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I have flown with my rescue pug Puglo across more countries than I can count on two hands, and Canada is one of the airlines we’ve flown often. The Air Canada pet policy lets small cats and dogs fly in the cabin as long as your pet fits comfortably in a soft-sided carrier that slides under the seat in front of you. Bigger dogs travel as checked baggage or through Air Canada Cargo, with a few important breed and route exceptions.
The details are where trips get made or broken, so this is my full walkthrough of flying Air Canada with a dog in 2026: cabin rules, fees, carrier sizes, the checked baggage option, snub-nosed breed restrictions, and the booking steps I use so we actually get a spot. I verified every figure against the Air Canada travelling with pets page, but airlines change fees quietly, so always confirm the current numbers when you book.
Air Canada pet policy at a glance
Air Canada gives you three ways to fly with a pet, depending on size. Here is how they compare.
| Option | Cabin size / weight limit | Where your pet rides | Approx. one-way fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| In cabin | Fits in a soft-sided under-seat carrier (no set weight limit) | In a carrier under the seat | $50 to $60 domestic, $100 to $120 international |
| Checked baggage | Up to 45 kg (100 lb) | Temperature-controlled hold | $105 to $126 domestic, $270 to $324 international |
| Air Canada Cargo | Larger dogs and relocations | Cargo, booked separately | Varies by route and weight |
Can my dog fly in the cabin on Air Canada?
Yes, if your dog fits comfortably in a soft-sided carrier that slides under the seat in front of you. Only one pet per passenger is allowed in the cabin, your dog must stay inside the carrier for the whole flight, and the carrier counts as your carry-on bag. Book early, because each flight has a limited number of pet spots.
This is the option I use with Puglo, and it is by far the least stressful way to fly with a small dog. Your pet stays with you the entire time, tucked under the seat, and you never have to hand them over at a cargo counter.
That said, I have to be straight with you about Air Canada, because they have a bit of a reputation and I have lived it. I was once denied boarding in Mexico City because the agent decided Puglo was too tall for his carrier. It was awful, and I am not the only one. I have seen plenty of other travelers complain about being turned away at the gate for the same reason.
And yet, on other Air Canada flights I have taken with Puglo in the exact same carrier, the agent barely glanced at us and waved us through. That is the frustrating part: a lot comes down to the discretion of whichever agent you get that day. So measure your dog and carrier carefully against Air Canada’s stated limits, leave yourself some margin, and go in knowing that final discretion is up to the gate agent.
Air Canada carrier size for in-cabin pets
As of June 2025, Air Canada requires a soft-sided carrier for all in-cabin pets. The maximum size is about 55 cm long, 40 cm wide and 21.5 cm high (roughly 21.5 x 15.5 x 10.5 inches). A soft carrier is the safer bet anyway because it squishes slightly to fit under different seat sizes. I break down the models I trust in my packing list for traveling with a dog.
A well-ventilated, leak-proof soft carrier like this sherpa carrier we use is the single most important thing to get right.
One number Air Canada does not always spell out clearly: your dog plus the carrier must not exceed 10 kg (22 lb) combined to fly in the cabin. If the two of them together weigh more than that, your pup has to travel as checked baggage or cargo instead, so weigh the loaded carrier at home before you head to the airport. You can confirm the current in-cabin rules on Air Canada’s official pet travel page.
How much does it cost to fly a dog in the Air Canada cabin?
Expect roughly $50 to $60 each way for domestic Canada and US flights, and $100 to $120 each way for international routes. You pay per direction, so a round trip is double. The fee is separate from your own ticket and is charged per pet.
Flying a bigger dog: checked baggage and Air Canada Cargo
If your dog is too big for the cabin, Air Canada offers two hold options. As checked baggage, your dog rides in a temperature-controlled and pressurized compartment, allowed when the pet plus kennel weighs up to 45 kg (100 lb). For larger dogs, relocations, or routes where baggage is not available, you use Air Canada Cargo, which is booked separately through their cargo team.
Checked baggage fees run about $105 to $126 each way within Canada and the US, and $270 to $324 each way internationally. Cargo pricing varies by weight and route, so you request a quote. For the hold, you need an IATA-compliant hard-sided kennel that your dog can stand, turn and lie down in comfortably. If you are weighing cabin versus hold for a mid-size dog, my guide to airlines that allow large dogs in the cabin is worth a look before you book.
Snub-nosed and restricted breeds
Air Canada does not accept brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dogs as checked baggage because flat-faced breeds face higher risks of breathing trouble and heat stroke in the hold. That includes pugs like Puglo, French and English bulldogs, boxers, and Boston terriers. If your snub-nosed dog is small enough, the cabin is your route. I cover this in detail in my guides to flying with a pug and airlines that allow snub-nosed dogs.
How to book a pet on Air Canada
Because each flight caps the number of pets, booking is first come first served, so add your pet the moment your own ticket is confirmed. Call Air Canada Reservations or add the pet during booking where the option appears, then arrive early on travel day. Air Canada asks you to be at check-in a full 30 minutes before the normal recommended time, because you must see an agent in person rather than using a kiosk.
- Confirm your dog meets the age minimum. Pets must be at least 10 weeks old and fully weaned, and some international routes require 12 weeks or more.
- Reserve the pet spot as early as possible, ideally at the same time as your seat.
- Measure your dog in their carrier at home and check it against Air Canada’s under-seat carrier size for your aircraft, since the cabin rule is about fit, not weight.
- Arrive 30 minutes earlier than usual and go straight to a check-in agent.
- Keep documents accessible, not buried in a checked bag.
Air Canada Service Dogs and Emotional Support Dogs
Air Canada carries trained service dogs in the cabin free of charge, and it is one of the few airlines that still accepts emotional support dogs, though the rules are strict and the dog has to stay in a carrier the whole flight. Both go through Air Canada’s Accessibility Services, not the regular pet booking line, and both need forms submitted in advance.
If your dog is a pug, frenchie, or another flat-faced breed, the harness you choose really matters. See my pick for the best harness for pugs.
Service dogs
A trained service dog flies free in the cabin and sits at your feet. If your dog needs extra floor space, that space is free on flights within Canada. The paperwork depends on where you are flying:
- Flights to or from the US: Air Canada follows US Department of Transportation (DOT) rules. You complete the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form (English only), and for flights of 8 hours or more you also complete the DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form. Because these are US DOT rules, once any part of your trip touches the US, that form covers your service dog across the connecting segments of the same itinerary.
Air Canada’s new service dog certification program (Cabin-Ready Canines)
If your service dog is owner-trained, Air Canada now gives you an official way to prove it. In June 2026 the airline launched Cabin-Ready Canines, a program run with K-9 Country Inn that independently assesses owner-trained service dogs and issues a verifiable certification. It covers domestic and international flights (not travel to or from the US.)
How it works: Air Canada’s Accessibility Services team refers eligible customers to K-9 Country Inn, a Canadian non-profit that has been training and assessing service dogs since 2013. K-9 Country Inn (not Air Canada) runs the evaluation and charges an assessment fee. If your dog passes, you get an official K-9 Country Inn certification and a photo ID card that Air Canada agents can verify through the organization’s database. That record is valid for two years, and then you just book the way you normally would.
Right now the in-person assessments are offered in English and French in the Toronto and Montréal areas only, so Ontario and Quebec.
You are exempt from the assessment if your dog already holds provincial service dog certification, or was trained through Assistance Dogs International (ADI), the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF), or another approved organization. Air Canada is also aligning the program with existing processes in British Columbia, Alberta and Nova Scotia.
It does not apply to flights to or from the United States. Those routes still follow US federal rules, which for Air Canada means the US Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form.
Emotional support dogs
Air Canada still accepts emotional support dogs, and only dogs, which is rare these days. Here is the catch: they are handled almost exactly like a regular pet. Your emotional support dog has to travel in an approved carrier under the seat in front of you and stay in that carrier for the entire trip. If your dog is too big for a carrier, it can travel in the pressurized baggage compartment instead.
The upside is that because this goes through Accessibility Services rather than the pet policy, you are not charged the standard pet fee. You do need to submit the Emotional Support Dog Request (Acknowledgement and Confirmation of Behaviour) form at least 96 hours before your flight.
Crossing borders: documents for Canada and the US
Air Canada rules are only half the picture on an international trip. You also need to meet the destination country’s import rules. To bring a dog into Canada from the US, you generally need proof of a valid rabies vaccination, and puppies have age requirements, per the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
To bring a dog into the US, the CDC Dog Import Form is required for all dogs, and you will show the receipt at the airline counter and the border.
For other countries, see my guide to how to travel with a dog internationally.
How Air Canada compares to other airlines
Air Canada sits in the middle of the pack. It does not publish an in-cabin weight limit, which is more flexible than some carriers that cap the cabin around 8 kg (18 lb), but unlike a few airlines, it will not let a larger dog fly as an emotional support animals. If you are comparing routes, these guides help: American Airlines pet policy, flying with a dog on Delta, flying with your dog on United, and my roundup of airlines that allow dogs in the cabin.
My tips for flying Air Canada with a dog
After years of doing this with a pug who has strong opinions about being zipped into a bag, here is what actually matters. Do a few practice sessions in the carrier at home so the airport is not the first time. Skip food for a couple of hours before the flight but keep water available. Take a long walk before you head to the airport so your dog is tired and relaxed. Line the carrier with an absorbent pad in case of accidents. And build in extra time, because pet check-in always takes longer than you expect. I keep a full pre-flight routine in my tips for flying with your dog post.
Flying with your dog in the cabin soon? I packed everything I learned flying Puglo across 19 countries into my Flying With Your Dog in Cabin guide. It covers picking a carrier that actually fits under the seat, getting through airport security with a dog, keeping a nervous pup calm, and the paperwork so you are not scrambling at check-in. And if you want airline rules in one place, my pet airline database lays out cabin policies for dozens of airlines side by side.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ): Air Canada Pet Policy
How much does it cost to fly a dog on Air Canada?
Plan on roughly $50 to $60 each way for domestic Canada and US flights in the cabin, and $100 to $120 each way internationally. Checked baggage costs more, about $105 to $126 domestic and $270 to $324 international per direction. Fees change, so confirm at booking.
What size dog can fly in the Air Canada cabin?
Air Canada does not set an in-cabin weight limit. Your dog just needs to fit comfortably in a soft-sided carrier that fits under the seat in front of you. The maximum carrier size is roughly 55 x 40 x 21.5 cm. Larger dogs travel as checked baggage or cargo.
Can pugs and bulldogs fly on Air Canada?
Yes. Small snub-nosed dogs can fly in the cabin if they fit in an approved soft-sided under-seat carrier. Air Canada will not accept snub-nosed breeds like pugs, French bulldogs and boxers as checked baggage, because flat-faced dogs face higher breathing and heat risks in the hold. For bigger flat-faced dogs, you use cargo.
Does Air Canada allow dogs as checked baggage?
Yes, dogs up to 45 kg (100 lb) including the kennel can travel as checked baggage in a temperature-controlled hold on many routes, in an IATA-compliant hard kennel. Snub-nosed breeds are excluded. Where baggage is not offered, you book through Air Canada Cargo instead.
How early should I arrive when flying with a pet on Air Canada?
Arrive at least 30 minutes earlier than the normal recommended check-in time, because you must see an agent in person rather than use a kiosk or bag drop. On busy travel days I add even more buffer, since pet check-in almost always takes longer than expected.
Policies and fees verified against Air Canada information in July 2026. Airlines update rules often, so confirm current details when you book.
More airline pet policies and flying tips: airlines that allow dogs in cabin, airlines that allow snub-nosed dogs, Volaris pet policy, American Airlines pet policy, flying with your dog on United, tips for flying with your dog.
Planning the rest of the trip? See taking a dog to France, taking a dog to Spain, taking your dog to Europe, dog friendly hotels in Italy.
