Flying with Your Pet Made Easy: Tips for a Safe and Joyful Journey
Flying with a pet can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. Whether you’re relocating, going on vacation, or visiting family, traveling with your furry companion requires extra planning, preparation, and care. From airline pet policies to in-cabin vs. cargo options, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know to fly safely and comfortably with your pet.
Can You Bring Your Pet on a Plane?
Yes, most airlines allow pets on planes—but the rules vary significantly. Whether your pet can fly in the cabin or must travel in the cargo hold depends on several factors, including the airline’s policy, the size and breed of your pet, and your destination.
Common Airline Pet Policies
Each airline has its own set of rules when it comes to traveling with pets. Here are some standard guidelines to expect:
- Small pets (usually under 20 pounds including the carrier) can often travel in-cabin under the seat in front of you.
- Larger pets may need to travel in cargo, which involves different safety procedures and documentation.
- Some breeds, especially brachycephalic (flat-faced) dogs like pugs and bulldogs, are restricted from flying due to respiratory risks.
- International flights may require additional paperwork such as health certificates, vaccinations, and microchipping.
Before booking, always check the airline’s pet policy on their website or contact customer service directly.
Preparing to Fly with Your Pet
Preparation is key to a smooth journey—for both you and your pet. Here’s a checklist to help you get started:
1. Visit the Vet
Make an appointment with your veterinarian well before your travel date. Most airlines require a health certificate issued within 10 days of your flight. Discuss sedation, vaccinations, and make sure your pet is fit to fly.
2. Choose the Right Carrier
Invest in an airline-approved pet carrier that’s well-ventilated, secure, and comfortable. For in-cabin travel, it must fit under the seat in front of you. Introduce the carrier weeks ahead of your trip so your pet becomes familiar with it.
3. Get Your Paperwork in Order
Depending on where you’re going, you may need:
- A rabies vaccination certificate
- A health certificate
- Import permits (for international destinations)
- Microchip information
4. Book a Direct Flight
If possible, choose a direct flight to minimize travel time and reduce stress for your pet. Layovers can be especially difficult if your pet is in the cargo hold.
Day of the Flight: Tips for a Smooth Experience
The day of travel can be stressful, but with the right approach, it doesn’t have to be chaotic.
Before Leaving Home
- Feed your pet a light meal 4–6 hours before the flight. Avoid feeding right before departure to reduce motion sickness.
- Exercise your pet to help burn off energy and calm their nerves.
- Attach a label to the carrier with your contact information, flight details, and destination.
At the Airport
- Arrive early to allow extra time for check-in and pet inspection.
- Keep your pet calm and reassured. Speak softly and use familiar cues or treats.
- If your pet is traveling in cargo, confirm that the crate is secured and temperature-controlled areas are used.
In-Cabin vs. Cargo: What’s Best for Your Pet?
One of the biggest questions pet owners face is whether their pet should fly in-cabin or in the cargo hold. Here’s a comparison:
| Feature | In-Cabin | Cargo |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | Closer to owner, less stressful | More space, but isolated |
| Pet Size | Typically under 20 lbs | Larger pets only |
| Cost | $75–$150 per flight | $200–$500+ per flight |
| Safety | Safer, especially for short flights | Requires more planning and vet clearance |
Pro Tip: If your pet qualifies for in-cabin travel, it’s usually the safest and least stressful option.
Flying with Pets Internationally
International pet travel involves more complex logistics. Each country has specific entry requirements, so it’s important to start planning at least 1–3 months in advance.
Key Requirements Often Include:
- Valid rabies certificate
- Microchipping
- A recent health certificate signed by a USDA-accredited vet
- Import permits or quarantine arrangements (for certain countries)
Popular pet-friendly destinations like the European Union, Canada, and Japan have standardized procedures—but others may require quarantines or additional testing.
Tips for a Stress-Free Journey
Here are a few bonus tips to help your pet stay calm and safe during the flight:
- Avoid sedatives unless prescribed. They can interfere with breathing at high altitudes.
- Use calming sprays or pheromone collars to reduce anxiety.
- Pack a pet travel bag with essentials: collapsible bowls, extra food, wipes, a leash, and documents.
- Stay calm yourself. Pets pick up on your energy, so if you’re relaxed, they’re more likely to be.
What to Pack When Flying with Your Pet
Just like packing for yourself, your pet needs their own travel essentials. Forgetting a key item can make the journey more stressful, so here’s a practical list of must-haves:
Pet Travel Essentials:
- Airline-approved carrier with soft sides (for in-cabin) or a sturdy crate (for cargo)
- Health documents (vaccination record, health certificate)
- Leash and harness – even for cats
- ID tags with up-to-date contact information
- Collapsible water and food bowls
- Pet food and treats for the trip
- Potty pads and waste bags
- Favorite toy or blanket with familiar scents
- Medications and supplements (if needed)
- Grooming wipes or a small towel
Pro Tip: Keep your pet’s paperwork and small necessities in your carry-on bag. You may need to show documents during check-in, boarding, or upon arrival—especially when flying internationally with a pet.
Pet-Friendly Airlines: Who Does It Best?
Not all airlines treat pets equally. If you’re trying to choose the best airline for flying with a pet, here are a few that frequently receive praise for their pet travel services:
Top Pet-Friendly Airlines (U.S. & International):
- Alaska Airlines – Widely considered one of the best for pet travel due to affordable rates and clear policies.
- JetBlue – Allows small pets in the cabin and offers JetPaws™ pet program.
- American Airlines – Allows pets in cabin and cargo, with detailed guidelines.
- Delta Airlines – Offers both in-cabin and cargo options for pets.
- Air Canada – Very pet-friendly, with international service and helpful staff.
- Lufthansa – Excellent for international flights with pets, including service animals and emotional support animals.
- KLM & Air France – Known for detailed pet policies and professional animal transport services.
Before booking, always double-check the airline’s pet travel requirements, breed restrictions, and fees. Policies can change, especially during extreme weather seasons or due to global health regulations.
Special Considerations: Emotional Support Animals & Service Dogs
In recent years, airline policies regarding emotional support animals (ESAs) have changed. As of 2021, most U.S. airlines no longer recognize ESAs as service animals and now treat them as regular pets. That means:
- You’ll need to pay a pet fee.
- Your ESA must fit the in-cabin pet requirements.
- Only trained service animals (typically dogs) are exempt from fees and allowed beyond weight limits.
Be prepared to provide documentation if you’re flying with a service dog, including proof of training and behavior, plus vaccination records.
Quarantine Rules for Pets by Destination
Some countries have strict pet quarantine laws to protect against diseases like rabies. If you’re flying internationally with a pet, research the quarantine requirements in advance.
Countries with Pet Quarantine Rules:
- Australia & New Zealand – Up to 10 days mandatory quarantine upon arrival.
- Japan – Requires advance notice, vaccinations, and sometimes quarantine.
- Hawaii (U.S.) – Although a U.S. state, it enforces a 5-day or 120-day quarantine for non-compliant pets.
- United Kingdom – Pet passport or Animal Health Certificate required; pets may need to arrive via approved routes.
Not complying with these rules can result in denied entry or long quarantines at your expense.
FAQs: Common Questions About Flying with a Pet
Is flying safe for pets?
Yes, if done correctly. Most healthy pets travel without issues. However, older pets, flat-faced breeds, and those with anxiety may be more vulnerable. Always consult your vet before booking.
How much does it cost to fly with a pet?
It varies by airline and pet size. In-cabin travel usually costs $75–$150, while cargo pet transport can cost $200–$1000+, depending on weight, crate size, and destination.
Can my pet sit on my lap during the flight?
No. Pets must remain inside their carrier for the entire flight and fit under the seat in front of you. This is an FAA regulation for in-cabin pet travel.
How can I calm my pet during the flight?
Use natural calming aids (like pheromone sprays or anxiety wraps), play relaxing music or white noise in the carrier before the flight, and avoid new or stressful experiences right before flying.
Carry on or transport your pet
Flying with Pet in American ,depending on animal breed and size, they can travel as a carry-on or be transported through American Airlines Cargo. Carry-on pets are limited to cats and dogs that meet the size, age and destination requirements.
American Airlines only accept checked pets at the ticket counter for active-duty U.S. Military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders. Fees and restrictions apply.
Fully-trained service dogs may fly in the cabin at no charge if they meet the requirements.
Service animals
You need contact Reservations before your trip so we can notify you of any requirements or travel changes that may affect you and your pet, like aircraft restrictions.
Which destinations allow travel with pets?
You can travel with a pet on most flights up to 12 hours or flights to / from select locations:
Within the 48 contiguous United States
The U.S. and Canada*
Alaska
Mexico*
Puerto Rico
St. Croix
St. Thomas
*Additional special restrictions may apply when traveling with pets to / from these destinations.
Carry-on pets
On flights with American you can bring 1 kennel as your carry-on bag if:
You pay the carry-on pet fee
Your pet stays in the kennel and under the seat in front of you the entire flight
You can travel with your pet carrier and 1 personal item, but you will not be permitted to bring a carry-on bag in addition to a pet carrier and personal item. Instead, the kennel will replace your carry-on bag.
If your pet is too large to fly in the cabin, it must travel with American Airlines Cargo. Keep in mind, American Airlines only accept checked pets for active-duty U.S. Military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders, and the pet carrier must meet all kennel guidelines for checked-pets. If you don’t meet these requirements, your pet may not travel. Fees and restrictions apply.
Checked pets
American only accept checked pets for active-duty U.S. military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders. Up to 2 pets may be checked and they must meet the minimum age and health requirements of the destination. Since capacity is limited, we accept checked pets on a first-come basis.
How to transport your pet with American Airlines Cargo Opens another site in a new window that may not meet accessibility guidelines.
When checking a pet, you need to:
Contact Reservations at least 48 hours prior to travel
Check in at the ticket counter with your official orders
Allow extra check-in time (at least 2 hours and no more than 4 hours before your flight)
Complete a checklist with an agent
Provide a health certificate
Reservations and ticket changes
To ensure the health and safety of your pet, the health certificate you provide must be issued by a vet within:
10 days of your travel
60 days of your return (travel on the same ticket)
10 days of your return (travel on a separate ticket)
Fees
If you’re flying with American Airlines, you can pay your pet travel fee at the airport or at a travel center with a credit card or paper voucher (where accepted). We don’t accept cash or checks for payment.
American Airlines don’t collect pet fees for other operating airlines on your trip (even if it has an American flight number). You’ll need to check in with each airline and pay your fees at check-in. To find out if you’re on a partner airline, look for the words, “Operated by” on your ticket.
Temperature restrictions
Flying with Pet in American Airlines have temperature restrictions to make sure checked pets and pets traveling with American Airlines Cargo aren’t exposed to extreme heat or cold:
In the animal holding areas
At terminal facilities
When moving the animals between terminal and the plane
On a plane awaiting departure
It is advisable to visit a pet store to buy food for travel or buy online at Petsupermarket
British Airways flying with pets
Service dogs
If you’re travelling with a recognized service dog, it can travel with you free of charge in the cabin of your British Airways flight. This service cannot be booked online and British Airways might need to limit the number of dogs we can carry in the cabin.
Emotional support dogs
British Airways is unable to accept emotional support dogs for travel in the cabin on any British Airways operated flights. Your emotional support dog can travel as a pet and details on how to arrange this can be found below.
Pets
All pets need to travel in the hold, but don’t worry – British airways expert suppliers will ensure they’re just as comfortable as you are.
From the UK: They have partnered with PetAir UK, which is run and owned by fully-qualified veterinary surgeons and has been flying pets all over the world since 2004, to offer British Airways customers a safe, comfortable and convenient way to export their pets from the UK..
To the UK: If you are looking to transport your pet to the UK, they have IAG Cargo can help. They have decades of experience transporting animals from every corner of the globe and will look after your pet as if it were their own.
How Airlines like British Airways define Service Dogs:
A service dog is one that has been trained to assist a person with a disability or medical condition and has been determined as being able to travel safely in the aircraft cabin. For your service dog to travel with you in the cabin on British Airways your service dog must:
-Be individually trained in specific tasks to assist you with your disability or medical condition
-Have had behavioral training and show appropriate behavior in public and onboard an aircraft
-Wear an identifying jacket/harness, and
-remain under your control at all times
Be aware that we will ask you to send documents confirming the specific training your dog has completed, as well as its height at shoulder and its weight.
If your dog does not meet these criteria, or is an emotional support dog, it will need to travel as a.
Booking your service dog: It’s currently not possible to book this service online as they need additional information to enable they are to confirm your service dog for travel. You will need to book your service dog at the same time you book your flight and when possible at least three days prior to your date of travel.
If you’ve already booked your flight and you wish to travel with your service dog, you will need to contact them to add your service dog at least three days prior to your travel date.
Travelling to the UK: Due to entry regulations into the UK, you will need to ensure that you have contacted and received approval from the UK animal reception center at least 72 hours before prior to your flight. Failure to comply with this requirement may mean they are unable to accept you for travel back to the UK.
Details of the UK Animal Reception Centers can be found below under preparing for your trip at the British Airways website.
Flying with Pet to or from US: Customers travelling to or from the United States of America must complete a U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Travel Form detailing their dog’s health, training, and behaviour.
In addition, for flights over eight hours in duration, customers must also complete a U.S. DOT Relief Attestation Form confirming their dog will not need to relieve itself during the flight or detail how the dog will relieve itself in a sanitary way.
Copies of both documents must be emailed to them accessibility team at least 72 hours before your flight. They will review these documents and contact you to let you know if we will accept your dog for travel.
Flying with Pet on other airlines: If your flight is operated by one of they airline or franchise partners, they may have different processes so please contact them directly before you travel.
Qatar Airways Flying with Pets and birds:
Transporting animals:
Flying with Pet with Qatar Airways, they know how important your pet are to you, which is why them strive to extend they world-class service to your furry and feathered friends when they travel. Qatar Airways accepts domesticated dogs, cats and birds as checked baggage, either on your flight or on a separate one, in accordance with international air travel regulations.
To allow them to comply with the rules of different countries on your travel route, they are advise that you notify them of your requirements to travel with pets at the time of booking. If this is not possible, you notify them at least 48 hours before departure, to avoid any inconvenience or delays.
Travel regulations require you to make all necessary documentation for your pet available before travel. Such documents include their health certificate (signed by your veterinarian, indicating that the animal is fit to fly) and identification or pet passport.
And then you fill in an online form to submit a request for carriage of pets.
Service dogs: On certain routes, Qatar Airways allows service dogs in the passenger cabin, free of charge, to accompany a passenger with a disability. On all other routes, service dogs will be accepted free of charge as checked baggage within the aircraft hold.
Not all countries allow service animals/emotional support animals to arrive in the passenger cabin of the aircraft. You can contact to them in the Call center to verify any limitations that may exist for the countries in your itinerary.
Flying with Pet as checked baggage
Domesticated dogs, cats and birds are accepted as checked baggage provided that the animal is in good health and all transport requirements are met.
Service dog(s) can be transported in the cabin free of charge when travelling on specific routes.
If a falcon is transported as checked baggage and not in the cabin, travelling cost of animals as checked baggage will apply.
Pet food
Qatar Airways recommend that you provide enough food and water for your pet’s journey in the travelling container or kennel, as you will not be able to access your pet during the journey.
When preparing your food and water containers, consider the below:
Food and water containers must be present and affixed within the shipping container with provision to fill it from the outside that does not require the opening of the shipping container. Water bottles or similar dispensers that are attached inside or outside the shipping container are not considered suitable for refilling. If food is not provided by the owner, Qatar airways ground services staff in Doha will provide your pet with food every three to four hours (up to two hours before departure), while water is changed every hour (provided that the water container attached to the kennel can be refilled from the outside) on the ground between connecting flights.
Flying in summer
Emirate Airlines Flying with Pet
Flying with Pet in Emirates. Pets ensures a service specifically designed to provide your pet with the highest levels of care and attention, whenever and wherever they fly. The Emirates airlines SkyCargo team will ensure that your pet receives the best treatment to ensure a stress-free journey when travelling with them.
Emirates Pets strictly adheres to the International Air Transport Association’s Live Animal Regulations (IATA LAR), including its Container Requirement criteria, and takes into account any ‘State’ (country) regulations own Emirates’ (operator) variations for your pet’s safe journey.
Your pet will be transported in accordance with IATA LAR with the highest levels of care. The journey of your pet will be documented and them ensure that there is a detailed timeline recorded for transit-care. Specially designed vehicles are used to transfer pets from they are temperature-controlled facility in Dubai to the aircraft and vice-a-versa. Emirate expert staff are on hand to ensure that pets are boarded safely on them aircraft.
In line with the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Emirates has a separate facility in Dubai for pets that are departing, arriving and transiting. All transiting pets must have a minimum connection time of six (6) hours between flights in Dubai to ensure they receive the transit care they require.
To ensure optimal care during transit, an on-site animal care specialist will ensure all pets are in the best possible condition during transport. Your furry friends will be exercised, cleaned and fed at your request Emirate airlines will can administer any special food requirements as long as these instructions are provided at the time of booking and handover. Also to reduce the stress of the journey, for you and your furry friend, the staff will ensure your pet is the last to be loaded on board and the first to be offloaded.
Final Thoughts: Make Pet Air Travel Safe, Simple, and Stress-Free
Flying with a pet doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a little research, patience, and preparation, your pet can travel safely and comfortably—just like you. Always consider your pet’s individual needs, age, health, and temperament before planning air travel. Sometimes, driving or arranging a pet relocation service is the better option.
Whether you’re flying with your dog across the country or bringing your cat on an international adventure, thoughtful preparation ensures a journey that’s safe, legal, and as comfortable as possible—for both of you.