Bringing Rover to Dover? Taking Kitty along to New York City? Maybe Max is bound for Halifax. If you are flying to your destination and want to bring your pet then you should know well in advance what the airline policies are so you can weigh your options. We'll look at the major airlines in North America in this blog to help you determine which one may be best suited. We will break it down into the two options you will face which are carry-on or cargo.
Carry-on Pets
Most airlines have a very similar policy regarding carry-on pets but there are exceptions. The primary restriction is simply space and the airlines will limit the total number of animals allowed on a flight for the comfort of other passengers. Knowing that you are best to contact the airline well in advance and make your arrangements to ensure that you can obtain a space. The animal's kennel/cage etc. must be able to fit under the seat in front of the passenger and remains there for the entire flight. The primary exception to this rule is obviously a service dog which must meet certain criteria to qualify.
Pets allowed as carry-on: Only one cat or small dog in the cabin is allowed per passenger.
Kennel recommendations:
Maximum carrier size allowed | Hard-sided Height: 23 cm (9 in)Width: 40 cm (15.5 in)Length: 55 cm (21.5 in) | Soft-sided Height: 27 cm (10.5 in)Width: 40 cm (15.5 in)Length: 55 cm (21.5 in) |
Fee: $50 (1 way) within and between the United States and Canada and $100 (1 way) for international destinations
Other notable restrictions:
Cannot be seated in an exit or bulkhead row
Passenger cannot require the use of a medical device that needs to be stowed underneath the seat.
Passenger cannot travel in traveling in our Premium Economy cabin.
Sedation is not advised since the effects of tranquilizers on animals at high altitudes are unpredictable. The decision to prescribe a tranquilizer for the pet should be made by your veterinarian.
Passenger traveling with pet must be 18 years of age at a minimum
The First Class cabin can accommodate a total of three pet carriers per flight, and the Main Cabin can accommodate a total of eight pet carriers per flight.
Pet carrier counts as you your carry-on allowance
Pets must be at least 10 weeks old and fully weaned
Destination specific exceptions or requirements may exist
Pets allowed as carry-on: Small dogs, House cats (Domesticated rabbits, Household birds are only allowed on Domestic flights). You can bring up to two pets with you however if you do so you must purchase an additional, adjacent, seat.
Kennel recommendations: Hard sided dimensions are 17" x 11" x 7.5" (LxWxH) while soft sided are 17” x 11” x 9.5”
Fee: $100 (Within and between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean)
Other notable restrictions:
Sedation is not advised since the effects of tranquilizers on animals at high altitudes are unpredictable. The decision to prescribe a tranquilizer for the pet should be made by your veterinarian.
Passenger traveling with pet must be 18 years of age at a minimum
The First Class cabin can accommodate a total of three pet carriers per flight, and the Main Cabin can accommodate a total of eight pet carriers per flight.
Pet carrier counts as you your carry-on allowance
Pets must be at least 8 weeks old
Destination specific exceptions or requirements may exist
Pets allowed as carry-on: Small dogs, cats.
Kennel recommendations: Soft-sided kennel in which animal must fit comfortably
18 x 11 x 11 inches / 46 x 28 x 28 centimeters (length + width + height)
Fee: $125 (Within and between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean)
Other notable restrictions:
Due to the safety of the animal the airline will not accept pets that have been sedated
There are limited spaces allowed for kennels (7 total on American, 5 on American Eagle)
Flight duration cannot exceed 12 hours
Carry-on pets are not allowed on transatlantic or transpacific flights
Pets must be at least 8 weeks old
Destination specific exceptions or requirements may exist
Pets allowed as carry-on: Small dogs, cats, and household birds.
Kennel recommendations: Delta recommends a soft-sided kennel with maximum dimensions of 18” x 11” x 11” since this fits most aircraft types.
Fee: $95 (Within and between the United States and Canada, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands)
Other notable restrictions:
Due to the safety of the animal the airline will not accept pets that have been sedated
Household birds are only permitted on domestic U.S. flights excluding flights to Hawaii, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam
Pet's must be at least 8 weeks old
There are limited choices of seating for kennels such as no bulkhead seats, or emergency rows
Total number of pets (not per person, but all pets on board) allowed on a given flight is 4 in the main cabin and 2 in business/first provided that the cabin does not have flat-bed seats
Flight duration cannot exceed 12 hours
Destination specific exceptions or requirements may exist
Pets allowed as carry-on: Small dogs, cats. You can bring up to two pets with you however if you do so you must purchase an additional, adjacent, seat.
Kennel recommendations: Hard or soft-sided kennel in which animal must be able to stand up comfortably, and yet which will fit in the space under the seat in front of you. Hard sided dimensions are 17.5" x 12" x 7.5" (LxWxH) while soft sided are 18” x 11” x 11” as with the other airlines.
Fee: $125 (Within and between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean)
Other notable restrictions:
Due to the safety of the animal the airline will not accept pets that have been sedated
There are limited spaces allowed for kennels depending on the type of plane and additional kennel size restrictions may exist for certain planes.
United indicates that as long as your destination allows pets, you can take them with you on any flight operated by United or United Express however there is a list of 20+ destinations that are exempt.
Pets must be at least 2 months old
Codeshared flights may have specific exceptions or requirements may exist so it is best to check into each individual airline's policies
Cargo Pets
Your cat or dog can travel with you if you're traveling on:
A flight operated by Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge
An Air Canada Express flight operated by Jazz.
If your itinerary includes a flight that is operated by one of Air Canada's codeshare partners, you will not be able to travel with your pet.
Dogs and cats must be at least 10 weeks of age and weaned.
A certificate of health issued by a your veterinarian is required for each pet traveling in the baggage compartment.
Customers can send up to two pets in the same kennel if they are fully weaned puppies or kittens (both animals must be same species) aged 12 weeks through 6 months
Brachycephalic or "short-nosed" dogs and cats are not accepted for travel in the baggage compartment
Certain breeds classified as "strong dogs" must be transported in a reinforced carrier
A food and water dish must be attached to the inside of the carrier.
Carriers with wheels must have the wheels removed
Carrier must be constructed of solid material suitable for air transportation including handles or handholds that allow the carrier to be lifted . Collapsible and soft sided carriers will not be accepted.
There are seasonal restrictions as well that will apply at various times of the year
Maximum carrier size allowed | 292 cm (115 in) in linear dimensions (length + width + height) |
Maximum allowable weight | Up to 45 kg (100 lb) (pet and kennel combined) |
Charge for one-way travel | Within Canada and Canada/U.S.(except Hawaii) $105.00 - $120.75 CAD/USD International $270.00 - $318.60 CAD/USD |
Alaska Airlines accepts most domesticated pets for travel in our climate-controlled baggage and cargo compartments for a fee of $150 USD. The pet and carrier combined cannot weigh more than 150 lbs. Accepted pets include cats, dogs, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, household birds, non-poisonous reptiles, pot-bellied pigs, rabbits, and tropical fish.
Some other Alaska airline rules for traveling with a pet in cargo:
You must travel on the same flight(s) to your pet's destination. If you are not planning to travel or if your pet and kennel exceed 150 lbs. consult their Pet Connect™ service.
Dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks of age and weaned.
A certificate of health issued by a your veterinarian is required for each pet traveling in the baggage compartment.
No more than 1 live dog or cat, 6 months of age or older, may be transported in the same carrier.
Brachycephalic or "short-nosed" dogs and cats are not accepted for travel in the baggage compartment
Animals must be harmless, inoffensive (not destructive to itself or the carrier), and require no attention during transit.
You must give food and water to your pet no more than 4 hours before check-in.
A food and water dish must be attached to the inside of the carrier.
Carriers with wheels must have the wheels removed
Carrier must be constructed of solid material suitable for air transportation including handles or handholds that allow the carrier to be lifted . Collapsible and soft sided carriers will not be accepted.
Per Alaska Airlines, following carrier sizes are acceptable for travel in the baggage compartment:
Size | Carrier size | Dimensions (length x width x height) |
Extra small | 100 | 21" x 16" x 15" |
Small | 200 | 27" x 20" x 19" |
Medium | 300 | 32" x 22" x 23" |
Large | 400 | 36" X 24" x 26" |
Extra large | 500 | 40" x 27" x 30" |
American Airlines has their PetEmbark program which allows for the shipping of animals that are too big for carry-on style kennels via cargo depending on the aircraft type. Certain aircraft do not have the heated cargo hold areas that animals require so you might not necessarily be flying on the same flight as your pet. In addition, ground temperatures must be between 45 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit on the day of travel.
Check out their aircraft compatability chart to see what limitations your flight may have. The cost will be based on their Priority Parcel Service with an additional $150 fee on top of whatever that cost is. An estimate for a JFK to LAX flight for a dog (and kennel) that weighs 71-100 pounds is about $620.
American Airlines will require a comfort stop (provided at local kennel facilities) for all dogs if:
The first leg of the routing is seven hours or more and includes a connection.
The connection time between booked flights on the same day is seven hours or more.
A same day connection is not possible.
The itinerary is longer than 24 hours.
Some documents you may need include:
Health certificate within 10 days of travel
Rabies certification
Breed verification
Acknowledgment forms
Temperature acclimation letter (if necessary)
Until further notice Delta are only allowing the shipment of pets for active U.S. Military or U.S. State Department Foreign Service Offices traveling with active permanent change of station orders.
United airlines has recently suspended the PetSafe program which allowed for shipping pets via cargo. There is no word on whether the intend to restart anything similar as of yet.
Summary
Policies can change often so it is always best to confirm with each given airline, and you may need to check with multiple carriers if your flight is a connection. Also be aware of any regulations that may be present in the location to which you are taking your pet. Many countries will not allow you to bring your pet with you. Do the research in advance and also talk to your vet if you have any concerns about travel with your furry family member. For some general pet travel tips, take a look at our other pet friendly post.
Il Digestivo
Traveling with your pet can be a rewarding experience for both of you, just make sure you are well prepared. Here are a couple of items we love to have on hand for when we travel with our fuzzball. The bowls are great for food and water while the portable bed is a nice have for longer trips (like flights) where you might not have space to take your dog's home bed.
Collapsible Pet Bowls
Ruffwear, Highlands Dog Pad, Portable Dog Bed
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