A British Columbia family's holiday travel plans were abruptly derailed when Flair Airlines prevented them from boarding a flight because they were travelling with their infant daughter and two small dogs, citing a previously unpublicized internal policy.
Gate Shock: "Choose Between Our Dog and Our Baby"
Ryan Coulson, an app developer, and Rebecca Bordeiasu, a teacher from Langley, B.C., had meticulously booked their trip to Toronto for December 12 back on November 3. Their itinerary, reviewed by National Post, clearly listed two adults, one infant, and two pets in the cabin. The couple packed up their 10-month-old daughter and their two chihuahua mixes and headed to Abbotsford Airport.
However, upon arriving at the gate, they were informed they could not board. "We were told, without warning, that Flair had implemented a new internal policy on November 20 stating that a passenger cannot fly with both a dog and an infant," Coulson explained. The family received no notification of this change prior to their travel day.
Bordeiasu recounted the stressful moment with a touch of dark humour: "The lady was almost trying to make us choose between our dog and our baby."
Conflicting Claims: Airline Policy vs. Government Rules
The couple's frustration was compounded by the fact that Flair's website, at the time of their booking and even at the time of their denied boarding, allowed passengers to complete a booking for both an infant and a pet. The rule was not found in the airline's published policies, domestic tariff, or pet-travel webpage.
Following the incident, Flair updated its pet-travel page on December 17. The new wording states: "Each adult may travel with either one infant or one pet. Transport Canada regulations require that if an infant and a pet are travelling together, each must be accompanied by a separate adult."
A Flair spokesperson confirmed the website update was for clarity but insisted the policy itself was longstanding and derived from "Transport Canada approved manuals for this aircraft type."
This claim was directly contradicted by Transport Canada. A federal spokesperson told National Post, "There are no Transport Canada requirements related to passengers travelling with both infants and pets." The agency clarified that individual airlines may set their own restrictions and advised travellers to contact their carrier in advance.
Resolution and Lingering Questions
Stranded at the airport, Coulson and Bordeiasu had to scramble for new arrangements. They ended up booking last-minute tickets with Air Canada, which accommodated their entire family—two adults, one infant, and two in-cabin pets—without issue.
The incident raises significant questions about airline transparency and consumer communication. As of a test on December 19, Flair's own website chatbot incorrectly stated, "Yes, you can bring an infant and a dog on the flight with you, but they must meet certain requirements," highlighting a clear disconnect between different customer-facing information channels.
For now, the B.C. family's holiday trip proceeded, but at an unexpected extra cost and stress, serving as a cautionary tale for other Canadian families planning to travel with young children and pets during the busy holiday season.
