Select the specific information you would like to have about the transport of pets in the checked baggage hold:
Advance booking
When travelling with your pet cat or dog, please reserve space for them at least 72 hours prior to departure. This ensures that the maximum number of pets per aircraft has not been exceeded. Passengers who have not made advance arrangements may be denied carriage of their animal.
At the airport
Ensure your pet is inside their cage and delivered to our check-in counters no later than 90 minutes prior to departure. Animals presented after that time may be denied transport;
Before departure, we will confirm that your pet has been loaded into the cargo hold and on arrival, where your pet will be delivered;
In the event of a delay Air Transat will make every effort to return the animal to the responsible passenger.
Documentation
Each country has specific requirements for the acceptance of animals, including documentation, restrictions on breeds, and fees and conditions for acceptance. Please consult local authorities before departure.
You must be at least 16 years of age to travel with an animal. You must bring a health certificate indicating your pet’s breed and proof of rabies vaccination. You must also bring any additional entry and agricultural documents required by the destination country.
Restrictions
- Only cats and dogs are allowed in the checked baggage hold.
- This service is not available on connecting or codeshare flights.
- With Train + Air, pets are not allowed in the baggage hold.
Certain breeds of dog are refused entry to some countries or regions. We are, therefore, unable to transport the following breeds of dogs or mixed breeds, including one or more of the following breeds:
- Mastiffs: All breeds including; Argentine (Dogo Argentino), Bandog (Bandogge), South African (Boerboel), Brazilian (Fila Brasileiro), Italian (Cane Corso, Neapolitan), Canary Mastiff (Presa Canario), Japanese Mastiff (Tosa Inu)
- Pit Bulls: all breeds, including American Bully, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Akita (Akita Inu)
- Caucasian Ovcharka (Caucasian Shepherd Dog)
- Karabash Dog (Kangal/Anatolian Shepherd Dog)
- Rottweiler
- Wolf-dog hybrids
- Doberman Pinscher
The following breeds are exempt from the above restriction and
will be accepted for transport:
- All other Mastiff breeds, not specified above, such as Bull Mastiffs and French Mastiffs (Dogue de Bordeaux)
Brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dogs and cats will be accepted for transport; however, due to the increased risk of respiratory distress, the following transport requirements must be met:
- Passengers must submit a signed Acknowledgment and Exclusion of Liability to the check-in Agent.
- The animal must be shipped in a kennel one size larger than the normal standard.
- There must be ventilation openings on the four sides of the carrier.
- It is recommended that the pet be acclimatized to the carrier as long as possible before departure.
- You are solely responsible for your pet’s health.
See the list of accepted brachycephalic dogs and cats Breeds.
Should those conditions not be met, the pet's transport may be refused. The fees would be non refundable.
Please also note the following country-specific restrictions on travelling with pets:
To and from Colombia: Strict regulations are in effect. Owners must hold a completed Canadian International Health Certificate issued within 10 days of arrival to Colombia.
Failure to present valid documents will result in the quarantine of the animal upon arrival and additional costs for veterinary inspection. Passengers must also submit an electronic certificate at least 24 hours prior to departing Colombia with their pet. Complete information can be found on the Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario - ICA website (only in Spanish).
To Costa Rica: Advance arrangements are mandatory for all cats & dogs. Owners, must hold a completed International Health Certificate for Dogs and Cats, issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) within 14 days prior to arrival to Costa Rica. Failure to present valid documents will result refusal of entry for the animal.
Complete information can be found on the Costa Rican embassy website.
To the United States: In order to comply with regulations set out by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and to protect public health and reduce potential delays and costs to the importer and carrier, animals that are imported into the United States must show no signs of communicable disease and must appear to be in good health before entering the United States. American federal and/ or State authorities may impose certain requirements or certain documents on Customers travelling with animals, including service animals. Additionally, all dogs must be accompanied by a valid rabies vaccination certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian. We recommend that Customers consult the CDC website Will open in a separate browser window prior to travel to determine if any restrictions apply and for further information on the requirements of the American authorities.
To Jamaica: No animals are accepted on flights to Jamaica.
From and to United Kingdom: Cats and dogs are accepted as cargo only on Air Transat flights – advance arrangements are required and additional fees apply.
Exceptions: Certified service dogs are accepted on flights to London, Manchester and Glasgow (when reserved through our Call Centre at least 7 days in advance). Pets in the checked baggage hold and in the cabin are accepted on flights from Manchester and Glasgow.
To and from Republic of Ireland: Cats and dogs are accepted as cargo only on Air Transat flights – advance arrangements are required and additional fees apply.
Exceptions: Certified service dogs are accepted on flights to Dublin (when reserved through our Call Centre at least 7 days in advance). Pets in the cabin are accepted on flights from Dublin.
To Mexico: Strict regulations are in effect. Owners must hold specific health certificates issued within a certain time period prior to travel. Failure to present valid documents will result in the quarantine of the animal upon arrival and additional costs for veterinary inspection. Complete information can be found on the Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria website (only in Spanish).
To Portugal: Advance arrangements are mandatory for all cats & dogs (including service dogs) entering Portugal from outside the European Union. Click here Will open in a separate browser window for details.
To St. Maarten: An advance application for entry is required and can be requested via email at lvv@sintmaartengov.org, minimum five (5) days prior to your expected arrival date. For further information, please contact: Inspection Department TEZVT - Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Tel: +1 (721) 542-5641, +1 (721) 542-9887 (O) / +1 (721) 520-7213 (M).
To Canada: From non-rabies free countries dogs and cats may enter Canada if accompanied by valid health certificate issued in either English or French, by a licensed veterinarian, clearly identifying the animal and showing that they are currently vaccinated against rabies. The certificate should indicate the type of rabies vaccine used, date administered and expiry date (if validity date does not appear on certificate, it will be considered a 1 year vaccine).
From rabies-free countries (as recognized by Canada) Dogs and cats may enter Canada if accompanied by a valid health certificate, in either English or French, of an official government veterinarian clearly identifying the animal and showing that rabies has not existed in that country for the 6 month period immediately preceding shipment of the animal, and that the animal has been in that country for the 6 months preceding import or since birth.
The owner of the animal will have to pay CA$30 (plus tax) or a fee per animal for inspection by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency upon entry into Canada (except from the U.S.). Complete information can be found on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website.
Larger cages must be shipped via Air Transat cargo and advance arrangements are required. Should your animal or cage exceed the maximum size detailed below, please contact our cargo department for assistance.
- The animal must be in a cage approved for air transportation (IATA regulations) and bear the animal’s name.
- A plain rigid plastic cage is mandatory. Cages made of wire or any other material will not be accepted (a wire door is acceptable).
- All cage doors must be secured with a locking mechanism to prevent opening (see additional information below about supplemental strapping).
- Maximum weight accepted at check-in: 45kg (99 lbs) (including the carrier).
- Maximum carrier size accepted: 122cm x 81.3cm x 89cm (48 in. x 32 in. x 35 in.) at check-in; larger cages must be shipped via Air Transat cargo and advance arrangements are required.
- The cage must provide sufficient space for the animal to stand up straight-legged, turn around, and lie down. For the comfort and safety of the animal, cages that do not comply with the requirements described above will be denied for transportation of the animal.
Guide for selecting the correct crate for the animal:
In the diagram above:
- A is the length of animal from nose to root of tail.
- B is the height from ground to elbow joint. A + 1/2 B = length of container.
- C is the width across musters. C x 2 = width of container.
- D is the height of container (top flat or arched)/height of animal in standing position.
The minimum dimensions of the cage are as follows:
- The length of the cage corresponds to the length of the animal from the muzzle to the length of the tail by adding half of the height from the ground to the elbow joint.
- The width of the cage should be twice the width of the shoulders.
- The height of the cage is calculated relative to the pet’s height when standing.
Make sure the cage contains air vents and space bars.
Source: www.iata.org Will open in a separate browser window
Only one (1) animal per cage is accepted, and no animal under 12 weeks (3 months) of age may travel.
Supplemental strapping
For the safety for your animal, Air Transat may apply supplemental strapping to your animal’s cage (at no charge) which helps to ensure your dog or cat remains secure for the duration of their trip. Once you have exited the baggage hall at your destination, you will need a sharp instrument to cut the strapping from the cage.
Please note that security restrictions prevent our ground personnel from providing this tool for you. We recommend the cutting tool be packed in your checked baggage as it won’t be permitted as carry-on or through any security checkpoint.
Below are the fees for pets in the checked baggage hold.1 Service animals on duty fly in the cabin for free.
1Prices are per pet, per flight segment. These may vary at airports outside of Canada and will be charged in the currency of the departure city.
Upon entry into Canada: A CAD $30 fee (plus tax, per animal) will be required for inspection by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Will open in a separate browser window. Arrivals from USA are exempt.
Upon payment of the charges associated with the reservation for your animal, Air Transat will reserve a space on the flight(s) selected. Passengers must notify Air Transat of any changes to their itinerary. Changes to the travel itinerary of the animal are accepted up to 3 days prior to departure without any penalty. Cancellations to the travel itinerary of your animal are accepted up to 30 days prior to departure. In the event of cancellation as provided in the present clause, Air Transat’s liability is limited to refunding the charges incurred for this service only.
Air Transat is committed to being a leader in protecting and improving global animal welfare. In our air and cargo operations, Air Transat pledges to:
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Prohibit the transport of the following:
- Big game hunting trophies from the African “Big Five” (lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, cape buffalo)
- Endangered species and their related products, unless they are carried under a CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) permit
- Unsustainably traded wildlife, including their body parts (ex. shark fins)
- Animals destined for laboratory research and/or scientific experimentation, such as nonhuman primates and dogs
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Comply with all government regulations regarding protected species and act in accordance with IATAs Resolution on the Illegal Trade in Wildlife, including the United for Wildlife Buckingham Palace Declaration
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Transport animals in accordance with IATA live animal regulations
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Support animal welfare groups working to promote the humane treatment of animals in tourist destinations via the transport of veterinary supplies, equipment, and rescued animals