Dog Flight – Airline Requirements For Dog Vacation

Updated October 18, 2022
Jeremy Shantz

Are you ready to take your Pooch on a great adventure? Does it require a dog flight or two? If you plan on taking your dog on a plane or jet, knowing the rules about dogs and flying, and dog carriers, can save you a ruined trip that could cost you large for your vacation.

I’ve done the research for the major airlines operating both internationally and nationally in many countries. The countries I selected were chosen because they have some of the highest occurrences of dogs as pets, globally speaking. That being said, I assume this will be a useful resource for anyone who wants to travel with pets.

Airline Dog Flight Requirements

Air Canada Airlines

Small Breeds

If your dog is small enough to fit in a carry on bag, you can your Pooch in the cabin with you for a little dog vacation. There are several requirements for this and they depend on several factors. One of these is the size of the carrier and this can depend upon which type of jet you are flying in. For the sake of being prepared for the worst, we will use the smaller of the two carrier sizing requirements. This applies to cats or dogs, by the way, either is okay to take on a flight in the cabin, as long as the requirements are met.

Maximum Size of Carrier

Height: 21 cm (8.25 in)
Width: 38 cm (15 in)
Length: 43 cm (17 in)

Taking your dog in the cabin with you requires the dog is kept in a carrier for the duration of the flight. Totally worth it to keep an eye on your Pooch while taking them to a dog vacation destination. The carrier must meet certain requirements.

Your dog or cat MUST be able to do the following, comfortably, within the carrier:

Stand
Turn-Around
Lie Down

Cost To Fly With Your Pet In The Cabin

Within Canada and Canada/U.S. (except Hawaii)^*
$50.00 – $59.00 CAD/USD^*

International^*
$100.00 – $118.00 CAD/USD^*

*Conditions apply. See Airline Website for full details.

Other Requirements

Only one cat or small dog is allowed in the cabin per passenger
Soft or hard carriers are allowed
Pet carrier must be well ventilated
Pet carrier must be leakproof
No part of the pet can extend out of the carrier
The pet must remain inside the carrier for the entire flight
The pet carrier must remain under the seat in front of the passenger for the duration of the flight
Pet must be fully weaned
Pet must be at least 12 weeks old
The carrier counts as one piece of your carry on baggage

Tips For Check-In:

Arrive at least 30 minutes before the suggested check-in time. You cannot use an automated check-in process because you have a pet. There will be extra check-in time because you have to meet with an agent when checking in with a pet.

Medium/Large Breeds

A massive Scottish Deerhound stands proudly atop a hill with snow-capped mountains in the background in this majestic file photo. — Scottish Deerhound By Linda Lindt/Richard Hawkins – Fernhill website, CC BY 3.0, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26513664

If your dog is too big to fit in a carrier that will fit in the cabin, then follow this part of the guide for a checked kennel.

Size of Carrier For Checked Baggage

Maximum Carrier Dimensions:

292 cm (115 in) in linear dimensions
(length + width + height)

Example: If you have a 4′ (48″) long x 2′ (24″) wide x 3′ (36″) tall carrier, this totals 108″ so is okay and just within the 115″ maximum.

Maximum Carrier Weight:

Up to 45 kg (100 lb) – Pet and carrier combined weight

Cost for Checked Baggage Pet Carrier

Within Canada and Canada/U.S.(except Hawaii)^*
$105.00 – $120.75 CAD/USD

International^*
$270.00 – $318.60 CAD/USD^*

*Conditions apply. See Airline Website for full details.

Points To Consider For The Dog Flight

Summer Heat – Due to summer heat, some flights can’t have pets in the cargo compartment when temperatures rise above 29.5 degree Celsius
Many aircraft do not accept pets in the cargo hold from November 1 to March 31st due to cold, winter conditions.
Some destinations may restrict pets entry or may require veterinarian reports of the dogs’ health before access can be granted
Always check with your airline before booking your flight to make sure you’ve covered all your bases
Pets leash or harness must be removed before the pet is put into the carrier for the flight
Remember to bring some food and water in a pet travel kit for your dog.

Checked Baggage Carrier Requirements

A maximum of 2 dogs (each weighing no more than 14 kg/31 lb) who are used to cohabitation may be in one carrier. Note that the applicable fee will be charged twice.
The pet carrier must be hard-sided and not collapsible
Kennels and pet carriers must be ventilated
The pet carrier must be leakproof

Breed Restrictions

No snub-nosed breeds of dogs or cats are allowed in the baggage compartment. This is due to the fact that these breeds are “…susceptible to increased risks of heat stroke and breathing problems when exposed to extreme heat or stressful situations. “

Some breeds require extra strong carriers due to being classified as ‘strong’ breeds. According to Air Canada, these breeds are listed as ‘strong’:

Caucasian Ovcharka (Caucasian Shepherd Dog)
Karabash (Kangal Dog, Anatolian Shepherd Dog)
Pit-bull – all breeds
Mastiff – all breeds
Rottweiller
Wolf Dog Hybrids

[Source]

American Airlines

American Airlines’ website focuses heavily on the type of jet and its specific requirements. The downside to this is that you must know in advance which model of jet you will be flying on. That being said, unlike Air Canada, it is much more difficult to make generic guidelines for American Airlines as they appear to have an extensive amount of different models of jets. Each model appears to have its own special requirements. See their website and call them for specific details pertaining to your flight.