Traveling With Pets, Service / Specialty Animals

Travelling with Pets as Checked Baggage

• PAL Airlines does not allow the carriage of any animals in the cabin of the aircraft with the exception of service, specialty and emotional support animals, and will accept live animals as checked baggage only.
• A maximum of two animals will be permitted in one kennel, providing the animals are familiar with each other and they may both stand up and turn around freely.
• The maximum number of kennels per flight is limited, and as such, early booking is encouraged. Please note: During the period from December 15th to January 9th, PAL Airlines will only accept one kennel as checked baggage due to increased loads during the Christmas season.
• PAL Airlines assumes no responsibility for feeding and/or caring for pets nor will the PAL Airlines assume responsibility for injury, sickness or death of pets during travel.

For a pet to be accepted for carriage as checked baggage, the following conditions must be met:

1. The caring kennel must be hard-sided, leak-proof, and not allow for any protrusion of the animal’s paws. (Wire cages are not permitted.)
2. Any affixed wheels must be removed by the owner prior to check in.
3. Kennel door must have a secure latch but not be locked with any type of locking mechanism. The pet must be accessible by PAL Airlines.
4. PAL Airlines reserves the right to refuse transport to any animal that appears to be aggressive, in distress, unruly or whose health appears questionable for travel.
5. The animal must be a minimum of 8 weeks old.
6. The kennel must be marked with each pet’s name and the owner’s contact information.
7. Owners are advised to feed their pets only a light meal prior to departure and to give them a small drink of water before being brought to the check-in counter. A toy or blanket can be placed in the kennel to help the animal feel calm.
8. The owner of the animal should exercise their pet before leaving for the airport. We do not recommend tranquilizers or other medications be administered to pets. If the pet is tranquilized, the owner will require a letter from a veterinarian upon check-in stating the animal is acceptable for travel.
9. The passenger is required to pay a kennel fee, which is charged per direction, per kennel, whether or not the passenger is travelling with any checked bags. The rates are as follows:

Connecting Flights with Air Borealis

• Air Borealis will only accept one kennel per flight due to the size of the aircraft and as such, early booking is encouraged.
• Animals are not accepted on Air Borealis flights from October 15th-April 15th due to cold temperatures.

Service Animals

Service animals provide assistance to a person with a disability and are certified, in writing, as being trained by a professional service institution.

PAL Airlines allows service animals to ride free of charge and in the aircraft’s cabin, as long as they remain harnessed and at their owner’s feet for the duration of the flight.

Specialty Animals

Specialty animals are defined as dogs that are not providing a service to a person with a disability but are trained to perform professional functions. A registered certificate would be required as proof the dog and handler are trained.

We allow specialty dogs to travel with the certified trainer/owner and they must remain harnessed and at the trainer/owner’s feet for the duration of the flight. The fare for the dog will be the same as the fare paid by the trainer/owner of the dog.

Emotional Support Dogs

A dog that is used by a person with a mental health disability, as diagnosed in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, to provide support-based assistance and comfort. Carriage of an emotional support dog can provide relaxation and comfort to a passenger with a disability.

PAL Airlines will accept only dogs as emotional support animals.

Procedures for carriage:

The passenger must provide PAL Airlines a letter, dated no more than one year prior to the date of travel, confirming that:

• The passenger has a mental or emotional disability recognized by the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).
• The passenger requires the emotional support dog for emotional or psychiatric support during travel and/or at the destination.
• The person who prepared the document is a licensed mental health professional and that the letter includes information on the mental health professional’s license (i.e. type of license, date issued, and issuing authority).
• The passenger is currently under the care of the licensed mental health professional who prepared the document.

The dog must be at least 4 months of age and the passenger must provide a valid health and vaccination certificate.

The emotional support dog is confined to an animal carrier unless removed to perform disability mitigation, in which case it must be securely attached to the person by way of a harness, leash, lead or tether.

The emotional support dog is stowed in a soft-sided carrier, no larger than 12x16x10 inches in volume, under the seat in front of the passenger.

That, if PAL has determined that an emotional support dog is posing a direct threat to the health and safety of the person, other passengers or flight crew, or causing a significant disruption in cabin service, PAL may be permitted to require that the dog remain in the pet carrier, or, if the dog is already out of the pet carrier, the carrier can require that the dog be returned to the dog carrier for the duration of travel.

The emotional support dog does not interfere with the safe operation of the flight and is stowed in an approved location.