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 — check height), 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 58 airlines we track (shared with American Eagle (regional, incl. Republic Airways)): Aegean, Air France, Air Transat and Alaska 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
| Recommended max carrier (soft) | 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 |
| 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 |
Source: official Air Canada pet policy · verified 2026-07-23
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 →
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| Carrier | Size | Fit | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 × 10 × 8.5 in | Flexes — check height | See on Amazon → | |
| 16 × 10.5 × 9.8 in | Flexes — check height | See on Amazon → | |
| 17 × 11 × 10.5 in | Flexes — check height | See on Amazon → | |
| 17 × 10 × 10 in | Too tall (10" > 8") | See on Amazon → | |
| 17 × 12 × 10.5 in | Too tall (10.5" > 8") | See on Amazon → | |
| 17 × 8.5 × 10.5 in | Too tall (10.5" > 8") | See on Amazon → | |
| 17 × 11 × 11 in | Too tall (11" > 8") | See on Amazon → | |
| 16 × 8 × 11 in | Too tall (11" > 8") | See on Amazon → | |
| 22 × 10.5 × 10.5 in | Too big | See on Amazon → | |
| 18.7 × 10.8 × 10.75 in | Too big | See on Amazon → | |
| 18 × 11 × 11 in | Too big | See on Amazon → | |
| 19 × 11.75 × 11.5 in | Too big | See on Amazon → | |
| 18.5 × 11.75 × 11.5 in | Too big | See on Amazon → | |
| 18 × 11.5 × 11.5 in | Too big | See on Amazon → | |
| 18 × 12 × 12 in | Too big | See on Amazon → |
How to confirm your actual under-seat space
Air Canada's number is a fleet-wide recommendation, not a promise 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 some window seats — they have less (or no) under-seat storage.
- 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 France · 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 — check height). 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