Pet Travel on Delta

Embark on a journey with your favorite furry companion. Depending on their size, some pets can travel as your carry-on.

Note: Failure to comply with all pet policies and keep your pet in the kennel at all times while in the airport and onboard the aircraft may result in losing the ability to travel with your pet on future flights.

Need to travel with your service animal? Explore our guidelines and requirements for trained service animals.

On domestic flights within the contiguous U.S., small dogs, cats and household birds that meet the age, health, size and kennel requirements can travel in the cabin for a one-way fee that is collected at check-in.

Dog or cat travel outside the contiguous U.S. is permitted only if the customer possesses all required documentation for the pet to enter the destination and return to their country of origin (if applicable), and also complies with age, health, size and kennel requirements.

• The CDC has specific documentation requirements that apply to all dogs that are traveling to the United States.
• Documentation requirements for other destinations vary; visit USDA APHIS Travel With a Pet for more information.

• Your pet must be at least 8 weeks old for domestic travel.
• Your pet dog must be 6 months old if traveling to the U.S. from another country and a pet cat must be at least 16 weeks old.
• Your pet must be at least 15 weeks old when traveling to the European Union.
• 1 pet is permitted per kennel with the following exceptions:
  • 1 female cat or dog may travel with her un-weaned litter if the litter is between 8 weeks and 6 months of age. There is no limit on the number of animals in the litter as long as they can fit safely in the kennel.
  • 2 pets of the same breed and size between the ages of 8 weeks and 6 months may be allowed to travel in 1 kennel, as long as they are small enough to fit into a single kennel and are compatible. If the pets are allowed to travel in 1 kennel, they will be charged as 1 pet.

The pet must be able to fit in a soft-sided ventilated pet kennel that will go underneath the seat directly in front of you. Pets in kennels will count as your 1 carry-on item. In addition to the kennel, you are permitted to bring 1 personal item on board the aircraft.

Customers with carry-on pets may not select seats in the following areas:

• Bulkhead seats
• An emergency exit row
• Seats designated as “no stowage”
• Flat-bed or Delta One seats
• Rows 46-51 on the A330-200 aircraft
• Rows 54-59 on the A330-300 aircraft
• Center seats on the B757-200 aircraft

To ensure the comfort of all customers, we have a first-come, first-serve policy for pets in the cabin, with a limit on the total number allowed on each flight. 

If your pet meets the requirements for Carry-on Pets (above) and you have a reservation, please contact Delta Reservations as soon as possible to book your pet. Please have your pet’s kennel dimensions (length, width and height) ready when you call.

For flights operated by our partner airlines, please verify their specific policies regarding in-cabin animal transport.

Be sure to check the aircraft dimensions of your flight to ensure your pet’s kennel will fit underneath the seat directly in front of you.

Your pet and kennel must also adhere to the following requirements:

• Your pet must be small enough to fit comfortably in a kennel with the ability to move around without touching or sticking out from the sides.
• The kennel must fit underneath the seat directly in front of you.
• The soft-sided kennel must be leak-proof and have ventilation openings on 3 sides for domestic travel and 4 sides for international travel.
• The maximum carry-on kennel dimensions are determined by the aircraft dimensions of your flight, as the under-seat space varies by aircraft. Delta recommends a soft-sided kennel with maximum dimensions of 18” x 11” x 11” since this fits most aircraft types.
• Your pet must remain inside the kennel with the door secured while in a Delta boarding area, during boarding and deplaning, while in a Delta Sky Club® and while on board the aircraft.

When you arrive at the airport, you will need to visit the Special Service Counter to check in with your pet. At check-in, a Delta agent will ensure your pet and kennel meet the necessary requirements for your trip and collect the required pet fee. Remember to allow extra time at check-in for us to ensure your pet is ready for takeoff.

Once you are checked in and have your cabin pet tag, you are ready to go through the security checkpoint where you are required to remove your pet from their kennel.

After the security checkpoint, your pet must remain in their kennel while at the airport, unless they are in a designated relief area.

Keep in mind that if you visit a Delta Sky Club with your pet, our policies are the same as the aircraft. For the comfort and safety of everyone, your pet must stay in its kennel. One of our representatives can assist you with locating a pet relief area, which is available to customers with pets and trained service animals at most airports.

For any travel to or from the following destinations — with the exception of service animals — pets must travel as cargo and are not permitted in the cabin:

• Australia
• Barbados
  
• Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic
  • Pet travel is not allowed for pets originating in Brazil, Colombia, or the Dominican Republic
• Hawaii
  • Pet travel is not allowed on flights to Hawaii
• Hong Kong
• Iceland
• Jamaica
• New Zealand
• Ireland
• South Africa
• United Kingdom
• United Arab Emirates

International travel to other destinations served by Delta is permitted if the customer possesses all required documentation for the pet’s entry into the final destination. Visit USDA APHIS Travel With a Pet for more information.

The CDC has specific documentation requirements that apply to all dogs, including trained service animals, that are traveling to the United States. Dogs entering the U.S. must appear healthy, be microchipped and be at least 6 months of age. All dogs must be accompanied by a receipt of a completed CDC Dog Import Form. Additional documentation may be required depending on where the dog’s rabies vaccination was administered and if, within the past 6 months, the dog has been in a high-risk country for rabies or a low-risk or rabies-free country.