U.S. airline policies for pets as checked baggage
The following information has been collected from the airlines’ published pet policies. It was last updated on April 16, 2013.
For each airline, I have provided a link to the airline’s pet policy. It is a good idea to print out a copy of your airline’s policy, so that if a dispute arises with an airline agent, you will have the actual policy to refer to (not the agent’s potentially faulty memory of the policy).
Please note that the kennel sizes (e.g., Series 500) refer to PetMate Sky Kennel sizes, which seem to be the industry standard. Other crates besides PetMate crates will work, as long as they conform to the IATA Container Requirement for cargo-area airplane crates.
| Airline | Checked pets ok? | Minimum age? | Largest kennel? | Weight limit (pet + kennel) | Fee (each way) | Reservation needed? | Cargo shipping available? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirTran | No checked pets | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | no |
| Alaska | Yes | 8 weeks | Series 500 ("only accepted on Alaska Airlines flights 001-2999") | 150 lbs. (heavier pets must travel as cargo) | $100 | yes | yes |
| Allegiant | No checked pets | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | no |
| American | Yes | 8 weeks | Series 500 (not on MD-80s or Boeing 737s) | not stated | $175 (in the Americas); $150 (to/from Brazil); elsewhere, ask Reservations | no | yes |
| Continental | Same as United | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | yes |
| Delta | Yes | not stated | Series 500 (Series 700 as cargo only) | not stated | $200 each way | yes | yes (Series 700 max) |
| Frontier | No | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | no |
| Hawaiian | Yes | not stated | Series 400 (B-717 planes) or Series 500 (B-767 and A330 planes) | 70 lbs. (heavier pets must travel as cargo) | $60 (within Hawaii), $225 (elsewhere) | yes | yes |
| JetBlue | No checked pets | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | no |
| Southwest | No checked pets | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | no |
| Spirit | No checked pets | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | no |
| Sun Country | Yes | 8 weeks | Series 700 | 100 lbs. | $199 per flight segment | yes | no |
| United | Cargo (or in-cabin travel) only | 8 weeks | Series 700 (except Series 500 on Boeing 737, United Express aircraft and some narrowbody aircraft) | 250 lbs. | varies by weight and destination | yes | yes |
| U.S. Air | No checked pets | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | no |
| Virgin America | No checked pets | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | no |
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