Which U.S. airlines allow pets? Plenty. Which domestic airlines let you bring your dog or cat in the cabin for a reasonable fee? Now that's a different story...
Flying within the U.S. is complicated enough, but bring your dog or cat, and things get a lot more challenging. We (Steph and Mike) got a crash course in this when planning a few flights across the U.S. with our long-haired dachshund, Django.
While most major U.S. airlines now offer in-cabin pet service, each airline's policies and fees vary widely.
To help make your next trip a bit easier, we've broken down the in-cabin pet policies and fees for every major U.S. airline.
U.S. Airline Pet Policy Comparison and In-Cabin Pet Travel Fees
| Airline | One-Way Pet Fee For Flights Within the U.S. | Max Weight | # Pets Allowed Per Reservation | Max Hard Pet Carrier Size (L x W x H, inches) | Max Soft Carrier Size (L x W x H, inches) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | $100 | Carrier must fit under seat |
Passengers can travel with a maximum of 2 pet carriers in the main cabin when they purchase a second ticket with an adjacent seat 2 pets allowed per carrier (same species and similar size) |
17" x 11" x 7.5" |
17 x 11 x 9.5 |
| Allegiant Air | $50 per segment per carrier | No max carrier weight given. "Pet(s) must fit comfortably in the carrier by not touching or protruding from the carrier and also have the ability to stand up and turn around." |
No more than 2 pets per carrier | 18 x 14 x 8 | 18 x 14 x 8 |
| American Airlines | $150 |
Varies by aircraft For First/Business on A321T, combined weight of pet and carrier cannot exceed 20 lbs (9.07 kg) |
1 |
19 x 13 x 9 (Mainland flights on American) 16 x 12 x 8 (Regional flights on American Eagle) |
18 x 11 x 11 (Soft-sided pet carriers are recommended) |
| Delta Air Lines |
$95 Fee to/from U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands |
"Your pet must be small enough to fit comfortably in a kennel with the ability to move around without touching or sticking out from the sides." | 1 | Not specified | 18 x 11 x 11 |
| Frontier Airlines | $99 per pet, per direction | Carrier must fit under seat | 1 adult dog or cat | 18 x 14 x 8 | 18 x 14 x 11 |
| Hawaiian Airlines |
$35 within Hawaii $125 between Hawaii and North America. This fee includes connecting interisland flights on the same day when booked in |
Carrier must fit under seat | 1 adult cat or dog, OR 2 puppies or kittens of the same breed (age 8 weeks to 6 months old) | No hard-sided carriers allowed | 17 x 11 x 9.5 |
| JetBlue | $125 | Your dog or cat must fit comfortably in a pet carrier that does not exceed the stated dimensions |
1 pet per carrier 2 pets per traveler is allowed, each in their own carrier. For a 2nd carrier, a second seat and pet fee must be paid |
Not specified | 17 x 12.5 x 8.5 |
| Southwest Airlines | $125, U.S. mainland $35 between Hawaiian Islands |
Not stated on the website (past data suggests 20 lbs max, but we couldn't confirm this today) | 1 pet carrier per reservation. Each pet carrier can contain no more than 2 of the same species of small cat or dog | 18.5 x 13.5 x 9.5 | 18.5 x 13.5 x 9.5 |
| Spirit Airlines | $125 | Animals must be able to stand upright and move about comfortably in the container |
2 pets per container is permitted, but only one container per guest is allowed | Not allowed | 18 x 14 x 9 |
| United Airlines | $150 In April 2024, United Airlines increased its in-cabin pet fee from $125 to $150 per one-way flight |
There are no "no weight or breed limitations for pets" | 2 pets per person. You must buy 2 seats if you’re bringing 2 pets. | 17.5 x 12 x 9 | 18 x 11 x 11 |
| Envoy Air (Cargo Only) | - | - | - | - | - |
| PSA Airlines (Cargo Only) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Republic Airways (Cargo Only) | - | - | - | - | - |
| SkyWest Airlines (Cargo Only) | - | - | - | - | - |
