Airline Pet Policies Side-By-Side: Which Carrier Should You Pick?
A practical comparison of the major US, Canadian, European, and Middle Eastern airlines and the routes where each one shines.
Choosing an airline for pet travel is more about routing than about which carrier publishes the most generous policy. The right airline is the one that flies the most direct routing on the date you need with the temperature embargoes that allow your pet to travel.
For cabin-only travel within the United States, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways are the simplest experiences because both have predictable per-pet fees, no cargo program complexity, and clear under-seat carrier limits. Alaska Airlines is the only major US carrier that still offers a fully active cargo program (Pet Connect) for non-military passengers, which makes it the best choice for moving a large dog within the western United States or across to Hawaii.
For cross-border travel between the United States and Canada, Air Canada and WestJet both offer cabin and cargo programs. Air Canada\'s AnimalsFirst is widely used for transatlantic shipments because UK rules require pets to enter as cargo, and Air Canada has a longer-running cargo program than most US carriers.
For transatlantic itineraries, Lufthansa is exceptional because of its Animal Lounge in Frankfurt — the largest dedicated airport animal facility in the world — which provides veterinary care, exercise areas, and climate-controlled holding for animals on long layovers. KLM and Air France both offer pet shipments through Air France KLM Martinair Cargo at their Amsterdam Schiphol Animal Hotel.
For flights to or from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, or Japan, choose the carrier with the most direct routing and use a USDA-accredited pet relocation service to handle the import paperwork. Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines all carry pets only as cargo on these long-haul itineraries.
For Middle Eastern carriers, Emirates and Qatar Airways do not allow pets in the cabin (other than falcons and registered service dogs) but both offer well-regarded cargo programs through Dubai and Doha respectively. Turkish Airlines is unusual in allowing cabin pets up to 8 kilograms on most international flights, which makes it a popular choice for travellers connecting between Europe and the Middle East with a small pet.