WestJet Pet Policy: Flying With Your Dog in Cabin (2026)

I have flown with my rescue pug Puglo across 19 countries, and as a Canadian I have spent a lot of time sorting out which of our home airlines actually make dog travel easy. WestJet is one of the more pet-friendly Canadian options once you know the rules. This is my full 2026 walkthrough of the WestJet pet policy: cabin rules, fees, carrier sizes, the countries WestJet will not fly pets to, and the exact booking steps I use so Puglo and I actually get a confirmed spot.

Yes, you can fly WestJet with your dog in the cabin. WestJet lets small dogs and cats travel in the cabin in an approved soft-sided carrier that fits under the seat in front of you, for a fee of $50 to $59 within Canada and the U.S. and $100 to $118 for flights beyond. Space is limited per flight, so you have to reserve your pet spot when you book, and at least 48 hours before departure.

WestJet pet policy at a glance

WestJet accepts small dogs and cats in the cabin and as checked baggage on most routes, with breed, health, and destination exceptions.

Detail	WestJet cabin policy
Where your dog rides	In a soft-sided carrier under the seat in front of you
Cabin fee (within Canada/U.S.)	$50 to $59 each way
Cabin fee (outside Canada/U.S.)	$100 to $118 each way
Carrier type	Soft-sided only, pet able to stand and turn around
Minimum age	8 weeks old and fully weaned
Booking window	Reserve pet space at least 48 hours before departure
Counts as	Your carry-on personal item

Can you bring a dog in the cabin on WestJet?

Yes. WestJet allows one small dog or cat per passenger in the cabin, as long as your pet fits comfortably in a soft-sided carrier that slides under the seat in front of you. Your dog must be able to stand up and turn around inside the closed carrier, stay quiet, and remain inside for the whole flight. Here is the airline carrier me and Puglo use.

If your dog is too big for an under-seat carrier, the options are checked baggage on eligible routes or WestJet Cargo when your pet travels on its own. For the full list of carriers that welcome dogs up front, my guide to airlines that allow dogs in cabin breaks down how WestJet compares to the rest.

WestJet pet fees in 2026

WestJet charges the pet fee in both directions of travel, so budget for it twice on a round trip. These are the current published fees.

Travel type	Within Canada & U.S.	Outside Canada & U.S.
Pet in cabin	$50 to $59	$100 to $118
Pet as checked baggage	$100 to $118	$200 to $236

Compared with the Air Canada pet policy, WestJet sits in a similar cabin-fee range, and both are pricier than budget carriers like the Volaris pet policy on Mexico routes.

WestJet pet carrier requirements

WestJet only accepts soft-sided carriers in the cabin. Your carrier has to fit fully under the seat in front of you, and your dog needs enough room to stand, turn around, and lie down naturally. The kennel counts as your carry-on personal item, so you will not also get a full-size personal item bag.

A soft carrier around 16 by 8.5 by 10 inches is the commonly published maximum, but confirm the exact dimensions for your aircraft when you book. For more of my packing picks, see my tips for flying with your dog in cabin.

How to book pet space on WestJet

WestJet caps the number of pets on each flight, so a spot is not guaranteed just because you bought a ticket. Reserve your pet space as soon as you complete your booking, and no later than 48 hours before departure.

You can add a pet by calling WestJet after booking. I always call to confirm Puglo, then screenshot the confirmation. You can double-check the current rules on the official WestJet pets page and the WestJet service fees page.

WestJet cabin vs checked baggage vs cargo

Which option applies depends on your dog’s size, the route, and the weather. Here is how the three shake out.

Option	Best for	Notes
Cabin	Small dogs that fit under the seat	Lowest stress, you keep your dog with you
Checked baggage	Medium dogs on eligible routes	Travels in the hold on your flight, temperature limits apply
WestJet Cargo	Large dogs or pets flying alone	Booked separately through WestJet Cargo

Snub-nosed breeds and destination restrictions

Small brachycephalic breeds like pugs and French bulldogs can fly in the WestJet cabin, where the air is temperature controlled. The heat and breathing risks that make some airlines refuse snub-nosed dogs mostly apply to the cargo hold, not the cabin.

One thing that surprises people: WestJet does not accept pets to or from Barbados, Hawaii, Ireland (Dublin), Jamaica, or the United Kingdom. If your trip touches one of those, you will need to rethink the routing. Entrance rules also vary by country, so check requirements for your destination well ahead.

WestJet service dogs and emotional support animals

Unfortunately, WestJet does not accept emotional support animals in the cabin. Since 2021 an ESA travels as a regular pet, which means the same carrier rules and pet fees I covered above apply. If you have an ESA, these are the airlines that still accept them.

Trained service dogs are treated differently. WestJet does accept service dogs that have been trained to do specific work or tasks for a person with a disability, and they are not charged a pet fee. You do need to set it up ahead of time, so call WestJet to add your service dog to your booking, ideally at least 48 hours before departure. Bring your documentation too, including the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form for flights to or from the U.S., because staff can ask to see it at check-in.

If your dog is a pet rather than a trained service dog, that is completely fine. You just follow the standard cabin booking process in this guide.

Flying WestJet back to the U.S. from Mexico

If you are bringing your dog into the United States from Mexico, your dog needs a screwworm-freedom inspection and certificate from an authorized (MVRA) veterinarian issued within 5 days before travel, plus a completed CDC Dog Import Form. Have both ready before you fly. You can confirm the current rules on the CDC dog importation page.

My experience flying WestJet with Puglo

WestJet holds a soft spot for me because it was the very first airline Puglo and I ever flew together. He was only seven months old, and we went from Puerto Vallarta to St. John’s with a connection in Calgary. I was so nervous about that flight, and the WestJet staff made the whole thing far easier than I had built it up to be in my head.

Technically your dog is supposed to stay in the carrier for the entire flight. On that first trip, the agents were kind enough to let me unzip the top so Puglo could rest his head out on my lap, which calmed both of us down. I cannot promise your crew will be that relaxed, and on a later flight they were firm about keeping him fully inside, so treat it as something to politely ask about rather than expect. It never hurts to ask.

We have flown WestJet plenty of times since, usually heading back to Canada to visit friends and family, and it has been a good experience every time. WestJet also runs direct flights from Canada to Europe and to the Caribbean, so it can get you and your dog to a lot of the world without a messy connection.

WestJet pet policy FAQ

WestJet fees and rules verified against the official WestJet pets and service fees pages in August 2026. Airlines change policies often, so confirm the current details when you book.