Special services: Pets and service animals

Your pet

We would like to remind you that no animals are allowed in the cabin with passengers with the exception of service animals (conditions apply, see below).

Only cats and dogs are accepted as animals for carriage in the checked baggage hold. All other animals are refused on all Air Transat flights. Passengers must be in possession of all animal-related documents required by the country of destination (consult your travel agent).

To United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, cats and dogs will be accepted as cargo only – advance arrangements are required and additional fees will apply. Please contact our Cargo department for more information. Service animals are accepted – please see below for more information.

Advance notification

If you are travelling with dogs and/or cats, you must reserve with Air Transat at least 72 hours prior to departure by calling 00800-872 672 81 and from the U.K. please dial 00800-28 38 76 73. This will ensure that the maximum number of pets per aircraft has not been exceeded. Passengers arriving at the airport who have not made arrangements in advance may be subject to denial of carriage of the animal.

Important notice

Please be aware that Air Transat (in accordance with its AVIH program) does not transport Pit bulls. The carriage of this breed of dog will not be permitted under any circumstances.

Certain breeds of dog are refused entry to some countries or regions. We are, therefore, unable to transport the following dog breeds:

• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Boerbulls
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• American Pit Bull Terriers
• Mastiff
• Tosa

Each country has specific requirements for the acceptance of animals, including documentation, restrictions of breeds, fees and conditions for acceptance. It is very important that passengers travelling with their pets consult local authorities before departure, and the following links below may help you to find this information. In addition, passengers with pets should always consult with their veterinarian and their travel agent prior to booking.

Ireland

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/index.jsp?file=pets/prior_approval.xml

United Kingdom

http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/index.htm

Canada

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/petanie.shtml

Transportation fees

To and from Europe, the fee is 180 £ (275 $ CA) each way per animal.

(For animal transport to United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, please contact our Cargo department for rates and charges.)

Regulations

• Animal must travel in a cage supplied by the passenger on which the name of the animal has been written.
• The animal must be in a cage approved for air transportation (IATA regulations). A plain rigid plastic cage is mandatory. Cages made of wire or any other material will not be accepted (a wire door is acceptable).
• The cage must be large enough for the animal to stand up, turn around, and lie down or acceptance may be denied.
• All cage doors must be secured with a locking mechanism to prevent opening. (*See additional information below.)
• In general, only one (1) animal per cage is accepted, and no animal under 12 weeks of age may travel alone. Exceptions to this are as follows: Dogs and cats: a mother with puppies or a mother with kittens between 6-12 weeks old, or, up to 3 puppies or kittens from the same litter between 12 weeks and 6 months. The cage must always be big enough to accommodate all of the animals.
• For the comfort and safety of the animal, passengers presenting cages that do not comply with the requirements described above may be denied transportation for the animal.
• The owner of the animal will have to pay CA$30 (plus tax) per animal for inspection by Agriculture Canada upon entry into Canada (except from the U.S.).

*In order to provide additional safety for your animal, Air Transat may apply supplemental strapping to your animal’s cage. The strapping, provided by Air Transat at no cost to you, will help to ensure that your dog or cat remains secure inside their cage for the duration of their trip. It helps to prevent the door from opening, which can commonly occur with many types of animal cages during transport.

On arrival, you will need a sharp instrument to cut the strapping from the cage once you have cleared and exited customs in your destination. Please note that due to security restrictions our ground personnel cannot provide this tool for you. We recommend that this be packed in your checked baggage as it won’t be permitted as carry on or through any security checkpoint.

Recommendations

• Please don't forget to prepare your animal for travelling. Getting used to a cage can be done well in advance to reduce your animal's insecurity during handling and flight. We suggest you talk to your veterinarian prior to departure.
• The passenger should not provide food or water during the flight but a small bowl must be secured inside each cage in the event of a delay.
• We suggest owners put a familiar object in the cage to reassure the animal during the flight, such as a blanket or a toy.
• IATA regulation states that it is not recommended to have older animals travel by air due to stress-related effects. Air Transat will not be responsible for problems due to stress-related effects on older animals (see your veterinarian).
• Agriculture Canada and IATA do not recommend giving tranquillizers to travelling animals. If you're thinking about doing so, please consult your veterinarian.

Limit of liability

Upon payment of the charges associated with the reservation for your animal, Air Transat will reserve a space on the flight(s) selected . Passengers must notify Air Transat of any changes to their itinerary. Changes to the travel itinerary of the animal are accepted up to three 3 days prior to departure without any penalty. Cancellations to the travel itinerary of your animal are accepted up to thirty 30 days prior to departure. In the event of cancellation as provided in the present clause, Air Transat’s liability is limited to refunding the charges incurred for this service only.

Service animals

We will be pleased to welcome on board certified service animals that are travelling with a person with a disability. However, please note that the United Kingdom will only allow entry through certain airports and extensive pre-flight arrangements and paperwork must be completed well before the intended date of travel (months before in some cases). Please contact us for details. When departing from the United Kingdom, service animals will be accepted from any airport to Canada, upon presentation of the proper documentation.

Before you go

Please contact us well in advance of travel to discuss the most appropriate arrangements for your trip, including seating and space required for you and your service animal, and any destination specific advance requirements.

To ensure seating with sufficient floor space for the animal, we strongly recommend that you select your seat by calling us at 00 800 AT EUROPE (00800 2838 7673). During the discussion with our agent, we can best assign the most appropriate seating and space for you and your service animal. We ask that you contact us as soon as you have booked your flight, but at minimum, 72 hours before your flight. All efforts will be made to honour requests received after that time.

There is no cost to you for selected seating or for your certified service animal to accompany you in the cabin.

Service animals will not be carried unless proper permits are obtained for entry into the countries of transit or final destination, and such permits are presented prior to commencement of travel. Passengers will also be asked to present the training certificate prior to travel.

At the airport

When departing, an Air Transat agent or Airport agent will be pleased to assist you with:

• Registration at check-in counter
• Moving to the boarding area
• Pre-boarding (passengers with service animals will board the aircraft in priority)

Once on board, your service animal must stay under your supervision and wear its harness at all times.

On arrival, an Air Transat agent can assist you with:

• Deplaning
• Retrieving checked baggage
• Moving to the general public area
• Getting to a representative of another airline for a flight connection