Pet-Friendly Airlines: Which One Fits Your Needs?

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.