Breeze Airways accepts small cats and dogs in the cabin on its domestic flights, in a soft-sided carrier no larger than 17 x 8 x 13 inches that fits under the seat in front of you, and the pet must weigh 25 pounds or less. Breeze does not carry animals as cargo or checked baggage, does not allow pets on its international flights, and caps each flight at five pets. The pet fee listed on its help center is $75 per carrier for each one-way flight.
Most of the pages that rank for this question are scraped copies that contradict each other on cargo, carrier size and fees. The rules below come from Breeze's own Contract of Carriage (section 6, Animals) and its help center. Where Breeze does not publish an answer, we say so. If this is your first flight with a pet, read our general guide to flying with a dog in the cabin as well.
Breeze pet rules at a glance
| Rule | Breeze Airways policy |
|---|---|
| Animals accepted as pets | Domesticated cats and dogs only |
| Where pets travel | Cabin only, under the seat in front of you |
| Cargo or checked baggage | Not accepted |
| Routes | Domestic flights only; no pets on international flights |
| Weight limit | 25 pounds or less (the pet) |
| Carrier | Soft-sided, max 17 x 8 x 13 inches (L x W x H) |
| Pets per guest | One |
| Pets per flight | Five |
| Fee | $75 per carrier, per one-way flight (help center) |
| Seats not allowed | Breeze Ascent, the row behind Ascent, exit rows |
| Carry-on allowance | The carrier counts as your personal item |
Which pets can fly on Breeze
The Contract of Carriage limits pets to domesticated cats and dogs. Rabbits, birds, ferrets and other small animals are not accepted as pets, even if they would fit in the carrier. If you travel with one of those, look at an airline that takes them in the cabin, or plan a drive. Our roundup of which airlines allow exotic pets lists the carriers that do.
Breeze also asks that the pet be harmless, odorless and not offensive, and that it will need no attention during the flight. In plain terms, your pet should be calm enough to stay zipped in its carrier for the whole trip. If a pet becomes disruptive, the contract allows Breeze to remove it at the first stop en route, which would leave you to finish the journey another way.
The 25-pound weight limit
Breeze's contract says the pet must weigh 25 pounds or less. That is the animal's weight, and it is a little more generous than airlines that cap the pet and carrier combined at 20 pounds or so. In practice the carrier size is the tighter limit: a 25-pound dog will rarely fit comfortably in a carrier that is only 8 inches wide. Most dogs that fly Breeze are toy and small breeds under about 15 pounds.
Weigh your pet at home a week or two before the trip. If it is close to the limit, do not assume the gate agent will let it go. A pet that is over the limit or cannot stand and turn in its carrier can be refused at the airport.
Carrier size and type
Breeze requires a soft-sided carrier. Hard plastic carriers are not on the approved list. The carrier must not exceed 17 inches long, 8 inches wide and 13 inches high, it must fit under the seat in front of you, and it must be big enough for the pet to stand and turn around. A Breeze team member inspects and approves the carrier at the airport.
The 8-inch width is narrow compared with many airlines, so check the measurements of your carrier carefully before you buy. Some third-party sites list 18 x 13 x 9 inches for Breeze. The current Contract of Carriage says 17 x 8 x 13, and that is the figure to plan around. Our guide to the best airline-approved dog carriers lists soft models with flexible sides that suit narrow under-seat spaces.
The pet fee
Breeze's help center lists the pet fee under its optional services at $75 per pet carrier for each one-way flight, so $150 for a round trip. The Contract of Carriage itself only says a fee applies "as posted on the Breeze website", which means the price can change without a contract update. Older articles quote $95; check the amount shown when you add the pet to your booking.
Because the carrier counts as your personal item, you may also need to pay for a carry-on bag if you want to bring anything else on board beyond the pet.
Five pets per flight, one per guest
Breeze allows no more than five pets on each flight, and each guest may bring only one. Pet spaces are first come, first served, so add your pet as early as possible. If you are traveling with two small dogs, each needs its own adult traveler with a ticket and a carrier.
Seat rules: no Ascent, no row behind it, no exit rows
This is the rule that surprises people. Breeze's premium Ascent seats are recliners with no under-seat space for a carrier, and the help center notes that pet carriers do not fit under Ascent seats even if you buy an extra seat. The contract also bars pets from the row directly behind the Ascent section and from exit rows.
So if you plan to fly with a pet, book a standard or extra-legroom economy seat outside those rows. A window seat keeps the carrier out of the aisle. If you already hold an Ascent ticket and add a pet later, call Breeze to change your seat before travel day.
Domestic only: no pets on international flights
Breeze mostly flies within the United States, but it has added some international routes. Its contract says pets are not permitted on international flights. If your trip crosses a border, you will need a different airline or a different plan for your pet. For moves to Mexico or Canada, see our guides to pet transport to Mexico and pet transport to Canada.
No cargo and no checked pets
Breeze does not accept cats, dogs or other animals as cargo or as checked baggage. A dog that is too big for an under-seat carrier cannot fly Breeze. Your options are an airline that still carries pets in the hold on your route, driving, or a professional ground pet transporter who handles the trip door to door. Our guide to pet cargo versus in-cabin travel compares those choices.
Service dogs and emotional support animals
Breeze accepts trained service dogs in the cabin at no charge. Under US Department of Transportation service animal rules, you must submit the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form, and Breeze's contract says the form must reach Breeze at least 48 hours before departure. A service dog must fit on your lap or in your foot space without blocking other guests, and it cannot sit on the seat or touch the tray table. Breeze will make reasonable efforts to accommodate up to two service dogs.
Emotional support animals are not treated as service animals. They travel as pets, which means the fee, the 25-pound limit and the carrier rules all apply. Our guide to flying with an emotional support animal explains the 2021 DOT rule change behind this.
Health certificates and paperwork
Breeze's Contract of Carriage does not list a health certificate requirement for pets on domestic flights. It does make you responsible for meeting the laws of the place you are flying to. Carry your pet's rabies certificate and vaccine records on every trip, and check whether your destination state or your hotel or rental needs anything more.
Breeze also says it assumes no responsibility for the health of a pet in transit. If your pet is elderly, has a heart or breathing condition, or is a snub-nosed breed, talk to your vet before you book. Never sedate a pet for a flight unless your vet recommends it after an exam, since sedation affects breathing and balance at altitude.
How to add a pet to a Breeze booking
Add the pet when you book your flight, through the optional services step, or contact Breeze afterward to add it to an existing reservation. Adding it at the time of booking is the safer route, since it confirms one of the five spaces is free before you pay for the ticket. Keep your confirmation showing the pet add-on.
Our general guide on how to book a pet on a flight covers the questions to ask any airline before you commit.
Travel day with a pet on Breeze
Arrive early. A Breeze team member needs to inspect the carrier, and security with a pet takes longer. At the checkpoint you carry your pet through the scanner while the empty carrier is screened, as the TSA explains for pets, so a snug harness and leash make that step safer.
On board, the carrier stays under the seat in front of you for the whole flight, including taxi, takeoff and landing. Do not open it to calm your pet. Most cats and dogs settle within a few minutes once the noise steadies. A worn T-shirt inside the carrier and a familiar blanket over part of it can help.
Flying a cat on Breeze
Cats often handle a short Breeze nonstop better than a long drive, but the airport is the hard part. A cat that bolts at the security checkpoint can be very difficult to catch in a terminal. Put a well-fitted harness on your cat before you leave home, clip a leash to it, and ask the TSA officer for a private screening room if your cat is skittish. The officer will still need you to carry the cat through the scanner, but a closed room removes the risk of an escape across the concourse.
Inside the carrier, a puppy pad underneath a thin towel handles accidents. Most cats will not use a litter tray on a plane, and that is fine for a flight of a few hours. Offer water and a litter box at home just before you leave, and again as soon as you reach your hotel or new home.
Delays, cancellations and connections
Breeze sells mostly nonstop flights, which is the best case for a pet. If a flight is delayed, keep your pet in its carrier at the gate and find the airport's pet relief area if the wait runs long. If a flight is cancelled and you are rebooked, confirm with the agent that the pet add-on moves with you to the new flight, because the five pet spaces on that flight may already be taken.
If you build your own connection on two separate Breeze tickets, each flight needs its own pet add-on and its own fee. Leave plenty of time between flights so you can take your pet to a relief area. The ASPCA's travel safety tips recommend booking direct flights whenever possible, and on Breeze that is usually easy to do.
A short packing list for a Breeze flight with a pet
- A soft-sided carrier no larger than 17 x 8 x 13 inches, already familiar to your pet.
- A harness and leash for the security checkpoint.
- Rabies certificate and vaccine records, on paper or on your phone.
- Absorbent pads, a few plastic bags and wipes.
- A small collapsible bowl and a bottle of water to fill after security.
- A collar tag with your cell phone number and your destination address.
Is Breeze a good choice for flying with a pet?
For a small cat or dog on a domestic nonstop, Breeze works well. Many Breeze routes are nonstop between mid-size cities that the big airlines only serve with a connection, which is easier on a pet. The fee is moderate, and the five-pet cap is reasonable for a narrow-body aircraft.
It is the wrong choice if your dog is over 25 pounds, if you want to sit in Ascent, if you are flying internationally, or if your pet is not a cat or dog. In those cases compare other airlines, or consider a ground transporter for longer moves.