WestJet

WestJet is a low-cost Canadian airline. Pets are welcome in the cabin and as checked baggage on select flights. Visit Website

Or call (888) 937-8538 for more information. You can use BringFido to find a pet friendly place to stay at your destination.

Pet Reservations

WestJet does not allow pets to be reserved online. To add your pet to your travel plans, contact WestJet Customer Service at (888) 937-8538 to speak to a representative. The number of pets allowed on each aircraft varies, so book Fido's place early to guarantee a place on board.

Pets in the Cabin

WestJet welcomes a number of different pets (dogs, cats, rabbits, and some types of bird) to join you in the cabin. Fido must be small enough to fit in a carrier underneath the seat in front of you. Passengers are permitted to travel with 1 pet each. The pet fee for travel within/between Canada and the U.S. is $50 to $59 CAD/USD, and for travel between Canada/U.S. and all destinations outside the U.S. is $100 to $118 CAD/USD.

Pets in Checked Baggage

WestJet welcomes certain animals (cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, chinchillas, guinea pigs, and hedgehogs) to travel as checked baggage in the hold. The maximum combined weight of your pet and carrier is 100 lbs (45 kg). During times of extreme temperature in the cargo area of planes, pets won't be allowed to travel. The pet fee for travel within/between Canada and the U.S. is $100 to $118 CAD/USD, and travel between Canada/U.S. and all destinations outside the U.S. is $200 - $236 CAD/USD.

Pets in Cargo

Passengers with pets who exceed the weight limit for travel in the hold, or those being transported alone, can contact WestJet Cargo Team at (866) 952-2746.

Carrier Guidelines

For pets traveling in the cabin, carriers should have maximum dimensions of 16" x 8.5" x 10" in (41 cm x 21.5 cm x 25.4 cm). Carriers should be soft-sided, airline-approved, leak-proof, secure, and well-ventilated. For pets traveling in the hold, carriers should not exceed the dimensions 40" x 27" x 30" (101 cm x 68 cm x 76 cm). Carriers should be hard-sided, have the wheels removed, be airline-approved, well ventilated, lined with absorbent material like a towel, marked with "LIVE ANIMAL" and "THIS WAY UP" arrows on 2 sides, and marked with your pet's name. Provide your pooch with built-in food and water containers as well.

Other Restrictions

WestJet does not allow pets to travel from December 15th through January 6th each year.

Reviews

BringFido Guest Rating

WestJet has received a rating of 3.3 out of 5 bones by 12 canine critics on BringFido.

  • Sha
    Jul 13, 2023
    Westjet Not Pet Friendly !!!!!!!

    I travelled with my dog to Aruba and the flight attendant was very aggressive and gave me a lecture how privileged I am to travel with a dog. Very dissapointed. Each Flight attendant has a different version. not very clear with the rules.

  • LYNDA
    Jun 4, 2023
    Outstanding

    We flew our new puppy from Calgary to Montreal via cargo. I can say enough good things about how the pup was treated as well as us. To show you how good their handling was of our pup, she had a bowl of water attached to her cage door and it was still full when we went to get her.
    Plane landed at 7:18 and we picked up Zella at 8:05.

  • Manuela
    May 30, 2023
    Worst Experience with WestJet!

    I have been trying to take my pet along from Saskatoon, Canada to Bucharest, Romania. Due to the fact that I have to change the airlines, my miniature Dashchund is not accepted on the WestJet flight. It was confirmed with Air France and Tarom, but WestJet completely refused to add him on their flight. Since it is not possible to fly only with WestJet all the way to Bucharest, they make it impossible to take your pet along on extended routes. I will not book my flights with WestJet in the future! Extremely dissatisfied with their policies and customer service! I would choose 0 bones for that.

  • Kim
    Jan 2, 2022
    Westjet is Reliable When it Comes to Flying your Pet

    My dog recently passed away but I had flown my dog many many times for the last 10+ years on Westjet. There have been times where a Westjet agent may not be as enamoured with having to process your pet (Maybe not a dog lover) but overall, the experience has been good. My only negative that I always hope that Westjet will change is allowing your pet to come off "first" vs the "luggage" when flying into a smaller airport - ie. Victoria or Comox airport. My dog was super stressed flying and it's a long day for your pet and for the owner and now that they landed, you are having to wait until all that luggage comes off before your very anxious pet gets reunited. I do love how they give you the confirmation that your pet is on board (sometimes they need reminding) but overall they care.

  • Val
    Dec 2, 2021
    #1 HERDING DOG REFUSED FLIGHT TO ATTEND COMPETITION

    I would give a 0 rating if possible. Thanks to WestJet, Marshall and I are unable to fly to Vancouver island for the year end competition. We were booked to fly from Calgary and when I went to check in, they weighed him and his kennel and denied board because he was slightly over the limit. I was instructed to ship him cargo.

    I booked Marshall’s cargo ticket for travel the following day and changed my flight as well. I arrived at the Cargo office at 6:20 am, 3 1/2 hours before the flight departed to make sure he got checked in and I could get to the main terminal and through security for my flight. After sitting in the cargo office for two and a half hours they told me his shipment was rejected because he is too big for his kennel. So my 25 inch, 85 pound dog was not able to travel on WestJet, period. Website indicates cargo accepts pets up to 160 pounds. Dog has to be able stand, turn around and lay down which he does. He is a show dog and this is his regular kennel. I couldn’t cancel my flight because the timeline had passed to do so online and we all know what the wait times are when you try to call! Yay more time out of my life I’ll never get back to deal with that.

    Inconsistently applied rules don’t make for happy customers. Similar sized dogs travelling to the competition were either not weighed, or granted some leeway. My dog was 5 pounds over the 100 pound “limit” and considered “too big” for cargo shipment. So I missed the competition and had to forfeit entry fees and other show expenses. Another exhibitor had a similar issue. It took WestJet 2 days to decide whether her dog would be accepted to fly. What happened WestJet? You used to be the friendly airline.

  • Kelsie
    Aug 21, 2019
    We <3 WestJet!

    Recently flew from Alberta to Newfoundland direct with WestJet and brought along my 40lb mutt, Groot. He travelled in the kennel underneath the plane. WestJet was awesome! From the check-in staff to the flight attendant who brought us our slip to let us know he was on the plane safely to the baggage handlers who offloaded him at the oversized luggage area - he was well looked after. Strongly recommend if you are flying with a pet in Cargo that you fly WestJet.

  • Natalia
    More than a year ago
    Not Impressed

    I am an animal lover and will be taking my two cats with me in the cabin when we immigrate to the USA, HOWEVER, my recent experience with WestJet was less than satisfactory. The lady travelling next to me had a dog - on her lap - who was licking, jumping all over me and was not in a carrier at all the entire flight. To me, this is unacceptable. If you are going to travel with pets, please ensure they are in a carrier. As much as you might love your pet, other people might not!

  • Sarah
    More than a year ago
    NOT pet friendly

    Westjet is not pet friendly, I brought my dog on board and the airline attendants became very aggressive about me stuffing the bag fully under the seat and and overall seemed angry that I had an animal onboard. In regards to the seats on this flight....they keep getting smaller...and even though I called and asked if my dimensions worked prior to the flight the bag did not fit. I think maybe a hamster bag could have fit under these seats.

  • Gina
    More than a year ago
    Charlie our King Charles Cavalier loves flying West Jet 🐶

    Our Charlie is a frequent flyer with WestJet. He has been several times to Mexico, as well as Vancouver with us. He is so quiet that people can not believe we had a dog in cabin with us. We have never had a problem with WestJet. They have always been kind, even bringing us a bit of water for him if needed. He usually sleeps the whole flight though. So thankful for this allowance in flight , as we are gone for a month at a time in the winter and couldn't be without my pup. Thank you WestJet

  • Coleen
    More than a year ago
    WEST JET IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THEIR POLICY

    I flew three flights with our Cairn Terrier who is 18lbs and her carrier is 1lb which makes her under the 20lb rule. On the 3rd flight I had a very difficult time getting her on board as they said she didn't fit into her carrier. The same carrier that she voluntarily sleeps in each night. I leave it open in our front entry and she spends her naps times and nights comfortably in it. I was sternly warned that I would not likely be permitted to fly with her in the cabin again as she was not able to sit up inside of her kennel. This is not true and it is the opinion of one person who has now flagged me and when I check in with her in the future I will inevitably have to get a supervisor to assure that things are OK. However, I had zero trouble with her on previous flights. All flights are 1 hour and 17 minutes in duration. Even after sharing how our pooch is more then happy to go inside, turn around, sit (she lays down almost immediately because this is where she naps. The counter agent made me feel awful and that I was abusing my precious pup. She is 12 and has travelled via car on 3 day trips and was a former show pup, so she is used to being out of her element. She navigates the airport happily and actually chooses to rest in her carrier while we wait. I have 3 pre-paid flights with her on the reservation but I am worried that I will be denied boarding, which will definitely be a huge hassle. I spoke with West Jet customer care and they said that if I want assure her boarding, I should place her in cargo. I am just frustrated that I have without any hassle travelled with this airline and because of one persons unwilling to be reasonable I am going to be forced to purchase yet another airline approved hard-sided kennel. I will now have 3 crates/carriers.
    Being inconsistent with their policy makes me worry that maybe they are inconsistent with other aspects of their airline. I have been a raving fan of West Jet up until this most recent experience.

  • Carol
    More than a year ago
    80lb gsd

    When my Gsd was a puppy we travelled from cabo San Lucas to Edmonton, I was so amazed at the quality of service given by westjet, especially the hostess bringing me the receipt to my seat to say that my dog had been loaded on the plane, phew what a relief I was worried that he would not get loaded in cargo. Made my flight even more relaxed. But unfortunately my gsd has outgrown westjet said size limititations he now needs the 700 series giant kennel and westjet does not accept that size. So sorry westjet we will be unable to fly with your great service anymore.

  • KT
    More than a year ago
    Flight was a success

    Flew YEG to CUN (Edmonton to Cancun) with three dogs: 76 pounds, 65 pounds and 32 pounds. All had to be checked baggage and only 3 flights per dog. Booked our reservation over the phone- Don't book online as you need to confirm they are on the flight with you. Arrive early (3 hours) so you can book them in We had great staff, petting them, asking if they could have treats etc. while we booked them in. No issues. One dog was slightly overweight so asked us to put her in a lighter crate (switch dog/crate we had) so we did but no issue. They were really good in Canada and Mexico. It can be done!

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