Every US airline's pet policy, decoded
In-cabin fees, cargo programs, weight limits, breed restrictions, paperwork - for American, United, Delta, Southwest and the rest. Verified May 2026, updated monthly.
Airline pet policies change constantly. Brachycephalic bans, weight-tier shifts, embargo dates, paperwork requirements - the official policy pages bury the details that actually matter when you're planning a trip. Our airline guides extract the practical version: real fees, real weight limits, real breed restrictions, real paperwork timelines.
We currently cover the two highest-volume US airlines for pet transport (United and American), with Delta, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue, Frontier, Spirit, Hawaiian, and Allegiant rolling out in Wave 2.
Moving a pet to the UK from the US? Post-Brexit requirements are different from EU destinations. See our dedicated UK pet transport guide.
Military PCS pet move? The DoD reimburses up to $4,000 OCONUS per the 2024 JTR. See our military pet transport guide for reimbursement tiers, Patriot Express booking, and OCONUS destinations.
For an overview of every pet transport option, see our how to transport a pet guide, covers 7 methods with a decision matrix.
Bringing a pet to Hawaii? It is the only US rabies-free state and has a unique 5-Day-Or-Less bypass program. See our Hawaii pet transport guide for the full step-by-step.
Moving to Germany? See our Germany pet transport guide for EU 576/2013 requirements, TRACES filing, and approved airports.
Moving to Australia is one of the most complex pet imports in the world: 180+ day prep, mandatory Mickleham quarantine. See our Australia pet transport guide for the full AQIS BICON process.
What's in this hub
- American Airlines pet transport - cabin, cargo, PetEmbark cost
- United Airlines pet transport - in-cabin + PetSafe cargo guide
- Wave 2 airlines (in progress): Delta, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue, Frontier
- Airline pet policy comparison tool - side-by-side filterable table
Numbers worth knowing
- Typical in-cabin fee (US domestic): $95–$200 each way
- Typical cargo fee (cross-country, 50-lb dog): $500–$1,400
- Brachycephalic breeds banned from cargo on: United, American, Delta, Alaska
- Paperwork lead time for international: 10 days for CVI, 21+ days for rabies wait
Read everything we've published on this
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Sun Country Airlines Pet Policy: Rules, Fees, Carriers
Sun Country flies small dogs and cats in the cabin only, no cargo. Here are the weight, carrier, fee and route rules,…
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KLM Pet Policy: Flying With a Dog or Cat (US Guide)
How KLM carries pets in cabin, hold and cargo: weight limits, fee ranges, breed rules and US travel paperwork. Confirm details on…
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Air France Pet Policy: A US Traveler's Guide for 2026
How Air France handles pets in cabin, hold, and cargo: weight limits, fee bands, breed rules, and the EU documents US flyers…
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Flying With a Puppy: Age Rules, Vaccines, and Cabin Tips
Flying with a puppy? Most US airlines want 8 weeks minimum, but rules vary. Health certificates, cabin carriers, and a pre-flight checklist…
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Can You Sedate a Dog for Travel? A Safety-First Guide
Should you sedate a dog for travel? AVMA and IATA advise against air sedation. Learn the difference between sedatives and vet-prescribed anxiety…
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Going Through Airport Security With a Dog: The TSA Walkthrough
Exactly what happens at TSA when you fly with a dog: the carrier goes through X-ray, you carry your dog through the…
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Emotional Support Animal Flying: The Honest 2026 Rules
Since the 2021 DOT rule, ESAs fly as pets, not service animals. What that means, the real fees, and the ESA letter…
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Flying With a Large Dog in Cabin: Real Options in 2026
Standard airlines bar large dogs from the cabin. Here are the real 2026 options: BARK Air, K9 Jets, JSX, service dogs, and…
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Flying With a Dog in Cabin: The Complete 2026 Guide to Airlines, Carrier Sizes, Fees and Booking
Flying with a dog in cabin in 2026: US airline carrier limits, $95-$150 fees, booking caps, breed rules and what to pack,…
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Qatar Airways Pet Policy: Can You Fly With a Dog or Cat? The 2026 Guide
Qatar Airways pet policy explained: no dogs or cats in cabin (only falcons + service dogs). Cargo booking, fees, crate rules. Confirm…
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Turkish Airlines pet policy: the complete 2026 guide (in-cabin + cargo)
Turkish Airlines pet policy: in-cabin up to 8kg with low fees, cargo classes, banned breeds, and the dogs-and-cats rule. Confirm before booking.
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Emirates Pet Policy: Flying a Dog or Cat With Emirates (2026 Cargo Guide)
Emirates pet policy: no cabin pets, checked baggage vs SkyCargo, snub-nosed and heat rules, and fee ranges. Confirm with Emirates before booking.
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