A change in government policy has made it more difficult to fly with animals, but you can still pay to bring them along on these recommended best airlines to fly with pets.

In late 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation revised the Air Carrier Access Act that regulates service animals on airlines. As part of this revision, emotional support animals are no longer considered service animals. But, if you’d still like to bring an animal along on your flight, you can pay for a ticket on one of the best airlines to fly with pets.

Travel with pets is particularly popular right now due to the rise of bleisure, which is a blend of business and personal travel. For example, a business Traveler might work Thursday and Friday and then stay over the weekend to sightsee. Naturally, that Traveler might want to bring along his or her pet.

But that pet must get to the destination first. Here’s a look at the best airlines to fly with pets, including details on how much you have to pay for each one.

Air France

Air France does facilitate the transport of animals in the hold, in the cabin or by freight. Eligibility depends on the type of aircraft that you’ll be flying on, as well where you will be traveling. The cost of traveling with a pet depends on where you will be flying from and to.

Read Air France’s full pet policy.

Alaska

Alaska Airlines lists out specific breeds known as “short-nosed” dogs and cats that are not allowed to fly due to “abnormalities that can compromise their breathing.” Breeds that can fly are subject to a fee of $100 each way.

Passengers must be 18 years of age or older to fly with pets, and passengers may fly with up to two pets in a single carrier.

Read Alaska’s full pet policy.

Allegiant

Only dogs and cats are allowed on Allegiant flights. They must ride in either a hard- or soft-sided carrier, and no more than two pets may ride in the carrier. All pets must be at least 8 weeks of age, and each passenger may carry only one carrier.

Allegiant charges a non-refundable fee of $50 per segment per carrier. A segment is an individual flight included in an itinerary. For example, if you fly one way with a layover before reaching your destination, that’s two segments.

Read Allegiant’s full pet policy.

American

You can take your pet on an American Airlines flight under two conditions:

1. You must pay a carry-on pet fee ($125 per kennel).
2. Your pet must stay in a kennel under the seat in front of you for the entire flight.

If your pet is too large to fly in a kennel in the cabin, it can fly with American Airlines Cargo.

Read American’s full pet policy.

ANA

ANA provides a helpful flow chart that allows customers to determine if and how they can travel with pets. If you pet can travel with you, ANA emphasizes hospitality, including a partnership with a pet hotel at Haneda Airport.

British Airways

All pets must travel in the hold on British Airways flights. British Airways has partnered with PetAir UK (for flights leaving the UK) and IAG Cargo (for flights to the UK) to ensure that all pets enjoy a safe and comfortable journey.

Read British Airways’ full pet policy.

Delta

On Delta, small dogs, cats and birds can fly in the cabin for a one-way fee of $95 for tickets booked on or after Feb. 28, 2022. They must fit into a ventilated pet carrier that fits under the seat in front of you. Delta does have other provisions, including:

• The pet must be at least 10 weeks of age.
• Only one pet is permitted per carrier (though a female cat or dog may travel with an unweaned litter).
• Pet kennels count as a passenger’s one carry-on bag.

Read Delta’s full pet policy.

Frontier

Frontier charges $99 per pet, per direction. Only dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and “small household birds” may travel on Frontier flights. Dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks of age, and pets must remain in their carriers for the duration of the flight.

Read Frontier’s full pet policy.

Hawaiian

Hawaiian accepts cats and dogs in the cabin, though household birds must fly as checked baggage. All carriers must be soft-sided, and the total weight of the pet and carrier must not exceed 25 pounds. A one-way fee of $35 applies when flying within Hawaii, and a one-way fee of $125 applies when traveling between Hawaii and North America.

Read Hawaiian’s full pet policy.

Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines will only allow pets to travel as cargo. A number of restrictions apply. Be sure to read Japan Airlines’ full pet policy before planning to travel with an animal.

JetBlue

JetBlue charges a one-way pet fee of $125. All pets must fit into a carrier that also fits under the seat in front of you, and the combined weight of your pet and its carrier must not exceed 20 pounds.

JetBlue only allows six pets to ride on any given flight, so be sure to make your arrangements early. Read JetBlue’s full pet policy.

KLM

KLM passengers can take one dog or cat along with them in the cabin or up to three pets in the hold. Size, weight and breed restrictions apply, and the cost of traveling ranges from 75–400 Euros each way depending on where you will be flying from and to. It is not possible to fly with pets if you have a layover of 3 hours or longer, or if you will be flying on a Boeing 787-9 or 787-10.

Read KLM’s full pet policy.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa allows you to travel with pets, depending on the type of animal, its breed, its weight and size, plus your country of departure and destination. Prices vary depending on the factors listed here.

Read Lufthansa’s full pet policy.

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines welcomes pets in both the cabin and hold. A lack of temperature control prevents pets from flying in the hold on Boeing 737 aircraft, and operational constraints prevent pets from flying on certain flights departing from either New York or Singapore.

Read Singapore Airlines’ full pet policy.

Southwest

In exchange for a “pet fare,” your pet may travel in the cabin with you on a Southwest flight. Only one pet carrier is allowed per passenger, though up to two of the same species of dog or cat may fly in the carrier.

Southwest’s pet fares are currently $95 each way. Read Southwest’s full pet policy.

United

Similar to American, United Airlines allows you to bring pets on a flight as long as they fit into a kennel (and can stand up and turn around inside the kennel), and as long as the kennel stays under the seat in front of you during the flight.

There is a $125 fee each way for traveling with a pet.

Read United’s full pet policy.

Service Animals are Still Protected

While the Department of Transportation updated its rules regarding emotional support animals, there has been no significant change to rules on service animals. If you need to fly with a trained service animal, consult airlines before booking to ensure that you make the proper arrangements ahead of time.

In general, service animals do certain tasks to support someone with a disability, while emotional support animals provide support through their presence alone. Learn more about registering service animals and emotional support animals. Read more about how the Department of Transportation classifies service animals.

Find the Right Flights With JTB Business Travel

You should be able to fly the way you want to for both work and leisure. In fact, with the rise of bleisure travel, now may be the perfect time to take your pet along for the journey.

At JTB Business Travel, we focus on creating comfortable, productive itineraries for Travelers while ensuring that businesses get the ROI they deserve. 

Contact us to learn more about how JTB Business Travel supports Travelers and the organizations they represent.