In-Cabin Pet Policy

If your dog or cat meets the requirements listed in Copa Airlines pet policy to travel in-cabin, you will need an approved airline pet carrier. The carrier must have a waterproof bottom, have room for your pet to stand up and turn around, must fasten securly and have adequate ventilation.

Pets Allowed:

Small cats and dogs. Birds are not permitted. Pets are not permitted in the cabin in Business Class. You must notify Copa Airlines that you are traveling with a pet at least 48 hours in advance of departure. Service Animals are permitted to travel in the cabin regardless of their weight.

Age Requirements:

Puppies and kittens must be a minimum of 8 weeks old to travel in the cabin.

Route Restrictions:

Copa Airlines will only transport dogs and cats on Monday through Thursday on international flights. This restriction does not apply to flights within Colombia and Panama.

Forms Required

On international flights, a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian must be provided as well as all documentation required for the destination country. For domestic flights within Colombia, only a current vaccination certificate is needed. For domestic flights within Panama, owners must show proof of current vaccination and health certificate.

Carrier Requirements:

Measurements for soft-sided, flexible carriers are 11"W x 18"D x 11H". The weight of the carrier and your pet must not exceed 20 lbs. Your pet must fit entirely in the carrier and it must be secure and have a waterproof bottom. Only one pet per carrier and only one carrier per adult passenger is permitted. For flights within Colombia, 2 small birds can travel in one carrier as long as there is sufficient room.

Check-In:

You will check in at the passenger counter as animals are not checked in at curbside. A fee will be collected at the time of check in. Your pet airline carrier will count as a piece of carry-on luggage.

Cost:

$75USD For flights within Colombia and Panama, pets are transported at no additional charge.

Service and Emotional Support Dogs

Service dogs or emotional support dogs accompanying individuals with a disability or special needs are permitted in the airplane cabin free of charge. They must be trained to behave around other passengers. Only one service or ESA per passenger.

All service dogs must present training certificates from licensed organizations, rabies certificates and required documentation for their destination country.

Emotional support animals are only accepted on flights within and between Brazil, Colombia and Mexico. All passengers traveling with an emotional support dog must present a medical document stating the reason for which the passenger must travel with a support or emotional support dog. The date of issuance of this document should be less from one year to the date of departure of the flight. The certificate must be legible, signed and stamped by the medical professional, and it must include the date the license was issued, the state or jurisdiction in which the licensed was issued, and the type of license.

Emotional support dogs must be at least 6 months of age. They must also have health and rabies certificates as well as required documentation for their destination country.

Notification must be provided to the airline a minimum of 48 hours prior to flight.

Checked Baggage Pet Policy

Copa Airlines does not offer checked baggage services. Dogs and cats too large to travel in the cabin must fly as air cargo.

 

Manifest (Air) Cargo Pet Policies

Note that Copa Airlines Cargo will not permit live animals to fly between the dates of December 13 and December 26, 2017 due to baggage demands on the cargo hold.

 

Pets Allowed:

Dogs and cats. Birds are no longer transported on domestic or international flights.

Age:

Pets must be between 2 months and 11 years of age. Pets will be shipped only Monday through Thursday on international flights. Note that Copa Airlines does not interline pets with other airlines.

Forms Required:

Health certificate issued within 10 days of travel, proof of rabies vaccination and all forms required for your destination country.

Check-In:

Locations will vary by airport depending on the location of the cargo office.

Route Restrictions

Copa Airlines does not fly pets to Jamaica. The passenger assumes responsibility for all documentation required for the destination country.

Temperature Restrictions:

The airlines will re-evaluate the carriage of pets from or through any city along the route whose temperature exceeds 85°F.

Crate Requirements

Metal hardware should be used to fasten the top and bottom halves of your pet' crate together. Click here for crate requirements.

Need an IATA compliant pet crate? Have a crate already? Need accessories for your crate?

Have a crate already? Need accessories for your crate?

More Information:

AIRLINE PET TRAVEL TIPS
TIPS FOR AIRLINE PET CARGO TRAVEL
PREPARING A PET CARGO CRATE FOR AIR TRAVEL

Airports Served

Copa Cargo serves 74 destinations in 31 countries in the Americas including Colombia, Panama, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, and the United States.