Traveling with pets has gotten much easier over the past few years. A number of reputable luxury and budget hotels now open their doors to four-legged guests. Airlines are also becoming increasingly pet friendly. The top 15 most popular airlines in the U.S. now allow in-cabin pet reservations for dogs and cats. About half of these high-trafficked carriers also permit dogs in their cargo and baggage areas.
The annoying part? Each airline has its own unique pet policy. Fees, max pet weight and even approved pet carrier size vary greatly from one carrier to another. Breed restrictions also often apply. Did you know that most airlines prohibit snub-nose and pug-nose dogs from flying as checked baggage? These include bulldogs, frenchies, shih tzus, and pekingese (to name just a few).
To make your life easier, we researched the pet policies of 15 most trafficked airlines in the U.S. Need more info?
Click on the airline carrier name to visit the airline’s pet policy website.
Airline Policy Comparison: In Cabin Pets
| Airline | One-Way Fee | Max Weight | # Pets Per Reservation | Max Carrier Size (Hard) | Max Carrier Size (Soft) (inches) | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aeromexico | $145 | 15-20 lbs | 1 | 19x12x10 inches for all planes except E-145 (16 x 12 x 7) | same as hard carrier |
888-343-2423 |
| Air Canada | CAD 50 (CAD 100 for international flights) | 22 lbs* | 1 | 21.5x15.5x9 inches | 21.5x15.5x10.5 inches | 888-247-2262 |
| Alaska Airlines | $100 | 20 | 2** | 17x11x7.5 inches | 17x11x9.5 inches | 800-252-7522 |
| American Airlines | $200 (Brazil $150) | n/a | 1 | 19x13x9 inches | same as hard carrier | 800-433-7300 |
| Delta | $125 USD/CAD (Brazil $75, Outside the US $200) | n/a | 1 | varies by flight | varies by flight | 800-221-1212 |
| Frontier | $75 | n/a | 1 | 18x14x8 inches | same as hard carrier | 801-401-9000 |
| Hawaiian Airlines | $175 to North America ($35 inter-island) | 25 | 1-2°° | 16x10x9.5 inches | same as hard carrier | 800-367-5320 |
| Jetblue | $100 | 20 lbs* | 1 | 17 x12.5 x 8.5 inches | same as hard carrier | 800-538-2583 |
| Spirit Airlines | $110 | 40 lbs* | 2 | 18x14x9 inches | same as hard carrier | 801-401-2222 |
| Southwest | $95 | n/a | 2 | 18.5 x 8.5 x 13.5 inches | same as hard carrier | 800-435-9792 |
| Virgin America | $100 | 20 lbs* | 1 | 18x15x7.5 inches | same as hard carrier | 877-359-8474 |
| Volares | $100 for international travel (MXN 999 within Mexico) | 22 lbs* | 1 | 17.5 x 12 x 7.5 inches | same as hard carrier | 855-865-2747 |
| United | $125°°°° | n/a | 1 | 17.5x12x7.5 inches | 18x11x11 inches | 800-864-8331 |
| US Airways | see American Airlines | |||||
| Westjet | $50-59 | n/a | 1 | Hard carriers prohibited | 16x10x8.5 inches | 888-937-8538 |
** Pets must travel in same carrier and must be identical in species and comparable in size
° Permitted only on inter-island flights and flights leaving the State of Hawaii
°° Two puppies or kittens permitted if both are (1) over 8 weeks old and under 6 months and (2) combined weight is less than 25lbs
°°° Domestic (U.S.) travel only; no in-cabin pets on international flights
Airline Policy Comparison: Checked Pets
| Airline
|
One-Way Fee
|
Max Weight
|
# Pets Per Reservation
|
Contact Reservations
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aeromexico | $110-200 | 100 | n/a | 800-237-6639 |
| American Airlines | $125 | n/a | 2 | 800-433-7300 |
| Air Canada | CAD 105 (CAD 270 for international flights) | 70 lbs* | 2 | 888-247-2262 |
| Alaska Airlines | $100 | 150 | 1-2** | 800-252-7522 |
| Delta | $200 | n/a | n/a | 800-221-1212 |
| Frontier | pets not allowed as checked baggage | |||
| Hawaiian Airlines | $225 | 70 lbs* | 800-367-5320 | |
| Jetblue | pets not allowed as checked baggage | |||
| Spirit Airlines | pets not allowed as checked baggage | |||
| Southwest | pets not allowed as checked baggage | |||
| United | pets not allowed as checked baggage | |||
| US Airways | see American Airlines | |||
| Virgin America | pets not allowed as checked baggage | |||
| Volares | ~$60 for international travel (MXN 899 within Mexico) | 99 lbs* | n/a | 855-865-2747 |
| Westjet | $75-88.50 | 100 lbs* | 2-6° | 888-937-8538 |
** Depends on age and size of dog
° Depends on flight number
