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TOOL · AIRLINE PET POLICY COMPARISON

Airline pet policy comparison (2026)

Every major US airline's pet policy in one sortable, filterable table. Click any column header to sort. Filter to in-cabin only, cargo only, or brachycephalic-friendly carriers. Data verified April 2026.

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US airline pet policy comparison

12 major US carriers. Sort by any column. Filter to in-cabin only, cargo only, or brachycephalic-friendly. Verified April 2026.

12 airlines
Airline In-cabin Cabin fee Cargo Cargo fee Weight limit Snub-nose OK

Fees are one-way starting prices for a small dog in continental US. Some carriers charge more for longer flights and international routes. Always verify with the airline before booking. Last verified April 2026.

How to read this table

The columns are the questions that actually determine whether you can fly with your pet on a given airline.

  • In-cabin: can your pet ride with you in a carrier under the seat. Only available for small pets (typically under 17-20 lbs combined with the carrier). Required for all snub-nosed breeds since most carriers no longer accept them in cargo.
  • Cabin fee: one-way starting price. Most fees apply per flight segment, so a connecting flight doubles the fee.
  • Cargo: climate-controlled cargo hold for larger pets. Most US airlines have phased this out since 2018 after a series of in-cargo deaths. Only United, Alaska, and Hawaiian still routinely accept pets as checked cargo in 2026.
  • Cargo fee: one-way starting price, increases with distance and weight. International cargo runs $500-$1,500+ depending on route.
  • Weight limit: combined pet + carrier maximum for in-cabin. The IATA-recommended carrier weighs roughly 4 lbs empty, so a 20-lb limit means about a 16-lb pet.
  • Snub-nose OK: does the carrier accept brachycephalic breeds (English bulldogs, French bulldogs, pugs, boston terriers, boxers, Pekingese, shih tzus) in cargo. Most US airlines have a hard "no" here for safety reasons.

When the table won't tell you everything

Three situations where you need to call the airline directly even after using this table:

  1. Aircraft type matters. Some airlines only allow pets in cargo on specific aircraft (regional jets often have no cargo hold pressurization). Verify your specific flight's plane before booking.
  2. International routes have their own rules. Connecting through a country with quarantine (Hawaii, Australia, UK) can disqualify your flight even if the airline accepts pets domestically.
  3. Seasonal embargoes apply. Most carriers refuse pets in cargo when forecast temperatures exceed 85°F or fall below 45°F at any airport on the route, which rules out most summer Phoenix/Dallas and winter Minneapolis/Chicago flights.

If your pet cannot fly

Plenty of pets cannot travel by air at all. Snub-nosed breeds face outright airline bans, dogs above roughly 20 lbs rarely fit in an under-seat carrier, and most carriers suspend pet cargo during summer heat. If the table above rules your pet out, ground transport is usually the practical answer: a driver collects your pet at your door, there is no cargo hold, and breed and temperature restrictions do not apply. Start with what to do when your dog cannot fly, then compare ground versus air and what a large dog costs to move.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Which US airline is the most pet-friendly in 2026?
For in-cabin travel, Alaska Airlines edges out the competition with the lowest standard fee ($100) and a relatively generous weight limit. For cargo travel, United is the only major US carrier with a robust PetSafe program that still accepts most breeds (except brachycephalic). Spirit allows the heaviest in-cabin pet (up to 40 lbs combined) which matters for medium dogs.
Why do most US airlines no longer accept pets as cargo?
A series of in-cargo deaths between 2017 and 2018 (notably a French bulldog death on United in March 2018) drove industry-wide policy changes. American, Delta, and Southwest discontinued cargo pet transport. United, Alaska, and Hawaiian kept their programs but added breed restrictions, temperature limits, and weight thresholds.
Are brachycephalic breeds banned from all flights?
Not from in-cabin travel. A French bulldog under 20 lbs can still fly in the cabin. The bans apply to cargo only, where temperature swings and pressure changes hit snub-nosed breeds harder. American, Delta, United, Alaska, and Hawaiian all have hard "no cargo" rules for brachycephalic breeds.
How do I know the weight limit really means combined pet + carrier?
The airline weighs you at check-in. They put the carrier with the pet inside it on the scale. If the total exceeds the limit, they refuse the booking even if the pet alone is under the limit. Buy your carrier first, weigh it empty, then subtract from the limit to know your real pet weight allowance.
Do these fees apply per flight or per booking?
Per segment for most US carriers. A round-trip with one connection each way is 4 segments, so 4 fees. Southwest is the notable exception (per booking, not per segment) which is why it's often the cheapest in-cabin option for connecting flights.
Can I take a service animal or emotional support animal for free?
Trained service dogs travel free in cabin under the Air Carrier Access Act and do not count against pet quotas. Emotional support animals lost their special status under DOT rule changes in 2021 and now require the standard in-cabin pet fee on most US airlines.
What if my flight is operated by a different airline than the one I booked?
The operating airline's pet policy applies, not the booking airline's. A ticket booked on Delta but operated by Aeromexico follows Aeromexico's pet rules. Always check the operating carrier on the itinerary before assuming the policy you researched applies.
How often do these policies change?
Airline pet policies typically update once or twice per year, with the biggest swings happening at the start of summer (cargo temperature embargoes activate) and after high-profile incidents. We verify and update this table quarterly. Last verified April 2026.