Westjet's equivalent page is
http://c0dsp.westjet.com/internet/sky/tips/index.jsp#pets.  Don't panic
too much about the carrier size guidelines on those pages, which are
smaller than a standard-size soft-sided carrier (only 9" high!). Most
planes have slightly larger area under the seat than that minimum, and
the soft-sided carrier will squish to fit if it has to.

On both Westjet and Air Canada, the flight attendants were very clear
that we were not allowed to put the carrier on the seat beside us, as
others have suggested, or to open the carrier for any reason.

My cats hated both flights. One meowed nonstop from Ottawa to Hamilton,
and then sporadically again from Hamilton to Saskatoon. (I then learned
how people with crying babies feel; all the cat haters around me were
shooting me nasty looks.) The other cat was quieter, but went
hyperactive and ripped a hole in the mesh of the carrier and in so
doing, tore the end off her nose.

They were youngish at the time, 2 and 3 years old. I've been on many
flights where other people's cats just slept peacefully and awoke at
destination stretching and looking rested; perhaps mine was a worst-case
scenario.

As distressing as Willow's meowing was, I wouldn't hesitate to take her
again if I had to get her somewhere and driving wasn't feasible. She
arrived safely, which was the important thing to me.

My only advice is that if you can afford to spring for the more
expensive soft-sided carriers with rubber (?) mesh instead of nylon, do
so. (Samsonite and Sherpa both have rubber mesh.) The cheaper nylon mesh
carrier I had was less sturdy all-around, with the "board" on the bottom
breaking and the wire eventually poking out. And get the carriers ahead
of time, leaving them out so the cats will sleep in them now ahead of
time and think of them as a familiar comfortable place by the time of
the actual flight.

Let us know how your trip goes!

Pamela
(with Celeste, Willow, and Teddy)

Yes, do NOT put the cat in the cargo hold.
Gail