Can I bring a service or emotional support animal in the cabin?

Travel with your service dog

Copa Airlines only transports service animals that are trained dogs in the cabin under certain conditions:

• Service dogs are accepted on all routes
• Service dogs can travel in the Main Cabin or Business Class.
  • Service dogs must fit in the space in front of the passenger's assigned seat, sit on the floor without occupying neighboring spaces, or in the aircraft aisle.
  • To provide flexibility to passengers traveling with service dogs who need additional space in front of them to accommodate their canine companions, we offer the option to purchase an additional seat at the time of booking their original ticket. This ensures full compliance with national and international aviation safety regulations, which prohibit obstruction of the aircraft aisle and require sufficient space in case of evacuation.
• Seat assignment in the emergency exit row is prohibited.
• Service dogs may be denied transportation on board:
  • If has a bad smell, bad behavior such as barking, growling, attacking other passengers or not being able to control its needs.
  • If does not comply with the required documentation of the country of origin and destination. The passenger is responsible for any costs associated with reservation changes.
  • If it does not meet the above conditions.
• It is not permitted to travel with a service or emotional support dog and also with a pet in the cabin. The pet may be transported through our Copa Pets service.
• If you have a connecting flight with another airline, you must contact the other airline directly to learn about their terms and conditions for the transport of service dogs.
• If you are traveling to/from the United States, you must complete the DOT Service Dog Transportation Form and submit two copies to the airport on the day of flight departure.
• If you are traveling to/from other destinations, you must complete the Emotional Support and Service Dog Transportation Form and deliver two copies to the airport on the day of flight departure

Travel with your emotional support dog

Copa Airlines only transports emotional support animals that are dogs in the cabin under certain conditions:

• Emotional support dogs are only accepted on routes where they are recognized by the regulations of the country, meaning to or from Colombia and Mexico*. If you are traveling on other routes, you can request our in-cabin pet service or Copa Pets.
• The minimum age required for an emotional support dog is six (6) months.
• Emotional support dogs can only travel in the Main Cabin, not in Business Class*.
• Emotional support dogs must weigh up to a maximum of 10kg*.
  • To provide flexibility to passengers traveling with emotional support dogs whose weight exceeds 10 kg or who need additional space in front of them to accommodate their canine companions, we offer the option to purchase an additional seat at the time of booking their original ticket. This ensures full compliance with national and international aviation safety regulations, which prohibit obstruction of the aircraft aisle and require sufficient space in case of evacuation.
  • Emotional support dogs must fit in the space in front of the passenger's assigned seat, sit on the floor without occupying neighboring spaces, or in the aisle of the plane.
  • Seat assignment in the emergency exit row is prohibited.
  • The dog must remain with their owners at all times.
• Transport on board may be denied to the dog:
  • If it has a bad odor, behaves poorly such as barking, growling, attacking other passengers, or cannot control its needs.
  • If it does not comply with the required documentation of the country of origin and destination. You will be responsible for the corresponding costs of reservation changes.
  • If it does not meet the mentioned conditions.
• It is not permitted to travel with an emotional support dog and also with a pet in the cabin. The pet may be transported through our Copa Pets service.
• If you have a connecting flight with another airline, you must contact the other airline directly to learn about their terms and conditions for the transport of emotional support dogs.
• If you are traveling to/from other destinations, you must complete the Emotional Support and Service Dog Transportation Form and deliver two copies to the airport on the day of flight departure.

*Starting February 1, 2024. If you purchased your ticket before December 15, 2023, please contact our Call Center for more information.