Air Canada in-cabin pet policy — and the carriers that fit
Air Canada allows small pets in the cabin in a carrier up to 17 × 16 × 8 in, soft-sided, stowed under the seat in front of you. Already own a carrier? Enter its measurements below to check it against this limit. The in-cabin fee is CA/US $50–60 one-way (within Canada & Canada/US). 0 of the 15 carriers we track clear that published limit.
That means no carrier on our list clears it outright — the closest is the Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) (flexes — 0.5" over), with 2 others in the same range. Measure yours and expect an agent to check it. Air Canada's 8" height ceiling sits mid-pack among the 77 airlines we track: Aegean, Air Europa, Air France and Air Transat allow more, while EL AL Israel allows only 7".
Will your carrier fit Air Canada?
Measure the outside of your carrier (bulges included) and enter it below. The check uses Air Canada’s published 17 × 16 × 8 in limit — height is checked strictly, the footprint may rotate.
Air Canada pet rules
| Max carrier size (published) | 17 × 16 × 8 in |
| Soft-sided required? | Yes |
| In-cabin fee | CA/US $50–60 one-way (within Canada & Canada/US); $100–120 international · compare all airlines → |
| Species allowed | small dogs, cats |
| Minimum age | At least 10 weeks old and fully weaned (Air Canada: "in most cases") |
| Pets | 1 cat or small dog per passenger; not permitted in Premium Economy |
| Booking | Add in advance (space is limited); must see an agent at check-in, 30 min before recommended check-in · what to book, buy and pack → |
| Seating restrictions | No cabin pet if you are an unaccompanied minor, seated in an exit or bulkhead row, need a medical device stowed under the seat, or fly Premium Economy; and none on flights marketed by Air Canada but operated by a codeshare partner |
| Routes & cargo | No pets to or from Hawaii, in the cabin or the hold, and none on Air Canada Jetz flights. Pets too big for the cabin can fly in the hold on most aircraft, but not on the Embraer 175, not on the 737 MAX 8 from November 1 to March 31, and not at all from December 18 to January 4. The hold is closed all year to Aruba, Belize, the Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Jamaica, Panama, Qatar (Doha), Trinidad and Tobago and the UAE (Dubai), and in summer to much of the Caribbean, Mexico and 15 U.S. airports including Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami, Orlando and Phoenix. |
Source: official Air Canada pet policy · verified 2026-09-24 · how Air Canada ranks on fee and space →
Air Canada publishes its limit per aircraft
Air Canada is the rare airline that publishes its carrier limits per aircraft. The under-seat box is genuinely smaller (8" tall, 17" long) on most jets than on the regional turboprops (10" tall, 22" long), and Business Class trades length for height. We show all three — cited — and the matcher uses the most-common Economy box (17×16×8) as the safe default.
| Aircraft / cabin | Max carrier (L×W×H) |
|---|---|
| Most narrow- & wide-bodies, Economy (A220-300, A319, A320, A321, A330-300, 737 MAX 8, 777, 787) | 17 × 16 × 8 in |
| Regional jets & turboprops (Dash 8-400, E175, CRJ900, Landline) | 22 × 16 × 10 in |
| Business Class (A330-300, 777, 787) | 16 × 8 × 11 in |
Carriers that fit Air Canada
Matched to Air Canada's published 17 × 16 × 8 in limit (height checked strictly; footprint may rotate). See the full Air Canada carrier shortlist →
Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our specs or which carriers we list.
This table ranks by Air Canada’s size limit — not by your pet. The weight under each carrier is what that size is rated to hold. A bag can clear the airline and still be the wrong size for the animal, which is the most common reason one goes back — measure your pet first →
| Carrier | Size | Fit | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) up to ~8 lb · max pet 13″ long × 7.5″ tall | 15 × 10 × 8.5 in | Flexes — 0.5" over | See on Amazon → |
 Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Mini (Low-Profile) up to ~15 lb | 17 × 11 × 9 in | Flexes — 1" over | See on Amazon → |
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Medium) up to ~16 lb · max pet 16″ long × 9.5″ tall | 17 × 11 × 10.5 in | Flexes — 2.5" over | See on Amazon → |
12 carriers too big for Air Canada
Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Medium) up to ~10 lb | 17 × 10 × 10 in | Too tall (10" > 8") | View on Amazon |
Diggs Passenger pet size not published · Diggs discontinued this carrier — link goes to similar carriers | 17 × 12 × 10.5 in | Too tall (10.5" > 8") | Compare similar on Amazon → |
Sleepypod Atom up to ~12 lb | 17 × 8.5 × 10.5 in | Too tall (10.5" > 8") | View on Amazon |
Petsfit (Medium) Expandable Soft-Sided up to ~13 lb | 17 × 11 × 11 in | Too tall (11" > 8") | View on Amazon |
Bergan Comfort Carrier (Small) pet size not published | 16 × 8 × 11 in | Too tall (11" > 8") | View on Amazon |
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Standard (Expandable) up to ~20 lb | 18 × 11 × 10 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
Sleepypod Air up to ~18 lb | 22 × 10.5 × 10.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
ibiyaya JetPaw Expandable Backpack up to ~17 lb | 18 × 12 × 10.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
Away The Pet Carrier pets up to ~18 lb | 18.7 × 10.8 × 10.75 in | Too big | Compare similar on Amazon → |
Frisco Premium Airline-Compliant Carrier up to ~22 lb | 18 × 11 × 11 in | Too big | Compare similar on Amazon → |
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Large) up to ~22 lb · max pet 18″ long × 10.5″ tall | 19 × 11.75 × 11.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
SturdiBag Pro (Large, Flexible Height) pet size not published | 18 × 11.5 × 11.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
How to confirm your actual under-seat space
Air Canada's number is its published maximum, not a guarantee for your exact seat. Before you buy or fly:
- Check which aircraft operates your flight (in your booking or on a seat-map site).
- Avoid bulkhead and exit rows — bulkheads have no under-seat storage and most airlines ban pets there — and check this airline's seat rules above.
- Call Air Canada to confirm under-seat dimensions for that aircraft, or
- Choose a collapsible / flexible-height carrier that adapts to a tighter space.
By animal
Air Canada publishes a specific term for these — each has its own conditions:
More airlines: Alaska Airlines · Allegiant Air · American Airlines · Breeze Airways · Delta Air Lines · Frontier Airlines · Southwest Airlines · United Airlines · Air Europa · all →
Common questions
What size pet carrier does Air Canada allow in the cabin?
Air Canada's recommended maximum in-cabin carrier is 17 × 16 × 8 in. It must fit fully under the seat in front of you. Source: the Air Canada pet policy.
How much does Air Canada charge for an in-cabin pet?
CA/US $50–60 one-way (within Canada & Canada/US); $100–120 international. Always confirm the current fee on the official Air Canada pet page before you fly.
Which pet carriers fit Air Canada?
No carrier we track clears Air Canada's published 17 × 16 × 8 in outright — the closest is the Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) (flexes — 0.5" over). Full shortlist: /fits/air-canada/.
Does Air Canada require a soft-sided pet carrier?
Yes — Air Canada requires a soft-sided carrier in the cabin. Height is what rules carriers out: Air Canada publishes 8", against 13" at the most generous airline we track.
How many pets can I bring in the cabin on Air Canada?
1 cat or small dog per passenger; not permitted in Premium Economy. Species accepted: small dogs, cats. Add in advance (space is limited); must see an agent at check-in, 30 min before recommended check-in