Airline Travel With Pets

A few things that all of the airlines have in common include:

• Service or security animals are always allowed, no additional fee or charge.
• Other than service animals, bringing a pet into the cabin will count towards your carry-on baggage allowance even when paying a fee.
• Almost all carriers that allow pets in checked baggage have seasonal, temperature, and dog/cat breed (short-nosed) restrictions.
• Dogs and cats must be older than 8 weeks, and fully weaned.

The following chart includes information, by carrier, about fees and some other basic information. Below the chart we list some additional information specific to each airline and we include links to their websites for more detailed information. Costs listed are one way.

Airline	Type of Pets Allowed	Cost
		In Cabin	As Checked Baggage
	Cats, dogs and household birds	$85 (Will increase to $100, effective 5/5/08)	$100 (small/medium kennel) / $200 (intermediate/large)
	Cats and dogs	$80	$100
	Cats, dogs, birds, ferrets, rabbits, hamsters and gunea pigs	$100	$200
	Cats, dogs and birds	$80	Not accepted
	Cats, dogs and birds	$80	$139-$359 (kennel size)
	No pets allowed except service/security animals	n/a	n/a
	Cats, Dogs, birds and rabbits	$95	Not accepted
	Cats, dogs and birds	$65	Not accepted
	Cats, dogs, rabbits and tropical fish	$75	$100
	Cats, dogs, rabbits, ferrets, hamsters and guinea pigs (ferrets not permitted on flights to CA)	$100	$100
	Cats and dogs	$50	Not accepted
	Cats and dogs	$75	Not accepted

Below, we've listed some requirements that each of the carriers specifically imposes. We've also included a link to their website pages regarding pet travel, for more detailed information.

United Airlines: does not allow in-cabin pets to Hawaii; requires a health certificate; and has seasonal/temperature restrictions.
Click here to go to United's pet travel website pages.

American Airlines: only allows a maximum of 5 pets in coach, 2 in first class per flight, (2 on AA Eagle flights, not accepted as checked baggage); does not allow in-cabin pets to Hawaii; allows to pets per kennel if 8 weeks – 6 months old, same species, and under 20 lbs. Each; does not accept pets on flights over 12 hours in duration.
Click here to go to American's pet travel website pages.

Delta Airlines: only allows 1 pet in first class, 1 pet in business class, 2 pets in the coach cabin per flight; 1 pet in a carry-on kennel only.
Click here to go to Delta's pet travel website pages.

U.S. Airways: only one pet per person; not accepted as checked baggage except in BOS/DCA/LGA markets.
Click here to go to U.S. Airways' pet travel website pages.

Northwest Airlines: health certificate is NOT required; restricted from certain types of aircraft; 2 pets allowed in one kennel if 3-6 months old and maximum weight is 15 lbs. including kennel; 2 pets in first class, 4 in the coach cabin (Airlink flights 2 first class, 2 coach), checked baggage rates are $139/$169/$199/$229/$299/$359 depending on size of kennel.
Click here to go to Northwest's pet travel website pages.

Continental Airlines: one pet per passenger; 1 pet in first class, 4 in coach cabin per flight; not accepted in business or first class on 757 / 767 / 777 aircraft; has a special cargo department dedicated to pet travel.
Click here to go to Continental's pet travel website pages.

AirTran Airways: allows 3 in-cabin pets per flight.
Click here to go to AirTran's pet travel website pages.

Alaska / Horizen Airlines: maximum combined weight of pet and kennel is 149 lbs.; accompanying passenger must be at least 18 years of age; 1 pet in first class, 5 in coach cabin per flight; passenger may take up to two kennels in cabin if also purchasing a second seat; health certificate required.
Click here to go to Alaska/Horizen's pet travel website pages.

Frontier Airlines: 2 kennels per cabin per flight; 1 pet per passenger; 1 pet per kennel (unless same species, 8 weeks – 6 months old, less than 20 lbs. each); very specific seasonal requirements; temperature requirements unless approved by veterinarian; health certificate required.
Click here to go to Frontier's pet travel website pages.

Virgin America: 1 pet per kennel unless under 6 months old and total weight of pets and kennel is less than 20 lbs.
Click here to go to Virgin America's pet travel website pages.

JetBlue Airlines: 1 pet per kennel, 4 kennels per flight (3 booked through reservations, 1 held for airport booking); pet and kennel must weigh less than 20 lbs.; no pet remains allowed.
Click here to go to jetBlue's pet travel website pages.

Email to a Friend