We know that traveling by air with your dog or cat can be stressful. With the pages and pages of restrictions each individual airline may have, it's hard to decide which airline to take.
We've researched the regulations of four major domestic airlines in the US to provide you this in-depth guide summarizing what you need to know for pet travel with each of these airlines.
Below are the general policies, regulations, and restrictions that American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines have for pet travel.
You can also check out our general guide to air travel with your dog, and our collection of airline-approved dog crates (IATA CR-82 compliant crates).
This guide contains general regulations for each airline. Nonetheless, before you travel, we still absolutely recommend you always contact the airline and check their website for their detailed pet travel regulations. These regulations may change and they may be different depending on your destination or departure airport.
If you are travelling internationally, please always remember to check that the destination country (and specific airports) allow pet travel. Some countries only allow pets to travel by checked baggage or cargo transport, which is a dealbreaker for some pet parents. Some locations also require specific health certificates and may even require a quarantine period.
An important reminder: even licensed service animals may be prohibited in some destinations. Additionally, remember that support animal certificates may not be recognized everywhere.
So, for avoidance of doubt, always be sure to check your destination's regulations!
American Airlines allows you to travel with dogs and cats as carry-on in cabin or they can be checked-in as well. There are a couple of breed restrictions we will get to later, but in general you can travel with your pet on flights less than 12 hours long. This includes flights to:
This 12 hours also includes the amount of time customs at the arriving city will take.
You may bring 1 kennel as your carry-on bag, as long as your pet meets these requirements:
The carry-on kennel you use must allow your pet to stand, turn around, and lie down. Non-collapsible kennels cannot exceed 19" x 13" x 9".
Kennels that are soft-sided and collapsible can be larger than 19" x 13" x 9", but they still need to be able to fit under the seat in front of you. Make sure they are secure enough, include padding, and are made from water-resistant or repelling material with nylon mesh ventilation on 2 sides or more.
However, you should contact American Airlines Reservations well in advance as they can only accept 7 kennels total on each American flight (excluding service animals) and 5 kennels on American Eagle flights. Make sure your pet gets a spot!
In First or Business class on an A321T jet specifically, the weight of the carrier and pet combined cannot exceed 20 lbs and will be weighed at check-in. Pets will need to be secured in their kennels and need to be stored in a compartment at the front of the plane during taxi, take-off, landing, and turbulence.
American Airlines allows up to 2 checked pets that are at least 8 weeks old per passenger. Capacity is limited, so they do this is on a first-come-first-served basis.
American Airlines will allow kennels in checked baggage up to 40" x 27" x 30" in size. Please make sure there is enough room for your pet to stand, turn, sit, and lie down in a natural position.
The largest acceptable kennel is a 500 series sized kennel. However, this size is not accepted on any flights flying a Boeing 737, MD-80 (S80), or American Eagle airplanes. Kennels checked on an MD-80 need to be able to fit through the cargo door while in an upright position.
You can find airline-aproved crates that fit these requirements right here at Pet Pro Supply Co.
You'll need to provide certification that your pet has been fed and offered water within 4 hours before delivery to the aircraft. This certification must also be security and visibly attached to the outside of the kennel and must be signed and dated with the time of day.
A feeding and watering instruction must be provided for a 24 hour period as well, unless otherwise specified by a veterinarian. American Airlines will not accept "no food or water" as instructions.
Due to respiratory and cardiovascular problems from high altitude pressures, sedatives or tranquilizers are not usually permitted by the airline. If your pet is sedated, you'll need to provide the name of the medication and the amount and date/time it was taken to an agent at check in.
Breed Restrictions for Checked pets:
American Airlines will not accept brachycephalic or snub-nosed breeds of any kind as checked luggage.
This includes these dog breeds:
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It also includes these cat breeds:
American Airlines will not allow pets to travel on A321, A321S, A321H, A320, A319 aircrafts as checked baggage
Checked pets will only be allowed on connecting flights through these cities:
If you’re connecting between American and another airline, you’ll need to claim your pet and recheck them with the other carrier. Note that this may mean paying fees with the other carrier(s)!
You can pay for the pet transport charges at the airport or at the time of booking. Please note that American Airlines does not collect charges for other operating or partnering airlines on your itinerary (this includes partnering airlines with AA flight numbers!). You'll need to pay for partnering airline(s) fees separately. Make sure to check-in with each airline and pay the charge for each at check-in.
The charges for American Airlines are below:
| Service | Charge* |
|---|---|
| Checked pet | $200 per kennel $150 to/from Brazil |
| Carry-on pet | $125 per kennel |
| Service animals | No charge |
*These charges may be different for international flights, depending on the arriving destination and country. Please contact American Airlines directly for specific fees for your travel plans
Destination:
American Airlines will allow dogs to travel in the Continental United States as long as they meet government regulations on vaccinations.
For travel to Hawaii, pets are not allowed to travel in-cabin. Carry-on pets are prohibited to and from Hawaii. Checked pets can travel to Hawaii with you if you connect via Honolulu and follow the state's quarantine rules. Pets must also not be pregnant past 45 days of gestation.
Please contact American Airlines for specific regulations for international flights and check the regulations of destination countries for pet travel.
Temperature:
For the safety of your pets, they cannot travel with you if any locations in your itinerary are too hot or too cold. Heat restrictions includes destinations with current or forecasted temperatures above 85 F (29.4 C). Cold restrictions include ground temperatures below 45 F (7.2 C). Cold restrictions may be waived with a written letter from your veterinarian.
American Airlines can also transport pets via American Airlines Cargo. For certain situations, breed sizes, or destinations, this may be your best option. Please see American Airlines Cargo's site for more information:
American Airlines Cargo - Transporting Animals
Delta allows you to travel with you in their cabin as carry-on, but no longer allows pet travel in checked baggage (except for US Military Personnel and foreign service officers). Delta Airlines still allows you to transport your pet through Delta Cargo. Please call Delta in advance to arrange bringing your pet with you in-cabin. Delta generally allows pet travel in cabin to these destinations (with some restrictions):
As with any airline, Delta will not allow pet travel if the country or destination's regulations prohibit pet travel and will adhere with whatever regulations they require. For example, Delta specifically prohibits cabin pet travel to South Africa, Hong Kong, and the United kingdom (with the exception of service animals). Pet travel through Delta to these countries must be done through cargo; pets are not allowed in the cabin.
Delta Airlines allows you to travel with a pet in a kennel in-cabin and they consider your pet and kennel as one of your pieces of carry-on luggage. Make sure you pack and plan accordingly!
Your pet must meet these requirements:
Delta limits the number of pets total on a flight and accepts pets on a first come first serve basis. Only 4 pets total are allowed in the main cabin of any flight. 2 pets total in first class. However, no pets are allowed in the first class, business class, or Delta One cabins of any international flight.
Kennel Requirements for Delta In-cabin Travel:
Kennels can be made of soft or hard material, but must be leakproof and ventilated on at least 2 sides with a secure door. The maximum carry-on kennel size is dependent on the aircraft. Please check with Delta to see what size kennels are allowed on your specific flight and can fit in under the seat in front of you. The kennel must also have enough space for your pet to fit comfortably and move around without touching or protruding out from the sides.
Delta in Cabin pet restrictions:
Delta will not allow pet travel in-cabin to Hawaii as the state requires all live animals travelling by air to be shipped.
Delta also no longer accepts warm-blooded animals on flights with an average flight time of more than 12 hours.
Other countries and destinations to which Delta will not permit in-cabin air travel:
Note: this list does not include all countries that do not permit in-cabin travel. Additional countries may have regulations that do not permit in-cabin pet travel.
Delta Airlines only allows US Military Personnel and foreign service officers to transport pets as checked baggage. These pets must comply with any federal regulations and have the proper documentations and follow any required procedures. Pets must be booked at least 48 hours before departure.
Delta will not allow pets to travel on any flight with an average flight time greater than 12 hours.
Delta allows military personnel two kennels per flight with restrictions on the breeds of cats and dogs allowed. The pets must also have the appropriate health certificates signed by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of departure.
Please make sure to offer dogs food and water within 4 hours of check-in. You will be asked to complete and sign a live animal checklist that includes this. On the checklist you will also need to provide feeding and watering instructions for a 24-hour period and provide the appropriate amount of food.
Checked pets Kennel Requirements:
The kennel used must provide enough room for the pet to stand and sit up comfortably without touching the top of the container. They must also be able to turn around and lie down in a natural position. The kennel must also be able to be loaded upright. Additional kennel requirements:
Delta allows kennel sizes up to a 700 series size, but 500 series and 700 series are not permitted on certain aircrafts. Please check with Delta to ensure the aircraft will allow your kennel size.
Check out Pet Pro Supply Co.'s collection of airline-aproved crates that fit these requirements.
Delta Checked Pets Breed Restrictions:
Delta will not permit snub-nosed or pug-nosed dogs or cats in their checked baggage transportation. These breeds include, but are not limited to:
Dogs:
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Cats:
Delta also allows you to transport pets via Delta Cargo. Certain breeds from their checked baggage restricted breeds may be allowed to travel via cargo, please contact Delta to see what breeds may be permitted.
Please note that pets shipped by Delta cargo cannot be booked until 14 days prior to departure date. Pets are also not guaranteed to be shipped on a customer's same flight or schedule and you will need to pick up your pet at a Delta Cargo location. For international pet cargo transport, Delta only accepts bookings from a known pet shipper that is approved by IATA (International Animal Transportation Association).
You can contact Delta Cargo to find out more about transporting and booking travel for your pet.
Carry-On pet transport:
Delta charges a one-way fee for in-cabin pet travel
| Region(s) of Travel | One-way Fee |
| US/Canda | $125 |
| Virgin Islands | $200 |
| Puerto Rico | $125 |
| Outside the US | $200 |
| Brazil | $75 |
Checked-in Baggage Transport:
| Region(s) of Travel | One-way Fee |
| US/Virgin Islands/Puerto Rico | $200 |
| International/Canada/Caribbean | $200 |
| Brazil | $200 |
Cargo Transport:
Please contact Delta Cargo to find the specific cost for booking your pet for transport to your specific destination
Delta no longer permits pets to travel on flights with an average flight time greater than 12 hours. This includes Delta and Delta Cargo flights
Temperature restrictions:
Delta does not accept animals as checked baggage during extreme whether, so if the weather forecast at any point of travel for your flight is below 10 F (-12C) or above 85 F (29.4 C) Delta will not allow the animal to travel on that flight.
During Summer months (May 15 to September 15), pets cannot travel by checked baggage on Delta flights.
During Winter months November 1 to March 31, animals may not fly as checked baggage on flights operated between Sun Valley, ID, Twin Falls, ID, or Jackson Hole, WY.
Aircraft Restrictions:
Pets are not allowed in the First Class, Delta One, and Business Class cabins of any international flight.
Animals will not be permitted to travel as checked baggage or cargo on 767 or Airbus 330-200 aircraft flights.
Out of the major domestic airlines, Southwest Airlines has some of the most straightforward pet travel regulations. They only allow pets to travel with you in cabin. No pets can be transported in checked baggage and they do not offer any form of cargo transportation for pets. Pets are not permitted to travel on any international flights or any itinerary that includes an international flight.
The one exception to the international flight restriction is service and support animals. However, these animals are subject to safety and documentation requirements and any other government regulations of the destination. This includes, but is not limited to, health certificates, permits, and vaccination requirements of the country, state, or territory from and/or to which the animal is being transported.
Southwest allows pets to travel with you in cabin on a first come first serve basis. Only a total of 6 pets are allowed per flight with a limit on one kennel per customer. However, certain circumstances may allow for more or fewer than 6 pets on a flight. Pets must be at least 8 weeks old to be allowed on the flight.
Southwest has the right to refuse any cat or dog that portrays any sign of aggressive behavior or any other characteristic that may pose a risk to air travel.
Southwest Carry-on Pet kennel Requirements:
Southwest sells their own Southwest Airlines Pet Carrier for $58 that is 17" L x 9.5" H x 10" W. As long as your pet can fit comfortably in this kennel, Southwest will allow pets to travel in their kennel. This can be purchased online or any any Southwest airport ticket counter.
If you are bringing your own kennel they must meet these requirements:
Kennels and carriers are considered one of your carry-on items due to limited space in the cabin. As such, you are only allowed to bring 1 additional carry-on item when bringing a pet.
Restrictions:
These restrictions do not apply to support or service animals accompanying a person with a disability
Southwest Airlines charges a $95 pet fee each way per pet carrier. Please make sure to make your reservations in advance. On the day of departure you will need to go to the ticket counter to check-in with the pet and pay the pet fee before being allowed to your departure gate.
Southwest does not permit any pet to travel through checked baggage.
Southwest does not offer any cargo transport service for pets or animals.
United Airlines allows pets to travel in-cabin. For pets that are not eligible to travel in the aircraft cabin with you, United offers their PetSafe program for transporting pets (cats and dogs only). As of June 2018, United has implemented new policies to their PetSafe transporting program. Some of these policies are new to 2018 and United will be continually updating their policies through the remainder of 2018. PetSafe can transport your pet alone or on the same flight as you.
Service animals are allowed in the cabin to accompany those with disabilities. The requirements differ from normal pet transport. Please see United's regulations on service animals here.
United Airlines allows dogs and cats to travel with you on board the cabin on most domestic flights within the US and may be carried in addition to one carry-on bag. They charge an additional service fee for each stopover of more than four hours. United's policy only applies to flights operated by United, for codeshare flights, please check with the operating carrier's policies.
Pets must remain in their kennel while at the airport and while on the aircraft. The kennel needs to remain on the floor space below your seat and the door must be secured at all times. Pets must be at least 2 months (8 weeks) old to be permitted to travel on flights within the US and at least 4 months (16 weeks) old for international flights. Pets are not allowed with an unaccompanied minor. Please make sure your pet has all the required vaccinations if entering the US and including all certifications signed by a veterinarian and additional documents.
Kennel requirements for United in-cabin travel:
United requires you to carry your pet in-cabin in an approved hard or soft sided kennel. The kennel must be able to fit completely under the seat in front of you and remain there for the duration of the flight. Only one pet per kennel is permitted and your pet must be able to stand up and turn around comfortably.
The maximum dimensions for hard-sided kennels is 17.5" L x 12" W x 7.5"H.
For Soft-sided kennels the recommended maximum dimensions are 18" L x 11" W x 11" H. Soft sided kennels/carriers may exceed these dimensions, as long as they are able to conform to the space underneath the seat infront of you without blocking the aisle.
Restrictions:
Pets are not allowed on flights to, from, or through these locations:
Pets are booked on a space-available basis and you can not be booked on an emergency exit or bulkhead row. Certain premium cabins on select aircraft do not permit pets, these include Boeing 757, 767, 777, and 787 aircraft. Other aircrafts only allow 2 pets per flight in Premium cabins. In economy cabins, 4 pets are allowed.
United Airlines provides the PetSafe program specifically for transporting your cat or dog. The members in this program have been trained to ensure your pet travels safely and comfortably to their destination. You may book your pet's travel up to 30 days in advance, but reservations must be made at least 5 days prior to departure.
Puppies and kittens must be at least 8 weeks old to be permitted for travel. If they weigh less than 2 pounds, they must be at least 10 weeks old. For international flights, United recommends you contact IPATA for assistance. Pupplies imported to the US must be at least 16 weeks old and fully immunized prior to their flight. Pregnant cats or dogs more than 2/3 into their pregnancy will not be permitted to fly.
Comfort Stops
United will only allow pet travel itineraries with 3 or less flight segments (two connections). If the total duration of their travel is more than 24 hours, pets will require comfort stops where they will be taken to designated kennel facilities. You may also choose to include an optional comfort stop in your pets itinerary. You will be charged a fee for comfort stops based on the connection city.
During the comfort stop:
PetSafe Crate Requirements:
To be permitted to travel via United's PetSafe, your pet needs to have a kennel that is large enough for them to move freely, and stand with their head up. They must also be able to turn around and lie down in a natural position. The crate needs to be tall enough so when your pet stands and sits, their head or ear tips (whichever is higher) is not touching the top of the crate.
As of June 2018, United no longer accepts crates that exceed 30 inches in height. United/PetSafe will allow crates up to the 500 series size. On United Express flights the 400 series size is the maximum size allowed.
Crates must meet these construction requirements:
Crate Restrictions:
Pet Pro Supply Co.'s airline crates meet these requirements.
PetSafe Breed Restrictions:
As of June 2018, United PetSafe no longer accepts any of these breeds of brachycephalic (short or snub nosed) dogs and cats, including "mixed" breeds:
Dogs:
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Cats:
Large high energy breeds and dogs with separation anxiety that display behaviors like excessive chewing or even clawing may be denied travel. For these breeds or dogs with these characteristics, United Airlines strongly recommend you provide them with a reinforced crate for increased security, highlighted in the next section. These breeds can include Labrador and Golden Retrievers.
For dogs that display behaviors such as excessive chewing or clawing, even after they are acclimated to a travel crate, United Airlines strongly recommends that you use a reinforce crate that complies with International requirements (IATA Container Requirement #82) for increased safety. Breeds like Labrador and Golden Retrievers often display these behaviors due to high energy or separation anxiety.
These reinforced crates must meet these criteria:
United does not allow crates over 30" in height (this includes 700 series sizes) even for reinforced crates.
You can purchase reinforced crates from Pet Pro Supply Co. at our Airline Approved IATA CR-82 Dog Crates Collection.
We highly recommend Zinger Air Travel crates, as they are reinforced and come with kits that make them fully IATA CR-82 compliant.
Other United PetSafe Pet Travel Restrictions:
United PetSafe does not provide transport to and from India and Australia at this time. Please always check with United PetSafe to confirm travel locations will allow pet transport
For international routing, PetSafe requires it be arranged through an International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) approved pet shipper only.
United may decline pets for travel if locations on their itinerary have current or forecasted outside temperatures that are deemed unsafe for air travel. Additionally, between May 1 and September 30, United will not allow reservations to Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Phoenix, and Tucson due to high temperatures.
United charges a $125 service charge each way for in-cabin pets per kennel. An additional $125 will be charged for each stopover that is more than 4 hours within the US or more than 24 hours outside the US
For United PetSafe transport rates, please contact United PetSafe for rates for your travel plans: 1-800-575-3335
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