Pet Travel Essentials - Traveling with Pets

Air Travel with Pets - Pets Traveling as Carry-on Baggage on Airlines

If you have a small dog or normal-sized cat, you may be able to have your pet travel with you in the passenger cabin if your pet can fit comfortably into a carry-on luggage pet carrier.

Airlines generally will accept animals as either Baggage, Cargo, and Carry-on Baggage provided all regulations are met - but carry-on pet traveling is the preferred and safest choice.

Airlines have a maximum number of animals allowed as carry-on luggage in the cabin with passengers. For example, Alaska Air allows only one small pet to travel in the first class cabin and up to five small pets total may travel in the coach cabin. Delta limits the number of carry-on pets per flight to: one in first class, one in business and two in the main cabin.

Carry-on pets should be in suitable hard or soft-sided carrier kennels small enough to stow beneath the seat directly in front of you. The pet must stay in its carrier at all times while onboard, and be stowed under the seat during takeoff and landing.

Most pet supply stores carry both soft-sided pet carriers (for in cabin travel) and hard-sided kennels approved for air travel.

A pet carrier must be small enough to fit under the seat and provide enough space for the animal to turn around and lie comfortably. Absorbent bedding material should be placed in the bottom to prevent leaks.

Whether your pet dog or cat will travel with you in the cabin or as checked luggage in the cargo area (this will be primarily determined by size), your pet will need to be contained in a carrier or container for the entire trip.

If your cat or dog is small enough (typically under 10 lbs) to travel enboard in the cabin, the pet carrier must be small enough to fit under the seat and should provide enough space for your pet to turn around and lie comfortably. Absorbent bedding material should be placed in the bottom to prevent leaks.