Guides to flying with pets
20 practical guides for flying and traveling with dogs and cats. Every rule is checked against the airline's or regulator's own website, and every guide lists its sources.
All guides
Pet-friendly airlines compared: fees, carriers and rules in 2026
We scored 15 airlines on seven published pet rules: fees, carrier size, weight caps, pets per person, hold and routes. See which fits your dog or cat.
Can dogs fly on planes? How flying with a dog works in 2026
Yes, if your dog fits under the seat. The three ways dogs fly, which airlines allow dogs in the cabin, what it costs, and a step-by-step booking checklist.
Airline-approved pet carriers: what the label means and which sizes fit
No official 'airline approved' or 'TSA approved' pet carrier exists. The real under-seat limits for 15 airlines and the sizes that fit most flights.
How much does it cost to fly with a dog? Every airline's pet fee
Cabin pet fees run $100 to $150 each way on most US airlines. Every airline's pet ticket price, hold and cargo fees, health certificate costs and charters.
How to fly with a cat: airlines, fees and a calm travel day
Which airlines take cats in the cabin, what it costs, how to get a cat through airport security, and how to keep the day calm. Fees checked.
Service dogs on planes: DOT rules, forms and the registry myth
There's no official US service dog registry. How flying with a service dog works under DOT rules: the forms, the 48-hour deadline, fees, seating and TSA.
How big can a dog be to fly in the cabin? Weight and size limits
US airlines have no cabin weight limit, only carrier size. Europe caps pet plus carrier at 8 kg. How to measure your dog and what to do if it's too big.
Dog crate size for air travel: how to measure using IATA's formula
How to measure your dog for an airline crate with IATA's formula, common crate sizes, and the door, bolt and ventilation rules airlines check.
Flying a pet in cargo in 2026: which airlines still do it
United, Delta and American no longer fly pets in the hold except for military moves. Who still does, what it costs, and temperature and breed rules.
Airlines that allow large dogs in the cabin (and what to do if yours is too big)
No major US airline lets a large pet dog ride in the cabin. ITA Airways now does on some flights, and BARK Air and K9 Jets fill the gap.
Snub-nosed dogs and cats on planes: which airlines will fly them
French bulldogs, pugs and Persians are banned from the hold on most airlines. Airline-by-airline rules and why the cabin is usually the only option.
Bringing a dog into the US: CDC rules and the dog import form
CDC rules for bringing a dog into the US: 6-month minimum age, microchip, CDC Dog Import Form, high-risk country rules and approved airports. Cats too.
Pet health certificates for travel: CVIs, USDA endorsement and timing
What a pet health certificate for travel is, when you need a CVI or USDA-endorsed certificate, how long it's valid and which airlines require one.
Bringing a dog to Hawaii: quarantine rules, fees and airlines
How to bring a dog to Hawaii without quarantine: microchip, two rabies shots, FAVN test, 30-day wait, $185 airport release and which airlines fly pets.
Pet passports: how they work, and what to use if you're in the US or UK
EU pet passports come only from EU vets. The US has no pet passport, so US pets need an APHIS-endorsed EU health certificate. UK post-Brexit rules included.
Traveling to Canada with a dog: border rules and the trip home
Taking a dog to Canada from the US: rabies certificate rules by age, when you need a health certificate, Air Canada and WestJet fees, and the CDC return.
Emotional support animals on planes: what changed and how to fly now
US airlines stopped accepting emotional support animals in 2021. Your ESA dog can still fly as a pet. Airline policies, fees and options for larger dogs.
Flying with a puppy: minimum ages by airline and country
Most US airlines fly puppies from 8 weeks, but the US needs dogs to be 6 months to enter and the EU about 15 weeks. Minimum ages by airline, cost and tips.
Can you bring a dog on a train? Amtrak, VIA Rail and Europe
Amtrak takes dogs up to 20 lb with carrier on trips up to 7 hours. VIA Rail, UK, Eurostar, German and French train rules for small and large dogs compared.
Road trip with a cat: carriers, litter, food stops and hotels
How to drive long distance with a cat: securing the carrier, a travel litter box, feeding, hot-car risks, cat-friendly hotels and ID, from vet guidance.