Airline Pet Policy
Last verified against Alaska's official policy: October 11, 2026
Alaska Airlines, now sharing one pet policy with Hawaiian Airlines, is the major U.S. airline with the most ways to fly an animal. A small dog, cat, rabbit or bird rides in the cabin for $100 each way. A bigger dog or cat can fly on your flight in the heated baggage compartment for $200. The rules that catch people out are the soft-carrier-only rule in the cabin, the brachycephalic ban in the hold and the long list of routes where pets can't go at all. Everything below is checked against Alaska's official pet policy and its linked policy pages.
In this guide
| Cabin fee | $100 each way per carrier; $35 wholly within Hawaii |
| Hold fee | $200 each way per kennel; $100 within Alaska or military on orders; $60 within Hawaii |
| In cabin | Yes: small dogs, house cats, domesticated rabbits, small household birds |
| Hold (baggage compartment) | Yes, on your flight, up to 150 lb pet plus kennel |
| Cargo, pet flying alone | Yes, Pet Connect through Alaska and Hawaiian Air Cargo |
| Cabin carrier limit | Soft-sided only, 17 x 11 x 9.5 in |
| Weight limit (cabin) | None published; the pet must fit comfortably in the carrier under the seat |
| Pets per passenger | 1 carrier with up to 2 pets of the same species; 2 carriers if you buy the adjacent seat |
| Minimum age | 8 weeks, fully weaned |
| Booking | Chat or call Alaska before the day of travel |
| No pets | Europe, London, Japan, Seoul, Belize, Guatemala, Pago Pago, Papeete, Rarotonga, Sydney |
Source: Alaska's official pet policy, Alaska's in-cabin pet rules, Alaska's baggage compartment rules, checked October 11, 2026.
Alaska's merger with Hawaiian changed its pet pages, and many guides mix old Alaska rules with new ones. These are the mistakes that cost a flight.
Source: Alaska's official pet policy, Alaska's in-cabin pet rules, Alaska's baggage compartment rules, checked October 11, 2026.
| How your pet flies | Fee, each way |
|---|---|
| Cabin | $100 per carrier |
| Cabin, wholly within Hawaii | $35 |
| Baggage compartment | $200 per kennel |
| Baggage compartment, wholly within Alaska, or active-duty U.S. military and dependents on orders | $100 |
| Baggage compartment, wholly within Hawaii | $60 |
| Baggage compartment, military on orders, SEA to Narita or Honolulu to select Japan cities | $340 (JPY 41,000) |
| Pet Connect (pet flying without you) | Quoted by Alaska and Hawaiian Air Cargo |
| Trained service animal | Free |
Fees are per carrier or kennel, each way, and cover Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flights only. If part of your trip is on another airline, that airline charges its own fee and you book the pet with it directly.
Source: Alaska's official pet policy, Alaska's in-cabin pet rules, Alaska's baggage compartment rules, checked October 11, 2026.
Soft-sided only, up to 17 x 11 x 9.5 inches. Hard-sided kennels aren't allowed in the cabin. The carrier has to be clean, leak-proof, escape-proof, well ventilated, free of tears, and lined with absorbent bedding that isn't shredded. Two pets of the same species and similar size can share one carrier if nothing protrudes.
Source: Alaska's official pet policy, Alaska's in-cabin pet rules, checked October 11, 2026.
If your pet is too big for the cabin, it can fly on your flight in the climate-controlled baggage compartment. You must be on the same flights. If you're not traveling, use Alaska and Hawaiian Air Cargo Pet Connect.
| Size | Dimensions (L x W x H) |
|---|---|
| Extra small (100) | 21 x 16 x 15 in |
| Small (200) | 27 x 20 x 19 in |
| Medium (300) | 32 x 22 x 23 in |
| Large (400) | 36 x 24 x 26 in |
| Extra large (500) | 40 x 27 x 30 in |
The kennel must be rigid, with a metal grated door, nuts and bolts holding top and bottom together, a solid roof, attached food and water dishes and absorbent bedding. Soft-sided, collapsible, wire, wicker and snap-top kennels are refused. Kennels over 28 inches can't fly within Hawaii.
Short-nosed breeds can't go in the hold. Not accepted, including mixes: Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brussels Griffon, all Mastiffs, Bulldog, Chow Chow, Dutch Pug, English Bulldog, English Toy Spaniel, French Bulldog, Japanese Mastiff, Japanese Pug, Japanese Spaniel, Pekingese, Pug, Shih Tzu, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan and Persian cats. They can still fly in the cabin if the carrier fits. Bull terriers and pit bulls are accepted in the hold.
Alaska can also refuse a hold pet when temperatures at the origin, connection or destination are extreme. In summer, pick early morning or late evening flights; in winter, midday.
Source: Alaska's official pet policy, Alaska's baggage compartment rules, checked October 11, 2026.
Alaska and Hawaiian don't accept pets, in the cabin or the baggage compartment, to or from:
| Destination | Rule |
|---|---|
| Europe, all locations, and London (LHR) | No pets |
| Japan, all locations | No pets; some exceptions for active-duty military on orders |
| Seoul (ICN) | No pets |
| Belize City (BZE), Guatemala City (GUA) | No pets, and no cargo service either |
| Pago Pago (PPG), Papeete (PPT), Rarotonga (RAR), Sydney (SYD) | No pets |
| Mexico, Costa Rica | Allowed, but Alaska advises against it because of screwworm; screwworm certificates required; no cargo service to or from Mexico |
Source: Alaska's official pet policy, Alaska's in-cabin pet rules, Alaska's baggage compartment rules, Alaska's international pet rules, checked October 11, 2026.
Hawaii is rabies-free and enforces it hard. A pet that arrives without the right paperwork can be quarantined in Honolulu for up to 120 days at your expense. Plan with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture's Animal Quarantine program first, then book.
Source: Alaska's official pet policy, Alaska's Hawaii pet rules, checked October 11, 2026.
Only dogs and cats can fly between the U.S. and another country on Alaska or Hawaiian.
For details by country, see our guides to Canada, the USDA health certificate and the rabies titer test.
Source: Alaska's official pet policy, Alaska's international pet rules, checked October 11, 2026.
Source: Alaska's official pet policy, Alaska's in-cabin pet rules, checked October 11, 2026.
Trained service animals fly free. A passenger with a fully trained working dog may sit in a bulkhead row, which pet owners can't. Under U.S. Department of Transportation rules, airlines can require the DOT service animal form, plus a relief attestation for flights of 8 hours or more. Emotional support animals aren't service animals under those rules, so on Alaska they fly as pets, with the fee and carrier rules above.
| Alaska | American | Delta | Southwest | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabin fee | $100 | $150 | $150 ($200 international) | $125 |
| Cabin carrier | Soft only, 17 x 11 x 9.5 in | Soft 18 x 11 x 11 in | Soft 18 x 11 x 11 in recommended | 18 x 10.5 x 10 in |
| Cabin animals | Dogs, cats, rabbits, birds | Cats, dogs | Dogs, cats; birds domestic | Cats, dogs |
| Large pet with you | Hold, $200 | Military only | Military only | No |
| Pet flying alone | Pet Connect | American PetEmbark | No (embargo) | No |
Alaska has the cheapest cabin fee of the four and is the only one where a regular traveler can check a large dog onto their own flight. Its cabin carrier is the smallest, though, so measure before you book.
Sources: Alaska's official pet policy, American's official pet policy, Delta's official pet policy, Southwest's official pet policy, checked October 11, 2026.
A pet in the cabin costs $100 each way per carrier, or $35 for travel wholly within Hawaii. A pet in the climate-controlled baggage compartment costs $200 each way per kennel, $100 wholly within Alaska or for active-duty U.S. military on travel orders, and $60 wholly within Hawaii. These fees apply to Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flights.
Small dogs, house cats, domesticated rabbits and small household birds can fly in the cabin on Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines flights. Birds can't fly to Hawaii, rabbits can fly to Hawaii only to Honolulu, and only dogs and cats can fly in the cabin to international destinations where cabin pets are allowed.
Only soft-sided carriers up to 17 x 11 x 9.5 inches are accepted in the cabin. Hard-sided kennels are not allowed. The carrier must be leak-proof, escape-proof, well ventilated, lined with absorbent bedding and fit under the seat in front of you.
Yes. Dogs and cats too big for the cabin can travel in the climate-controlled baggage compartment on your flight, in a rigid kennel, for $200 each way, as long as pet and kennel weigh no more than 150 pounds together. Brachycephalic breeds such as pugs, bulldogs, Boston terriers and Persian cats are not accepted there.
You can bring a pet carrier plus a personal item, or a pet carrier plus a standard carry-on bag. The pet counts toward your carry-on allowance, except on flights within Hawaii, where it doesn't.
Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines don't accept pets in the cabin or baggage compartment to or from Europe, London Heathrow, Japan, Seoul, Belize City, Guatemala City, Pago Pago, Papeete, Rarotonga and Sydney. Military on orders have some exceptions on Japan routes.
Book your own ticket on alaskaair.com or hawaiianairlines.com, then chat with or call the airline to reserve space for your pet before the day of travel. Pet space is limited and first come, first served. You pay the fee and check in with your pet at the airport counter.
Every rule on this page was checked against Alaska's official pet policy and its linked policy pages on October 11, 2026. Airlines change pet rules without notice, so check the official page again in the week you fly.
Alaska is one of the few US airlines that will fly a large dog, in the hold or through Pet Connect, but the rules shift by route and season. Compare who will take your pet, and how, before you lock in dates.
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