In addition, there are often hard-and-fast rules about pets in the cabin vs. cargo, and even how many pets you can take onboard. We analyzed the nine U.S. airlines based on factors including whether pets are allowed, the average pet fee and airline safety records to determine what airline is best for pet travel. Delta's carry-on pet fee is $95 each way for flights to and from the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. There are also restrictions based on outdoor temperatures in certain destinations Alaska Airlines flies to, as well as limits on pet cargo travel on certain flights during the holidays. Pettravel in the cabin: For $99 each way, pets maytravel in the cabin onFrontier Airlines flights. Similarly, if your dog is on a prescription diet or has food sensitivities, make sure theyll be able to eat at your destination. Read more, Sam Kemmis is a travel rewards expert at NerdWallet specializing in airline and hotel loyalty programs. Pet fees are a nonrefundable $99 per pet, per direction. See below for our airline-specific information on flying with dogs. On American Airlines flights, thecompany allows seven total carry-on kennels. Follow these common guidelines when selecting a pet carrier: We recommend the Sherpa Original Deluxe Airline-Approved Dog & Cat Carrier Bag. Hawaiian Air accepts dogs, cats, and household birds, but only dogs and cats are allowed to be carried on. Health and vaccine requirements: Your dog will need ID tags and a pet license. Check with your airline before boarding. In addition to cats and dogs, rabbits and household birds can also travel aboard Alaska Airlines. All you have to do is select "Travel with a pet" as a traveler during booking on united.com. Our partners compensate us. Southwest wont let your pet fly in the baggage compartment or cargo, which means in the main cabin only. A rabies certificate is required for pets traveling to Puerto Rico. Passengerstraveling with a pet cannot sit in an emergency exit row, a United Premium Plus seat, or the front row of each cabin. Allegiant also allows minors (15 years and older) traveling alone to bring a pet onboard. She also has worked for MarketWatch and The Orange County Register. Each paid traveler may have only one pet carrier. Thats due to a December 2020 ruling from the U.S. Department of Transportation that eliminated a requirement that airlines allow emotional support animals free of charge. On Alaska, pets arent accepted in baggage or cargo for the entire period from Nov. 15 to Jan. 10. Just as it is for humans, air travel can be stressful for animals and can take a toll on their mental and physical health. However, each passenger is only permitted to bring one animal with them whileflying in the cabin. Passengers pay $110 per pet carrier, each way. If you must fly with a pet, but the restrictions feel burdensome, consider skipping the commercial aircraft entirely. $95 for tickets issued on/after Feb. 28, 2022. Straight north of North Korea lies the Russian port city of Magadan. Make sure to check the airports website beforehand for pet relief areas, because many dont have them. Additionally, pets may not be checked in cargo on many flights between April 15 and October 15 every year, and pets are not allowed to travel as checked baggage or cargo if the temperature is below 20F or above 85F at the origin, destination, or connection airport. Are there other restrictions on dogs in the cabin? Health and vaccine requirements: Dogs traveling in cargo must have a health certificate dated within 10 days of the outward journey and 30 days of the return journey. Furry friends cannottravel in the cabin oninternational flights, nor on flights to Hawaii. Flying with Dogs: 26 Things to Know Before Taking Your Pup on a Plane, 15 Dog-Friendly Beaches Your Pooch Will Love, Do Not Sell My Personal Information CA Residents. This is more prevalent if youre flying out of the country with your pet, as domestic flights may not have such a requirement. Jetblue - allows pets in the cabin, but never as cargo Southwest - allows pets in the cabin, but never as cargo Spirit - allows pets in the cabin, but never as cargo United Airlines -. While none are exactly great, here are the best airlines for traveling with a pet. All rights reserved. Yes: for travel between Hawaii and North America, theres a fee of $125 each way for pets in the cabin and $225 each way for pets traveling in cargo or checked baggage. Most airlines will deny boarding to misbehaving pets. The maximum height of the container depends on the aircraft in which your pet will be travelling: 70cm on A350 aircraft, 60cm on A380 aircraft, 101cm on B777 aircraft and 111cm on B787 aircraft. Its also a good chance to check whether there are any regulations you might have missed. And the reality is, flying with pets is a bleak undertaking with any airline. Airlines were rated on a five-point scale, yet only one scored higher than a four (thats our winner, Alaska). Pets cannot be booked until 14 days prior to the flight, and they must be dropped off at least three hours before departure. Rules may change, so check before ticketing . Unfortunately, they have not allowed PetSafe reservations since March 2020. Flying with pets requires a little extra leg work, however. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. How Much Are Travel Points and Miles Worth in 2023? Carry-on pets are limited to cats and dogs that meet the size, age and destination requirements. Note that during the busy holiday season, Alaska has an embargo on pets traveling in cargo, so some pets will have to celebrate back at home. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Caroline Teel of SmarterTravel recommends asking these questions to see if it really is the most pet-friendly airline: Additionally, when in the airport, some pets will need to run around or use the litter box before the flight. So what do you need to know before flying with your dog, and what are the various airlines requirements? Ad Choices. Soft-sided carriers, which are whatAmerican Airlines recommends, can be 18 by 11 by 11 inches or slightly larger, so long as theyfit under the seat in front of you without collapsing too much. Get more smart money moves straight to your inbox. By subscribing to our newsletter(s) you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. Additionally, up to two pets of the same size and species can fly together in the same kennel, so long as they fit comfortably. Some only require it for cargo, but not main cabin flying. HawaiianAirlines only allows one adult dog or cat per carrier, but up to two puppies or kittens of the same breed or litter that are between eight weeks and six months old. Pets must stay in their carrier, with all doors and flaps secured at all times, while onboard the plane, as well as in the boarding area. Southwest reserves the right to deny boarding if the pet is growling, biting, urinating, or scratching. Due to changing flight schedules in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Delta Cargo will temporarily embargo all PET shipments effective April 1, 2020, until further notice. Pettravel in the cabin: For $125 each way, passengers can bring small dogs and cats, safely secured inside a carrier thatfits under the seat in front of them, on all domesticJetBlue flights. And while our site doesnt feature every company or financial product available on the market, were proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward and free. We normalized the data relative to overall passenger count to avoid penalizing larger airlines that might have more reports because they transport more animals. It is important to review our pet policies to . While Alaska scored a 4, only one other airline, Southwest, scored a 3. Yes: $125 each way, plus an extra service fee of $125 for certain (lengthy) stopovers. Travelers with carry-on pets cannot sit in certain areas, such as the emergency exit rows and bulkhead seats, as well as in specific rows on certain planes. The airline suspended its pet shipping program,PetSafe, in 2018 and has not announced when (or if) it will resume. Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card. All rights reserved. Are there other restrictions on dogs in cargo/checked baggage? Sally French is a travel rewards expert who joined NerdWallet in 2020. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institutions Terms and Conditions. Are dogs allowed in cargo/the baggage? The carrier, with your pet inside, must weigh 20 pounds or less and will count as your personal item. Veterinary experts say that short-nosed animals commonly have abnormalities that can compromise their breathing, according to Alaska. Heres what its like flying on those airlines with pets, why they scored higher than the rest, and the reasons why they still have challenges: Pros: The Southwest pet fee is $95 each way, per pet carrier, which is among the cheapest pet fees youll find. United Airlines. Take particular care if traveling with a brachycephalic (or short-muzzled) breed. Please refer to the below CDC web pages for the details on countries and restrictions. ; Your pet must always remain in its closed carrier under the seat in front of you. Confinement in a carrier could cause anxiety which could exacerbate these conditions, notes Dr. Klein. Deltas pet policy makes Delta seem like the most pet-friendly airline (encouraging travelers to take off with your favorite friend, even if they have fur, which is adorable). The combined weight of the pet and carrier cant exceed 40 pounds. And pit bull breeds are not allowed in the cabin. But at least if youve got quite a menagerie to transport, its possible. Pets may not travel in cargo November 15January 10. Members ofTrueBlue, the airlines reward program, can earn 300 extra points for each segment their pet flies with them in the cabin. All carriers should be secure, padded, ventilated, and water-resistant. This will count as one of your carry-on items. Yes: check the airlines website for crate and weight specifications. Airline Price per pet Allowed in cargo? The lounges, which are accessible to passengers with certain levels of, or people who purchase a separate membership, accept quiet service animals and pets in carry-on kennels. $125 each way, plus an additional $125 charge for each stopover of more than four hours within the U.S. Is there a fee to travel with your pet? If youre heading to an Alaska lounge, your pet can come too as long as its well-behaved. Some private and semi-private jets allow pets to roam freely, wont clamp down on breeds or sizes, and wont make you wrestle your way through security with a pet in tow. Know what youre getting into before planning a flight with a pet. Pet travel in the cabin: For $100 each way (or $105 for flights departing from Canada),Alaska Airlines allows passengers to bring dogs, cats, rabbits, and household birds in the cabin. Yes: $125 to U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Most airlines allow fully-trained service dogs to ride in the cabin without a carrier. Your emotional support animal likely can no longer fly for free. iy_2023; im_01; id_18; ih_06; imh_53; i_epoch:1674053628285, py_2023; pm_01; pd_02; ph_04; pmh_30; p_epoch:1672662613500, link-block; link-block_link-block; bodystr, pn_tstr:Mon Jan 02 04:30:13 PST 2023; pn_epoch:1672662613500. Though air travel is sometimes unavoidable, it can take a toll on dogs health and emotional wellbeing. Dogs, cats, rabbits and household birds. Is there a fee to travel with your pet? Is there a fee to travel with your pet? Pets in cargo: Frontier Airlines does not transport pets as checked baggage. If youre traveling between Hawaii and North America, you need to obtain an animalhealth certificate from your veterinarian within 14 days of travel. Pettravel in the cabin: UnitedAirlines only allows dogs and cats totravel in the cabin. There are also certain times of the year (like the holiday season) when airlines will pause on allowing pets onboard at all. Japan Airlines will not accept dogs from countries listed as high-risk Rabies countries from July 14, 2021. Fees to transport pets as Alaska pet cargo vary by route and your pets size and start at $250. They strongly suggest a soft-sided carrier, no larger than 9 inches by 16 inches by 19 inches. Cons: Only small pets are allowed. Yes: a maximum of four pets are allowed per flight. NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. Themost pet-friendly airline for your journey depends on the type of animal you have, your pets size, where youre traveling, and whether youd like your pet to fly in the cabin or in the cargo hold as checked baggage. The first question is, should you fly with your pet at all? In the early days of the pandemic, United suspended its pet cargo services and has yet to resume them. Alaska was the best of the bunch, but even animal travel on Alaska has limitations. Frontier was the third-place winner. Soft-sided kennels should be 18 inches by 11 inches by 11 inches maximum. Delta Is Launching Free In-Flight Wi-Fi on Most Domestic Flights, Around-the-World Cruise Guide: Everything You Need to Know About These Far-Reaching Voyages, The Delta SkyMiles Platinum AmEx Card's Biggest Perks: The Annual Companion Pass and Sky Club Access. Pet carriers must be leak-proof, well ventilated, and no more than 18.5 inches by 8.5 inches by 13.5 inches. If your pet needs in-flight feeding, you need to provide the food and directions (theyll feed your pet, which is rare!). Even with the cheapest fare class, you can change your flight at no cost (aside from the fare difference). Even with the most pet-friendly airlines, there are still many restrictions around a pets size and how free (or confined to the kennel) they can be when traveling within the main cabin. Only six pets are allowed on each flight. Dogs must be at least eight weeks old. Watch on. Pets must remain inside a carrier for the entire flight. Email:
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