Jazz

How Jazz handles pet travel

Jazz (IATA: QK) operates flights as Air Canada Express, so the Air Canada pet policy applies to these services. In practice, that means small cats and dogs may travel in the cabin on most routes, and cats and dogs may travel in the baggage hold on select flights and aircraft. Space for animals is limited and must be reserved in advance; adding a pet is never automatic. Some destinations and aircraft types don’t accept pets at all, and there are seasonal and temperature constraints for hold transport. Think of this as a shared journey: you, your pet, and the aircraft’s limits need to mesh safely and comfortably.

In the cabin: comfort, size, and expectations

For in‑cabin travel, your pet must remain inside a closed carrier that fits completely under the seat in front of you for the entire flight. Soft‑sided carriers are strongly recommended on Jazz’s regional jets and turboprops because under‑seat space can be lower than on larger aircraft. The carrier must be leak‑proof, well‑ventilated on multiple sides, and sized so your pet can stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably. While Air Canada publishes maximum carrier dimensions by aircraft, a low‑profile soft carrier (roughly 9–10.5 inches/22–27 cm high) is the most practical choice on many Jazz seats; always verify the exact limit for your flight when you reserve your pet. There’s typically no explicit weight limit in cabin beyond the requirement to stow the carrier under the seat and keep your pet comfortable and secure.

You may bring only one pet in cabin; it counts as your carry‑on item, and you cannot sit in bulkhead or exit rows. Kittens and puppies must be fully weaned and generally at least 12 weeks old. Your pet must be clean, calm, and odor‑free; disruptive animals can be denied boarding. At security, you’ll remove your pet while the empty carrier is screened, then return your pet to the carrier before proceeding to the gate.

In the hold (checked baggage) on regional aircraft

Checked‑pet acceptance varies by route and aircraft; not every Jazz‑operated flight can take animals in the hold. When available, only cats and dogs are accepted, and the kennel must meet IATA Live Animal Regulations: hard‑sided, secure metal door, ventilation on three sides (four for international), no wheels, with absorbent bedding and attached spill‑proof water container. The combined weight and size are limited by the aircraft and cargo‑door dimensions; as a planning benchmark, many airlines cap pet+kennel at about 32–45 kg (70–100 lb), but regional aircraft may allow less. Heat/cold embargoes can suspend acceptance during extreme weather, and brachycephalic (snub‑nosed) breeds are typically not accepted in the hold for safety. If your kennel is too large or your route doesn’t allow checked pets, Air Canada Cargo’s specialized service (AC Animals) is the alternative.

Documents and vaccinations you’ll likely need

Within Canada, a formal health certificate isn’t usually required for pet cats and dogs, but current vaccination records (especially rabies) are strongly recommended. For U.S. travel, rules have tightened: as of 2024, dogs entering the United States must be microchipped and meet CDC entry requirements, which include specific rabies vaccination and paperwork timelines; extra restrictions apply if the dog has been in a high‑risk country in the prior 6 months. For the EU, you’ll need an ISO‑microchip, rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before entry, and an EU health certificate endorsed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Some destinations only accept pets as manifest cargo (not in cabin or as checked baggage) — examples include the United Kingdom, Australia, and Hong Kong — and may require import permits or quarantine. Always confirm entry rules with the destination authority and review Air Canada’s latest guidance before you book.

Fees, species limits, and routing restrictions

Expect a per‑direction fee for pets in cabin, with typical ranges around CAD/USD 50–59 for Canada/U.S. itineraries and CAD/USD 100–118 for international journeys; checked‑pet fees are higher and vary by route and kennel size. Only cats and dogs are accepted as pets; birds, rodents, reptiles, and insects are not carried as cabin or checked pets. There’s a cap on the number of pets per flight, and some cabins or seat types don’t allow them. Routes to/from certain destinations (for example, Hawaii or the U.K.) have additional restrictions or prohibit cabin/checked pets altogether. If your itinerary includes other airlines, the strictest policy on any segment will apply.

Preparing your pet for a smoother trip

A calm, crate‑trained pet travels better, and that starts well before departure. Introduce the carrier weeks ahead, feed small meals on travel day, and avoid sedation unless your veterinarian explicitly recommends it. Freeze water in the dish so it melts gradually, line the carrier with an absorbent pad, and attach a contact card to the kennel. Choose the most direct routing, build in extra connection time, and arrive early so staff can complete pet acceptance checks without rushing.

Quick preflight checklist

• Reserve your pet’s space with Air Canada as soon as you book; verify aircraft‑specific carrier dimensions for your Jazz flight.
• Confirm destination entry rules (vaccinations, microchip, health certificate, permits) and timing windows.
• Use an airline‑approved carrier: soft‑sided for cabin, IATA‑compliant hard‑sided for hold.
• Label the carrier, pack spare pads, a leash, and a small supply of food in your carry‑on.
• Recheck fees, weather embargoes, and any breed or routing restrictions 24–48 hours before departure.

Policies can change without notice. For the most reliable, flight‑specific guidance, consult Air Canada’s pet travel page and your reservation details, and when in doubt, call to confirm before you head to the airport.

Flying with Children on Jazz (QK)

How Jazz handles family travel

Jazz operates most flights as Air Canada Express, so the practical rules you’ll experience are those of Air Canada. That’s good news for families, because Canadian regulations require airlines to seat children under 14 near their accompanying adult at no extra charge, and Air Canada applies this across its network. Expect agents to try to seat ages 5 and under directly beside you, ages 6–11 in the same row (no more than one seat away), and ages 12–13 no more than a row away. On regional aircraft, crews may reshuffle seats at the gate to meet these safety-based requirements, especially when oxygen-mask positions limit where infants can sit. Policies can evolve, so always confirm on your booking and pre-trip emails.

Age categories at a glance

For Jazz/Air Canada Express, an infant is a child under 2 years old on the date of travel, and a child is typically 2–11 years; youth 12–17 and adult 18+ for fare and service purposes. Infants can travel as lap babies or in their own purchased seat; once a child turns 2, a separate seat is mandatory. Only one lap infant is allowed per adult; a second infant with the same adult must have a seat. Bring proof of age (passport or birth certificate) because agents can request it at check-in and boarding. If your itinerary mixes airlines, remember that the marketing carrier’s rules may govern fares and baggage.

Seats and tickets for infants

Lap infants generally pay no base fare on flights wholly within Canada, while transborder and international itineraries often carry taxes/fees or a percentage of the adult fare, even if the infant rides on your lap. You must add the infant to the reservation and obtain an infant boarding document; crews also need this for oxygen-mask counts. If you prefer, you can purchase a seat for your infant, which many parents find more restful on longer days. Seat selection fees can apply, but family seating rules still ensure proximity at no additional cost if you can’t pre-select.

If you buy a seat, you may use a certified child restraint system (CRS) that meets Transport Canada/FAA/ECE standards, installed per the manufacturer’s limits (rear- or forward-facing). The safest location is the window seat so the CRS doesn’t block another passenger’s exit, and CRSs aren’t permitted in exit rows or in any seat with an airbag belt. CARES-type harnesses are accepted for children who meet the weight/age specifications. Jazz flies smaller regional jets and turboprops, so seat widths are tighter; confirm your CRS width and consider a narrower model. When in doubt, ask the gate team early so they can help you to a suitable seat.

How Aeroplan applies to Jazz

Jazz (IATA: QK) operates many of Air Canada’s regional routes as Air Canada Express. That’s why there’s no separate Jazz loyalty program—all your earning and benefits run through Air Canada’s program, Aeroplan. When your ticket is marketed by Air Canada (usually an AC flight number and ticket stock 014), every Jazz segment counts toward Aeroplan points and Aeroplan Elite Status. If a partner airline markets the ticket, you can still credit to Aeroplan, though spending may not count toward Status Qualifying Dollars. Either way, add your Aeroplan number and you’re set.

Tiers and how to qualify

Aeroplan Elite Status has five familiar tiers: 25K, 35K, 50K, 75K and Super Elite 100K. You qualify each calendar year with a mix of Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) or Segments (SQS), plus Status Qualifying Dollars (SQD) mostly on Air Canada–marketed tickets (including Jazz). The published thresholds are:

• 25K: 25,000 SQM or 25 SQS + $3,000 SQD
• 35K: 35,000 SQM or 35 SQS + $4,000 SQD
• 50K: 50,000 SQM or 50 SQS + $6,000 SQD
• 75K: 75,000 SQM or 75 SQS + $9,000 SQD
• Super Elite 100K: 100,000 SQM or 95 SQS + $20,000 SQD

SQM and SQS are earned by flying; SQD reflects eligible spend with Air Canada. Your status is valid through the rest of the earning year and the following program year. Requirements and benefits can change, and SQD rules may differ based on your country of residence, so it’s wise to double‑check Air Canada’s latest charts before you plan a push to a new tier.

Earning Aeroplan points on Jazz

On Air Canada–marketed flights operated by Jazz, you earn Aeroplan points based on the fare you pay, with additional bonuses for your Aeroplan Elite Status. Those same flights generate your SQM/SQS and, when ticketed by Air Canada, SQD as well. Tickets marketed by Star Alliance partners still earn Aeroplan points (typically distance and booking‑class based), but partner‑marketed tickets won’t generate SQD with Air Canada. Beyond flights, you can build your balance through co‑branded credit cards in Canada and the U.S., the Aeroplan eStore for online shopping, hotel and car‑rental partners, and everyday tie‑ins like rideshare and coffee partners in Canada. A quick account link before you spend can turn routine purchases into future trips.

Redeeming your rewards

Aeroplan is powerful because it pairs Air Canada (and Jazz) with the full network and additional partners. Awards on partner airlines price from a published, zone‑and‑distance chart, while Air Canada flights use dynamic pricing; both can be mixed on one ticket. You can add a paid stopover on a one‑way international award for just —a unique way to see two places on one ticket (stopovers aren’t available wholly within Canada/USA). Families can pool balances with Aeroplan Family Sharing, and you can mix Points + Cash to stretch your balance. Upgrades on Air Canada are handled via for elite members, which can be paired with both paid and Aeroplan reward bookings when upgrade space appears.

A quick overview of QK’s fleet

If you’re flying with Jazz (IATA: QK) under the Air Canada Express banner, you’re most likely on one of two workhorses. As of 2025, the airline operates about 64 aircraft split between the De Havilland Dash 8‑400 (Q400) and the Embraer 175 (E175). The balance skews slightly toward the turboprop, with roughly 39 Q400s complemented by about 25 E175s, giving Jazz a nimble mix for Canada’s short- and medium-haul routes. This tightly focused, two‑type fleet keeps operations efficient while covering everything from busy trunk shuttles to thinner regional links.

The most common models and how they’re set up

The Dash 8‑400 is the backbone on short sectors where a turboprop shines. It typically seats 78 passengers in a single‑class, 2‑2 layout, with a small block of extra‑legroom “Preferred” seats up front. You’ll notice it’s quick for a prop—cruising close to regional jet speeds—yet it remains impressively fuel‑thrifty on short hops and into weather‑prone or shorter runways common across Canada. Cabin noise is well damped thanks to active noise and vibration suppression, which is where the “Q” nickname originally came from.

On routes that benefit from a jet, you’ll find the Embraer 175. Jazz’s E175s are arranged for 76 seats in two classes, with a 1‑2 Business Class up front and a 2‑2 Economy cabin behind, so there’s no middle seat anywhere. Many E175s offer Wi‑Fi on board, and the jet’s cabin height and large windows make it feel bigger than its footprint suggests. It’s a comfortable choice for longer regional legs and high‑frequency business markets.

Age at a glance: newest and oldest

Jazz’s fleet is relatively modern, concentrated in aircraft delivered from the early 2010s through the late 2010s. The newest airframes are among the later‑build Dash 8‑400s, while the E175s largely arrived in the mid‑2010s when Jazz assumed all E175 flying for Air Canada Express. The oldest frames in service tend to be early‑2010s examples that have gone through interior refreshes and life‑extension work to keep cabins and reliability up to current standards. This consistent age profile supports dependable scheduling in the challenging climates and long winters the airline regularly faces.

What’s next: orders, retirements, simplification

Meals on Jazz (QK) Flights

How Jazz service works (Air Canada Express)

Jazz (IATA: QK) operates flights on behalf of Air Canada under the Air Canada Express banner, so your meal service follows Air Canada’s onboard standards rather than a separate Jazz menu. What you receive depends on aircraft type (turboprop or regional jet), flight length, route (domestic vs. transborder), time of day, and cabin. In Economy, expect complimentary non‑alcoholic drinks with food available to buy on many longer regional sectors via the Air Canada Bistro. In the forward cabin on select regional jets, Business Class guests are offered a complimentary light meal or snack with a full bar. Policies can evolve, and offerings may be adjusted for operational reasons, so it’s wise to check your specific flight in Manage Booking or the Air Canada app a day or two before departure.

What to expect by flight length and cabin

On very short turboprop hops, service time is limited: crews typically offer water or a quick beverage pass, and there may be no food sales due to the tight schedule. On somewhat longer regional flights, Economy passengers receive complimentary soft drinks, tea, and coffee; when time and aircraft galley allow, the Air Canada Bistro opens with buy‑on‑board snacks and light meals. Think simple, travel‑friendly items—wraps, salads, snack boxes, and sweets—plus a rotating selection tied to the time of day. Payment is cashless, so bring a major credit/debit card or a mobile wallet that works offline.

Business Class is available on select Jazz‑operated regional jets and feels thoughtfully scaled to short‑haul flying. Depending on flight length and departure time, expect a complimentary light meal or a quality snack along with beer, wine, and spirits. Meals are often cold plated on shorter sectors, with an emphasis on fresh components, and service is paced to maximize your time to relax. If your itinerary mixes Jazz and mainline Air Canada segments, note that the size and style of meals may differ between aircraft types.

Special diets and allergy awareness

For vegetarian, vegan, or gluten‑sensitive travelers in Economy, the most reliable approach is to choose suitable items from the Bistro range—many snack boxes and some light meals are labeled for common dietary preferences. That said, galleys are compact and the selection can sell out, so packing a small, sealed snack that meets your needs is sensible. Ingredients and allergens are listed on retail packaging; crew can provide labels on request, but cross‑contamination cannot be ruled out on board. Business Class often has a vegetarian option on applicable flights, but selections are limited and may vary.

What to expect on Jazz‑operated flights

Jazz (IATA: QK) operates regional services as Air Canada Express, so the entertainment you’ll find on board mirrors Air Canada’s setup for regional aircraft. On most Jazz flights, especially the CRJ900 and Embraer 175 jets, entertainment is delivered to your own phone, tablet, or laptop via an onboard streaming portal when available. The Dash 8‑400 turboprops are generally the simplest experience: they typically have no Wi‑Fi and no onboard streaming. Content and availability can differ by aircraft tail and route, and occasional substitutions happen. Availability truly varies by aircraft and route, so consider the guidance below a helpful baseline rather than a promise for every flight.

What you can watch and listen to

When a Wi‑Fi portal is available, you’ll find a rotating library of movies and TV series—usually a mix of recent releases, Canadian favorites, family picks, and short episodes suited to regional flight times. There’s also a moving map, and on many flights you’ll see curated music playlists and podcasts to stream. Much of the library offers English and French options, with closed captions on many titles, which makes it easier to settle in regardless of your preference. Video quality is optimized for inflight streaming, prioritizing smooth playback over ultra‑high resolution. Casual games may appear on some aircraft, but they’re not a guaranteed feature across the Jazz fleet.

How to access on board

Think bring your own device. After takeoff, switch to Airplane Mode, enable Wi‑Fi, and connect to the onboard network; then follow the portal address shown on the seatback card or in the cabin announcement. The entertainment portal usually streams at no extra charge, while full internet access (email, browsing, social apps) requires a paid pass. For the smoothest experience on iPhone/iPad, it’s wise to download the Air Canada app before you fly, as some DRM‑protected videos may open more reliably in the app. If you happen to ride on an aircraft with built‑in screens (uncommon on Jazz), plug in standard 3.5 mm headphones and browse the touchscreen menus as prompted.

Wi‑Fi and connectivity specifics

Paid Wi‑Fi for general internet is available on many CRJ900 and E175 flights but is not universal, and it’s typically not offered on Dash 8‑400 aircraft. Speeds are suitable for messaging, email, and browsing; high‑bandwidth streaming to external services is often restricted or may not perform well. Access usually begins once airborne and ends shortly before landing; pricing and packages vary by route and flight length. Air Canada has periodically offered free inflight messaging for Aeroplan members on Wi‑Fi‑equipped aircraft—look for a banner in the portal to see if it applies on your flight. If you don’t see a network or portal, assume that flight isn’t equipped and enjoy offline entertainment instead.