Many major airlines allow small dogs and cats in the cabin, but every airline sets its own rules for pet type, carrier size, route, destination, documents, fees, and cabin availability. In most cases, your pet must stay inside an approved carrier under the seat for the full flight.
Before booking, check the airline’s latest policy directly. Cabin pet spaces are limited, and rules can change by aircraft, destination, or codeshare partner.
Quick cabin pet checks before you book:
- Best for US routes: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines
- Best for Europe routes: Air France, KLM, Lufthansa
- Best for selected international routes: Air Canada, Turkish Airlines
- Limited or route-specific option: Virgin Australia
- Always confirm: pet type, carrier dimensions, cabin availability, pet fee, documents, and destination entry rules
Airlines That Allow Pets In Cabin
American Airlines
American Airlines accepts cats and dogs as carry-on pets if they meet the airline’s size, age, and destination requirements. Pets that are too large for the cabin may need to travel through American Airlines Cargo. Checked pets are limited to active-duty U.S. military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders.
American also allows passengers to bring a pet carrier and another carry-on or personal item, subject to its limits.
Delta Air Lines
Delta allows eligible pets in cabin on a first-come, first-served basis. Cabin pet space is limited, so travelers should contact Delta Reservations early and have their kennel dimensions ready.
Delta may restrict pets from certain seats, including bulkhead, emergency exit, no-stowage, flat-bed, Delta One, and some aircraft-specific areas.
United Airlines
United allows dogs and cats in cabin if travelers follow its carrier, age, route, and destination rules. Kittens must be 4 months old to meet vaccination requirements.
Pet owners should confirm route restrictions before booking, especially for international flights.
JetBlue
JetBlue accepts small dogs and cats in cabin in an approved carrier that fits under the seat in front of you. The pet and carrier count as one personal item, and only one pet is allowed per carrier.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines accepts small dogs, house cats, and domesticated rabbits in the passenger cabin, subject to space availability. Only dogs and cats are permitted in cabin to or from Hawaii and international locations.
Cabin pet reservations are limited and provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Southwest Airlines
Southwest welcomes small, vaccinated domestic cats and dogs in cabin on domestic flights. Pets must be at least 8 weeks old and must stay in an appropriate pet carrier.
Southwest does not allow pets to travel in cabin on international flights.
Air Canada
Air Canada allows a cat or small dog in cabin if kept in a flexible, soft-sided carrier under the seat in front of you. From June 1, 2025, all in-cabin pets must travel in soft-sided carriers.
Government regulations may also apply for international routes.
Air France
Air France allows eligible cats and dogs to travel in cabin, but pets over 8 kg / 17.64 lb including the carrier must travel in the hold. Pets must be added to the booking no later than 24 hours before departure.
Approval still depends on flight availability and whether all requirements are met.
KLM
KLM allows dogs and cats in cabin on many flights. Pet availability depends on aircraft type, route, destination, and operating airline.
Travelers should reserve early and confirm the exact flight rules before booking. On many cabin routes, the pet and carrier may be limited to 8 kg.
Lufthansa
Lufthansa may transport pets as additional carry-on baggage in the cabin or as excess baggage in the aircraft’s air-conditioned cargo hold. The option depends on animal type, weight, size, and destination rules.
Assistance dogs follow separate rules.
Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines allows eligible pets in cabin if the pet and carrier together do not exceed 8 kg. The carrier must be no larger than 23 x 30 x 40 cm.
Pets that exceed cabin size or weight limits must travel in the aircraft hold.
Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia offers a Pets in Cabin trial on selected domestic routes. Services are available between Melbourne and the Gold Coast and Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast until 30 June 2026.
Pets in cabin are limited to small dogs and cats only, and availability is limited.
What Counts As An In-Cabin Pet?
An in-cabin pet is usually a small dog or cat that can travel inside an approved carrier under the seat in front of you. Some airlines allow other small animals on limited routes, such as household birds or rabbits, but this is not universal.
Most airlines require:
- A secure, ventilated carrier
- Under-seat storage
- Enough space for the pet to stand, turn, and lie down, where required
- No removal from the carrier during the flight
- Advance booking or airline approval
- Valid travel documents, especially for international routes
Emotional support animals are usually not treated the same as trained service animals. Many airlines now apply standard pet rules unless the animal qualifies as a trained service animal under the relevant regulations.
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Cabin Pet Rules To Check Before Booking
Airline pet policies can look similar, but small details matter at check-in.
Before booking, confirm:
- Pet type allowed
- Maximum pet and carrier weight
- Carrier dimensions
- Soft-sided or hard-sided carrier rules
- Pet age requirements
- Route and aircraft restrictions
- International entry requirements
- Cabin pet fee
- Number of pets allowed per flight
- Seat restrictions
- Booking deadline
- Vaccination records and travel documents
- Rules for return travel
For broader planning beyond flights, see how to travel with pets.
Cabin Pet Carrier Rules
Your carrier can decide whether your pet is accepted at check-in. Airline staff may check the size, shape, ventilation, leak resistance, and under-seat fit.
A good cabin pet carrier should be:
- Secure and escape-resistant
- Well ventilated
- Leak-resistant
- Comfortable enough for your pet to rest
- Small enough to fit under the seat
- Matched to the airline’s exact size rules
Soft-sided carriers are often easier for cabin travel because they can fit more flexibly under the seat. Air Canada requires soft-sided carriers for in-cabin pets from June 1, 2025, while Turkish Airlines lists a cabin carrier size limit of 23 x 30 x 40 cm.
Documents Needed To Fly With Pets In Cabin
Domestic flights may need fewer documents than international trips, but requirements vary by airline and destination.
Common documents include:
- Vaccination records
- Rabies certificate, where required
- Veterinary health certificate, where required
- Microchip details, especially for international routes
- Import permit, where required
- Airline pet booking confirmation
- Destination entry documents
- Return-trip documents
For dogs entering or returning to the United States, CDC rules may require a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Travelers may need to show it to the airline and to U.S. Customs and Border Protection on arrival. Receipt validity depends on the dog’s origin and rabies-risk history.
How To Book A Pet In Cabin
Book your pet directly with the airline as early as possible. Do not rely only on a third-party booking site, because cabin pet spaces can be limited and may need manual confirmation.
A safe booking flow:
- Check the airline’s current pet policy before buying your ticket
- Confirm your route accepts cabin pets
- Book your passenger ticket
- Add your pet through the airline directly
- Confirm the carrier size, fee, pet type, and documents
- Save written confirmation
- Recheck the policy before departure
For airport prep, see airport survival tips.
Keep Pet Flight Details Within Reach
Flying with a pet means checking more than a boarding pass. You may need airline messages, pet booking confirmation, airport pet relief area maps, hotel replies, nearby vet details, and saved documents at short notice.
Eskimo helps with that small but important layer of travel planning. Its Global Plan covers 110 countries and comes with 2-year data validity, which is useful when pet travel plans involve more than one trip or destination.
For setup before departure, see international travel data basics (link: eSIM for International Travel: How It Works and How to Get One). New users can also get free 500MB of Global Data, which is handy for checking that mobile data works before a bigger journey.
FAQs
Which airlines allow pets in cabin?
Many airlines allow pets in cabin, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Air Canada, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and selected Virgin Australia routes. Rules vary by airline, aircraft, route, destination, carrier size, and cabin availability.
Can dogs fly in the cabin?
Yes, many airlines allow small dogs in the cabin if they fit inside an approved carrier under the seat. Larger dogs usually need another travel option, such as checked pet travel or cargo, where available.
Can cats fly in the cabin?
Yes, many airlines allow cats in the cabin if they meet the airline’s size, carrier, age, and destination rules. The cat usually needs to stay inside the carrier for the full flight.
Do Airlines Allow Pets In Cabin On International Flights?
Some airlines allow pets in cabin on international flights, but rules are stricter. Destination laws, transit rules, aircraft type, and import requirements can affect approval. Always check the airline and official destination rules before booking.
What Size Pet Carrier Do I Need For Cabin Travel?
Carrier size depends on the airline and aircraft. The carrier usually needs to fit under the seat in front of you. Some airlines publish exact dimensions, while others ask you to confirm based on your flight.
Do Pets Count As Carry-On Luggage?
Often, yes. Many airlines count the pet carrier as a personal item or carry-on item. American Airlines allows passengers to bring a pet carrier and another carry-on or personal item, subject to limits. JetBlue says the pet and approved carrier count as one personal item.
Can Emotional Support Animals Fly In The Cabin?
Emotional support animals are usually not treated the same as trained service animals. Many airlines now require emotional support animals to follow standard pet rules unless they qualify as trained service animals under the applicable policy.
