A Complete Guide to Airline Pet Policies in 2026

Most major airlines allow small cats and dogs to travel in the cabin inside an airline-approved soft-sided carrier, as long as the combined weight of pet and carrier stays under a limit that's usually around 20 lb (9 kg), though this varies by airline. The carrier has to fit fully under the seat in front of you — it doesn't get its own seat, and it can't come out during the flight.

Airlines cap how many pets are allowed in the cabin per flight, often somewhere between two and six, so book as early as possible and call to confirm your pet has an actual spot — "the fee went through" doesn't always mean a spot was reserved on older booking systems.

Larger pets that don't fit the in-cabin limits typically travel as checked baggage (for some domestic routes) or as manifest cargo, in a hard-sided, airline-approved crate. Policies here vary the most: some airlines have paused or permanently ended cargo pet travel altogether following past incidents, so this is worth confirming directly rather than assuming from an older policy page.

Temperature embargoes are common — many airlines won't transport pets in cargo when it's too hot or too cold at the departure, arrival, or connecting airport, which can affect summer and winter travel dates unexpectedly.

Brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds — bulldogs, pugs, Persian cats, and similar — face the tightest restrictions, and many airlines restrict or fully ban them from cargo due to breathing-related risk at altitude and in unpressurized holds. Some airlines extend caution to these breeds even for in-cabin travel during specific conditions.

Beyond breed, most airlines only accept common domestic pets — cats and dogs, sometimes small birds or rabbits with advance approval. Exotic pets typically require special arrangements or aren't accepted at all; always check before assuming.

Pet fees are charged separately from your ticket and typically run $95–200 USD each way for in-cabin travel, more for cargo, and they're usually non-refundable once paid — so confirm your pet's eligibility before you pay, not after.

You'll generally need a health certificate from a licensed vet, often dated within 10 days of travel, plus proof of up-to-date vaccinations. International trips add country-specific import permits and sometimes quarantine periods — countries like the UK, Australia, and Japan have notably strict, multi-step requirements that can take months to complete, so start that paperwork early if you're traveling internationally with a pet.

Trained service animals accompanying a person with a disability are treated differently from pets under most countries' regulations and generally fly free, without the carrier-and-fee requirements — but airlines have increasingly required advance documentation (like the U.S. DOT's service animal form) to prevent misuse of the category. Emotional support animals, by contrast, are treated as pets by nearly all major airlines now, following policy changes in recent years, so check current rules rather than older articles that may be out of date.

Call the airline's dedicated pet desk — not the general reservations line — and confirm: whether your specific pet and carrier size qualify for cabin travel, that a cabin spot is actually reserved (not just the fee charged), any breed restrictions that apply, what documents you need and by when, and any temperature embargoes active for your travel dates. Policies change often enough that even a policy you double-checked six months ago is worth reconfirming.