In the mood for a vacation, or finding yourself suddenly called out on the road for work? You’ll be happy to find that traveling with pets (including flying with dogs, cats, and other household animals) is simpler than you think. For example: Pets can get on flights a number of ways, e.g. by being carried on, checked in cargo, registered as an Emotional Support Animal (ESA), or boarding as a service animal. But every airline and route come with different policies and procedures. Below are rules and regulations for traveling with your pet on major US-based airlines – consider it a handy cheat sheet on how to fly with dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, and other household companions.
| Name | Description |
| Alaska | Carry-on: Alaska keeps it pretty simple regarding their carry-on and cargo pet policies. It’s a flat fee of $100 each way, and as is the case with most airlines, pets that are being carried on must fit entirely in the container that they’re being carried in. There’s a limit to how many pets can be in each cabin of the plane, so make sure to let the airline know as soon as your plans are finalized. The only pets allowed as carry-ons include dogs, cats, rabbits and household birds. Cargo: Alaska accepts most small-domesticated pets (cats, dogs, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, household birds, non-poisonous reptiles, pot-bellied pigs, rabbits, and tropical fish), and other pets may be accepted with approval. Brachycephalic or “short-nosed” dogs and cats are not allowed (think: French Bulldogs). ESA: The airline recently updated its ESA policy and still welcomes trained pets onboard for free. Guests traveling with an ESA must present proper documentation including signed documents from a doctor or mental health professional. Alaska does not allow certain types of animals as ESAs including amphibians, hedgehogs, ferrets, insects and more. The updated policy does not apply to Alaska’s policy for traditional service animals. Service: Service animals travel for free with proper documentation. They must sit under your legs and may not sit in a seat or block the aisle. Guests traveling with service animals may not sit in an emergency exit row. |
| American | Carry-on: You can only travel with cats and dogs on American and your pet must remain in its kennel the entirety of the flight. Pets can travel within and between the US, Canada, Mexico, Central America and other countries based on their entry policy. The fee to carry your pet is $125 per kennel each way. Cargo: Per American, pets traveling in the cargo, or checked, cannot travel on A321, A321S, A321H, A320, A319 aircraft. Short-nose dog and cat breeds are not allowed as checked pets and pets must be at least eight weeks old. The fee to check a pet on American is $200 per pet. ESA: American, for the most part, only accepts cats and dogs as ESAs. To travel with an ESA on American, you must provide three forms of documentation: A mental health professional form, behavior guidelines, and an animal sanitation form if your flight is over eight hours. You must contact the special assistance desk more than 48 hours before departure if you’re planning on flying with your ESA. Service: According to American, “trained service animals have been specifically trained to perform life functions for individuals with disabilities.” This includes visual impairments, deafness, seizures, and mobility impairments. Proper documentation is required, as well as contacting the airline at least 48 hours before departure. |
| Delta | Carry-on: Dogs, cats, and household birds can travel with you in the cabin for a one-way fee of $125 (prices differ per international locations). There are a number of locations (including Hawaii) where pets are not allowed in the cabin at all. Your pet must be at least ten weeks old and must fit in a kennel that fits below the seat. Cargo: Delta accepts all species of live animals, with few restrictions. Animals are not allowed in the cargo of Boeing 767 and Airbus 330 (series 200) aircraft. Rates for animals traveling in cargo depend on route and species of the animal. ESA: Before flying with an ESA, the proper documentation and forms must be filled out and filed with Delta before departure. The animal must travel on the floor. Recently, the airline updated its ESA policy to prohibit “pit bull type dogs” from acting as ESAs. Service: Passengers traveling with service animals must submit proper identification before their flight. |
| Frontier | Carry-on: For a fee of $75 each way, Frontier allows dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, and small household birds, and only dogs and cats are allowed on international flights. The pet must remain in its container for the duration of the flight, and it must fit under the seat in front of you. Proper documentation is required. Cargo: Frontier does not allow pets as cargo or checked as baggage. ESA: Proper documentation is needed to prove your pet is an ESA on Frontier. The animal must fit under your seat and the airline does not accept “unusual exotic animals” including rodents, reptiles, insects, rabbits and more. Service: Frontier accepts service animals as long as you have proper documentation and your pet is wearing the necessary service gear. Service animals must sit on the floor in front of you and not block aisles. |
| JetBlue | Carry-on: JetBlue has an exclusive program called JetPaws, which is designed to give pet owners all the information they need for flying with their furry friends. There’s a $100 fee for each leg of the journey and animals must fit in a regulation-sized kennel that will fit under the seat in front of you. Only small cats and dogs are allowed on JetBlue flights. Cargo: JetBlue does not ship pets in cargo or as checked baggage. ESA: In a recent update to its policy, JetBlue only allows dogs, cats, and miniature horses as ESAs. Proper documentation needs to be submitted prior to departure and the animal must sit on the floor in front of you. Service: JetBlue allows service animals that have been trained to perform a specific task that assists the customer traveling. JetBlue only allows dogs, cats, and miniature horses as service animals. Proper documentation needs to be submitted prior to departure. |
| Southwest | Carry-on: Southwest allows passengers to carry small cats and dogs on domestic flights only. Pets must fit in a regulation-sized carrier, and must fit in the seat in front of you. There’s a $95 fee for each leg of your journey. Cargo: Southwest only accepts pets in-cabin; they will not accept any pets in the cargo bin. ESA: ESAs are allowed on domestic and international flights with proper documentation. Beginning September 18, 2018, Southwest will only accept fully trained ESAs as trained service animals. Service: Service pets are allowed on domestic and international flights with proper documentation. Beginning September 18, 2018, Southwest will only accept cats, dogs, and miniature horses as service animals. |
| Spirit | Carry-on: Spirit allows cats, dogs and small household birds on all domestic flights. The airline charges $110 per pet each way. Pets must fit in a regulation-sized carrier and must fit in the seat in front of you. Cargo: Spirit does not transport pets in cargo at any time. ESA: ESAs are allowed on Spirit provided you have current and proper documentation. Your pet must sit on the floor and not block aisle access. Service: Service pets are allowed on all Spirit flights, both domestic and international. Proper documentation is required. Your pet must sit on the floor and not block aisle access. |
| United | Carry-on: United recently updated its in-cabin pet policy to ensure that all passengers travel with a pet receive a “brightly colored yellow bag tag to attach to their pet’s kennel.” United allows dogs, cats, rabbits and household birds (excluding cockatoos) to travel as a carry-on for a fee of $125 for each leg of the trip. Pets must remain in a regulation-sized kennel and below the seat in front of you. Rules for international in-cabin pets vary, but are not allowed to Australia, Hawaii, New Zealand as well as other countries. Cargo: United only allows cats and dogs in the cargo of the plane, and no short-nosed cats and dogs. United dubbed this featured “PetSafe” and charges $125 for each leg of the journey. ESA: The airline recently amended its policy for service pets and ESAs, which requires passengers to provide additional documentation. Your pet must sit on the floor and not block aisle access. Service: Trained service pets are permitted for passengers with disabilities including visual impairments, deafness, seizures, and mobility limitations. Your pet must sit on the floor and not block aisle access. Additional documentation may be required per the updated policy. |
CHEAT SHEET
For more on traveling with pets such as cats, dogs, rabbits, and more, check out these articles:
Jeffrey is an NYC-based writer who recently completed his MFA program in Creative Writing at The New School. He has written for many publications, focusing mostly on lifestyle, travel, and food.
Leave a Reply