Travel with Pets by Air

Find airline pet policies and information on flying with dogs, cats, birds, and other pets.

When deciding to fly with your dog, cat, or bird via commercial airlines, pet air travel involves diligence and planning long before arriving at the airport. Different airlines have different rules about whether and how a pet can travel. Depending on the airline, your pet may be able to travel on your flight either in the cabin or in the cargo hold. Always confirm the pet policy ahead of time with your airline.

Taking your pet in the cabin is the best option

The Humane Society of the United States recommends that you do not transport your pet by air unless absolutely necessary. If you must transport your pet by air, your best option is to take your pet in the aircraft cabin with you. As long as your pet is a cat or small dog, some airlines will allow you to take the animal on board for an additional fee.

Each airline decides if they will allow you to travel with your pet in the passenger cabin. If the airline does allow you to bring your pet into the cabin, your pet container is considered to be carry-on baggage and must be small enough to fit underneath the seat. To find out about this option, call the airline well in advance of your flight, because there are limits to the number of animals allowed in the cabin area.

Flying by Private Jet

Another option for pet air travel is flying with your pet on a chartered plane. Many charter services allow animals, regardless of size, to fly in the cabin as passengers close to their owners.

Visit your veterinarian to be sure your pet can fly

Just about every airline in the world requires documentation from a veterinarian that your pet is in good health before it can board a flight. Besides a general physical examination to check for signs of illness, the vet will also make sure your pet’s rabies vaccinations and other shots are up to date. Don’t visit the vet too early, however. Most airlines require that your pet’s clean bill of health be no more than 10 days old.

Tranquilizing your pet

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), in most cases cats and dogs should not be given sedatives or tranquilizers prior to flying. An animal’s natural ability to balance and maintain equilibrium is altered under sedation, which can be dangerous when the kennel is moved. Pet air travel — whether flying in the cabin or in the hold — exposes animals to increased altitude pressures, which can create respiratory and cardiovascular problems for dogs and cats which are sedated or tranquilized.

Book a direct flight

Book a non-stop flight whenever possible to avoid plane changes; you will avoid the mistakes that occur during airline transfers and possible delays in getting your pet off the plane. Reservations should be made for you and your pet at the same time because airlines often limit how many pets are allowed on each flight.

Tips for bringing a pet on board

If you’ll be flying with your pet in a carrier, have them spend some time in it while you’re still at home. Reduce the animal’s water intake 4 hours before boarding the plane to mitigate the chances of a mishap. Feeding pets smaller meals will also reduce the risk of vomiting or an upset stomach. Be sure your pet gets lots of exercise on the day of the flight so that it will be less restless if not relaxed. Bring along the animal’s favorite toy or blanket to help ease the stress of flying.


More Information on Flying With Pets

15 Essential Steps for Flying With Your Pet – AARP
Find the latest rules and advice to keep your animal safe and comfortable in the air.

Flying With Pets? Read This Guide Before You Book Your Next Trip
What to know if your pet is a service animal, an emotional support animal, or fits under another category in travel.

Pets in the Passenger Cabin – Federal Aviation Association (FAA)
Find FAA regulations for taking your pet in the aircraft cabin.

Traveling with Animals – Federal Aviation Association (FAA)
Find U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requirements for transporting animals; also, tips for pet owners.

Pet Air Travel and Short-Nosed Dogs FAQ – American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Know the risks of flying with a short-nosed dog.

The 10 Best Airlines for Traveling with Dogs
AirfareWatchdog and ThePointsGuy teamed up to review how different airlines handle traveling with a pet in the cabin.

The Ultimate Guide to Flying With a Dog
Flying with your dogs takes careful planning and thoughtful assessment of what is best for your pet’s health. The ASPCA recommends leaving your dogs behind when traveling by air unless your pet is small enough to travel in the cabin.


Airline Pet Policies

Each airline establishes its own company policy for the proper handling of the animals they transport. There are three ways you can transport your pet via the airlines:
1. Your pet can travel on the plane with you, either in-cabin or in the cargo area. In either case, your pet will be considered excess/accompanied baggage and charged accordingly. Some airlines no longer offer this option.
2. You can book your pet on a separate flight. In this case, you will be charged the cargo rate, which is considerably more than excess baggage. Some airlines no longer offer this option.
3. You can have your pet shipped through a licensed commercial shipper. You will be charged the cargo rate plus the shipper’s fee. Several airlines require this method unless your pet is small enough to fit in the cabin.

Traveling by air with service animals

Effective Jan. 11, 2021, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced changes to the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) that impacts emotional support and service animals for air travel. Airlines will no longer consider emotional support animals to be service animals, allowing U.S. airlines to come up with their own rules governing these pets. Since the rule change, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, United Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Southwest Airlines have all updated their policies to stop accepting emotional support animals going forward. For more specific information please refer to the rules set by DOT or to find out their pet and service animal policies and if you have any questions regarding animals on flights, please contact your airline directly.