{"id":10672,"date":"2026-11-09T08:00:12","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T08:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.metairfare.com\/blog\/pet-travel-domestic-flights-canada\/"},"modified":"2026-11-09T08:00:12","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T08:00:12","slug":"pet-travel-domestic-flights-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.metairfare.com\/blog\/pet-travel-domestic-flights-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"Flying with Pets on Domestic Flights in Canada: Fees, Carrier Size & Rules by Airline (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yes — Air Canada, WestJet, Porter and Flair all allow small cats and dogs in the cabin on domestic Canadian flights, as long as the pet and its soft-sided carrier fit under the seat in front of you. Expect a fee of roughly $50–$99 each way<\/strong> depending on the airline, a strict carrier-size limit, and a cap on how many pets are allowed per flight — so book the pet spot early, not at the gate.<\/p>\n

🐕  QUICK ANSWER
✓ Fact-checked · Nov 2026<\/span><\/div>\n

Which Canadian airlines allow pets in the cabin on domestic flights?<\/h2>\n

All four major domestic carriers — Air Canada, WestJet, Porter and Flair — allow small cats and dogs to travel in the cabin, provided the pet and its carrier stay under the seat in front of the passenger for the entire flight. None of them allow pets in premium cabins (Air Canada excludes Premium Economy, for example), and all treat the pet carrier as your one carry-on or personal item, not an extra bag.<\/p>\n

Pet fees and carrier limits by airline<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Airline<\/th>\nFee (each way)<\/th>\nCarrier size (soft-sided)<\/th>\nPets per flight<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Air Canada<\/td>\n~$50 CAD<\/td>\nUp to 27 × 40 × 55 cm<\/td>\nLimited, varies by aircraft<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WestJet<\/td>\n~$50–59 CAD<\/td>\nUp to 41 × 25.4 × 21.5 cm<\/td>\nOne per guest; limited per aircraft<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Porter Airlines<\/td>\n~$50 CAD<\/td>\nUp to 55 × 40 × 27 cm<\/td>\nTwo pets per flight<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Flair Airlines<\/td>\n$79 CAD online \/ $99 at airport<\/td>\nUp to 41 × 25 × 23 cm, max 10.4 kg total<\/td>\nLimited, no fixed number published<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>
Fees and limits change — always confirm directly with the airline close to your travel date, and add your pet to the booking as early as possible since cabin spots are capped per flight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What size and weight of pet can fly in the cabin?<\/h2>\n

Only small cats and dogs qualify, and the limit is set by the carrier, not just the animal: your pet plus its carrier typically needs to weigh under roughly 10 kg (22 lb) combined, and the carrier itself must be soft-sided and small enough to slide flat under the seat ahead of you. If your pet doesn’t comfortably fit and turn around inside the carrier with the zipper closed, it’s too big for the cabin and will need to fly as checked or cargo pet transport instead, which has its own separate rules and fees.<\/p>\n

How many pets are allowed per flight?<\/h2>\n

This is the detail that catches people off guard: unlike a checked bag, a cabin pet spot is capped per aircraft, not guaranteed by buying a ticket. Porter caps it at two pets per flight; Air Canada and WestJet limit it per aircraft type without listing a fixed public number; Flair doesn’t publish an exact cap either. In practice, this means calling or booking the pet add-on as soon as you book your seat, especially around holiday travel dates when cabin pet spots fill first.<\/p>\n

Do domestic routes have different pet rules than international ones?<\/h2>\n

The in-cabin size, weight and carrier rules are the same whether you’re flying Toronto to Calgary or Toronto to Delhi. What changes on international and some transborder routes is the fee (roughly double on Air Canada and WestJet for most international destinations) and a handful of destination-specific exclusions — WestJet, for instance, excludes pets on flights to Hawaii, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, the UK and Barbados regardless of fee.<\/p>\n

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Flying within Canada?<\/p>\n

Domestic Flights in Canada: the ultimate guide<\/a>  ·  WestJet vs Air Canada: which is better?<\/a>  ·  Domestic carry-on & liquid rules (CATSA guide)<\/a>  ·  Flair Airlines: routes & review<\/a><\/p>\n

750+ Google reviews — call +1-877-700-0520<\/a> or WhatsApp your dates, including your pet, and we’ll confirm the cabin spot is booked.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n
\nCan I bring my pet in the cabin on any Canadian domestic flight?<\/summary>\n
\n

Only if your pet and its carrier fit the airline’s size and weight limits and a cabin pet spot is available on that specific flight — these spots are capped per aircraft, so booking early matters more than on a flight with no pet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n

\nWhich domestic airline in Canada is cheapest for flying with a pet?<\/summary>\n
\n

Air Canada, WestJet and Porter are all priced similarly around $50 CAD each way. Flair is the most expensive at $79-$99 CAD each way, on top of being the airline most likely to charge separately for the carry-on bag itself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n

\nDoes my pet count as my carry-on bag?<\/summary>\n
\n

Yes. The pet carrier counts as your one carry-on or personal item on all four airlines — you don’t get a separate pet allowance plus a full carry-on bag.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n

\nCan large dogs fly in the cabin on domestic flights in Canada?<\/summary>\n
\n

No. Cabin travel is limited to small cats and dogs that fit inside a soft-sided carrier under the seat, generally under about 10 kg combined with the carrier. Larger pets need to travel as checked baggage or through a cargo pet-transport service instead.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n