog program following significant changes to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) rules on this topic. Starting on August 5, 2021, emotional support animals will not be accepted for travel in any cabin.
This service is reserved for persons with disabilities. If you do not have a disability, making false, ficticious, or fraudulent statements that you do may be determined to be a federal crime and can impact your ability to book future flights.
WestJet only accepts dogs to provide services to persons with disabilities. Service dogs must have been trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability. For domestic, international and Caribbean flights, service dogs must be individually trained by an organization or person specializing in service dog training.
Westjet accept one service dog for a person with a disability. If your itinerary includes a flight to or from the U.S., we accept two service dogs for a person with a disability.
It is your responsibility and extremely important to ensure your dog meets the entrance and import regulations and the destination specific restrictions for all countries on your itinerary, including those where your flight stops.
Failure to meet the requirements for where you are travelling may result in your dog being:
denied carriage
denied entry upon arrival
returned to your point of departure or country of origin
quarantined, or
euthanized (humanely put down) by the local government authority
In nearly all instances, you will be responsible for the fines, fees or costs associated with these actions.
WestJet assumes no responsibility for inaccurate or incomplete documentation. For import and export regulations, vaccination and documentation requirements, contact the consulate or embassy of the countries you will be entering.
To ensure adequate notice we recommend that you request to travel with your service dog as soon as possible at least 48 hours before your flight departs.
We recommend guests bring their Registered Identification Card or other written documentation in the event it is required by airport authorities or other service providers. [AMZ asins='B00QHC01C2,B00AAPGA2W,B000633ZOY,B0B77BRG75']