Key takeaways:
- Small animals will still be authorized in the cabin; the ban is only used for new requests.
- Air Canada is thwarting new demands for transporting pets in the cargo holds of its airplanes until mid-September.
Air Canada has ceased taking new requests for pets to travel in the luggage compartment of its flights till Sept. 12, the airline said Wednesday, as main airports around the nation face travel delays, flight revocations, and logistical challenges.
Small animals will still be let in the cabins of most flights, provided they can lie down on a page under the seat in front of the passenger.
The airline said that getting a pet in the cabin will cost $50 for flights within Canada and the U.S. (excluding Hawaii) and $100 for international flights.
“Due to existing airport delays, for the security and comfort of pets, we will not be getting new recommendations for pets traveling in the baggage compartment till Sept. 12, 2022,” Air Canada said via email in reply to questions from CBC News.
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“All current pet bookings will be honored.”
“This does not impact trained service animals, nor smaller pets traveling in the cabin,” a representative said, adding that the airline usually has a ban on pets in the cargo hold on select streets during specific times of the year, “, especially for destinations where there is excessive heat.”
“For clients booking flights who wish to journey with a pet that cannot be in the cabin, there are still some safe keys available via Air Canada Cargo,” the airline stated.
The firm did not answer queries about what circumstances would be in place for the ban to be rescinded. It also did not provide data on whether pets have been lost or sickened during the recent airport mess.
Source – CBC News
