Understanding airline policies
Before you buy a pet carrier, check the flight
For a dog or cat flying internationally, the right carrier has to fit the animal, the aircraft and the airline’s current policy.
General planning guidance for pet owners. Requirements depend on your pet and complete itinerary and may change. Confirm current requirements with the relevant authority, carrier and veterinarian.
Start with the pet, then the space under the seat
Shopping for a travel carrier feels like a task you can finish early. But a bag that looks suitable in a shop still needs to work for your particular dog or cat and the flight you intend to take. Our planning advice is to settle those questions together before buying.
CFIA says the carrier should let the animal stand naturally, turn around and lie down comfortably. It also calls for ventilation, good condition and a secure enclosure. If you are unsure about the choice or your pet’s fitness for the journey, consult your veterinarian.
Making the bag smaller to fit a seat does not solve a lack of room for the animal. If both conditions cannot be met, ask the airline and your veterinarian about an appropriate alternative before committing to the trip.
Sources: Canadian Food Inspection Agency · Transporting pets
Air Canada: the carrier policy has a date
Air Canada’s current page says that, from June 1, 2025, pets in the cabin must travel in flexible, soft-sided carriers. That is the policy’s stated effective date, not a newly announced September 2026 change. A hard-sided carrier used on an earlier trip is therefore not evidence that it will be accepted in the cabin now.
The airline lists different carrier dimensions for different aircraft and cabins. It also says pets cannot travel in Premium Economy because that seating layout does not allow safe carrier stowage. Check the entry for your actual flight and cabin rather than treating one measurement as universal.
Pet registration is another step: Air Canada asks travellers to contact Reservations after booking their own flight, with the carrier dimensions and the pet’s weight and breed. Its page says an unregistered pet will not be accepted at the airport. Buying the carrier does not complete that reservation.
Delta: a recommended size is not a promise for every aircraft
Delta recommends a soft-sided kennel measuring up to 18 × 11 × 11 inches because it fits most aircraft types, while stating that the maximum dimensions depend on the aircraft. Its international cabin policy calls for ventilation on four sides, and the animal must have room to move comfortably without touching or protruding through the sides.
Delta also limits the number of cabin pets and asks customers with a reservation to contact Reservations promptly to book the pet. Its check-in agent assesses the pet and kennel. Treat the published size as a starting point for a conversation about the specific booking, rather than permission to arrive with any bag bearing those measurements.
These are two airline examples, not a comparison of every available flight. Neither example establishes that your destination, cabin or pet is accepted. Read the responsible airline’s complete current policy when making the booking.
Keep a short record of what you confirmed
Our suggested carrier note has five entries: the pet’s measurements, the carrier’s dimensions and construction, the operating airline and flight, the selected cabin, and the pet-reservation confirmation. Save the policy link with the date you checked it. If the airline changes the aircraft or you change the booking, use that note to ask which details need checking again.
Keep the travel documents on the same planning list. USDA APHIS advises checking destination requirements for each trip and scheduling any required veterinary work within the applicable time frames. A suitable bag and an airline reservation do not answer those document questions.
Where PetOnward helps
PetOnward’s free Route Check starts with the details of one dog or cat travelling internationally from Canada or the United States. You can begin without a clinic. The result makes clear when the trip needs more information or review, or falls outside current coverage.
Where a supported journey is available to purchase, the paid workspace brings applicable tasks, documents, dates and responsibilities together. An invited clinic has free access to that case. That shared plan helps keep veterinary preparation and outstanding travel questions visible while you arrange the flight directly with the airline.
PetOnward does not reserve airline pet space, approve a carrier or guarantee boarding or entry. Airline and veterinary charges remain separate. Start with the free Route Check to find the next step for your route; this article does not establish coverage for either airline or any destination.
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