When transporting a pet by a commercial airline, it is extremely important to understand their pet policy. These policies vary between airlines. Some allow small pets to fly in the cabin and others don’t. It is important to know the answers to all your questions before making your decision to fly your pet on any commercial airline. Does Caribbean Airlines allow pets on your specific route? How much does it cost to fly a dog or cat on Caribbean Airlines? What documents will I need? What are the carrier or crate requirements for Caribbean Airlines? All your answers related to Caribbean Airlines pet policy are answered below.
Note: It is important to mention that the pet policy of the airline that operates your pet’s route will preside over the policy of the airline that owns the route. This is important to note because if the operating airline changes during your trip, then you will likely need to claim and recheck your pet on the next airline. This will cause you to clear customs and enter the layover country. You will need time and extra documentation to accommodate this process during the layover unless flying domestically.
Classes of service offered to pets by commercial airlines
- In-Cabin: Pets traveling in the cabin must fly with an adult passenger and travel in an airline compliant
carrier stowed under the seat. - Checked Baggage: Pets traveling with a passenger that are not permitted in the cabin due to size or breed can be transported as checked baggage in the cargo hold.
- Air Cargo: Unaccompanied, very large pets or pets flying to countries that require that pets enter under air cargo will travel as manifest cargo in the hold.
Can my pet fly with me in the cabin? Yes
Can my pet fly with me as checked baggage? Yes
Can my pet fly as manifest cargo? Yes
Where is Caribbean Airlines based?
Caribbean Airlines [IATA:BW] is the flag carrier of Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. It is based out of Piarco International Airport in Trinidad. Most layovers within Caribbean Airlines’ network will occur in this airport.
What countries does Caribbean Airlines fly to?
Caribbean Airlines offers service to pets to the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten, Saing Kitts, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States and Venezuela.
Caribbean Airlines Pet Policy – In Cabin
If your dog or cat meets the requirements listed in Caribbean Airlines’ pet policy to fly in the cabin, it will need an airline-compliant pet carrier unless you are flying with a service dog who is trained to assist you in a task required to address a physical or medical disability.
Pets allowed flown by Caribbean Airlines in the cabin
Caribbean Airlines does not permit pets to fly in the cabin with the exception of service and emotional support dogs.
Service dog pet policy
All service dogs may fly in the cabin at no charge. They must be trained by an organization that specializes in service dog training to provide specific tasks for a person with a disability. Notification must be provided to Caribbean Airlines more than 48 hours of departure.
Service dogs must be suitably marked, harnessed and leashed. They must fit in the space provided at their passenger’s feet without intruding on cabin operations or other passengers. They must be clean, mannerly and not show any signs of aggression toward other passengers or the flight crew.
If flights involve the United States, Department of Transportation forms must be completed and submitted at least 48 hours prior to departure. All required documentation required for the destination country must be provided at check in.
Emotional support dogs
Emotional support dogs are accepted on domestic flights within Trinidad and Tobago. The passenger must have a document on the letterhead of a licensed mental professional (psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker) that the passenger has a mental health-related disability recognized in the most current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and that the animal accompany the passenger is necessary to the passenger’s mental health or treatment. The document must show the mental health professional’s license and the state or other jurisdiction in which it was issued.
All service and emotional support dogs are subject to the same requirements as regular dogs when traveling internationally.
Caribbean Airlines Pet Policy – Checked Baggage
If the size of your pet is too large to fit in an airline-compliant pet carrier, or it is a pet other than a cat or dog, it will be transported as checked baggage on Caribbean Airlines if it is flying with an adult passenger. This section of the cargo department has the same temperature and pressure as the passenger cabin.
Live animals are checked in by reservation employees and are checked in at the airport terminal. The airline will move your pet between aircraft in their fleet during layovers if the layover is not over about 3 hours in length.
Pets flown by Caribbean Airlines as checked baggage
Dogs and cats will be flown on this airline as checked baggage.
Reservations
Passengers flying with pets must notify Caribbean Airlines a minimum of 72 hours prior to departure.
Age/Weight requirements
Maximum weight is 70 pounds (32 kg).
Pet crate requirements
Maximum linear crate measurements (L+W+H) must not exceed 115″ (292 cm). Crate lengths may not exceed 75″ (191 cm). All crates must conform to regulations imposed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For more information, see PET CRATE REQUIREMENTS.
Route or aircraft restrictions
Forms Required
The passenger must assume full responsibility and expense for complying with applicable laws, customs and/or other governmental regulations, requirements, or restrictions of the country, state or territory to and from which the pet is being transported.
Related: Regulations and forms required to import a pet to over 220 countries
Check in
Pet fee
Domestic cost is 3.00 TTD per kg each direction. International cost is $150 USD or 230 CAD each direction for flights out of Canada.
Caribbean Airlines Pet Policy – Air Cargo
All live animals flying as air cargo travel under an airline manifest or air waybill and are tracked throughout the entire flight. The airlines are responsible for caring for your pet during layovers as well. Unlike checked baggage, pets are generally checked in and claimed at the airline’s cargo facility. This facility is located on airport grounds; however, not the terminal. Many airlines require that an agent books the transport. If you need a licensed agent to arrange your pet’s transport, send us an email at info@pettraveltransport.com.
Pets flown by Caribbean Airlines as air cargo
Caribbean airlines will fly the following pets as air cargo:
- Monkeys
- Birds
- Dogs
- Cats
- Hamsters
- Reptiles
- Guinea pigs
- Live tropical fish
- Zoo animals
- Horses
Reservations
Pet owners wishing to book transport as air cargo should contact Caribbean Cargo at cargo@caribbean-airlines.com or 868 669 3000 for further information.
Route Restrictions
Caribbean Airlines will not be accepting cargo transports into Antigua until late summer 2025 due to changes in ground handling services.
Caribbean Airlines Pet Crate Requirements
All pet crates must conform to regulations set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The container must be large enough for your pet(s) to stand, turn around, and lie down. The crate must be made of fiberglass, metal, rigid plastics, solid wood or plywood.
The crate door must have a secure, spring-loaded, all-around locking system with the pins extending beyond the horizontal extrusions above and below the door. The floor must be waterproof. The crate must not have wheels attached when checking your pet. Metal hardware should be used to fasten the top and bottom halves of your pet crate together. Caribbean Airlines requires either metal or plastic threaded nuts and bolts to secure both halves of the crate.
All crates must be labeled with LIVE ANIMAL stickers and a Shipping Declaration that includes feeding and watering instructions.
Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?
All pets should be acclimated to their crates prior to travel. This may take weeks or even months to accomplish; however it is the best thing you can do for pet before flying.
Related: Acclimating your pet to its crate or carrier
Temperature Restrictions – Checked Baggage and Air Cargo
When temperatures rise above or drop below certain levels, commercial airlines will prohibit the transport of live animals in the cargo hold. These restrictions are implemented for the safety of your pet. It is important to note that the risk from high or low temperatures is not when your pet is airborne. The risks come during preflight holding, loading on the tarmac and taxiing to the take-off runway.
Pets will not be accepted as checked baggage or air cargo when actual or forecasted temperatures are above 85°F (29.4°C) or below 45°F (7.2°C) at any airport on the itinerary. Pets may be accepted at temperatures below 45°F with an acclimation certificate, however, no pet will be transported at temperatures lower than 20°F (-6.6°C).
Note that the temperature restrictions for summer travel are lower for brachycephalic (snub-nosed) pets.
Cold-blooded animals are exempt from these restrictions.
Related: Why temperatures matter for pets flying in the cargo hold
Breeds Banned by Caribbean Airlines
Caribbean Airlines does not specify restrictions based on dog breeds such as aggressive or brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dogs; however, caution should be taken when transporting these breeds. Aggressive dogs should be flown in reinforced crates to prevent escape. Brachycephalic dogs should be flown in crates one size larger than normally required to add ventilation.
Related: Flying with a snub-nosed breed
Private Jet Charter
Another option for pet owners who do not want their pet to fly in the cargo hold is a pet-friendly private jet charter. Your pet can fly in your lap, at your feet or beside you comfortably without being confined. We can arrange flights from anywhere in the world to anywhere you need to go on your time schedule, without the crowds or commotion of a commercial airport.
Other Information
The information published here is a guideline for Caribbean Airlines airline pet policy. For more airline pet policies, click the banner below.
Further Reading
How to keep your pet safe when flying in the cargo hold
Tips for airline pet travel
Requirements for a pet transiting a country by air
When do you need a pet transporter?
Routing your pet’s flight
More information on airline pet travel
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To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given airline may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to deny your pet boarding privileges at the time of check in. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Caribbean Airlines pet policy.
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