Pets

• Space for pets cannot be reserved online. To add your pet to your travel plans, please contact us at 1-888-937-8538 (1-888-WESTJET).
• A pet kennel fee applies for pets travelling in the cabin or as checked baggage. Please note that an empty kennel or a pet in a kennel will be counted towards your carry-on baggage allowance as either a personal item or a carry-on item, depending on its size.
• We limit the number of pets permitted on each flight, so we strongly recommend requesting space for your pet as soon as you have completed your booking. If you do not request space for your pet(s) 48 hours before departure, space may not be available, and you may not be permitted to travel with your pet(s).
• To add a service animal to your travel plans, visit our service animals page.

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 seating separation requirement. If this is required, you will be notified before you board your flight, and you will be seated to allow for a minimum of five rows between the persons with a disabling allergy to cats and your cat.

Specialty dogs do not provide a service to a person with a disability but are trained to perform tasks such as search and rescue, avalanche searches, or to provide comfort therapy to another individual (for example for someone in a hospital, retirement home, nursing home, hospice or disaster area).

Please note:

• WestJet offers this program, but this is not something offered by many air carriers. We strongly recommend that you confirm the policies for the acceptance of specialty dogs of our partner airlines or any other transportation service provider as their policies may be different from ours.
• This program does not apply to WestJet Vacation package bookings.
• Specialty dogs will be charged the pet in cabin fee, and if the specialty dog requires additional floor space to ensure its comfort and safety on board, an additional seat must be purchased (based on availability).
• Specialty dogs are not accepted in Business on the 787.

Documentation requirements

You may be required to present a Registered Certificate Identification card at the airport. If you do not present this documentation, your dog must be harnessed.

Control measures

We strongly recommend some form of physical restraint device for the animal as the animal must be under your control at all times.  Furthermore, some agencies - (the airport authority, transfer companies, etc.) may require your animal to be harnessed.

Animals which pose any type of threat to health and safety, to crew members or other guests, may be denied transport as a service/emotional support animal, and/or in the cabin of the aircraft.

Advance notification requirements 

For your best experience, we recommend providing us with as much advance notice as possible, as specialty dogs are only accepted on space available basis.

Your pet may not be able to travel with you due to entrance restrictions. Please review general entrance requirements for guests traveling with pets to identify if this will affect your travel plans.

Entrance restrictions

• These restrictions apply to travelling with a pet. There are differences when travelling with a service or emotional support animal. Please see service animals for more details.
• Before travelling with your pet in or out of any province, territory or across borders, we strongly recommend confirming the entrance requirements with the consulate, embassy or appropriate government authority. You are responsible for meeting entrance requirements for any province, territory or country you are entering, including the point of departure.
• Pets may be denied entry at your destination (including Canada) if they are in poor health and may be subject to a medical examination. Any costs associated with a medical examination will be at your expense.
• Please view general entrance requirements for guests travelling with pets for more information. Entrance and documentation requirements are subject to change and may vary depending on your destination, the animal's breed and the type of animal travelling (e.g. a pet and a rescue animal can have different requirements).
• Entrance and documentation requirements are subject to change and may vary depending on your destination, the animal's breed and the type of animal (for example, a pet or a rescue animal).
• WestJet assumes no responsibility for your compliance with any such requirements.
• A designation of "does not accept" is applicable to both carry-on and checked baggage.
• If any of the countries on your itinerary include a note to see details, this means there are specific restrictions that must be met in order for your pet to be permitted to travel.
• WestJet does not accept pets for travel to/from Barbados, Hawaii, Ireland (Dublin), Jamaica or the United Kingdom (Glasgow or London Gatwick).

Bird embargoes

• 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.

• Pets are not permitted on itineraries which include flights operated by our code-share and interline partners.
• For your pet's comfort, we recommend considering flights without connections, as well as early morning or late evening flights in the summer and midday flights in the winter.
• A pet may not travel with an unaccompanied minor.
• Pets that are younger than eight weeks old will not be accepted for transport.
• Pets travelling in the cabin must remain in the kennel and be stored under the seat in front of you at all times. If you remove your pet from its kennel while on board, you may be banned from travelling with your pet in the cabin on future WestJet flights.
• Pets that appear to be aggressive, unruly or in distress may be denied for transport at our discretion.
• All kennels are subject to approval by WestJet at check in. See the kennel information for carry-on pets or kennel information for "Checked" and "On their own (as cargo)" sections above.
• WestJet assumes no responsibility for the care or feeding of pets while in transit.
• The limits of liability outlined in our baggage claim page apply to pets as well. These amounts are not automatically payable but reflect the maximum compensation payable, as each claim is subject to proof of loss.
• Consequential damages such as loss of enjoyment or companionship, inconvenience, etc. are not compensable.

For your pet's health and safety, WestJet recommends consulting your veterinarian before reserving travel if your pet is pregnant or in heat (estrus). Additionally, you should not administer any tranquilizer or other medication to your pet before travel without first consulting a veterinarian.

• Your pet must be fed and watered within the four (4) hour period before check-in. Only feed your pet a light meal prior to departure and provide a quick drink of water before check-in. Containers with food and water are prone to spilling during the course of kennel-handling and transportation. For the comfort of your pet, WestJet recommends that you empty all food and water containers before your flight.
• Exercise your pet before leaving for the airport. Some airports may require pets to remain in the kennel at all times.
• You should arrive at the boarding gate at least 40 minutes before flight departure. If you arrive less than 10 minutes before departure you will be denied boarding.

For guests travelling on a WestJet Vacations package, the following information applies in addition to the information listed above:

• Pets are not accepted at all hotels. Please contact the hotel directly for inquiries about pet acceptance.
• Extra charges may apply and must be paid directly to the hotel. Guests wishing to travel with their pets are required to contact us so we can ensure your pet is added to your flight reservation.