Everything You Need to Know About Airline Pet Policies

Pet Care
Airline Pet Policies

If you ever choose to fly with your pet, whether for business or pleasure, there are some things to keep in mind when traveling by plane! If air travel is possible with the airline of your choice, check out the pet policies for your airline. Remember: always plan and do your research!

When choosing an airline, it is important to choose one that serves the entire route so you can avoid any hassle when transferring planes.

There are three different ways your pet can travel by plane:

  1. In-Cabin: The pet travels with you under the seat with an approved carrier for safe air travel.
  2. Cargo: If the pet is not permitted in the cabin, it will be checked in cargo hold.
  3. Manifest Cargo: If you pet is flying solo or is too large, the pet will travel in cargo hold.

Here are the pet policies for 10 of the top airlines in North America:

Airline Pet Policies1. American Airlines

In-Cabin:

  • Small dogs or cats only!
  • No puppies or kittens: Pets must be 8 weeks old to travel in the cabin.
  • There is a pet charge of $125 per kennel and your pet kennel counts as carry on luggage.
  • Only one pet per passenger!
  • No health certificate required
  • If you plan to fly to Hawaii, The Caribbean, South America or any other international locations there may be some restrictions. Make sure to contact American Airlines to learn more!
  • Make sure you have an approved pet carrier with a waterproof bottom, enough space for your pet to turn around in, and adequate ventilation.

Checked Baggage:

  • Checked pet: $200 per kennel
  • Only larger dogs and cats are permitted as checked baggage (no birds allowed)!
  • Pets are only allowed on flights 12 hours or less when flying via cargo.
  • Health Certificate needed (Must receive the certificate within 10 days of travel)
  • Pitbulls ,Pugs, Pekingese and some other breeds may not be allowed to travel with American Airlines for safety reasons.
  • Temperature restrictions apply when it is too cold or too hot for your pet to fly.

2. United Airlines

In-Cabin:

  • Make sure you have an approved hard-sided or soft-sided kennel for your pet carrier.
  • Only cats, dogs, rabbits and household birds (excluding cockatoos) are permitted in the cabin.
  • Pet charge of $125 per kennel per pet kennel, $125 charge for each layover of more than four hours within the U.S.
  • Pets traveling to, from or through Australia, Hawaii or Micronesia (including Guam) are not permitted.
  • Make sure you check your flight, the pet in-cabin policy applies to flights operated by United and United Express only.
  • Pets traveling in-cabin must be 8 weeks old and over 1 pound.
  • Pets require proof of current rabies vaccination.

Check baggage:

  • The weight of the pet and carrier must not exceed 75 pounds or pet must travel via United Cargo.
  • Pets traveling to the UK, Hawaii or Australia must do so as manifest cargo.
  • Bulldogs older than 6 months are not allowed to travel with United Cargo.
  • Health certificate needed including rabies vaccinations (must receive the certificate within 10 days of travel).
  • American Bully, American Staffordshire Terrier and some other breeds will have to travel in reinforced crates for safety concerns.
  • Travel between September 16 and May 14 are restricted due to temperature.

Airline Pet Policies3. SouthWest

In-Cabin:

  • Small cats and small dogs only .
  • Must be in an appropriate carrier with no more than 2 pets per carrier.
  • Subject to a $95 nonrefundable pet fare each way.
  • Pets are not allowed to travel in cabin on any international flights.
  • Pets must be 8 weeks of age or older to travel and must remain in their carrier.

Checked Baggage:

  • Southwest does not permit checking pets as baggage.

4. Delta

In-Cabin:

  • Dogs, cats and household birds only!
  • Pets must be at least 10 weeks old to travel in the cabin.
  • One-way pet fee of $125 per kennel.
  • Make sure you’re in the right class! Pets are not permitted in first or business class.
  • If traveling to or from South Africa, Hong Kong or any other international locations restrictions apply and pets travel as cargo.

Check Bagged:

  • As of March 1, 2016 Delta will no longer allow pets to travel as checked baggage unless they are emotional support animals or are traveling with U.S. Military/their family members.
  • You will be able to ship your pet via Delta Cargo. For more information, visit their website.

5. JetBlue

In-cabin:

  • Small dogs and cats only!
  • Maximum combined weight pet + carrier: 20 lbs.
  • Health certificates are required for international flights.
  • Only one pet per customer!
  • Pet fee of $100 each way per kennel.
  • Flights on JetBlue to Jamaica, Barbados, St Lucia and some other international flight may be restricted.

Check Bagged:

  • JetBlue Airlines does not fly pets as checked baggage.

Airline Pet Policies6. Alaska

In-cabin:

  • Dogs, cats, rabbits, and household birds only!
  • Pets must be least 8 weeks old to travel.
  • Pet fee of $100 each way per kennel.
  • Health Certificate needed (Must receive the certificate within 10 days of travel)
  • First class accommodations available, one pet carrier per flight

Check Baggage:

  • If you’re traveling November 25 – December 3 and/or December 13 – January, there may be restriction on some flights. Make sure you research ahead of time!
  • Pet charge: $100 per pet, each way.
  • Pets are unable to fly if temperatures are above 85° or below 40°.
  • American Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terrier and some other breeds are restricted to fly for safety reasons.
  • Pets must be at least 8 weeks old to travel.
  • Short nose dogs/cats are not accepted for travel for health reasons.

7. Frontier

In-Cabin:

  • Small dog and cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, and small household birds are permitted.
  • One pet carry-on per person.
  • Pet fee of $75 one way per kennel.
  • Health certificate required on international flights.
  • Pet carrier must be large enough for the pet to stand, turn around.

Check Baggage:

  • Frontier Airlines does not transport dogs, cats or other animals in the cargo as checked baggage or cargo.

8. Virgin America

In-cabin:

  • Make sure the maximum combined weight pet + carrier is under 20 lbs!
  • Pets must be least 8 weeks old to travel.
  • Small cats and dogs only!
  • Strongly recommended: soft sided case is used as pet carrier.
  • Pet fee of $100 each way per kennel.

Checked Baggage:

  • Virgin American Airlines does not fly pets as checked baggage or Cargo.

9. Hawaiian

In-Cabin:

  • Small cats or dogs only!
  • Small cats and dogs are allowed to travel on Hawaiian Airlines inter-island and flights leaving Hawaii.
  • Hawaiian Airlines will not accept pets in the cabin on flights to Hawaii for safety reasons.

Check Baggage:

  • Make sure the maximum combined weight pet + carrier: 70 lbs!
  • Pets are unable to fly if temperatures are above 84° or below 45°. Check the weather before you leave!

10. Air Canada

In-Cabin:

  • Small dogs or cats only!
  • Maximum combined weight pet + carrier: 22 lbs!
  • Pet fee: $50 or $100 per direction, based on itinerary per kennel.
  • Pets can travel on flights operated by Air Canada or Air Canada rouge.
  • You must arrive a full 30 minutes prior to the recommended check-in time for your flight
  • Pets must be at least 12 weeks old to travel.
  • Pets traveling to Australia, Barbados, Hawaii, or other international locations may have restrictions.

Checked Baggage:

  • Pet fee of $105 one way per kennel.
  • Flights to/from Hawaii: pets are not accepted in the cabin or the baggage compartment.
  • Only two pets as checked baggage.
  • Check your flight dates! June 20 – September 10 may have restrictions for checked baggage due to high temperatures.
  • Short nose dogs/cats are not accepted for travel for health reasons.
  • Temperature restrictions apply when it is too cold or too hot for your pet to fly.
  • Pets are not permitted to fly as checked baggage to Australia, Barbados, Hawaii, Hong Kong and other international locations.
  • American Bully, American Staffordshire Terrier and some other breeds will have to travel in reinforced crates for safety concerns.

It is better to be safe than sorry when traveling with your pets, so make sure you have the necessary information when traveling with your pet. Remember: It is important to choose the best method for you and your pet to reach your destinations.

Have you ever traveled by plane with a your pet before? How did it go? Leave us a comment and let us know!