✈ Star Alliance📍 Canada · YYZ✓ Verified 11 Jul 2026
★ Moderate4.5/5
89/100 · MyDogCanFly score
Cabin for small pets and hold for larger dogs — but heavy seasonal, aircraft and breed restrictions.
MyDogCanFly is not affiliated with Air Canada. The logo is shown for identification only. We do not sell tickets and take no bookings.
⚖️ Where does your dog travel?
Cabinunder-seat
Hold≤ 45 kg
AC Animalscargo
Weight includes the carrier or kennel.
🐾 CabinAllowed
One cat or small dog in a soft carrier under the seat; not in Premium Economy or exit rows. Soft-sided only since June 2025.
$50–120
🧳 HoldAllowed
Cats & dogs as checked baggage (pet + kennel ≤ 45 kg) in the pressurised hold — subject to heavy seasonal and aircraft limits.
$105–324
✈️ AC Animals cargoOn request
Unaccompanied pets, oversize kennels, more than 2 pets, or winter transport. Drop-off at a cargo facility.
Quote
💶 Fares
Cabin — Canada / US
$50–60
Cabin — international
$100–120
Hold — Canada / US
$105–126
Hold — international
$270–324
Assistance dog
Free
CAD/USD, one-way. AC Animals cargo is quoted separately. ✓ Official source
⚠️ Key restrictions
🐶 Flat-faced breeds
Cabin possibleHold/cargo forbidden
Snub-nosed dogs & cats are permanently embargoed from the hold and cargo (since 2015, heat/breathing risk): pugs, bulldogs, Pekingese and other snub-nosed breeds. They may still fly in the cabin if small enough. Wolf-dogs aren't carried.
🚫 Other rules
Sedation not advisedReinforced crate for strong breeds
Sedation isn't recommended. Certain 'strong dog' breeds must travel in a reinforced non-plastic crate (wood/metal/wire mesh) in the hold.
🐶 Check whether your dog is snub-nosed
Air Canada's published conditions mention snub-nosed breeds (the hold) without stating a general refusal. Check your breed's fiche, then confirm with the airline before booking.
These 22 breeds are MyDogCanFly's own brachycephalic classification, heaviest first — it is not the list published by Air Canada. Use it to situate your dog, then read the airline's own wording above and confirm with it before booking.
Hold travel may be refused above 29.5 °C (85 °F); country-specific summer embargoes apply (US 1 May–30 Nov, Mexico Jul–Aug). In winter (1 Nov–31 Mar or ≤ 0 °C) pets under 4.5 kg aren't accepted in the hold, and no hold/cargo pets travel 18 Dec–4 Jan. Some aircraft holds are unheated.
Air Canada — Allowed. One cat or small dog in a soft carrier under the seat; not in Premium Economy or exit rows. Soft-sided only since June 2025. Fare: $50–120.
Does Air Canada carry dogs in the hold?
⌄
Hold — Allowed. Cats & dogs as checked baggage (pet + kennel ≤ 45 kg) in the pressurised hold — subject to heavy seasonal and aircraft limits.
Does Air Canada accept flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds?
⌄
Air Canada — Cabin possible · Hold/cargo forbidden. Snub-nosed dogs & cats are permanently embargoed from the hold and cargo (since 2015, heat/breathing risk): pugs, bulldogs, Pekingese and other snub-nosed breeds. They may still fly in the cabin if small enough. Wolf-dogs aren't carried.
Does Air Canada suspend dog transport in hot weather?
⌄
Hold travel may be refused above 29.5 °C (85 °F); country-specific summer embargoes apply (US 1 May–30 Nov, Mexico Jul–Aug). In winter (1 Nov–31 Mar or ≤ 0 °C) pets under 4.5 kg aren't accepted in the hold, and no hold/cargo pets travel 18 Dec–4 Jan. Some aircraft holds are unheated.
Are assistance dogs accepted on Air Canada?
⌄
Air Canada — In the cabin. Individually trained service dogs travel free in the cabin.
Answers drawn from Air Canada's published conditions, last verified 11 July 2026. Airline conditions are commercial and can change — confirm at booking.
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