Pet Travel Requirements & Restrictions

We know your pet is an important member of the family. Be sure you know all the scoop on keeping him safe and secure.

Weather Restrictions

Summer Restrictions—May 15 through September 15

• Pets cannot be checked as baggage on Delta and Aeromexico operated flights.
• Pets may be shipped as cargo. See below for year-round temperature restrictions including live birds and snub-nosed breeds.
• Prices for shipping pets as cargo are different from shipping pets as baggage. And, cargo locations may not be located in the airport terminal, so be sure to contact 1-888-SENDPET (736-3738) for details.

Year-round Restrictions

Delta will not accept animals as checked baggage but may ship as cargo during extreme weather if at any point during the animal's trip the temperature is forecast to be:

Exception:
Pets are accepted to/from Anchorage, Alaska when temperatures are forecast below 10° Fahrenheit.

Delta reserves the right to refuse live animals as checked baggage and as cargo if the animal's health is in question and/or if the health of the animal may be jeopardized by extreme conditions.

Additional Rules for Live Birds

A certificate of acclimation is not required for birds. Pet birds and tropical birds normally kept indoors are at risk if the temperature, at any point on the planned itinerary, is below 50F/10C. When temperatures are between 50F and 20F, they are transported at the risk of the shipper.

Live, wild birds will not be transported unless:

• Shipper, or shipper's agent, certifies in writing on shipper's letterhead and submit with the air waybill, that the birds being shipped were born or bred in captivity or on special farms, or birds are being shipped to or from a zoological garden, wildlife preserve, or government wildlife agency.
• Transportation is restricted to Delta local services.

Additional Restrictions for Pug or Snub-nosed Dogs and Cats

Pug or snub-nosed dogs and cats are not hot-weather animals and therefore do not thrive in warm temperatures. As a precaution, Delta will not accept them as checked baggage or as air cargo if the temperature on any part of their trip exceeds 70 degrees F.

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Health Requirements

Health Certificate

A health certificate is required when shipping your pet as air cargo. While Delta does not require a health certificate for carried-on or checked pets, upon arrival, the certificate may be required by the state. For clarification, please call your veterinarian or see the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Veterinary Services.

The certificate must be issued by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of transport. The certificate must contain:

• The shipper's name and address.
• Any tag numbers or tattoos assigned to the animal.
• The age of the animal being shipped (USDA regulations require animals be at least 8 weeks old and fully weaned before traveling).
• A statement that the animal is in good health.
• A list of administered inoculations, when applicable.
• The signature of the veterinarian.
• The date of the certificate.

If the shipper knows that the pet is pregnant, it must be noted on the health certificate.

Acclimation Certificate

If your pet is traveling during winter months and is accustomed to low temperatures, you may be able to facilitate the journey by obtaining two copies of an acclimation certificate from your veterinarian. USDA regulations require that this certificate be issued no more than ten days before departure. The acclimation certificate must contain:

• Shipper's name and address
• Any tag numbers or tattoos assigned to the animal
• A statement that the animal is acclimated to temperatures lower than 45 degrees F
• Lowest temperature to which the animal may be exposed to, but not lower than 20 degrees F
• Signature of the veterinarian
• Date of the certificate

Live Animal Checklist/Confirmation of Feeding

When you check in your pet, you will be asked to complete a live animal checklist. When you sign this checklist, you are confirming that your pet has been offered food and water within four hours of check-in. On the checklist you must also give feeding and watering instructions for a 24-hour period. If in-transit feeding is necessary, you must provide food.

Tranquilizers

The use of pet tranquilizers at high altitudes is unpredictable. If you plan to sedate your pet, you must have written consent from the pet's veterinarian. This information must be attached to the kennel. Please keep in mind that Delta agents cannot administer medication of any kind.

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Kennel Requirements

To transport your pet as checked baggage or cargo, you must use a shipping kennel approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The kennel must have enough room for your pet to stand and sit erect without the head touching the top of the container and turn around and lie in a natural position. These kennels are available at most Delta Cargo locations, as well as many pet supply stores. You should check with the local cargo facility for availability of the size kennel you need in advance of the date of travel. Kennels are for sale for booked Delta passengers and shippers only, not the general public.

Due to seasonal weather conditions, we do not accept pets as checked baggage from May 15 through September 15. You can, however, ship your pet as cargo with our Pet First® program.

All kennels must be capable of loading upright in the aircraft bin as required by the Animal Welfare Act and the International Air Transport Association Live Animal Regulations.

Also, USDA rules state that the kennel must:

• Be constructed out of rigid plastic, wood, metal, or material of comparable strength with solid roofs. No cardboard kennels.
• Have wheels that can be removed or made inoperable [applies to wheeled kennels only]
• Have functional handles on the kennel's exterior to prevent tilting and any direct contact with the animals.
• Close securely, but not lock, allowing personnel to open it in case of emergency.
• Have labels with the words "Live Animal" in letters at least 1-inch tall on the crate's top and on at least one side.
• Have upright arrow labels indicating kennel's correct Delta Air Logistics can provide these labels.
• Contain some type of bedding, either shredded paper or towels, to absorb any "accidents."
• Contain two dishes (one for food and one for water) attached to the inside of the kennel door. They must be easily accessible to Delta agents without opening the kennel door.
• Display feeding instructions and food, if applicable. These instructions should be affixed to the top of the kennel, along with shipper and consignee information.
• Not be made entirely of welded mesh, wire mesh, wicker, cardboard or collapsible materials.

The following is a list of kennel sizes, costs, and the types of aircraft in which each kennel can fit. The kennel costs below do not include tax and are subject to change.

*Rates apply to Delta aircraft only. For travel on a Delta Connection Carrier, please contact Reservations.

Reptile, Amphibian, and Fish Containers

Reptiles, amphibians, and fish are only accepted as air cargo, not as carry-on or checked baggage. Shipments must comply with the container requirements of the current edition of the IATA Live Animal Regulations.

Reptiles, other than snakes, need to be placed in a container constructed of wood, plastic or corrugated material. For flight purposes, animals in this category include:

• Caiman
• Chameleons
• Frogs
• Geckos
• Iguanas
• Lizards
• Newts
• Salamanders
• Toads

Safety and security concerns for Delta personnel and customers prevent removal of live snake shipments from shipping containers.

Delta will not accept shipments of live snake (venomous or non-venomous) or venomous reptiles for carriage from an unknown shipper.

Kennel Labeling

All animal kennels must display:

• Live Animal Checklist (includes feeding and watering instructions)
• Live Animal label
• Directional arrows

In addition to the above displays, wild animal kennels require a Wild Animal label.

Delta provides these display items when your kennel is accepted for transport.

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