For pet owners who want to fly with their animals, searching airlines’ policies and restrictions may seem daunting.
To make the chore easier, check out the following chart as well as the kennel and location restrictions below to find a pet airline that meets the needs of you and your pet.
| Airline pet policy | Cabin, checked, cargo | Fees* | Health certificate | Min pet age | Breed & size restrictions |
| AirTran | Cabin only | $95 | No | 8 weeks | Small dogs only |
| Alaska Airlines | All | $100 | May be required for cargo travel | 8 weeks | Brachycephalic or snub-nosed dogs & cats |
| American Airlines | All | Cabin: $125
Checked: $175 |
Yes, checked pets | 8 weeks | Brachycephalic or snub-nosed dogs & cats |
| Delta | All | Cabin: $125
Checked: $200 |
Yes, checked & cargo pets | 10 weeks | Brachycephalic or snub-nosed dogs & cats |
| Frontier | Cabin only | $75 | For domestic travel | 8 weeks | Small dogs only |
| JetBlue | Cabin only | $100 | For domestic travel | N/A | Small dogs only
pet + carrier 20 lbs |
| Southwest | Cabin only | $95 | No | 8 weeks | Small dogs only |
| Spirit | Cabin only | $100 | No | 8 weeks | Small dogs only |
| Sun Country Airlines | All | Cabin: $125
Checked: $199 |
Yes, checked pets | 8 weeks | Weather permitting for snub-nosed dogs |
| United/ Continental | All | Cabin: $125
Checked: Varies by weight |
Yes | 8 weeks | Brachycephalic or snub-nosed dogs & cats |
| US Airways | Cabin only | $125 | Varies by location | 8 weeks | No |
| Virgin-Atlantic | All | Varies by carrier size | Yes | 10 weeks | Brachycephalic or snub-nosed dogs & cats |
| WestJet | All | Cabin:$50-$59
Checked:$75-$89 |
Yes | 8 weeks | No |
*Fees quoted are current as of December 2014
Kennel size regulations by airline
AirTran
Max size: 18.5”L x 13.5”W x 8.5”H
*Counts as carry-on
Alaska Airlines
Cabin hard-sided max size: 7.5″ x 12″ x 17″
Cabin soft-sided max size: 9.5″ x 12″ x 17″
Checked max sizes:
XSML/100 series: 15″ x 16″ x 21″
SML/200 series: 19″ x 20″ x 27″
MED/300 series: 23″ x 22″ x 32″
LRG/400 series: 26″ X 24″ x 36″
XLG/500 series: 30″ x 27″ x 40″
*XL- Size 500 kennels only accepted on certain flights.
American Airlines
Cabin max size: 19″L x 13″W x 9″H
*Soft-sided carriers may exceed slightly
Checked max size: Series 500; 40″L x 27″W x 30″H
Delta
Max sizes:
SML/200 series: 15″ x 16″ x 21″
MED/200 series: 19″ x 20″ x 27″
MED/300 series: 23″ x 22″ x 32″
LRG/400 series: 26″ X 24″ x 36″
XLG/500 series: 30″ x 27″ x 40″
Cargo max size: GIANT/700 series; 48” x 32” x 35”
Frontier
Max size: 24”L x 16”W x 10”H
*Counts as carry-on
JetBlue
Max size: 17”L x 12.5”W x 8.5”H
*Counts as carry-on
Southwest
Max size: 18.5”L x 13.5”W x 8.5”H
*Counts as carry-on
Spirit
Max size: 18″L x 14″W x 9″H
*Soft-sided kennels allowed
Sun Country Airlines
Cabin max size: 16”L x 11”W x 8”H
Checked max size: 34”H x 48”W
United/Continental
Cabin hard-sided max size: 7.5″L x 12″W x 7.5″H
Cabin soft-sided max: 18″L x 11″W x 11″H
US Airways
Max size: 19″L x 13″W x 9″H
*Counts as carry-on
Virgin-Atlantic
Min size: 21″L x 16″W x 15″H
WestJet
Cabin max size: 16″L x 17.5″ W x 8.5″H
*Counts as carry-on
Checked max size: 40″L x 27″W x 30″H
Location restrictions by airline
| AirTran | International restrictions vary |
| Alaska Airlines | Canada, Hawaii, Kotzebue, Mexico, Nome |
| American Airlines | Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, European Union, Hawaii, Japan, Tobago, Trinidad, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela*Restrictions for Transatlantic & Transpacific flights |
| Delta | Australia, European Union, Hawaii, Hong Kong, London, Manchester, New Zealand, South Africa |
| Frontier | Jamaica |
| JetBlue | Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Tobago, Trinidad, Turks & Caicos, US Virgin Islands |
| Southwest | No international travel |
| Spirit | No international travel |
| Sun Country Airlines | Anchorage, Laughlin, New York, San Juan, St. Thomas |
| United/Continental | Australia, Dominican Republic, European areas, Greece, Hawaii, India, Italy, Mexico, Singapore |
| US Airways | Barbados, Europe, Hawaii, Jamaica, Middle East, South America |
| Virgin-Atlantic | Antigua, Barbados, Boston, Cape Town, Chicago, Dubai, Hong Kong, Japan, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Miami, Narita, Newark, Orlando, San Francisco, St. Lucia, United Kingdom, Vancouver, Washington |
| WestJet | Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Hawaii, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Tobago, Trinidad, Turks & Caicos |
Understanding these airline pet policies will help prepare you and your 4-legged companion for a safe and positive plane ride. Once you decide on an airline, follow these tips on protecting your pets in the car before take-off.
Also, make sure your pet’s health is covered with pet insurance.
