U.S. airline policies re pets checked as baggage/cargo
I provide this chart more for completeness than anything else, since most Dog Jaunt readers have small dogs that can travel in-cabin with their owners (and will therefore want to consult this chart instead).
The following information has been collected from the airlines’ published pet policies, supplemented (in some cases) by telephone inquiries. It was last updated on April 15, 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 a ticketing or gate agent, you will have the actual policy to refer to (not the agent’s potentially faulty memory of the policy).
| Airline | Checked pets ok? | Minimum age? | Largest kennel? | Weight limit (pet + kennel) | Fee | Reservation needed? | Cargo shipping available? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirTran | no | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 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 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 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 | no | 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 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | no |
| Southwest | no | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | no |
| Spirit | no | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | no |
| Sun Country | yes | 8 weeks | Series 700 | 100 lbs. | $199 per flight segment | yes | no |
| United | no | 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 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | no |
| Virgin America | no | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | no |