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| Ⓒ Provided by Condé Nast Traveler |
By Sarah Kuta, Condé Nast Traveler
Jet-setting pet parents know just how heartbreaking it feels to leave a beloved furry friend at home while traveling. Fortunately, there are many pet-friendly airlines that allow dogs, cats, birds, and a handful of other household animals to fly with you to your destination.
Flying with pets requires a little extra leg work, however. Each pet-friendly airline has different—and, at times, confusing—policies about the types of animals allowed on planes, where they can spend the flight, which destinations they’re allowed to travel to, and what time of year they can fly. Airlines also charge varying pet fees for passengers traveling with a pet.
When determining which flight to book, carefully read each airline’s pet rules for non-emotional support, non-service dogs and cats to ensure you and your furry friend have the smoothest experience possible. Also review the pet regulations at your destination, as many international locales, and even some domestic spots like Hawaii, have strict rules and procedures for bringing pets with you.
Ahead of your next trip, consider these pet-friendly airlines that allow dogs, cats, and other animals onboard.
Which airline is the most pet-friendly?
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to flying with pets. The most pet-friendly airline for your journey depends on the type of animal you have, your pet’s size, where you’re traveling, and whether you’d like your pet to fly in the cabin or in the cargo hold as checked baggage.
What airlines allow pets as carry-ons?
Many airlines allow pets to fly in the cabin as a carry-on, so long as they stay inside a carrier that’s small enough to fit under the seat in front of you for the duration of the flight. Southwest, Alaska, United, American, Delta, Hawaiian, Spirit, and Frontier are some of the airlines that allow pets as carry-ons.
Can I buy a seat for my dog on an airplane this year?
Most pet-friendly airlines do not permit travelers to buy their dogs a seat on a plane. Small dogs can typically accompany you in the cabin, however, most airlines require them to remain inside a kennel tucked under the seat in front of you for the entire flight.
JetBlue, for example, requires travelers to pay for a second seat (and pay a second pet fee) to bring two pets onboard the plane at the same time. And even though you’ve paid for a second seat, you still need to keep your dog inside a carrier for the whole flight. Similarly, Alaska Airlines allows travelers to bring up to two pets with them in the cabin if they buy two seats next to each other on the flight.
Alaska Airlines
Pet travel in the cabin: For $100 each way (or $105 for flights departing from Canada), Alaska Airlines allows passengers to bring dogs, cats, rabbits, and household birds in the cabin. There are no breed restrictions for pets to travel in the cabin, however, Alaska Airlines requires carry-on dogs and cats to be at least eight weeks old and able to eat solid food. Travelers must be at least 18 years old before traveling with a pet in the cabin.
Each passenger can bring up to two pet carriers with them in the cabin, as long as the traveler purchases two seats next to each other on the plane. Additionally, up to two pets of the same size and species can fly together in the same kennel, so long as they fit comfortably.
Pets must stay in their carrier, with all doors and flaps secured at all times, while onboard the plane, as well as in the boarding area. Travelers must stow the kennel under the seat in front of them during taxi, takeoff, and landing. The pet carrier counts toward the passenger’s carry-on baggage allotment, and travelers flying with pets cannot sit in the emergency exit or bulkhead rows. Alaska also limits the number of carriers onboard per flight: three in first class and eight in the main cabin.
Pets in cargo: Alaska Airlines allows a more diverse selection of pets to fly in its climate-controlled cargo hold for $100 each way: dogs, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, household birds, non-poisonous reptiles, pot-bellied pigs, rabbits, and tropical fish. Regardless of the type of animal, travelers must provide a valid health certificate for each pet.
Dogs and cats must be at least eight weeks old and able to eat solid food. Alaska Airlines only allows one dog or cat of any size that’s six months or older to travel in a kennel; the same rule applies for pets that weigh more than 20 pounds and are between the ages of eight weeks and six months old. However, two puppies or kittens may travel together in the same kennel if they weigh less than 20 pounds, are between eight weeks and six months old, and are similar in size.
There are also restrictions based on outdoor temperatures in certain destinations Alaska Airlines flies to, as well as limits on pet cargo travel on certain flights during the holidays. Alaska also has rules around when pets can fly to Hawaii, which experiences strong headwinds during some months.
Read More: 7 Tips to Traveling with Your Pet Over the Holidays
Southwest Airlines
Pet travel in the cabin: Southwest Airlines permits small, vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least eight weeks old to fly with travelers in the cabin for a $95 pet fee each way. Furry friends cannot travel in the cabin on international flights, nor on flights to Hawaii.
Each passenger may only bring one pet kennel with them into the cabin. However, Southwest Airlines only allows six total carriers on each flight, and those spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Travelers must make a pet reservation with Southwest Airlines over the phone. Then, on the day of the flight, travelers must go to the ticket counter at the airport to check in their pet and pay the fee.
Pets that travel in the cabin must remain inside their carrier for the whole flight (and the kennel must be stored underneath the seat in front of you), as well as in the gate area and during boarding and deplaning. Up to two pets of the same species may travel together in a carrier, but they must be able to stand up and move around while inside. A kennel counts as either your personal item or a carry-on bag. The airline sells Southwest-branded pet carriers for $58, but travelers can also bring their own.
Even though Southwest Airlines has an open seating policy for passengers, travelers with pets may not sit in the emergency exit seats or in rows without under-seat storage in front of them, such as the first row. Unaccompanied minors cannot bring pets with them into the plane.
If your four-legged friend passed away recently and you want to bring her cremated remains on the flight, you’ll need to bring them as a carry-on item—Southwest Airlines does not allow cremated pet remains in checked luggage. The airline recommends a temporary plastic or cardboard container so that the remains can pass through X-ray screening at security with ease.
Pets in cargo: Southwest Airlines does not have a pet cargo or shipping program, so the only way to bring your pet on a Southwest flight is by flying in the cabin.
United Airlines
Pet travel in the cabin: United Airlines only allows dogs and cats to travel in the cabin. The United carry-on pet fee is $125 each way. You’ll pay an additional $125 for each layover that lasts four or more hours for U.S. flights, or 24 or more hours for international flights.
United doesn’t have any breed or weight limitations for pets flying in the cabin. However, the animal must remain inside a carrier, with the door closed, underneath the seat in front of you for the entire flight. The animal must have room to stand up and turn around inside the kennel, and United only allows one pet per kennel.
Each passenger may only bring one animal in the cabin. However, United also caps the total number of pets that can ride in each cabin (premium or economy) based on the type of plane.
Passengers traveling with a pet cannot sit in an emergency exit row, a United Premium Plus seat, or the front row of each cabin.
Pets in cargo: United does not allow pets to fly in the cargo hold. The airline suspended its pet shipping program, PetSafe, in 2018 and has not announced when (or if) it will resume.
American Airlines
Pet travel in the cabin: American Airlines only allows dogs and cats to travel in the cabin. Animals can travel on most flights that are 12 hours or less to certain destinations: within the 48 contiguous U.S. plus Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas. The fee is $125 each way, plus an additional $125 for U.S. flights with more than a four-hour voluntary stopover.
Pets flying in the cabin must remain in a kennel under the seat in front of you for the whole flight. Because of a lack of under-seat storage, American does not allow carry-on pets to fly in first or business class on some planes.
On American Airlines flights, the company allows seven total carry-on kennels. On American Eagle flights, the airline only allows five total carry-on kennels, including one in first class.
Hard-sided carry-on kennels on mainline American Airlines flights can measure up to 19 by 13 by 9 inches, while those on regional American Eagle flights can be up to 16 by 12 by 8 inches. Soft-sided carriers, which are what American Airlines recommends, can be 18 by 11 by 11 inches or slightly larger, so long as they fit under the seat in front of you without collapsing too much. No matter the type, pets must be able to stand up and turn around inside while it’s closed. The kennel with the pet inside cannot weigh more than 20 pounds.
The kennel counts as your carry-on bag, meaning you can only bring one small personal item in addition to your pet.
American Airlines will not accept carry-on pets that have been tranquilized or sedated.
Pets in cargo: American Airlines only allows active-duty U.S. military servicemembers and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders to check their furry friends. Those individuals may check up to two pets to fly in the cargo hold, so long as they meet the destination’s age and health requirements.
Delta Air Lines
Pet travel in the cabin: Delta allows dogs, cats, and household birds in the cabin to and from certain destinations. Regardless of the type of animal, it must be able to travel in a carrier that fits under the seat in front of you. All pets must also be at least 10 weeks old for domestic flights, 16 weeks old for flights to the U.S. from another country, and at least 15 weeks when flying to destinations in the European Union.
Delta’s carry-on pet fee is $95 each way for flights to and from the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The carry-on pet fee for flights to and from Brazil is $75 each way; all other international flights are $200 each way.
Delta Air Lines only allows one pet per carrier, with a few exceptions. The airline allows two pets of the same size and breed between 10 weeks and six months old to fly together in the same kennel (and charges them as one pet), so long as they get along and can fit into a single kennel. Additionally, travelers can bring one female dog or cat with her un-weaned litter, as long as the animals in the litter are 10 weeks to six months old.
Your pet’s carrier counts as your carry-on, meaning you can only bring an additional small personal item. The animal must stay inside its kennel, with the door closed, while on board the aircraft, as well as in the boarding area and in any Delta airport lounges. Travelers with carry-on pets cannot sit in certain areas, such as the emergency exit rows and bulkhead seats, as well as in specific rows on certain planes.
Delta’s allowable kennel dimensions vary based on the type of plane, but the airline recommends a soft-sided kennel that measures 18 by 11 by 11 inches. Also, your animal must be able to move around inside and fit comfortably, without protruding from or touching the sides.
Pets in cargo: Delta suspended its pet shipping program, Delta Cargo, in April 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic and has not yet brought it back.
Read More: 10 Pet-Friendly Hotels For Your Next Vacation
JetBlue
Pet travel in the cabin: For $125 each way, passengers can bring small dogs and cats, safely secured inside a carrier that fits under the seat in front of them, on all domestic JetBlue flights.
JetBlue allows up to six total pets per flight. However, each passenger is only permitted to bring one animal with them while flying in the cabin. The carrier, with your pet inside, must weigh 20 pounds or less and will count as your personal item.
Pets are not allowed in Mint, which is JetBlue’s premium cabin. Members of TrueBlue, the airline’s reward program, can earn 300 extra points for each segment their pet flies with them in the cabin.
Pets in cargo: JetBlue does not accept pets in cargo.
Hawaiian Airlines
Pet travel in the cabin: Dogs and cats can travel in the cabin on Hawaiian Airlines flights that go from Hawaiian island to island, as well as between the Aloha State and most destinations in North America. Pets are not permitted on flights to or from John F. Kennedy International Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, Orlando International Airport, and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
The carry-on pet fee is $35 one-way for flights within the state of Hawaii, and $125 one-way for trips between Hawaii and North America. Bringing a pet in the cabin does not count toward your carry-on allowance with Hawaiian, meaning you can bring a bag and a personal item, in addition to your pet. Together, your pet and his kennel must weigh 25 pounds or less.
Hawaiian Airlines only allows one adult dog or cat per carrier, but up to two puppies or kittens of the same breed or litter that are between eight weeks and six months old. Each guest can bring one carrier onto the plane.
If you’re traveling between Hawaii and North America, you need to obtain an animal health certificate from your veterinarian within 14 days of travel. Some routes also require a permit from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.
Pets in cargo: Hawaiian Airlines accepts dogs, cats, and household birds as checked baggage for $60 one-way on flights within the state of Hawaii and $225 one-way on flights between Hawaii and North America.
Pets are not allowed as checked baggage to or from John F. Kennedy International Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, Orlando International Airport, and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Beyond that, pets are not permitted to fly as checked baggage from April 15 to October 15 on flights to or from San Jose International Airport, Sacramento International Airport, Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, and Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.
The airline does not ban any specific breeds, however, it strongly discourages travelers from checking pets that are short-nosed, or brachycephalic.
Hawaiian allows one adult dog or cat per kennel, or up to two puppies or kittens of the same breed or litter that are between eight weeks and six months old. Two adult household birds can travel together in the same kennel, as long as they are at least two weeks old. With your pet inside, the kennel cannot weigh more than 70 pounds.
Pets can only travel as checked baggage if the temperature anywhere along the route is between 85 and 20 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, if temperatures are between 45 and 20 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll need to supply an acclimation certificate from a veterinarian from within 10 days of travel.
Spirit Airlines
Pet travel in the cabin: For a $125 one-way pet fee, travelers can bring dogs, cats, household birds, and small domestic rabbits that are at least eight weeks old in the cabin on Spirit Airlines routes throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Guests can bring up to two pets per carrier, but may only bring one carrier on the plane. With the pet inside, the carrier must weigh 40 pounds or less. Spirit Airlines only allows six total pet carriers per flight, so it’s best to add a pet to your reservation as early as possible.
Travelers flying with pets can sit anywhere onboard the aircraft except for the first row and the emergency exit rows. Pets need to stay inside the carrier for the entire flight, and the kennel counts toward your carry-on allowance. Spirit only allows soft-sided carriers for pets flying in the cabin and they may be no larger than 18 by 14 by 9 inches.
Pets are not allowed on international flights, and birds and rabbits are not permitted to fly to or from Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Dogs and cats traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands need a health certificate from a veterinarian; pets going to Puerto Rico must have a rabies vaccination certificate.
Pets in cargo: Spirit does not transport pets in cargo, so pet parents with larger dogs are out of luck with this airline.
Frontier Airlines
Pet travel in the cabin: For $99 each way, pets may travel in the cabin on Frontier Airlines flights. Dogs and cats must be at least eight weeks old before flying in the cabin, and these types of pets can accompany travelers on domestic trips, as well as flights to or from the Dominican Republic and Mexico. Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and household birds can also accompany passengers in the cabin, but only on flights within the U.S.
Passengers traveling with a pet cannot sit in the emergency exit rows or the first row of the plane. Pets must remain inside a carrier for the entire flight. Frontier Airlines also asks travelers not to provide water or food to their pet within four hours of departure, nor during the flight.
Pet kennels count toward your carry-on allotment, and Frontier Airlines recommends travelers bring soft-sided models. They must be able to fit under the seat in front of you (the maximum dimensions are 18 by 14 by 8 inches) and allow your pet to stand up, turn around, and lie down in a natural position.
Pets in cargo: Frontier Airlines does not transport pets as checked baggage.
Read More: How to Plan Holiday Travel With Your Pet
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