Several years ago, I wrote an article about flying with pets. Since then, there have been many changes to the rules and regulations for flying with pets, especially if they fly in cargo. Recently, I tried helping a friend arrange travel for her Saluki to Los Angeles. Unfortunately, the trip never occurred because of the difficulty of finding a flight. Based on that experience, I decided to share some of my latest discoveries along with my original tips for flying a dog. This article primarily focuses on dogs flying in the baggage compartment.
Currently, no airline will fly a dog in cargo if temperatures go below 45 degrees or above 85 degrees. Do not argue with the airline on this issue because your dog’s safety, welfare, and well-being come first.
As more airlines adopt the Airbus series of airplanes, it is essential to check with each airline to determine whether cargo is temperature-controlled. Recently, I discovered that the Airbus A319–A321 series, the aircraft many airlines use today, is not temperature-controlled.
Each airline’s standards for flying with pets, both inside the cabin and in cargo, differ. Check with each airline to determine their policies. Most airlines require a health certificate issued by a veterinarian within 10 days of departure. It varies by airline for the return trip. If traveling internationally, check the regulations and requirements of the country you are visiting.
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Flying with Pets on Delta
Flying with pets in the cabin is prohibited in first class, Delta One, or business class. The cost is $50 each way within the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It is $200 each way to fly internationally, but $75 to Brazil. In addition, pets cannot fly in cargo on the following aircraft: 767 and 330 -200.
If you fly Delta with a larger dog, you book your pet’s reservation with Delta Cargo. Dogs must be dropped off and picked up at Delta’s Cargo facility unless the location is closed. In that case, you pick your dog up at baggage claim. Drop-off is three hours before departure.
Snub-nosed dogs and cats are no longer permitted to fly. These breeds include the American Bulldog, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brussels Griffon, Bulldog, Chinese Pug, Chow Chow, Dutch Pug, English Bulldog, English Toy Spaniel, French Bulldog, Lhasa Apso, Japanese Boxer, Japanese Pug, Japanese Spaniel (Chin), Mastiff (all breeds), Pekinese, Pit Bull, Pug, Shar Pei, Shih Tzu, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tibetan Spaniel; and cats, such as Burmese, Exotic, Himalayan, and Persian. Contact the Delta Airlines Customer Service Team at 1-800-352-2746 for more information.
Flying with Pets on United
As of June 18, 2018, United has resumed flying pets. United has partnered with the American Humane to form Petsafe and now has a list of 50 breeds of cats and dogs that they will not fly.
These breeds include the Affenpinscher, American Bully, American Pit Bull, Terrier/Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terrier/”Amstaff”, Belgian Malinois, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brussels Griffon, Bulldog, American Bulldog, English Bulldog, French Bulldog, Old English Bulldogges, Shorty Bulldogs, Spanish Alano/Spanish Bulldog/Alano Espanol, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chow Chow, English Toy Spaniel/Prince Charles Spaniel, Japanese Chin/Japanese Spaniel, Lhasa Apso, Mastiff, American Mastiff, Boerboel/South African Mastiff, Bullmastiff, Ca de Bou/Mallorquin Mastiff, Cane Corso/Italian Mastiff, Dogo Argentino/Argentinian Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux/French Mastiff, English Mastiff, Fila Brasileiro/Brazilian Mastiff/Cao de Fila, Indian Mastiff/Alangu, Kangal/Turkish Kangal, Neapolitan Mastiff/Mastino Napoletano, Pakistani Mastiff/Bully Kutta, Pyrenean Mastiff, Presa Canario/Perro de Presa Canario/Dogo Canario/Canary Mastiff, Spanish Mastiff / Mastin Espanol, Tibetan Mastiff, Tosa/Tosa Ken/Tosa Inu/Japanese Mastiff/Japanese Tosa, Pekingese, Pug, Dutch Pug, Japanese Pug, Shar-Pei/Chinese Shar-Pei, Shih-Tzu, Staffordshire Bull Terrier/”Staffys”, Tibetan Spaniel. Cats include the Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan, and Persian.
United’s new policies include providing a frontal photo of your pet’s face and a picture of your pet standing in front of its crate. The latter shows the airline that the kennel is the correct size for your dog.
A health certificate should be issued within ten days of travel. If you travel for more than ten days, United requires a new health certificate issued for your return.
After booking a flight with a pet, United sends out a PetSafe pre-travel informational packet. Five to ten days before your trip, you must send in the health certificate, two photos, and a signed Customer Acknowledgment Form for approval. United will not confirm your flight unless you resubmit these forms.
For those flying with carry-on pets, the cost is $150 each way.
Flying with Pets on American Airlines
American Airlines accepts two pets per passenger. The cost to fly a pet one way is $150 for carry-on pets and $200 in cargo. A health certificate must be issued within ten days of departure, 60 days of your return if on the same ticket, or ten days prior to return on a single ticket. The following aircraft types will not allow pets in cargo: A321, A321S, A321H, A320, or A319. Snub-nosed pets are not accepted.
The unacceptable dog breeds are the Affenpinscher, American Staffordshire Terrier, Boston Terrier, Boxer (all breeds), Brussels Griffon, Bulldog (all breeds), Cane Corso, Dogue De Bordeaux, English Toy Spaniel, Japanese Chin, Lhasa Apso, Mastiff (all breeds), Pekingese, Pit Bull, Presa Canario, Pug (all breeds), Shar Pei, Shih Tzu, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and Tibetan Spaniel. Cat breeds include the Burmese, Persian, Himalayan, and Exotic Shorthair.
Flying with Pets on Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines will accept pets both in the cabin and in cargo. The fee is $100 each way, and flying pets in cargo costs $150 each way. A health certificate must be issued within ten days of departure and 30 days of return travel. On Alaska’s Airbus series, pets cannot fly in first class or in the baggage department. Brachycephalic or “short-nosed” dogs and cats are allowed in the cabin but not in cargo. These dogs include American Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terrier, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brussels Griffon, Bull Mastiff, Bulldog, Bull Terrier, Chow Chow, Dutch Pug, English Bulldog, English Toy Spaniel, French Bulldog, Japanese Boxer, Japanese Pug, Japanese Spaniel, Pekingese, Pug, Shih Tzu, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The excluded cats include the Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan, and Persian.
Other Airlines
Air Canada allows carry-on pets and pets in cargo depending on the type of plane. However, there are restrictions in the winter. Costs range from $50 to $100 for carry-on pets, depending on whether you fly within Canada or internationally. For pets flying in cargo, the cost is $105 to $120.75 within Canada and the US, and $318.60 for international flights. Please check with the airlines for pet requirements.
Frontier Airlines allows carry-on pets only and does not require a health certificate on domestic flights. However, health certificates are required for international flights and cost $99 each way.
Hawaiian Airlines allows pets as carry-on and also in cargo. The cost is $35 within Hawaii. The cost to the mainland is $125. If the pet flies as Baggage, the cost is $60 within Hawaii and $225 between Hawaii and the mainland. Health certificates are required. Please check with the airline and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture for all requirements. The weight of pets and carriers inside the cabin shall not exceed 25 pounds. Please check with the airline for weather restrictions.
JetBlue allows carry-on pets only and does not require a health certificate on flights within the United States. However, they require passengers to comply with the destination’s health and quarantine requirements. The maximum combined weight of the pet and carrier is 20 pounds. The cost is $150 each way.
Southwest Airlines allows carry-on pets only. Although they do have health certificate requirements, passengers are expected to comply with health or quarantine requirements at their destination. The cost is $125 each way.
Spirit Airlines allows carry-on pets only. They do not require a health certificate except when traveling to the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The combined weight of the pet and its carrier is 40 pounds. The cost is $125 each way.
Flying with Pets on International Airlines
Many international airlines will allow pets to travel both as carry-on and in cargo. In addition, most European airlines accept pets, including Lufthansa, Air France, Swiss Air, and KLM. Please check with each airline for their international requirements.
The Crate
Make sure you purchase a crate that is permitted by the airlines. Wire kennels are not allowed. Most airlines approve durable plastic ones from brands such as Vari Kennel or Petmate, but it is best to check with the individual airline.
Airlines require that your dog be able to stand and turn around in the crate.
Crate Training Your Dog
If your dog does not readily acclimate to the crate, try setting the kennel up in your home with a comfy mat and lots of its favorite toys inside. Leave the door ajar all the time, allowing your dog access in and out of the crate at its leisure. Once you find your dog sleeping and it appears to feel comfortable in its surroundings, start closing the door for short periods of time. Soon, you will be able to leave your dog in the crate for long periods.
The Crate Prior to Takeoff
In addition to the labels airlines require, I recommend affixing a note about your dog to the crate. Place a typed note introducing your dog to the airline staff. For example, the blurb on Zoe’s crate might read, “Hi, my name is Zoe, and this is my first flight. I am a very friendly 11-month-old Saluki, but I am a little nervous. Please talk to me. My human mom is on board the plane and would appreciate your taking good care of me.” Most people love dogs, and attaching a note on your crate adds the human touch needed. Once, flying a dog to Texas, the airline saw the pup’s mom coming and said, “You must be Raja’s new mommy.” They read the note taped to the top front side of the crate near the door.
Items to include are shredded newspapers inside the crate to absorb any accidents that might occur. In addition, bring Lysol wipes and a trash bag to clean up after you land. Also, bring releasable cable ties to secure your crate. I always carry a pair of scissors in my luggage to cut the ties in case a problem occurs when opening them.
Your Dog’s Wellbeing
Many people think they should sedate their dogs. That is not always the best idea. Your dog will arrive very disoriented. There are homeopathic formulas you can use that are very safe. I suggest Calms Forte or the pet/human versions of Rescue Remedy, which are available at most health food stores. Jackson Galaxy’s Solutions are holistic remedies explicitly made for animals. Easy Traveler and Stress Stopper are two remedies worth trying. Besides putting these products in your dog’s water, food, or a few drops directly into their mouths, there are two other ways to administer remedies. One is to spray throughout the crate. The other is to place a few drops in your hands and rub them down your dog’s back, body, and bottom of their paws.
Some pet owners also explore pet CBD supplements as part of their overall wellness routine when preparing for stressful situations such as travel.
Boarding the Plane
Before boarding or as you take your first step onto the plane, make sure your dog is boarded. Most flight attendants and pilots are happy to check on your pet.
Depending on your seat location, you may sometimes hear your dog in the cargo area. On my dog Zoe’s flight to St Louis, I heard her barking as the plane taxied down the runway, but it subsided once we were airborne. The hum of the engine is like music. On another flight, as we neared LAX, our hometown, I heard Ami scratching the crate. Perhaps he knew we were about to arrive at his new forever home.
Please note that I am mainly highlighting the American carriers’ programs for flying with pets within the United States. Please check with each airline for more details.
Remember that taking extra precautions will make flying with pets more comfortable for you and your dog or cat, especially if you like to travel with them.
This article was updated in July of 2025.
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