Flying With Your Dog

Paws and planes…

Planning a trip with your furry friend? 🐶✈️ We've got you covered! From tiny terriers to majestic shepherds, knowing the airline's pet policies is key to a smooth journey.

Check out this breakdown of the pet policies for the top 10 U.S. airlines. Click the links for all the deets and ensure a purr-fect flight for you and your four-legged travel buddy!

1. Flying with your dog on American Airlines? ✈️

Here's the scoop for traveling with American Airlines…

• Cabin Travel

  • Carrier Size: Must fit under the seat. Hard-sided: 19" x 13" x 9" (mainline), 16" x 12" x 8" (regional). Soft-sided: Smaller than 18" x 11" x 11".

  • Fee: $125 per kennel.

  • Carry-on: Kennel doesn’t count as a carry-on item.

• Checked Baggage

  • Fee: $200 ($150 for Brazil).

  • Limit: Two pets per passenger.

  • Flight Duration: Less than 12 hours.

  • Age: Pets must be at least 8 weeks old and not sedated.

  • Temperature Restrictions: No checked pets to/from Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas, Palm Springs (May 1 - Sep 30).

• Cargo Travel

  • Service: PetEmbark for larger pets/international destinations.

  • Reservations: Up to 10 days in advance.

  • Crate Requirements: Specific guidelines.

• Service Animals

  • Allowed: In the cabin at no extra charge.

  • Types: For visual/mobility impairments, PTSD.

  • Emotional Support Animals: Not accepted.

• General Restrictions

  • Temperature: No pets if the forecast is above 85°F or below 45°F without an acclimation certificate, and never below 20°F.

2. Taking a trip with your dog on Delta Air Lines? ✈️

Here's the scoop for traveling with Delta Airlines…

• Pets Allowed:

  • Small dogs, cats, and household birds in the cabin.

• Age Requirements:

  • Domestic flights: Puppies must be at least 8 weeks old.

  • U.S. from another country: Puppies must be at least 16 weeks old.

  • European Union: Puppies must be at least 15 weeks old.

• Carry-On Rules:

  • Pets must be in a soft-sided, ventilated kennel that fits under the seat.

  • Kennel counts as a carry-on; one pet per kennel, with exceptions for puppies.

  • Contact the airline for specific size and weight limits.

• Booking and Seating:

  • Reservations are first-come, first-served; limited number of pets per flight.

  • Pets are not allowed in bulkhead seats, emergency exit rows, or seats without under-seat storage.

• Fees:

  • $95 for trips within the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

  • $200 for international travel; $75 for Brazil.

• Check-In:

  • Check-in at the Special Service Counter.

  • Pets must always remain in their kennel at the airport and onboard.

• Restrictions:

  • No pets are allowed in the cabin at destinations such as Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Dubai, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Iceland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, UAE, and the UK.

3. United Airlines Pet Travel Guidelines ✈️

Here's the scoop for traveling with United Airlines…

• Cabin Travel Rules

  • Small dogs and cats are allowed under the seat in hard- or soft-sided carriers.

  • Up to two pets per customer; the second pet requires an additional seat.

  • Only service animals are allowed onboard without a carrier.

• Destinations

  • Pets are allowed if the destination permits.

  • For international trips, call 1-800-864-8331.

  • No pet travel to/from Australia, Brazil, Hong Kong, the UK, and more.

  • Exception: pets can fly from Guam to Tokyo-Narita but not back.

• Fees

  • $125 each way; $125 for layovers over four hours domestically or 24 hours internationally.

• At the Airport

  • Many airports have pet relief areas; use the United app to find them.

• In-flight Pet Rules

  • Pets must stay in their carrier with the door closed and under your seat at all times.

• Restrictions

  • Pets are not allowed on certain international flights or in emergency exit rows.