Pet Travel Options

Pets as Carry-On
Pets as Checked Baggage
Pets as Cargo

At Delta, we take the time and care to ensure every animal travels safely and comfortably with our Delta Pet First™ service. There are several different options available to get your pet to its final destination, including being brought into the cabin with you, checked as baggage, or being shipped.

Rest assured that your pet will be treated with the same comfort and care you have come to expect from us.

Government Regulations

Some states may require a health certificate for your pet. Your veterinarian, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or the Department of Agriculture of the state you are traveling to may provide you with more information.

Pets As Carry On

Some pets can travel with you in the cabin for a one-way fee of 125 USD/CAD* (to be collected at check-in) for travel within U.S./Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico (200 USD/CAD/EUR* for travel outside the U.S.) with the exception of any travel to/from Brazil which is 75 USD one-way. For any travel to/from South Africa (in exception of service animals) pets must travel as cargo and are not permitted in the cabin or as checked baggage.

Pets permitted in the cabin include dogs, cats, and household birds. The following restrictions apply:

• Your pet must be small enough to fit comfortably in a kennel under the seat directly in front of you. Maximum carry-on kennel dimensions are determined by your flight. You must contact Delta Reservations to determine the appropriate kennel size.
• Your pet must remain inside the kennel (with door secured) while in a Delta boarding area (during boarding and deplaning), a Delta airport lounge, and while onboard the aircraft.
• Your pet must be at least 8 weeks old.
• You may not carry on more than one pet.
• Your pet in-cabin counts as one piece of carry-on baggage.
• If you're traveling to Hawaii, your pet won't be able to go with you in the cabin, and other restrictions may apply. See Pets to Hawaii for more information.
• Pets are prohibited in-cabin and as checked baggage into Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Pets may only be brought into HKG and the UK as cargo.
• *CAD amount will be charged exit Canada, and EUR amount will be charged exit Europe. Fees established by the contract of carriage in effect at the time of ticket issuance will apply.

Exception: Two pets of the same type may be allowed in one kennel, for example two dogs or two cats. They must be small enough to fit in one kennel provided they are compatible and must be of the same species and size, and they must meet the requirements of acceptance. They will be charged as one pet.

Also, Delta limits the number of pets per flight, but only one per passenger, to:

Pets are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Call Delta in advance at 800-221-1212 to arrange to bring your pet on board.

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Pets As Checked Baggage

While the environment your pet travels in is temperature-controlled and pressurized, air travel is likely to be a stressful experience. To ensure your pet's comfort and safety and your peace of mind, review weather, health, and kennel Requirements & Restrictions for important guidelines.

• Cats, dogs*, household birds, guinea pigs, rabbits, and hamsters are accepted as checked baggage.
  • For tickets issued on or after December 13, 2011, no snub or pug nosed dogs or cats will be permitted as checked baggage.
• Primates, including lemurs, monkeys, orangutans, gorillas, and chimpanzees will not be permitted (excluding service animals).
• Pets are prohibited in-cabin and as checked baggage into the United Kingdom. Pets may only be brought into the UK as cargo.

All other animals, including reptiles, must be shipped as cargo.

You can transport a total of two kennels per flight. Giant-size kennels can only be shipped as cargo. Additional restrictions apply according to aircraft and class of service.

Additional Information

The one-way fee for checking your pet on all flights is 200 USD/CAD/EUR* for all. If you and your pet are making a transfer to another airline, be sure to allow time to claim your animal and re-check it with the connecting airline. For additional information or to arrange to check your pet as baggage, contact Reservations.

*CAD amount will be charged exit Canada, and EUR amount will be charged exit Europe. Fees established by the contract of carriage in effect at the time of ticket issuance will apply.

*For passengers transiting AMS with a connection time of 2 hours or longer, an additional USD200/CAD200/EUR150 fee applies each way.

Exception: Two pets of the same type may be allowed in one kennel, for example two dogs or two cats. They must be small enough to fit in one kennel provided they are compatible and must be of the same species and size, and they must meet the requirements of acceptance. They will be charged as one pet.

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Pets As Cargo

Delta Pet First is designed to address the special needs of all warm-blooded animals shipped without their owner. The following are some guidelines and benefits for our Delta Pet First customers:

• We provide safe and reliable year round transportation for your pet.
• Your pet will travel from origin to destination with the same priority as Delta DASH shipments. See Pet Shipping Rates for more information.
• All live animal shipments are required to be pre-booked prior to arrival at the origin facility.
• International Pet Shipments must be booked a minimum of 3 days in advance and a maximum of 14 days in advance U. S.-based Pet Shipments must be booked a minimum of 24 hours in advance and a maximum of 14 days in advance.
• We have climate-controlled Live Animal holding areas in four of our hub cities: Atlanta, Cincinnati, Dallas and Salt Lake City.
• Upon arrival in the destination city, pets will be delivered to the Delta Cargo facility within 60 minutes.
• All shipments must be picked up at the destination city cargo facility based on the destination station's guidelines.
• Only warm-blooded mammals and birds considered to be personal pets or show/exhibition animals will be accepted.
• Primates, including lemurs, monkeys, orangutans, gorillas, and chimpanzees will not be permitted.
• Animals must be considered non-offensive and not dangerous to passengers or baggage handlers.
• Additional fees and charges may apply. Terminal handling charges, customs clearance fees, veterinarian service, and/or kennel storage fees are in addition to shipping rates and will be charged to the shipper or pet owner upon arrival at destination airport. All fees and charges must be paid in full prior to the release of animal.

While the environment your pet travels in is climate-controlled and pressurized, air travel is likely to be a stressful experience. To ensure your pet's comfort and safety and your peace of mind, see weather, health, and kennel Requirements & Restrictions for important information.

Learn more about shipping by visiting Delta Cargo.

Shipping Tips

The following are some shipping suggestions to ensure your pet's comfort and safety.

• Familiarize your pet with the kennel to ease the stress of travel.
• Keep your pet as calm as possible prior to the flight. Take along a leash and collar for walking your pet prior to departure. Do not place the leash inside the kennel.
• Include identification tags with your home address and telephone number, as well as the address and phone number of the person receiving the animal at destination.
• Never send your pet with a muzzle or choke collar on. Both can be dangerous when an animal is alone.

Visit Delta Cargo to learn more about shipping on Delta.

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