Traveling With Pets, Service / Specialty Animals

Animals as Checked Baggage

Please note that we do not accept animals from October 15 – April 15, but animals may be able to travel on a cargo flight. Arrangements must be made with our cargo department at 1.709.896.3474. Please note we do not accept extra-large kennels unless booked on a cargo flight.

• The number of animals carried is limited per flight.
• The maximum allowable weight for any checked animal must not exceed 45kg/100lbs, for both the animal and container/kennel combined.
• If container/kennel exceeds the maximum weight mentioned in (2) above, the passenger must make arrangements with our cargo department to ship the animal.
• Charges: The charge for transportation of the animal and container/kennel as checked baggage is as follows:

• Please measure your animal and ensure the animal can stand up and move within the kennel freely.
• Wire cages or cages which the animal’s paws can protrude through spaces will not be accepted for travel. The floor must be leak proof.
• Kennels that are equipped with wheels must have the wheels removed by the owner prior to loading onto the aircraft.
• Kennel doors must have a secure latch but must not be locked with any type of locking mechanism. The pet has to be easily accessed by the airline.
• Once the pet is inside the kennel and ready to be accepted as checked baggage- a Customer Service Representative will place the zip tie on the latch to secure the door from opening.
• We reserve the right to refuse to transport any animal which appears to be aggressive, in distress, unruly or their health is questionable for travel.
• The animal must be a minimum of 8 weeks old.
• The kennel must be marked with the pet’s name and owner’s phone number.
• Owners are advised to feed their pets only a light meal prior to departure and to give them a quick drink of water before being brought to the check in counter. A toy or blanket can be placed in the kennel to help him/her feel calm.
• Owners are advised to exercise their pet before leaving for the airport. We do not recommend tranquilizers or other medications. If the pet is tranquilized, the owner will require a letter from a veterinarian upon check in stating the animal is acceptable for travel.

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.

Air Borealis 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 which 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.

Air Borealis will accept only dogs as emotional support animals.

Procedures for carriage:

The passenger must provide Air Borealis 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 Air Borealis 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 significant disruption in cabin service, Air Borealis 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.