Every major airline’s pet policy at your fingertips
The ins and outs of surviving a flight with your dog (and your sanity).
Traveling can be one great big headache, period. From the time you start frantically packing to the mad dash to your almost-done-boarding gate, there are already enough stressors at an airline before you factor in your dog.
For when you’d rather take your dog along for the adventure, here’s everything you need to prepare to get through a flight with your dog — and your own sanity.
Check your airline’s dog policy before booking your tickets.
Every major airline has different pet policies, though most allow a certain number of dogs to travel in the cabin space. Usually this is first come, first serve. It’s typically a pain to hunt down these pet policies amongst a maze of webpages, so we’ve done the work for you below.
Delta Airlines
Dog-Friendly? Yes.
Requirements:
Must fit in a small, ventilated, leak-proof pet carrier (max 18” x 11” x 11”) that fits under the seat in front of you.
Must be at least 10 weeks old for domestic travel or 16 weeks old for international travel.
Pets in cabin kennels will count as your one carry-on item.
Costs: $125 for domestic flights, $200 for international flights.
Good-to-Knows:
Certain destinations do not permit dogs in the cabin. See here for a list of travel restrictions based on destination.
Pets are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Call 800-221-1212 in advance to claim a spot.
United Airlines
Dog-Friendly? Yes (ish).
Requirements:
Must fit in a travel carrier (17.5” x 12” x 7.5” for hard-sided carriers, 18” x 11” x11” for soft-sided) that fits under the seat in front of you.
Must be at least 2 months old for domestic travel or 4 months old for international travel.
If your pet doesn’t fit in a kennel, they’ll need to travel via United’s PetSafe program.
Costs: An extra plane ticket for your pet, plus $125 each way.
Good-to-Knows:
Check in with United when you arrive at the airport for a bright yellow bag tag to attach to your pet’s kennel.
American Airlines
Dog-Friendly? Yes, on most flights up to 12 hours long.
Requirements:
Must fit in a travel carrier that fits under the seat in front of you. Combined weight of the carrier and your pet cannot exceed 20 pounds.
AA only accepts checked pets for active-duty military or State Department personnel.
Costs: $125 per kennel (within or between the US, Canada, Mexico, Central American, and the Caribbean)
Good-to-Knows:
AA can only accept 7 kennels per American flight, so contact Reservations in advance to claim your spot.
JetBlue Airlines
Dog-Friendly? Yes.
Requirements:
Must fit in an FAA-approved pet carrier (17” x 12.5” x 8.5”) that fits under the seat in front of you. Combined weight of the carrier and your pet cannot exceed 20 pounds.
This counts as your one personal item.
Only one pet per customer allowed.
Must present ID tags and pet license at check-in.
Costs: $125 each way per pet carrier.
Good-to-Knows:
Highly recommended that you choose a window or aisle seat.
If you buy an extra ticket for your pet, you can place the carrier in the seat during flight.
Up to 6 pets per flight allowed.
Southwest Airlines
Dog-Friendly? Yes, domestic flights only.
Requirements:
Must fit in a pet carrier (18.5” x 8.5” x 13.5”) that fits under the seat in front of you. Only one carrier per customer allowed.
Each carrier may fit two cats or dogs but must be of the same species per carrier.
Must be at least 8 weeks old to travel.
Costs: $95 each way per pet carrier.
Good-to-Knows:
Up to 6 pets per flight allowed, first-come first-serve.
No pets allowed in-cabin on international flights or stops.
Alaska Airlines
Dog-Friendly? Yes.
Requirements:
Must fit in a carrier (17” x 11” x 7.5” hard-sided, 17” x 11” x 9.5” soft-sided) that fits under the seat in front of you.
This counts as either your personal or carry-on item.
Must be at least 8 weeks old and fully weaned.
Maximum of 2 pet carriers per customer, only if you buy the seat next to you for the second carrier.
Costs: $100 each way per carrier.
Good-to-Know:
In-cabin pet space is subject to availability. Call 1-800-252-7522 in advance to claim your spot and assess fee types.
Pack accordingly.
“It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how much difference good prep can make,” says flight attendant Julianne B. For when your dog gets a case of the flying jitters, be sure to pack your carry-on with extras of their favorite snacks, a pillow for their carrier, and a blanket or silent toy that reminds them of home or has your smell.
Burn some energy before and after the flight.
Generally, we know dogs don’t like being cooped up for long. That’s why many airlines have dog release stations where you can let them run around. If your airport has one, take your dog before you board and immediately after you arrive to let them spend all that energy.
Constantly reassure your dog that you’re there.
On most flights, you’re required to keep your dog carrier stowed under the seat in front of you for the entire flight. This can be claustrophobic or anxiety-inducing for your dog, so make sure they know you’re still there. Keep your foot close to their carrier, or give them water every so often. “In most cases I see, a little love and attention tends to calm them right away,” says Julianne.
Manage your own travel anxiety.
It’s easier said than done, we know. But dogs mirror their owner’s behaviors and emotional tendencies. Showing your dog that you’re okay is usually all it takes to keep them okay, especially when you’re both in an unfamiliar place.
And after you make it through all that, it’s smooth sailing and happy travels to you both. 🙂