WestJet in-cabin pet policy — and the carriers that fit
WestJet allows small pets in the cabin in a carrier up to 16 × 10 × 8.5 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 $50–$59 within Canada and the U.S. 1 of the 15 carriers we track clears that published limit.
The only one that clears it — the Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) — matches WestJet's published limit exactly, with no measurable slack, so measure your own carrier before you fly. WestJet's 8.5" height ceiling sits mid-pack among the 77 airlines we track (shared with Cape, JetBlue): Aegean, Air Europa, Air France and Air Transat allow more, while EL AL Israel allows only 7".
Will your carrier fit WestJet?
Measure the outside of your carrier (bulges included) and enter it below. The check uses WestJet’s published 16 × 10 × 8.5 in limit — height is checked strictly, the footprint may rotate.
The carrier that clears WestJet (16 × 10 × 8.5 in)
Roomiest margin first. Sized to the airline’s limit, not to your pet — 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 | Exact fit 0" spare | See on Amazon → |
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WestJet pet rules
| Max carrier size (published) | 16 × 10 × 8.5 in |
| Soft-sided required? | Yes |
| In-cabin fee | $50–$59 within Canada and the U.S.; $100–$118 outside Canada and the U.S. (pet kennel fee, as published on WestJet's fees page; applies each direction) · compare all airlines → |
| Species allowed | small dogs, cats, birds |
| Pets | One (1) pet per guest and per kennel in the cabin · the kennel counts as your personal item in your carry-on allowance |
| Booking | Request space for your pet as soon as your booking is complete and at least 48 hours before departure — WestJet limits pets per flight and cannot guarantee space otherwise · what to book, buy and pack → |
| Seating restrictions | Not in Business on the 787 Dreamliner. On some aircraft you may have to sit in a window seat because there is less room under the other seats; WestJet tells you before you board. |
| Routes & cargo | WestJet does not carry pets to or from Barbados, Hawaii, Iceland, Ireland (Dublin), Jamaica or the United Kingdom, and never on flights run by its code-share or interline partners, or on its own flights booked through a partner. Checked pets are barred from several sun destinations all year or from May 15 to October 31, and no pet can be checked from December 18 to January 4. |
Source: official WestJet pet policy · verified 2026-09-05 · how WestJet ranks on fee and space →
Carriers that fit WestJet
Matched to WestJet's published 16 × 10 × 8.5 in limit (height checked strictly; footprint may rotate). See the full WestJet 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 WestJet’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 | Exact fit 0" spare | See on Amazon → |
14 carriers too big for WestJet
 Bergan Comfort Carrier (Small) pet size not published | 16 × 8 × 11 in | Too tall (11" > 8.5") | View on Amazon |
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Mini (Low-Profile) up to ~15 lb | 17 × 11 × 9 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Standard (Expandable) up to ~20 lb | 18 × 11 × 10 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Medium) up to ~10 lb | 17 × 10 × 10 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Medium) up to ~16 lb · max pet 16″ long × 9.5″ tall | 17 × 11 × 10.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
Sleepypod Air up to ~18 lb | 22 × 10.5 × 10.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
Diggs Passenger pet size not published · Diggs discontinued this carrier — link goes to similar carriers | 17 × 12 × 10.5 in | Too big | Compare similar on Amazon → |
ibiyaya JetPaw Expandable Backpack up to ~17 lb | 18 × 12 × 10.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
Sleepypod Atom up to ~12 lb | 17 × 8.5 × 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 → |
Petsfit (Medium) Expandable Soft-Sided up to ~13 lb | 17 × 11 × 11 in | Too big | View 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
WestJet'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 WestJet to confirm under-seat dimensions for that aircraft, or
- Choose a collapsible / flexible-height carrier that adapts to a tighter space.
More airlines: Air Canada · Alaska Airlines · Allegiant Air · American Airlines · Breeze Airways · Delta Air Lines · Frontier Airlines · Southwest Airlines · United Airlines · all →
Common questions
What size pet carrier does WestJet allow in the cabin?
WestJet's recommended maximum in-cabin carrier is 16 × 10 × 8.5 in. It must fit fully under the seat in front of you. Source: the WestJet pet policy.
How much does WestJet charge for an in-cabin pet?
$50–$59 within Canada and the U.S.; $100–$118 outside Canada and the U.S. (pet kennel fee, as published on WestJet's fees page; applies each direction). Always confirm the current fee on the official WestJet pet page before you fly.
Which pet carriers fit WestJet?
1 of the 15 carriers we track clears WestJet's published 16 × 10 × 8.5 in. The roomiest is the Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small), and even that one matches the limit exactly rather than clearing it, so measure before you fly. The heaviest pet any carrier that clears WestJet is rated for is 8 lb. Full shortlist: /fits/westjet/.
Is WestJet's 16 × 10 × 8.5 in limit guaranteed on every aircraft?
No. WestJet states that space beneath the seat varies by aircraft type, and that depending on the aircraft you may be required to sit in a window seat because of limited space beneath non-window seats. Treat the published figure as a fleet-wide maximum, not a promise for your seat, and prefer a collapsible or flexible-height carrier.
How many pets can I bring in the cabin on WestJet?
One (1) pet per guest and per kennel in the cabin · the kennel counts as your personal item in your carry-on allowance. Species accepted: small dogs, cats, birds. Request space for your pet as soon as your booking is complete and at least 48 hours before departure — WestJet limits pets per flight and cannot guarantee space otherwise