You may have heard that pets can travel by air, but what does that actually involve?
Can your pet fly with you? Where will they travel on the plane? Can you add them to your own airline ticket? What documents will they need?
The answers depend on your pet, the airline, the route and whether you are travelling within Canada or internationally. Here is a simple overview of what to expect.
Pets generally travel in one of three ways:
Many pet parents would prefer to keep their pet in the cabin, but this is usually limited to smaller pets and is not available on every airline or route. Larger pets and pets travelling to certain destinations may need to fly as checked baggage or manifest cargo. Learn more in our guide to the three types of international pet air travel.
Sometimes, but not always.
An in-cabin pet or a pet travelling as checked baggage may be added to the owner’s passenger reservation, subject to the airline’s rules and available pet capacity. Because airlines limit how many pets can travel on a flight, it is important to confirm your pet’s space before purchasing a non-refundable ticket.
Manifest-cargo travel is booked separately through the airline’s cargo division. On some international routes, the airline requires the booking to be made through a registered International Pet and Animal Transportation Association, or IPATA, agent. For example, Air Canada Cargo currently requires international live-animal shipments to be booked through a registered IPATA agent.
Paws en route is an IPATA member and can review suitable flights, make eligible cargo bookings and coordinate the details required by the airline.
The fastest or cheapest passenger itinerary may not be the best option for a pet. Paws generally recommends the most direct and least complicated suitable route for the animal.
The requirements are different for domestic and international travel.
For a domestic flight, your pet may need:
Domestic travel is usually more straightforward than an international journey, but every airline has its own pet policies. A pet accepted on one route may not be accepted on another aircraft or during certain weather conditions.
For an international flight, you must meet both the airline’s requirements and the entry rules of the destination country.
Your pet may need:
These steps often need to be completed in a specific order and within strict timeframes.
One of the biggest surprises for first-time pet travellers is that there is no universal checklist for international pet travel. The requirements are determined by the destination country, not where you are departing from.
For example, a dog travelling from Toronto to the United Kingdom generally requires:
Now compare that with Australia, which has one of the world’s strictest biosecurity systems. In addition to a microchip and rabies vaccination, pets typically require:
Although both pets are leaving from Toronto, the preparation, documentation, timeline and arrival process are completely different.
That is why it is important to follow the requirements for your specific destination rather than relying on a generic online checklist.
Explore our destination-specific pet travel guides for a closer look at international planning and documentation.
The check-in process depends on how your pet is flying. An in-cabin pet normally checks in with the owner at the passenger terminal. A pet travelling as checked baggage may use the regular check-in area or a designated airline counter.
A pet flying as manifest cargo is usually dropped off at the airline’s cargo facility, which may be located elsewhere at the airport. Airline staff review the booking, documentation and travel crate before accepting the pet.
At the destination, the pet may be collected from baggage claim, a special-handling area or the airline’s cargo facility. International arrivals may also involve customs, document checks, inspections or an import agent.
Your pet will need a correctly sized carrier or crate and time to become comfortable using it before departure. You should also speak with your veterinarian about your pet’s health and fitness to fly. Read Preparing Your Pet for Air Travel: 5 Tips for a Smoother Journey for practical advice.
You do not need to understand every airline rule or destination requirement before getting started. Share some basic information about your pet, where you are travelling from, where you are going and your approximate dates. Paws en route can help determine:
Depending on the journey, Paws can assist with airline booking, documentation, crate guidance, ground transportation, departure and arrival coordination, or complete pet relocation management.
Whether you are planning a flight within Canada or an international journey, Paws en route can help you understand what to expect and determine the right level of support for your pet.
Ready to begin planning? Request a custom pet-travel quote from Paws en route.
Ready to travel?
Our IPATA-certified pet travel specialists help manage the details, from airline booking to health certificates and import permits, for a smoother travel experience.
Get a custom quotePaws en route provides trusted support for every step of pet travel, from complex international relocations to domestic travel within Canada.
