Flying with a small dog in the cabin costs $100 to $150 each way on most US airlines: $150 on United, Delta, American and JetBlue, $125 on Southwest and $100 on Alaska. A round trip costs double. The hold costs about $100 to $200 each way where offered, and dog charters start near $7,000.
Key facts
- A pet ticket is a fee, not a seat. Your dog rides in a carrier under the seat in front of you.
- Most airlines charge per carrier, each way. Allegiant charges $50 per segment, so a connection costs more.
- Alaska and Hawaiian are the only major US airlines that still take pets in the hold for everyone, at $200 each way per kennel.
- Cats cost the same as dogs on airlines that accept both.
- USDA charges $101 to endorse an international health certificate with no lab tests, on top of your vet's fee.
How much is a pet ticket?
A "pet ticket" is the airline's pet fee. You don't buy your dog a seat on a regular airline. The dog travels in a carrier under the seat in front of you, and you pay a fixed fee for it. You still buy your own ticket as usual.
These are the published cabin fees for dogs and cats, as of October 2026:
| Airline | Cabin pet fee | Charged |
|---|---|---|
| United | $150 | Each way |
| Delta | $150 (US, Canada, Puerto Rico, USVI); $200 international | One way, per kennel |
| American | $150 (US, Canada, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean) | Each way, per kennel |
| JetBlue | $150 | Each way |
| Frontier | $149 | Per pet, each way |
| Southwest | $125; $35 between Hawaiian Islands | One way, per carrier |
| Alaska | $100; $35 within Hawaii | Each way, per carrier |
| Hawaiian | $100; $35 within Hawaii | Each way, per carrier |
| Allegiant | $50 | Per segment, per carrier |
| Air Canada | C$/US$50–60 within Canada and to the US; $100–120 international | One way |
| WestJet | C$50–59 within Canada and the US; $100–118 elsewhere | Each way |
| KLM | €70 to €500, depending on route | Per one-way flight |
| Air France | €200 / US$225 between the US and Europe | Per flight, paid at the airport |
| Turkish Airlines | US$75 (interline and transit flights, pets up to 8 kg) | Per flight; varies by destination |
| Lufthansa | Not published; depends on route | Once per direction |
Fees from each airline's website, checked October 2026. Air Canada and WestJet ranges vary with tax by departure airport. British Airways, Emirates and Qatar Airways don't carry pet dogs or cats in the cabin. Compare every airline's pet rules.
Each way, per carrier, or per segment?
- Each way or one way (most airlines): you pay once in each direction, so a round trip costs twice the fee.
- Per carrier or kennel (Delta, American, Southwest, Alaska): if two small pets can legally share one carrier, you pay one fee. Frontier charges per pet.
- Per segment (Allegiant): every flight you board costs a fee.
- Stopovers: Lufthansa charges again for stopovers longer than 24 hours. If your trip includes a long layover, ask your airline whether it counts as a new trip.
How much does it cost to fly with a dog round trip?
A few examples using published fees, not counting your own ticket:
- United, Delta, American or JetBlue, domestic round trip: $150 + $150 = $300.
- Southwest, mainland round trip: $125 + $125 = $250.
- Alaska round trip in the cabin: $100 + $100 = $200.
- Allegiant, nonstop both ways: $50 + $50 = $100.
- Delta international round trip: $200 + $200 = $400.
How much does it cost to fly a dog in cargo or the hold?
Dogs too big for an under-seat carrier fly in the hold, where an airline offers it. In the US, the options are limited.
| Airline | Hold or checked pet fee | Who can use it |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska and Hawaiian | $200 each way per kennel | Anyone; pet and kennel up to 150 lb |
| Air Canada | C$/US$105–126 within Canada and to the US; $270–324 international, one way | Anyone; pet and kennel up to 45 kg (100 lb) |
| WestJet | $100–118 within Canada and the US; $200–236 elsewhere, each way | Anyone; pet and kennel up to 45 kg (100 lb) |
| American | $200 per kennel | Active-duty US military and State Department staff on orders only |
| Qatar Airways | US$200–450 per animal | Anyone; $200 or $300 to and from Qatar, $350 or $450 on other routes, by weight |
| Emirates | From US$500 (animal and container up to 23 kg) | Trips starting in Dubai; up to US$800 for heavier animals |
| Air France | €400 / US$450 between the US and Europe | Anyone; more if booked within 24 hours |
United, Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, Frontier and Allegiant don't take pets in the hold for regular travelers. Temperature limits and snub-nosed breed bans can rule out the hold even where it's offered. Our guide to flying pets in cargo covers the rules.
How much does it cost to fly a dog alone?
If your dog flies without you, it goes as air cargo, for example through Alaska and Hawaiian Air Cargo's Pet Connect, Air Canada Cargo or WestJet Cargo. These airlines don't publish cargo prices on their pet pages, so you'll need a quote. Professional pet shippers set their own prices, which vary by route, crate size and services.
Extra costs to budget for
- A carrier or crate. Your dog must fit the airline's size limits. Check yours with the carrier size checker, or size a hold crate with the dog crate size calculator.
- A vet visit and health certificate. Some airlines and destinations require one. Vet fees vary, so ask your clinic for a price.
- USDA endorsement for international trips. As of October 2026, APHIS charges $101 per certificate with no lab tests, and $160 to $275 when lab tests are needed, plus small extra charges for each additional pet. This doesn't include your vet's fee. ADA service dogs aren't charged.
- Entering the US. The CDC Dog Import Form is free. Dogs need a microchip and must be at least 6 months old.
What does a dog charter cost?
Dog charters let large dogs ride in the cabin without a crate. As listed in October 2026:
- BARK Air: listed fares of about $7,075 from New York to Los Angeles, $9,900 to London and $10,225 to Paris for upcoming dates; check the booking page for your date. One ticket covers one dog and one person.
- K9 Jets: from $7,925 per seat (Dublin or New Jersey routes) up to $13,850 for Los Angeles.
Fares change by date and route. See airlines that allow large dogs in the cabin for how these flights work.
How much does it cost to fly a cat?
The same as a small dog. Every airline in the cabin table above that accepts cats charges the same fee for a cat as for a dog: $150 each way on United, Delta, American and JetBlue, $125 on Southwest, $149 on Frontier and $50 per segment on Allegiant. To fly a cat internationally, add the destination's paperwork, any USDA endorsement, and the higher international fee, such as $200 one way on Delta. See how to fly with a cat.
Questions people ask
Can I buy my dog its own seat on a plane?
Not on major US airlines. Your dog must stay in a carrier under the seat in front of you, even if you buy an extra seat. Dog charters such as BARK Air include space for your dog in the fare.
Is the pet fee per flight or per trip?
Most airlines charge each way, so a round trip costs twice the fee. Allegiant charges per segment, so each flight you board costs $50.
Do service dogs pay a pet fee?
No. US airlines can't charge for a trained service dog. Emotional support animals fly as pets and pay the normal fee.
What is the cheapest airline to fly with a dog?
Among major US airlines, Allegiant has the lowest published cabin fee at $50 per segment, then Alaska and Hawaiian at $100 each way. Your own ticket price matters too, so compare the total.
How much does it cost to ship a dog by plane?
Checked in the hold with you, $200 each way on Alaska or Hawaiian. Shipped alone as cargo, airlines don't publish prices, so ask for a quote.
Sources
- United Airlines: Traveling with pets
- Delta Air Lines: Pet travel overview
- American Airlines: Pets
- JetBlue: Traveling with pets
- Frontier Airlines: Family and pets
- Southwest Airlines: Optional travel charges
- Alaska Airlines: Traveling with pets
- Alaska Airlines newsroom: International Dog Day 2026
- Hawaiian Airlines: Traveling with pets
- Allegiant Air: Traveling with pets
- Air Canada: Travelling with pets
- WestJet: Fees
- KLM: Travelling with pets
- Air France: Fees and paid options
- Turkish Airlines: Fees for carrying pets
- Lufthansa: Animals in the cabin
- Qatar Airways: Travelling with animals
- Emirates: Rules and charges for travelling with animals
- USDA APHIS: Cost to endorse your pet's health certificate
- CDC: Dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries
- eCFR: 14 CFR Part 382, Subpart E (service animal fees)
- BARK Air: Flights
- K9 Jets: Flights
