Air Transat flying with pets

What is Air Transat policy on pet acceptance?

Pets are accepted for carriage in the cabin or as checked baggage. Passengers must be at least 16 years of age and in possession of all animal-related documents required by the country of destination. On Air Transat flights to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, pets will be accepted as cargo only, with the exception of service animals. Also, animals are not accepted on flights to Jamaica.

Advance arrangements are required, and additional fees apply when traveling with a pet. You must notify Air Transat at least 3 days prior to departure by phone or email. This will ensure that the maximum number of pets per aircraft is not exceeded. Passengers arriving at the airport without making arrangements in advance may be subject to denial of carriage of the animal. At the airport, pets must be presented for check-in at least 90 minutes before departure time. Animals arriving after this time may be denied transport.

Which animals are accepted on Air Transat flights?

On flights operated by Air Transat, only cats and dogs are accepted for transportation. All other animals are refused on all Air Transat flights. Certain breeds of dog are refused entry to some countries or regions. Therefore, Air Transat is unable to transport the following dog breeds: Akita Inu, American Bully, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bandogge, Boerboel, Cane Corso, Caucasian Shepherd Dog, Doberman Pinscher, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Kangal/Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Neapolitan, Presa Canario, Rottweiler, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tosa Inu, wolf-dog hybrids.

Each country may have restrictions of breeds and other requirements for the acceptance of animals (documentation, fees, etc.). It is very important that passengers traveling with their pets consult local authorities before departure. Also, prior to booking a flight, passengers should always consult with their veterinarian and travel agent.

Pets in the Cabin

Only one pet at least 12 weeks old and fully weaned per passenger is allowed. A passenger with a pet in the cabin cannot travel in Club Class, or occupy emergency exit or bulkhead seats. Unaccompanied Minors and passengers traveling with medical equipment cannot Travel with a pet in the cabin.

The pet must travel in a soft-sided carrier that counts as the carry-on bag (passengers are entitled to a personal item only in addition to the pet carrier). A hard-sided carrier is not accepted. The total weight of the carrier and animal must not exceed 10 kg,  and the dimensions of the carrier cannot exceed 8.5 x 16 x 17.5 in (21.5 x 40 x 45 cm).

Fees

At the time you make a reservation for your pet, Air Transat will charge the following fee each way per animal:

  • $50 CAD/USD / €30 – domestic flights within Canada, to/from the US and South Destinations.
  • $90 CAD/USD / €72 – to/from Europe.

Upon entry into Canada (except arrivals from the US), a $30 CAD fee (plus tax) per animal must be paid for inspection by Agriculture Canada.

Pets as Checked Baggage

Pets must travel in a cage approved for air transportation (IATA regulations) supplied by the passenger. Cages made of wire or any other material will not be accepted. A plain rigid plastic cage is mandatory, but a wire door is acceptable. Acceptance may be denied if the cage is not large enough for the pet to stand up, turn around, and lie down. Also, the cage must always be big enough to accommodate all of the animals. In general, only one animal per cage is accepted. As an exception, a mother with puppies/kittens between 6-12 weeks old, or, up to 3 puppies/kittens from the same litter between 12 weeks and 6 months may travel in the same container. No animal under 12 weeks of age may travel alone.

Maximum cage size accepted by Air Transat at check-in is:

  • 48 x 32 x 33 in (122 x 81.3 x 84 cm) – on flights within Canada and to/from the US and South destinations.
  • 48 x 32 x 35 in (122 x 81.3 x 89 cm) – on flights to/from Europe.

To prevent opening, all cage doors must be secured with a locking mechanism, and Air Transat may apply supplemental strapping, at no additional cost, which will help to ensure that your pet remains secure inside the cage for the duration of the trip. On arrival, you will need a sharp instrument to cut the strapping from the cage. Air Transat cannot provide this tool for you and recommends that this be packed in your checked baggage as it won’t be permitted through any security checkpoint, or as carry-on.

Fees

At the time you make a reservation for your pet, Air Transat will charge the following fee each way per animal:

  • $75 CAD – domestic flights within Canada.
  • $150 CAD/USD / €120 – to/from the US and South destinations (or local currency equivalent).
  • $275 CAD/USD / €220 – to/From Europe (or local currency equivalent).

Upon entry into Canada (except arrivals from the US), a $30 CAD fee (plus tax) per animal must be paid for inspection by Agriculture Canada.

Service Dogs

Except on flights to Jamaica, Certified Service Dogs and Emotional Support Dogs that are traveling with a person with a disability are accepted in the passenger cabin. To ensure seating with sufficient floor space for the animal, it is strongly recommended that you select your seat at the time of booking by calling Air Transat. There is no cost for selecting your seat or for your Certified Service Dog to accompany you in the cabin.

You should contact Air Transat as soon as you have booked your flight, but at least 7 days before your flight’s departure. All efforts will be made to honor requests received after that time. When you contact Air Transat, you can discuss with the agent the most appropriate arrangements for your journey, including seating and space required for you and your Service or Emotional Support Dog and any specific advance requirements depending on your destination. Some countries have very specific entry requirements or restrictions for entry. For travel to the U.K., for example, extensive paperwork and pre-flight arrangements must be completed well before the intended date of travel (months before in some cases), and entry is allowed only through certain airports.

Unless proper permits for entry into the countries of transit or final destination are obtained and presented prior to commencement of travel, Service and Emotional Support Dogs will not be accepted for transportation. For Service Dogs, passengers will also be asked to present the training certificate prior to travel. Once on board, the Service or Emotional Support Dog must wear its harness at all times.

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