Airline pet travel, although it may seem traumatic to a caring pet owner, whether in-cabin or cargo, is oftentimes the best way (or the only way) to travel. Dogs, cats and all pets get to their destination quicker and as safely as possible. It should be noted that millions of animals travel safely aboard aircraft every year. Airline personnel make every effort to handle these animals with the care they deserve.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sets and enforces regulations for the transportation of live animals. These regulations apply to the pet owner, the shipper, as well as to the airlines. If you decide to transport your dog or cat by air, there are some things to check for in order to be in compliance with applicable laws, and to assure the safest and most comfortable trip for your pet.
If you are traveling with a smaller dog or cat, generally under 13 pounds and 12″ from floor to front shoulder, you should be able to bring the pet into the cabin with you. Always check with the airlines to find out the dimensions under the seat in front of you. An airline compliant carrier is a must. It should have a waterproof bottom, secure fasteners, (zippers) and ventilation on all sides. (These carriers are available at PetTravelStore.com.)
If you cannot accompany your pet, or they are too large to fly in the cabin, dogs and cats typically are transported as cargo or as checked baggage. Sometimes these terms create confusion, but both describe humane means of shipping animals. What is important to know is that you may only transport your pet as checked baggage if you are a passenger traveling on the same flight as your pet and the combined weight of your pet and its crate is under about 70 pounds. (This weight varies by airline.) If flying cargo, your pet may travel unaccompanied, either through the regular cargo channels or through an especially expedited delivery service that several airlines have developed. Many airline cargo departments have specialists in the movement of animals who can assist you with answers to your questions. They are trained to handle your pet with care and are experienced in doing so.
What is important for you to know is that pets traveling as cargo are transported in the same pressurized holds as those in the checked baggage system, and this area is temperature and pressure regulated similar to those in the cabin.
Each airline has its own pet policy, but one thing remains the same. You should call the airline before you book and tell them that you are traveling with a pet. Most airlines will only allow a certain number of pets in the cabin. Additionally, there will be a cost to bring your pet in the cabin with you. If your pet is traveling unaccompanied, then contact your airline’s cargo department.
For more tips on traveling with a pet on an airline, visit airline travel tips.
For airline pet policies for every airline that we can find worldwide, visit airline pet policies.
Hello Sandra – United Airlines will not fly your puppy in the cargo hold if the temperatures are under 45 degrees F anywhere along the route. In the case of a puppy, there are no exceptions to this regulation. It would be far preferable to have someone carry the puppy in the cabin if at all possible.
Jason
I want to ship a 9 week old Puppy from Albany NY to Sacramento. It is a 7 hour flight. He would Transfer planes one time at O’Hara. It is an United Airlines. I am feeling this may traumatize or do physical harm. Scheduled for 2/28/17 it is Cold in the North!
Liz – English Bullies are the hardest breed to transport due to their breathing problems. Best to arrange ground transport if you can, but if that cannot be done, then you may have to look into a cargo only airline.
Susan
Hi I want to travel from mexico to Washington DC or any city near DC, I have an English bulldog, does anybody know which airline allow this type of dogs? I’m moving to DC and I don’t want to leave my dog in mexico
Hi Nicole – last we checked, the only airline that flew animals into Hawaii in the cabin was Alaska Airlines. Not sure if they still do. If your cats will need to travel as cargo, the airlines will not accept them if temperatures are lower than 45 degrees F. This puts a strain on owners looking to book airline tickets, but you need to find a time when the weather in Boston is warmer. Fly in the hottest part of the day if you can. It is not the cargo area that is the problem. It is the holding area and loading procedures that can bring risk to an animal.
Jason
Hello, I have to fly from Boston or Providence to Honolulu with two cats. (I’m moving. I’m completing Hawaii’s 5-day or less program to avoid quarantine.) Can I take two cats in the cabin with me, or will I have to fly them as cargo? If cargo, are all airlines cargo holds climate controlled? It being winter, I’m concerned they will freeze or be very cold.
Mikayla – United flies the route non-stop, but the length of the flight is too long for them to accept pets in the cabin and not be in violation of animal welfare regulations. American is the same as the leg from SYD to LAX is over 8 hours. The Australian-based airlines that fly the route do not carry pets in the cabin and Hawaiian Airlines does not fly pets in the cabin into Honolulu. Sorry we could not come up with an alternative for you.
Phil
Hello! Does anyone know if you can take (small) dogs IN-CABIN on American Airlines from New Zealand to Los Angeles? Are there any other airlines that allows in-cabin dog travel that takes that route? I would really like to know.
If you do know the answers to my questions and reply, THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!
Krystina – almost all major airlines accept cats on board. Most will allow your kitty in the cabin with you on domestic flights. Find the airline that flies your specific route most efficiently and contact their reservations department for details.
Phil
I’m planning on flying to Minnesota from Arkansas and I want to bring my young cat with me. Do all airlines allow pets or just certain ones? And if so, are there any airlines from Arkansas to Minnesota that will allow me to bring my cat?
Hello. Have anyone traveled with pets in cabin on a KLM flight? I’m worried because my cat is a big one, and fits in the kennel a little bit tighter than I expected, and the total weight including him and the kennel exceeds 8kg in 400g. My domestic flight in Brazil allows pets until 10kg in the cabin, so my problem will be when I check-in to my international flight with klm. If anyone can share how it was passing through the company’s check-in, I really appreciate. Thank you! Gabriela
Gabriela ? you will claim your baggage and clear customs with your pet when arriving in Germany assuming you are flying in and out of Amsterdam on the same airline. As long as you have conformed to German regulations, there should be no problems entering Germany. You can find them here: http://www.pettravel.com/immigration/Germany.cfm. Note that Brazil is considered a high-rabies country by the EU so the titer test in step #3 will be required.
Phil
Hi everyone! I’m traveling with KLM and I will carry my cat in the cabin with me, from S?o Paulo (Brazil) to Hanover (Germany) with a connection flight in Amsterdam. I already checked all the informations about bringing an animal to EU, especially because the animal is from a non-EU country. It’ll be my first time traveling with an animal, and my question is regard to how it works after arriving in the first country in EU, where should I take the animal for the Veterinary Border Inspection to show all the documents, and do I need do declare the animal at customs? I’ve talked to other people who brought animals in the cabin from Brazil to the EU, and they said it was the same as traveling alone, just passing through immigration, baggage reclaim and then customs in the non-declare line. But I am afraid of doing something wrong or forgetting about something during the process. Thanks in advance for your help! Gabriela
Amit – it is much better for your pet to travel in the cabin than in the cargo hold. The cabin will be pressurized and your Pug’s ears should adjust.
Jason
I want to know is it safe for pug to travel in cabin, how to adjust the pressure on his ears while traveling
Rosina – the airline depends on your specific route, but Lufthansa is based in Germany and likely offers the most routes there from the US.
Susan
Hi, I want to bring my shih tzu from USA to Germany. Which airlines can I take ? Thank you very much!
Denise – the airlines are more strict with international flights and the weight of your dog must include the carrier. Enforcement is very hard to predict and it will depend on who checks you in. Avianca is pretty pet-friendly, though. They may charge you a surcharge if your pup is over the mark. Be sure and confirm that you can book the transport directly and do not need to go through an agent.
Phil
Hello! We are flying to Colombia in December with our french bull dog. I’ve already checked their weight and she is really close (they say 22 lbs and she’s 24) I have purchased the airline approved carrier and she will fit fine. My question is do you have any experience with pets to/from Colombia, with security and customs? We are flying on Avianca. Thanks for any feedback you have.
Jase – Pugs are noted for breathing problems and are best flown in the cabin of an airplane. Make sure your pet is not overweight as that can prevent that type of travel. Also, if they must travel in the cargo hold they should not be flown in the summer at all. High temperatures leads to dehydration quickly in this breed. There is no way to improve their breathing; it is how they are built. As for ear adjustment at higher altitudes, the hold is pressurized like the cabin. How their ears clear is a good question for your veterinarian.
Jason