7 Airlines That Take Dogs: Policies and Fees

For small dogs, cabin travel is usually the most practical option, while medium and large dogs may need a baggage-compartment or cargo solution. The right airline depends mainly on your dog's size, route, season, destination rules, and whether you need cabin, checked, or cargo transport.

You may be booking a flight right now and wondering whether your dog can travel on it. A dog that fits comfortably in an airline-approved carrier may go under the seat, but a larger dog can face route restrictions, weather embargoes, aircraft limits, or the absence of a public cargo service. Even airlines that take dogs don't offer the same solution.

This roundup compares seven major options by the kind of travel they provide: Alaska Airlines and American Airlines for broader cabin, baggage, and cargo choices; Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, and United for mainly cabin travel; and Hawaiian Airlines for routes where Hawaii-specific planning matters. The practical comparison covers fees, reservations, capacity, carrier fit, weather, and documentation. Before paying for a ticket, verify the current rules for the exact flight, aircraft, and destination through the airline's pet travel policy.

1. Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines is one of the more flexible choices for owners who need more than a cabin-only service. Small dogs can travel in the cabin on eligible routes if the carrier fits beneath the seat, while larger dogs may qualify for the temperature-controlled baggage compartment when the route, season, and operating conditions allow it. Dogs traveling without their owners can use Alaska Air Cargo's Pet Connect service.

That range makes Alaska useful for two very different scenarios. A small terrier relocating with its owner may use an under-seat carrier, while a larger dog may have a baggage-compartment option that isn't available from cabin-only airlines. The baggage route still isn't automatic. Temperature restrictions, aircraft type, destination, and available capacity can all change the answer.

Where Alaska works best

Alaska makes the most sense when you want one carrier to cover several possible arrangements. Its published guidance and fee information give owners a clearer starting point than a vague “pets accepted” statement, and its seasonal embargo guidance helps identify when checked or baggage-compartment travel may fail before you reach the airport.

You'll still need to reserve early because pet capacity is limited per flight. A dog can meet the size requirements and still be rejected if the available pet spaces have already been claimed.

Practical rule: Treat cabin approval and baggage-compartment approval as separate decisions. Confirm the service type, route, aircraft, and weather restrictions for your actual itinerary.

For preparation, measure the dog and carrier together rather than relying on a product label. IATA guidance says in-cabin carriers must be sized to the animal's measurements, and airlines may reject carriers that don't meet their standards. Pet owners can also review these practical tips for traveling with pets before committing to a reservation.

2. American Airlines

American Airlines offers a strong network for owners whose dogs qualify for cabin travel, and it also has a dedicated cargo pathway through American Airlines Cargo PetEmbark. That combination matters if your dog is too large for an under-seat carrier but still needs to travel by air. The airline publishes route eligibility, breed and temperature restrictions, kennel requirements, and documentation guidance through its official pet travel information.

For cabin travel, American allows a pet and carrier only when their combined weight doesn't exceed 20 pounds, or 9.07 kilograms under its published pet policy. The weight rule is only one part of the decision. The dog must also fit comfortably in the carrier, and the carrier must fit under the seat assigned to the passenger.

A useful choice for larger dogs

PetEmbark gives American an advantage over airlines that only accept small dogs in the cabin. It can provide a route for larger dogs that don't qualify for cabin travel, although cargo availability, temperature, aircraft, and destination requirements still need individual confirmation. A one-carrier itinerary may also reduce the complexity of coordinating separate airline rules.

The trade-off is stricter operational screening. Weather limits can produce embargoes at particular stations, and cabin pet space is limited, so booking the human ticket without confirming the dog's space can create an expensive problem. Some fees may also be collected at the airport rather than fully settled during online booking.

Owners considering cargo should read the airline's kennel and document requirements carefully, then compare them with this guide to airlines that allow dogs in cargo. Cargo is not just a larger version of cabin travel. It involves different crate standards, handling procedures, temperature rules, and timing at the airport.

A dog that exceeds the cabin threshold shouldn't be placed in a soft carrier and presented at check-in. Select the correct service first, then validate the crate, route, weather, and paperwork with American.

3. Delta Air Lines

Delta is primarily a cabin solution for ordinary customers traveling with small dogs. The airline publishes fees by region and ticket-issue date, and it maintains destination information showing where pets aren't accepted in the cabin. That documentation is useful because a route that looks straightforward in a booking engine may have a destination-specific restriction.

Delta's current fee guidance lists $150 for domestic travel and $200 for international travel in the applicable fee structure on its pet travel overview. Check the table connected to your ticket date rather than relying on an old travel blog or a remembered airport charge.

The main limitation is service type

Delta doesn't provide a general-public cargo option for larger dogs. Its cargo arrangements are limited to military and State Department moves, so an owner with a medium or large dog usually needs another airline or a specialized transport provider. That makes Delta a poor fit if cargo is essential, even if its cabin schedule is convenient.

Small dogs must remain in an approved carrier beneath the seat, and seat selection needs attention. Travelers with pets can't use bulkhead, exit-row, or flatbed seats. A seat that appears attractive for legroom may therefore be unavailable once the dog is added to the reservation.

Delta's extensive documentation can help travel agents and owners verify destination rules, fees, and eligibility before departure. It's particularly useful for international planning, where destination paperwork may determine whether the dog can enter at all.

A good Delta itinerary is one where your dog clearly fits the cabin rules before you purchase the ticket. It isn't a useful fallback for a dog that needs cargo.

Reserve the pet space as soon as the itinerary is chosen. Delta operates a large network, but pet capacity remains limited on individual flights, and a convenient departure may not have room for another animal.

4. Southwest Airlines

Southwest keeps its dog travel offering simple: small dogs can travel in the cabin on domestic routes, but the airline doesn't accept pets in cargo and doesn't provide an international pet service. That clarity makes it easy to eliminate Southwest quickly if your trip crosses a border or your dog can't fit beneath the seat.

Pet capacity is limited to up to six pet carriers per flight, offered on a first-come, first-served basis under Southwest's pet policy. The carrier count is more important than the airline's general reputation for pet friendliness. If the flight is popular, the dog's place may disappear even while passenger seats remain available.

When Southwest is the efficient answer

Southwest works well for a domestic trip with a small, calm dog that can remain in a compliant carrier. The booking and airport payment process is straightforward, and the airline publishes its pet fare and basic rules clearly. Owners don't have to investigate a cargo program that isn't available.

The limitation is equally straightforward. A medium dog, a large dog, or a dog traveling internationally needs a different plan. Southwest won't solve that problem through checked baggage or cargo, and a connection won't convert a domestic cabin service into an international pet service.

Booking advice: Add the pet reservation before you finalize the trip. Passenger availability doesn't guarantee pet availability.

Carrier fit still deserves a careful measurement. Common airline soft-sided carrier benchmarks are around 18 x 11 x 11 inches, but individual limits vary, and Southwest's own requirements control according to published carrier-dimension guidance. The carrier must fit under the seat while giving the dog enough room to remain safely inside.

For a short domestic itinerary, Southwest can be a clean choice. For anything involving cargo, international entry paperwork, or a dog that exceeds cabin limits, it isn't the right tool.

5. JetBlue

JetBlue is a cabin-only airline for ordinary pet travel, supported by its JetPaws program and contract-backed rules. Small dogs can travel with their owners in an approved carrier, but the airline doesn't offer a checked or cargo solution for larger dogs. That makes JetBlue attractive for a prepared cabin traveler, not for an owner searching for a second option after a dog fails the under-seat test.

The published pet fee is $125 each way, and JetBlue limits pet capacity to six pets per flight, with one pet per passenger as listed in its fee policy. JetPaws materials can help owners prepare, but the program doesn't override seat, carrier, route, or aircraft restrictions.

Check the seat before you check the fare

JetBlue excludes some seat products, including Mint, from pet travel. A passenger may therefore find a suitable flight but an unsuitable seat product. Confirming the pet-compatible seat during booking is more reliable than assuming every cabin has the same under-seat arrangement.

JetBlue also expects the carrier to comply with its size guidance. A soft-sided bag can be practical because it may accommodate the under-seat space more easily, but flexibility doesn't excuse a carrier that is too small for the dog or too large for the assigned space.

Owners comparing bags should review airline-approved pet carrier dimensions and then compare those measurements with JetBlue's current requirements. A carrier marketed as airline approved may meet one airline's rules and fail another's.

Pet capacity is the other major risk. If the flight already has its permitted animals, the airline can reject an additional pet even when the dog and carrier qualify on paper. Book the pet space first, keep the dog inside the carrier throughout the flight, and recheck the policy shortly before departure.

6. Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines addresses a specific travel need: moving a dog between Hawaii and the mainland, or between islands, while meeting Hawaii's entry rules. Eligible small dogs may travel in the cabin on select interisland and certain North America to Hawaii routes. The airline also accepts dogs in the baggage compartment on many domestic itineraries when conditions allow.

This gives Hawaiian more flexibility than a cabin-only airline for some Hawaii trips, but route checking comes first. International flights generally do not accept pets in the cabin or as checked baggage, apart from special rules for trained service dogs. Review the airline's traveling with animals guidance, then compare the flight with Hawaii's import and quarantine requirements.

Hawaii adds paperwork beyond the airline

A dog can meet the carrier rules and still fail the destination's entry process. Hawaii travel may require advance preparation, veterinary documents, and carefully timed steps that do not apply to an ordinary domestic flight. Begin with destination requirements, then confirm that the chosen flight provides the needed service.

Hawaiian also publishes hot-weather embargo notices that can affect baggage-compartment travel. Cargo and checked-pet temperature limits are common across airlines. Pets may be refused in the cargo hold when an airport on the route exceeds 85°F, or 29°C, while brachycephalic dogs may face a lower limit around 75 to 80°F under commonly cited airline cargo temperature restrictions.

For interisland travel, the cabin fee can be relatively accessible, with a commonly listed charge of $35 on many routes. Verify the current amount and route eligibility before paying, since the fee and available service depend on the itinerary.

Hawaiian fits owners whose route, season, and paperwork align. It is less suitable for an international trip requiring ordinary pet transport, or for a baggage-compartment journey during a heat-sensitive season without confirmed acceptance.

7. United Airlines

United Airlines offers broad cabin access for small dogs on many domestic and selected international routes. The dog must fit in an approved carrier beneath the seat, and owners need to reserve the limited in-cabin pet space in advance. On many itineraries, the online booking flow allows the passenger to add a pet during purchase, which can make the eligibility check more visible before the trip is finalized.

United's network and flight frequency can help owners find another departure when one flight has no pet capacity. That flexibility matters because a qualifying dog can still be refused when the cabin allocation is full, the aircraft has incompatible seating, or the destination doesn't permit cabin pets.

Don't plan around PetSafe

United's former PetSafe cargo program for the general public remains unavailable as of 2026, so larger dogs often need another airline or a specialized transport provider according to United's current pet help information. United is therefore a cabin solution, not a reliable answer for a dog that must travel in cargo.

Carrier dimensions also need airline-specific confirmation. Across major carriers, combined pet-and-carrier limits commonly fall in the 7 to 9 kilogram range, while some European airlines use an 8-kilogram cap as summarized in airline pet-travel guidance. Those broad benchmarks aren't a substitute for United's actual requirements, especially when a dog is close to the limit.

Decision test: Choose United when your dog fits the cabin rules and you can secure the pet reservation. Choose another provider when the trip depends on public cargo transport.

International passengers should also verify destination paperwork, entry rules, health documents, and any breed restrictions. Airline approval gets the dog onto the aircraft, but it doesn't guarantee admission at the destination.

Top 7 Airlines: Dog Travel Comparison

Book the Flight Your Dog Can Actually Use

The best airline isn't necessarily the one with the friendliest brand image or the most convenient passenger schedule. It's the airline whose service type, route, aircraft, carrier rules, capacity, weather limits, and destination requirements match your dog.

Start by deciding whether your dog can travel in the cabin. The practical rule is that the carrier becomes carry-on baggage and must fit beneath the seat in front of you under federal aviation guidance. IATA guidance also explains that, subject to airline policy, small dogs and cats may travel in the cabin when they meet the container requirements in the Live Animals Regulations through its live-animal travel guidance.

Then work through the service options:

• Confirm the route and service type: Decide whether you need cabin, baggage-compartment, or cargo travel. Cabin-only airlines cannot solve a large-dog problem, and a cargo-capable airline may still exclude the route.
• Measure the dog and carrier: Check the dog's length, height, ability to stand and turn, and the carrier's exterior dimensions. Don't rely on a generic “airline approved” label.
• Check season and destination restrictions: Review heat and cold embargoes, aircraft limits, breed restrictions, and destination paperwork. Brachycephalic dogs deserve particular caution because breathing, ventilation, stress, and sedation can create additional safety concerns. IATA-linked guidance discourages sedation unless a veterinarian prescribes it for medical reasons.
• Reserve limited pet capacity: Add the dog before assuming the passenger booking is complete. Airlines may limit the number of animals per flight, and full capacity can override an otherwise valid booking.
• Verify fees and documents: Confirm the current pet fee, payment method, health documents, vaccination records, import permits, and kennel requirements. Requirements can differ between airline, route, and destination.
• Reconfirm shortly before departure: Airline policies, aircraft assignments, embargoes, and airport procedures can change. Recheck the exact itinerary rather than relying on an older confirmation or a third-party summary.

Choose a carrier for the actual under-seat space and your dog's comfort. A Pet Magasin carrier may be relevant if its dimensions match the airline's current rules and it provides secure ventilation, durable construction, washable materials, leak-resistant comfort, and easy handling. Those features can support a smoother cabin journey, but they don't guarantee acceptance on every airline.

The final decision belongs to the operating airline. A carrier label alone doesn't make a dog eligible. Airline approval, confirmed for the specific flight, is what determines whether your dog can travel.

Pet Magasin offers TSA and airline-approved pet travel carriers, including soft-sided designs intended for under-seat journeys, along with practical pet travel guidance. Visit Pet Magasin to compare travel carriers and prepare your dog for the airline requirements before booking.