Airline pet policy

WestJet pet policy

WestJet takes dogs and cats in the cabin (1 per passenger), dogs, cats and rabbits as checked baggage (2 per passenger) and dogs and cats as cargo on the routes we cover.

Policy checked Oct 26, 2026Source: WestJet By the CollarPass team
In cabinAcceptedDogs and cats1 per passengerRead the route rules Checked baggageAcceptedDogs, cats and rabbits2 per passengerRead the route rules CargoAcceptedDogs and catsSee the route rules below.Read the route rules

In the cabin

Pets in the cabin travel in a carrier under the seat in front of you. The rows below are per route, so check yours.

Dogs and cats

Accepted

WestJet takes one cat or dog per person in the cabin, in a soft-sided carrier under the seat: up to 41 × 25.4 × 21.5 cm (length × width × height). Pets must be at least 8 weeks old.

  • 1 per passenger
  • 1 per crate
  • Crate 41 × 25.4 × 21.5 cm
  • At least 8 weeks old

Fees: CAD 50–59 each way within Canada and between Canada and the US · CAD 100–118 each way on other flights

Before you fly: Request the pet's space by chat or phone as soon as you've booked, and at least 48 hours before departure; WestJet limits pets per flight.

  • Not on trips that include codeshare or interline partner flights. No pets in Business on the 787.
  • The carrier counts as your personal item; you may need a window seat for it to fit.
  • Dogs that have been in a high-risk rabies country in the last 6 months and were vaccinated outside the US are refused on flights to the US, wherever they fly from.

Sources: Pets · Optional fees (travelling with pets and kennels) · General entrance requirements for guests travelling with pets · Checked Oct 26, 2026

Dogs

AcceptedFrom 112 places, including United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan and Armenia to United States

A dog that has been in a high-risk rabies country can fly to the US with WestJet only if it was vaccinated in the US; vaccinated anywhere else (including Canada), it is refused. WestJet takes one cat or dog per person in the cabin, in a soft-sided carrier under the seat: up to 41 × 25.4 × 21.5 cm (length × width × height). Pets must be at least 8 weeks old.

  • 1 per passenger
  • 1 per crate
  • Crate 41 × 25.4 × 21.5 cm
  • At least 8 weeks old

Only for pets vaccinated in the destination country

Fees: CAD 50–59 each way within Canada and between Canada and the US · CAD 100–118 each way on other flights

Before you fly: Request the pet's space by chat or phone as soon as you've booked, and at least 48 hours before departure; WestJet limits pets per flight.

  • Not on trips that include codeshare or interline partner flights. No pets in Business on the 787.
  • The carrier counts as your personal item; you may need a window seat for it to fit.
  • Dogs that have been in a high-risk rabies country in the last 6 months and were vaccinated outside the US are refused on flights to the US, wherever they fly from.

Sources: Pets · Optional fees (travelling with pets and kennels) · General entrance requirements for guests travelling with pets · Checked Oct 26, 2026

Rabbits and ferrets

Not accepted

WestJet takes only cats, dogs and birds in the cabin.

Sources: Pets · Checked Oct 26, 2026

As checked baggage

Pets in the hold as checked baggage check in with you at the desk and fly on the same flight.

Dogs, cats and rabbits

AcceptedTo Mexico

WestJet doesn't carry pets in the hold to or from Mexico from 15 May to 31 October (Huatulco, Ixtapa and Mérida all year); Mexico City is exempt. WestJet carries pets in the hold on your flight, in a hard-sided kennel up to 101 × 68 × 81 cm; pet and kennel together up to 45 kg, with up to 2 pets of the same species (each up to 14 kg) per kennel. Snub-nosed and strong dog breeds must go with WestJet Cargo instead.

  • 2 per passenger
  • 2 per crate
  • Max 45 kg incl. crate
  • Crate 101 × 68 × 81 cm
  • At least 8 weeks old
  • No flights in May–Oct

Not for snub-nosed dogs

Fees: CAD 100–118 each way within Canada and between Canada and the US · CAD 200–236 each way on other flights

Before you fly: Request the pet's space by chat or phone as soon as you've booked, and at least 48 hours before departure; WestJet limits pets per flight.

  • We block all of May to be safe. Flights to or from Mexico City are not restricted, so check with WestJet if you fly there.
  • Pets per person: 6 on 737s, 4 on 787s, 2 on Dash 8s; we count 2 because that holds on every aircraft.
  • Kennels per flight: 3 on 737s, 2 on 787s, 1 on Dash 8s; none from 18 December to 4 January, and fewer on 15–17 December and 5–7 January.
  • No pets in the hold to or from Atlanta, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Raleigh-Durham, Sarasota, Tampa or West Palm Beach from 15 May to 31 October.
  • Not on trips that include codeshare or interline partner flights.
  • Dogs that have been in a high-risk rabies country in the last 6 months and were vaccinated outside the US are refused on flights to the US, wherever they fly from.

Sources: Pets · Optional fees (travelling with pets and kennels) · General entrance requirements for guests travelling with pets · Checked Oct 21, 2026

AcceptedFrom Mexico

WestJet doesn't carry pets in the hold to or from Mexico from 15 May to 31 October (Huatulco, Ixtapa and Mérida all year); Mexico City is exempt. WestJet carries pets in the hold on your flight, in a hard-sided kennel up to 101 × 68 × 81 cm; pet and kennel together up to 45 kg, with up to 2 pets of the same species (each up to 14 kg) per kennel. Snub-nosed and strong dog breeds must go with WestJet Cargo instead.

  • 2 per passenger
  • 2 per crate
  • Max 45 kg incl. crate
  • Crate 101 × 68 × 81 cm
  • At least 8 weeks old
  • No flights in May–Oct

Not for snub-nosed dogs

Fees: CAD 100–118 each way within Canada and between Canada and the US · CAD 200–236 each way on other flights

Before you fly: Request the pet's space by chat or phone as soon as you've booked, and at least 48 hours before departure; WestJet limits pets per flight.

  • We block all of May to be safe. Flights to or from Mexico City are not restricted, so check with WestJet if you fly there.
  • Pets per person: 6 on 737s, 4 on 787s, 2 on Dash 8s; we count 2 because that holds on every aircraft.
  • Kennels per flight: 3 on 737s, 2 on 787s, 1 on Dash 8s; none from 18 December to 4 January, and fewer on 15–17 December and 5–7 January.
  • No pets in the hold to or from Atlanta, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Raleigh-Durham, Sarasota, Tampa or West Palm Beach from 15 May to 31 October.
  • Not on trips that include codeshare or interline partner flights.
  • Dogs that have been in a high-risk rabies country in the last 6 months and were vaccinated outside the US are refused on flights to the US, wherever they fly from.

Sources: Pets · Optional fees (travelling with pets and kennels) · General entrance requirements for guests travelling with pets · Checked Oct 21, 2026

Accepted

WestJet carries pets in the hold on your flight, in a hard-sided kennel up to 101 × 68 × 81 cm; pet and kennel together up to 45 kg, with up to 2 pets of the same species (each up to 14 kg) per kennel. Snub-nosed and strong dog breeds must go with WestJet Cargo instead.

  • 2 per passenger
  • 2 per crate
  • Max 45 kg incl. crate
  • Crate 101 × 68 × 81 cm
  • At least 8 weeks old

Not for snub-nosed dogs

Fees: CAD 100–118 each way within Canada and between Canada and the US · CAD 200–236 each way on other flights

Before you fly: Request the pet's space by chat or phone as soon as you've booked, and at least 48 hours before departure; WestJet limits pets per flight.

  • Pets per person: 6 on 737s, 4 on 787s, 2 on Dash 8s; we count 2 because that holds on every aircraft.
  • Kennels per flight: 3 on 737s, 2 on 787s, 1 on Dash 8s; none from 18 December to 4 January, and fewer on 15–17 December and 5–7 January.
  • No pets in the hold to or from Atlanta, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Raleigh-Durham, Sarasota, Tampa or West Palm Beach from 15 May to 31 October.
  • Not on trips that include codeshare or interline partner flights.
  • Dogs that have been in a high-risk rabies country in the last 6 months and were vaccinated outside the US are refused on flights to the US, wherever they fly from.

Sources: Pets · Optional fees (travelling with pets and kennels) · General entrance requirements for guests travelling with pets · Checked Oct 21, 2026

Dogs

AcceptedFrom 112 places, including United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan and Armenia to United States

A dog that has been in a high-risk rabies country can fly to the US with WestJet only if it was vaccinated in the US; vaccinated anywhere else (including Canada), it is refused. WestJet carries pets in the hold on your flight, in a hard-sided kennel up to 101 × 68 × 81 cm; pet and kennel together up to 45 kg, with up to 2 pets of the same species (each up to 14 kg) per kennel. Snub-nosed and strong dog breeds must go with WestJet Cargo instead.

  • 2 per passenger
  • 2 per crate
  • Max 45 kg incl. crate
  • Crate 101 × 68 × 81 cm
  • At least 8 weeks old

Only for pets not snub-nosed and vaccinated in the destination country

Fees: CAD 100–118 each way within Canada and between Canada and the US · CAD 200–236 each way on other flights

Before you fly: Request the pet's space by chat or phone as soon as you've booked, and at least 48 hours before departure; WestJet limits pets per flight.

  • Pets per person: 6 on 737s, 4 on 787s, 2 on Dash 8s; we count 2 because that holds on every aircraft.
  • Kennels per flight: 3 on 737s, 2 on 787s, 1 on Dash 8s; none from 18 December to 4 January, and fewer on 15–17 December and 5–7 January.
  • No pets in the hold to or from Atlanta, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Raleigh-Durham, Sarasota, Tampa or West Palm Beach from 15 May to 31 October.
  • Not on trips that include codeshare or interline partner flights.
  • Dogs that have been in a high-risk rabies country in the last 6 months and were vaccinated outside the US are refused on flights to the US, wherever they fly from.

Sources: Pets · Optional fees (travelling with pets and kennels) · General entrance requirements for guests travelling with pets · Checked Oct 21, 2026

Ferrets

Not accepted

WestJet's list of pets it takes in the hold (birds, cats, chinchillas, dogs, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, rabbits) has no ferrets.

Sources: Pets · Checked Oct 26, 2026

As cargo

Pets flying alone go as cargo, usually through the airline’s freight arm, with different drop-off and collection rules.

Dogs and cats

AcceptedFrom 7 places, including Canada, United States and Mexico to 7 places, including Canada, United States and Mexico

WestJet Cargo's Pet'Air flies pets within Canada and to or from the US, Mexico, London Heathrow, Paris, Barcelona and Rome. Snub-nosed dog breeds are welcome.

Fees: Quoted by WestJet Cargo and charged when you book; changes or cancellations cost CAD 25 up to 48 hours before shipment and are non-refundable after that.

Before you fly: For trips abroad, book through an IPATA agent or freight forwarder; within Canada, contact WestJet Cargo for a quote.

  • Pets 8 to 12 weeks old and snub-nosed breeds need a vet health certificate.
  • Holiday, summer and winter restrictions apply; ask WestJet Cargo.

Sources: Pet'Air · Checked Oct 26, 2026

Not accepted

WestJet Cargo's Pet'Air only covers Canada, the US, Mexico, London Heathrow, Paris, Barcelona and Rome.

Sources: Pet'Air · Checked Oct 26, 2026

Country pages for these routes

Entry rules for the countries named in the rows above.

🇨🇦Canada🇨🇳China (mainland)🇫🇷France🌺Hawaii🇮🇪Ireland🇮🇹Italy🇲🇽Mexico🇪🇸Spain🇬🇧United Kingdom🇺🇸United StatesCountries

Official sources

Every row above cites one of these pages. Dates show our last check, not the page’s own update.

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