Key Takeaways

• Does Air Canada Accept Emotional Support Animals (ESA)?

Similar to most other carriers, Air Canada no longer recognizes ESAs as service animals, meaning they must follow the same guidelines as standard pets.

• Does Air Canada Accept Psychiatric Service Dogs?

Yes, Air Canada accepts psychiatric service dogs as legitimate service animals. Psychiatric service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks that assist individuals with psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety, PTSD, or depression. These dogs can fly free of charge, but travelers must provide the required documentation, such as a completed DOT Service Animal Air Transportation form, and may need to give advance notice to the airline before their flight.

• Do Service Dogs Fly for Free?

All service dogs, including psychiatric service dogs, that meet Air Canada’s requirements can fly at no additional cost.

• How to Get a Psychiatric Service Dog:

To get a psychiatric service dog, the dog must be trained to perform specific tasks that assist with your disability. If you already have a dog, the professionals at ServiceDogTrainingSchool can help you to train your own dog to be the ideal service dog to meet your needs.

• How to Qualify for a Psychiatric Service Dog: 

To qualify for a psychiatric service dog, you must have a diagnosed mental or emotional disability, such as anxiety, PTSD, depression, or bipolar disorder.

• How to Get Started:

Get started by taking the simple SDTSI online PSD training assessment to see if you qualify, and enroll in the Psychiatric Service Dog Training Course to train your own dog.

Since 1937, Air Canada has been helping Canadians explore the world, one flight at a time—says the YouTube page for the airline. The company operates flights across a little over 200 locations. We are here to shed light on its pet, ESA and service dog policy.

Emotional Support Animals (ESA) on Air Canada

Emotional support animals (ESAs) do not have the same legal recognition as service animals in Canada. There is no overarching federal law that defines what are ESAs and their privileges when it comes to housing, public transport and travel (domestic and intentional). Emotional Support Animals do not have housing protections or public access rights service dogs in Canada. ESAs are treated as pets and may be permitted limited housing protections under provincial laws.

As of writing this, Air Canada does not recognize emotional support animals as service animals. This means that ESAs are treated as pets and are subject to the airline’s pet travel policies, which include fees and restrictions on where the animal can be placed during the flight, the routes that you can take and requirements on the pet carrier you can bring on the flights.

How to Fly with a Pet or Emotional Support Animal on Air Canada

Only small cats and dogs housed in a pet carrier will be welcomed on Air Canada operated flights. You should book at least one month in advance and make sure to notify the airline about your pet/ESA. Additionally, unaccompanied minors will not be permitted to travel with an ESA/pet. If you are assigned a seat next to a bulkhead or an exit – you will not be allowed to board the passenger cabin with a pet carrier. Another important factor is that passengers in Premium Economy cabin will not be allowed to bring in a kennel due to the available space limitations.Any air passengers with pet carriers will have to place their ESAs/pets under the seat in front of theirs.

Should you decide to book a flight with Air Canada, do not forget to click on “Accessibility services” as you enter your passenger information. You will be invited to contact the Air Canada Medical Assistance Desk at least 48 hours in advance of your flight. If you have a severe medical condition we encourage you to call the medical desk at least a month in advance since you may have to acquire a special medical approval.

Does Air Canada Accept Psychiatric Service Dogs?

Air Canada accepts service dogs of all types as mandated by the Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations (ATPDR). Additional legislation that concerns disabled citizens with service dogs includes the Canadian Human Rights Act. You may also want to see the Canadian Transportation Agency's Guide on Service Dogs.

Please, note that this federal legislation defines service dogs as animals who undergo training by certified professionals and qualified organizations. In that sense—service dogs who have been trained by their owners are not recognized as service dogs under the ATPDR and they are not accepted in the passenger cabin on flights. We talk about this in our article: Flying AirCanada With an Owner-Trained Service Dog

Air Canada and the rest of the airlines based in Canada make an exception for owner-trained service dogs coming or going to the United States on direct flights. This is because US legislation permits the use of self-trained service dogs. We are specifically referring to the Americans With Disabilities Act, the About the Air Carrier Access Act, and the official DOT policy on service animals. 

Do Psychiatric Service Dogs Fly for Free?

Service dogs of any kind fly for free with any airline in Canada. However, it should be noted that Air Canada permits a single disabled citizen to travel with a single service dog on their flights. Air Canada makes an exception (https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/plan/accessibility/service-emotional-support-dogs.html.html#/) only for flights to and from the US where a single disabled citizen can fly with two service dogs. Please, keep in mind that large service dogs may need extra floor space. Floor space can be provided for a single service dog free of charge on domestic flights. Extra floor space on international flights will cost you extra.

How to Fly with Your Psychiatric Service Dog on Air Canada

Air passengers will be required to fill out the “Service Dog Form” for the Air Canada Medical Team and send it via email to acmedical@aircanada.com at least 48 hours before departure. If you are flying to the US you will also have to send a completed US DOT Service Dog application. If your flight to/from the US by Air Canada is longer than 8 hours, you will also have to send a completed Service Animal Relief Attestation Form. Considering the updated US CDC regulations, make sure your service dog is microchipped. You might want to read our article: Microchipping Your Dog: How Much Does It Cost

We encourage you to call Air Canada Accessibility Services at 1-800-667-4732 (toll-free for Canada and the United States) and make sure you are aware of what documents would be required for your flight and prepare them accordingly.

How to Get Your Legitimate Psychiatric Service Dog with Service Dog Training School

It is important to understand that only fully-trained, fully-vaccinated, healthy, safe and well-behaving dogs are afforded housing, travel and public access rights. If you are looking to train your pet dog to become a psychiatric service/assistance dog – we would be happy to guide you.

There is no government-operated registry for service dogs in Canada yet. You have two options when it comes to training your canine for service dog duty. The first option is to give the dog to a professional dog training facility and work with them to achieve your goals. The second option is to do the training yourself as it is permitted under provincial laws. Option number 2 also means that you will not be able to fly with the dog in the cabin domestically so consider your options carefully.

If you are still interested in training your pet cost-effectively, please take a look at the online owner-trained Psychiatric Service Dog course we offer. It can guide you in raining your pet dog to apply Deep Pressure Therapy, remind you to take medication, interrupter harmful behavior as well as anxiety and panic episodes. The training course includes advice on preparing your service dog for air travel too.

Get Your Psychiatric Service Dog Certification

A proof for completed service dog training will be required for nay domestic flights with Air Canada. Our company can provide you with a certificate for completed owner-trained service dog course or you can work with a dog training facility in your area.

Service dog certification is not clearly defined by law in Canada and there is no government-sanctioned standard for training service dogs. Registering any dog as a service dog in Canada is entirely optional too. However, the training is mandatory and you need to accept responsibility for your service dog. 

We are happy to help you faithfully represent your dog as a service animal and convince housing providers, airlines and local businesses alike that your dog has been trained and is safe to accommodate. The certificates for completed training include a unique identifier that airlines (and other businesses alike) can quickly verify via our registry page.

What is the ATPDR?

The abbreviation stands for “Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations”. The ATPDR defines a service dog as a dog that:

1. has been individually trained by an organization or person specializing in service dog training;

and

2.performs a task to assist a person with a disability with a need related to their disability.

This federal law is different from the Americans with Disabilities Act in the US in a big way. It does not permit self/owner-trained service dogs in the passenger cabin of any domestic flights. We would like to point out that provincial laws permit the use of self-trained service dogs for the purposes of public access, housing, and work. You might want to read our article: Service Dog Laws in Canada 

What is the Difference Between an Emotional Support Animal and a Psychiatric Service Dog?

Service animals can be only dogs. Psychiatric Service Dogs are usually trained to remind their users to take medication, disrupt emotional overload and harmful behavior among many other things. Additionally, psychiatric service dogs (and SDs in general) are trained to be accustomed to busy environments, quickly respond to commands and be able to calmly accompany their users almost everywhere.

Emotional Support Animals can be any domesticated species while service dogs can be only canines. ESAs do not undergo any specialized training beyond basic obedience while service dogs undertake individual training to directly aid the daily lives of their users and be safe to use in public. More on the subject is presented in our article: Service Animals vs Emotional Support Animals vs Therapy Animals

Air Canada Service Dog Policies

For domestic, international, and Caribbean flights, your service dog must have been professionally trained by an organization or person specializing in service dog training. The service dogs have to be on leash and under supervision at all times. You must carry all necessary papers related to your service dog such as proof of completed training; ID card; veterinary records; certificate of good health; and dog import permit as applicable.

Please, note that the number of service dogs permitted per flight will depend on the aircraft model, the number of already booked service dog teams, any country-specific restrictions, and available space.

Air Canada Required Documentations

You will definitely need to fill out an “Air Canada Service Animal Form” and you may need to fill out extra forms for international travel to and from the US as mentioned above. We recommend you carry a doctor’s note that attests to your need for a service dog and inform the medical desk for the airline about any special accommodation you may need. You can call the medical desk at 1-800-667-4732 (Toll-free from North America) and you can email them at acmedical@aircanada.ca. The airline staff may ask you to show proof for completed service dog training for your canine partner, copies of the vaccination records and any entry permits relevant to your route.

Other Air Canada Pet Policies To Know

Upon landing in any country or region, government veterinary officials may inspect your service dog and check your papers. While local veterinary health certificates obtained from animal clinics are essential, sometimes they may not be sufficient to clear government inspections at your destination. We encourage you to contact the consulate or embassy of your destination country or region and learn about the local pet entry requirements. You may want to check the International Air Transport Association Travel Information Manual as your start collecting the necessary documents for your travel.

Passengers flying with an ESA will have to submit a completed “Emotional Support Dog Request – Acknowledgement and Confirmation of Behaviour” form at least 48 hours prior to boarding. In order to verify your dog/cat’s status as an ESA you will have to ask your doctor to fill out a “Medical/Mental Health Professional Form” which you will have to send to the AC Medical Team. Additionally, the ESA users will have to obtain a signed “Veterinary Health Form” confirming that the emotional support dog is free of ticks, fleas, and infectious or contagious diseases which may endanger other animals or public health.

Air Canada Pet Fees

Air Canada charges passenger a pet fee of 50 CAD/USD per pet for one-way flights within Canada and they charge 100 CAD/USD per pet on one-way intentional flights. You can refer to this page for details.

Air Canada Breed Restrictions

Snub-nosed dogs and cats have condensed facial structures which impacts their ability to breathe normally. During flights these features impair their ability to cool themselves. That is why Air Canada may not allow them as cargo on any flights. Please, talk to the AC Animals Team about the safety of your pet/ESA and service dog.

Air Canada Pet Carrier Size Requirements

The carrier is counted as the one standard carry-on item which you are allowed to bring on the Air Canada flight. Your pet must always remain in its closed carrier under the seat in front of you. The pet has to permit comfortable travel and no parts of the dog/cat should stick out. Your pet could be refused travel if the carrier is deemed to be too small for them.

Hard-sided carriers are recommended but you can bring a soft-sided carrier too. The hard-sided carrier should not exceed 23 cm/9 in (H); 40 cm/15,5 in (W); 55 cm /21.5 in (L). The soft-sided carriers should not exceed 27 cm/10.5 in (H); 40 cm/15.5 in (W); 55 cm/21.5 in (L). Any carriers deemed too big to fit under the seat can be transported I nthe cargo hold as long as they do not weigh over 45 kg (100 lb). You may be charged extra for large carriers, please talk to Air Canada Cargo (AC Animals) at least 48 hours before departure.

Service Dog Training School’s Tips on How to Fly with Your ESA and Psychiatric Service Dogs

We strongly recommend you plan at least 3 months ahead of your flight. Book early and start collecting the papers you will need to represent yourself and your pet, ESA or service dog. Initiating the onboarding process early should allow you plenty of time to deal with any pet and service dog entry requirements, vaccinations and permits.

Nobody likes to share their flight with misbehaving people and animals. Make sure your dog is prepared for tight spaces, meeting many strangers and stay calm in busy environments. That way you will not have to worry they would bark, whine, and cause you stress.

The flight attendants are not legally obliged to offer food to your dog or cat but you can ask for water and you will have to carry a water bowl with you. Of course, you should not forget to bring a food bowl too. 

FAQ

Can my dog sit on my lap during an Air Canada flight?

-They can not. The pets/ESAs are expected to remain the kennel until you disembark the aircraft. Some small service animals may be permitted to be seated in the lap of their users if they are small enough and at the discretion of the flight attendants.

Can Air Canada ask for proof of completed service dog training?

-The airline can ask you to show proof of completed training and you are obliged by law to comply. This is valid for domestic and international flights. The only exception is when you fly between the US and Canada you will not have to show a certificate for completed training.

Can Air Canada deny a psychiatric service dog?

-Yes, they can. This usually happens based on the size of the dog as there are space limitations, the route you are taking as there are countries with strict rules, when you are missing papers, and legitimate considerations for the health of the dog.

Where to Call or Visit for More Information on Air Canada Pet Policy?

-You can email the AC Cargo Division at cargo.customerservice@aircanada.ca. They do not have a phone line as far as their website is concerned. Alternatively, you can try to talk to the Air Canada Customer Support Team.

How to Alert Air Canada You Will Be Bringing Your ESA/Pet/SA?

-You can do that by talking to the Air Canada Customer Support Team after you book your flight and you can call their medical team at 1-800-667-4732 (Toll-free from North America) or email them at acmedica@aircanada.ca.