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Airline Pet Policies

Traveling with Pets and Service Dogs: Whats the Difference?

If your dog is a Service Animal, one of the biggest benefits is that your pet can go with you wherever you go. Meaning if you are traveling or going to the mall, you can avoid pet boarding fees or hiring a pet sitter, most importantly your access cannot be denied!

If you plan on flying with your Service Animal, you must make the necessary arrangement with the airline. You must let the airline know at the time of booking so any other requests (early boarding, wheelchair, bulkhead seating) can be made to best accommodate you and you Service Animal. Be sure to refer to our ADA Service Animal Guide for tips and what to expect while traveling with your ADA Service Animal.

Airline Specific

Pets permitted in the cabin include dogs, cats, and household birds. The service animal must be small enough to fit comfortably in a pet carrier under the seat in front of you or seated in a customer’s lap – they are not permitted to occupy seats. The service animals and their associated items travel for free. Customers may travel with up to two service animals. The size of the animal must not exceed the “footprint” of the passenger’s seat.
  • Items include a kennel, blanket, food or similar item
To protect public health, Delta Air Lines requires all dogs including service animals to be current on all vaccinations. Dogs can be vaccinated against rabies at a minimum of 12 weeks (three months) of age and must wait an additional 30 days for the vaccine to become effective. Customers traveling with a trained service animal may not also bring a pet in the cabin. If you would like additional time to board the aircraft, pre-boarding is available to accommodate you during the boarding process. Please be sure to arrive at the gate with enough time to make arrangements with the gate agents prior to departure. Be sure to connect with Delta Airlines at the time of making the reservation to make the necessary arrangements and present the documentation needed to board with your service animal.
  • Animal must be harnessed, leashed or tethered at all times
  • Animals under 4 months of age may not travel as a service animal
  • Animal must be clean and well-behaved
  • Animal must be able to fit at your feet, under your seat or in your lap (lap animals must be smaller than a 2-year old child)
  • Final approval for travel will not happen until you arrive at the airport and it is determined that the animal will safely fit at your feet.
  • If the animal is in a kennel, it must fit under the seat in front of you with the animal in it.
  • An individual is limited to 2 service animals

Animals may not:

  • Be seated in an exit row
  • Protrude into or block aisles
  • Occupy a seat
  • Eat from tray tables

​​Animals must be trained to behave properly in public and they won’t be permitted in the cabin if they display any form of disruptive behavior that can’t be successfully corrected or controlled, including but not limited to:

  • Growling
  • Biting or attempting to bite
  • Jumping on or lunging at people

Be sure to connect with American Airlines at the time of making the reservation to make the necessary arrangements and present the documentation needed to board with your service animal.

Service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or otherwise tethered to you at all times. They must also be well-groomed, free from odors, etc., and trained to behave and must stay under your control. An animal that poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, disrupts cabin service, or engages in disruptive behavior will be denied boarding. Disruptive behavior includes (but is not limited to):
  • Excessive whining or barking
  • Growling, biting, lunging, scratching
  • Urinating or defecating in the cabin or gate area
In accordance with federal safety regulations, you must follow these rules when traveling with a trained service animal:
  • You can’t sit in an emergency exit seat.
  • If using a carrier, it must be stowed under the seat in front of you for taxi, takeoff, and landing.
  • An animal no larger than a child under the age of two may sit on your lap, otherwise it must be positioned on the plane floor.
Animals must not:
  • Block any exits or exit paths
  • Extend into the aircraft aisle
  • Occupy an aircraft seat
  • Occupy a tray table
  • Encroach upon a neighboring seat
Be sure to connect with Southwest Airlines at the time of making the reservation to make the necessary arrangements and present the documentation needed to board with your service animal.
  • Only allow two (2) dogs per Guest.
  • If traveling with more than 2 service dogs, you may be able to travel with the third as a pet if it meets our requirements found
  • A service animal vest, harness, ID card, or registration are no longer accepted as the sole indication an animal is a trained service dog.
  • If at any time the dog shows signs that it will cause a disruption in the cabin, it has not been trained to function as a service animal in a public setting, or any signs of aggression, it will not be allowed to travel. Examples of disruptive/aggressive behavior include, but are not limited to:
    • Growling
    • Lunging
    • Barking
    • Biting
    • Jumping on other Guests
    • Relieving itself on-board the aircraft or in the airport other than a designated animal relief area
    • Emitting a strong odor
Be sure to connect with Spirit Airlines at the time of making the reservation to make the necessary arrangements and present the documentation needed to board with your service animal.
  • Service animal must be at least 4 months of age
  • Only allows service dogs flying with their owners, or service dogs in training who are flying with their trainers, on our flights for free.
  • Your dog should sit in the floor space in front of your seat. They can’t be in the aisle or the floor space of the travelers next to you.
  • You can put your service dog in a pet-carrier if you choose, as long as it meets the size requirements
  • You can’t sit in an exit row with a service animal.
Be sure to connect with United Airlines at the time of making the reservation to make the necessary arrangements and present the documentation needed to board with your service animal.
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