If you’re flying with a dog or cat out of Toronto Pearson this holiday season, the single most important date to know is December 18 through January 4 — both Air Canada and WestJet stop accepting pets as checked baggage or cargo for that entire window, every year, because of peak passenger and cargo loads. If your pet needs to fly in the hold rather than the cabin, that trip needs to happen before December 18 or after January 4, full stop.
The blackout dates that matter most
Air Canada’s own policy states plainly: “Due to increased passenger and cargo loads during the peak winter travel period, no pets are accepted as checked baggage or cargo” from December 18 to January 4 (Air Canada — Travelling with your Pet). WestJet’s holiday restrictions table matches almost exactly: capacity for checked pets is reduced December 15–17 and January 5–7, and zero pets are accepted as checked baggage December 18–January 4 on both domestic and international flights (WestJet — Pets). This applies to the aircraft hold only — it does not affect pets travelling in the cabin.
Flying with your pet in the cabin
Small dogs and cats can usually fly in the cabin in an approved soft-sided carrier that fits under the seat in front of you, but both airlines cap how many pets are allowed per flight, and neither guarantees a spot at check-in. Air Canada asks you to register your pet with Reservations, ideally within 24 hours of booking, noting that “space is sometimes limited.” WestJet is more direct: “We strongly recommend requesting space for your pet(s) as soon as you have completed your booking. If you do not request space for your pet(s) 48 hours before departure, space may not be available.” Translation for the holidays: the day you book your own seat is the day to also book your pet’s spot, not a week before you fly.
Cold weather rules that can catch you off guard
Separate from the holiday blackout, Air Canada applies cold-weather restrictions from November 1 through March 31 (or anytime the ramp temperature drops to 0°C or below): pets under 4.5 kg aren’t accepted in the hold, they’re excluded entirely from the Embraer 175, not recommended on the A319/A320/A321 family, and excluded from the Boeing 737 MAX 8 for that entire five-month window because those aircraft have minimal cargo-hold heating. If your pet is small or your specific flight happens to be booked on one of these aircraft types, that alone can rule out hold travel regardless of the calendar date — worth confirming with the airline directly when you book.
Getting to and through Pearson with a pet during the holiday rush
Toronto Pearson maintains pet relief areas in Terminal 1, Terminal 3, and the Infield Concourse (Toronto Pearson — Travel With Pets), but the airport doesn’t publish pet-specific guidance on holiday security wait times — plan around the airport’s general holiday-peak advisories, and build in extra time regardless. A calm, uneventful ride to the terminal helps too: our pet-friendly taxi to Pearson service handles that leg in a crash-tested crate or harness setup, so the first stressful part of the trip is the airline counter, not the drive.
Your holiday flying checklist
- Book your pet’s cabin or cargo space the same day you book your own flight — don’t wait.
- If your pet needs to travel in the hold, schedule the flight outside December 18–January 4 entirely.
- Confirm your airline’s current cold-weather aircraft restrictions for your specific route and aircraft type.
- Reconfirm your carrier meets IATA container standards (rigid enough to prevent escape, ventilated on at least 16% of the sides, room for your pet to stand, turn, and lie down naturally).
- Check Air Canada’s and WestJet’s own pet policy pages again close to your travel date — holiday rules can shift year to year.
- Arrange a stress-free ride to Pearson that builds in extra time for holiday traffic and security lines.
For the cross-border and international side of holiday travel — customs paperwork, health certificates, and country-specific entry rules — see our Air Canada Pet Policy guide, and for anything that goes beyond what you can plan yourself, our pet transport service can help coordinate the trip end to end.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I book a flight for my pet over the holidays?
As soon as you book your own seat. Both Air Canada and WestJet limit the number of pets allowed per flight and don’t guarantee space at check-in — WestJet’s own policy warns that space may not be available if you wait until 48 hours before departure.
Can my pet fly as checked baggage or cargo between December 18 and January 4?
No. Both Air Canada and WestJet stop accepting pets as checked baggage or cargo for that entire window every year due to peak holiday passenger and cargo loads. This restriction is specific to the aircraft hold and does not apply to pets travelling in the cabin.
Are cabin pet bookings affected by the holiday blackout too?
The December 18–January 4 blackout applies to checked baggage and cargo, not the cabin. Cabin space is still limited by a per-flight cap, so book early regardless — but it isn’t blocked outright the way hold travel is.
Why would my pet be turned away from cargo even outside the holiday blackout?
Cold-weather rules apply separately, from November 1 through March 31 (or any time the temperature is 0°C or below). Depending on your pet’s size and your specific aircraft type, Air Canada may restrict or exclude hold travel regardless of the date.
Does Toronto Pearson have any holiday-specific pet travel advice?
Pearson’s own site outlines pet relief area locations in Terminal 1, Terminal 3, and the Infield Concourse, but it doesn’t publish pet-specific holiday wait-time guidance — plan around the airport’s general holiday travel advisories and build in extra time.
Can Your Dog Butler help with the whole trip, not just the ride to the airport?
Yes — beyond a pet-friendly ride to Pearson, our pet transport service can help coordinate crating, documentation, and the logistics of the trip itself. Contact us for a custom consultation on your specific travel dates.
