Airline Pet Policy
Contour Airlines, the regional carrier flying Essential Air Service routes to small cities across the US, allows dogs and cats in the cabin for $150 each way as of July 1, 2026. The catch that trips up most people: you can't book a pet online. It has to go through Customer Experience by phone, and cabin space is capped at three pet containers per flight. Here's exactly how that works, what it costs, and what your carrier needs to look like.
In this guide
Contour Airlines permits domesticated dogs and cats in the cabin, carried in an approved pet carrier that fits under the seat in front of you. As of July 1, 2026, the pet fee is $150 each way, and reservations can only be made by phone with Contour's Customer Experience team, not through the website or app.
Cabin space is limited: Contour allows no more than three pet containers in the cabin at any time, and one pet carrier per passenger. Your pet has to stay in the carrier for the whole flight, and you can't sit in an exit row with a pet on board.
Most competitor guides still quote the old fee. Several third-party pet policy sites list $100 or free pet travel on Contour. Contour's own page confirms the current figure is $150 each way, effective July 1, 2026. Don't book based on an outdated number.
| What | Contour Airlines policy |
|---|---|
| Pet fee | $150 each way, effective July 1, 2026 |
| Booking method | Phone only, with Customer Experience; not available online |
| Species allowed | Domesticated dogs and cats only |
| Cabin cap | Max 3 pet containers in the cabin per flight, 1 carrier per passenger |
| Carrier location | Under the seat in front of you |
| Carrier max size | 24" L x 16" W x 10" H, counts as your carry-on |
| Checked/cargo option | Not offered; pets travel in the cabin only |
| Exit row | Not permitted with a pet carrier |
| Service dogs | Free, ACAA-trained dogs only, DOT form required |
Figures reflect Contour Airlines' own traveling-with-pets page. Confirm current fees and availability directly with Contour before you book.
This is the step that surprises most travelers: Contour doesn't let you add a pet during online checkout. The whole process runs through a human being on the phone.
Contour's pet fee changed recently, which is why so many third-party sites still have it wrong.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Pet fee, one way | $150 per pet, effective July 1, 2026 |
| Pet fee, round trip | $300 per pet (charged each way) |
| Trained service dog | No charge, documentation required |
Source: Contour Airlines official pet policy →
The fee is charged per pet, per direction, not per booking. Contour doesn't publish a separate checked or cargo pet rate because it doesn't offer that option; pets travel in the cabin only. Airline fees change without notice, so verify the current amount when you call to book.
Contour's carrier rules are straightforward, but the size limit is firm, and it's the detail most likely to catch a traveler off guard at the gate.
Only dogs and cats. Contour's own policy names domesticated dogs and cats as the permitted pets. If you're traveling with another species, confirm directly with Customer Experience before booking; Contour's published policy doesn't cover other animals as standard pets.
Contour follows the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) definition of a service animal, which is narrower than what many travelers expect.
An emotional support animal that doesn't meet the ACAA definition travels under Contour's standard pet policy instead, with the $150 each-way fee and carrier rules above.
No. Contour does not offer online pet booking. Reservations for a pet must be made in advance by phone with Contour's Customer Experience team, at 1 (888) 332-6686, to confirm availability and reserve a space before you fly.
Effective July 1, 2026, Contour charges $150 per pet, each way. That's per direction, so a round trip runs $300 total. Trained service dogs that meet Contour's requirements travel at no charge.
Carriers cannot exceed 24 inches long, 16 inches wide, and 10 inches high, and count as your carry-on item for baggage allowance purposes. The carrier must fit under the seat and be roomy enough for your pet to stand up, lie down, and turn around naturally.
Contour allows a maximum of three pet containers in the cabin at any one time, and only one pet carrier per passenger. Because space is limited, pet spots should be reserved by phone as early as possible.
No. Under the Air Carrier Access Act, only trained service dogs qualify as service animals. Emotional support animals, comfort animals, companionship animals, and animals other than dogs do not meet Contour's service animal definition and would need to travel under the standard pet policy and fee instead.
You need the US Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form, completed and emailed to customercare@contourairlines.com at least 48 hours before departure. Contour may ask to see this documentation again at any point during your journey, so keep a copy with you.
Information on this page reflects the Contour Airlines pet policy as of August 2026. Fees and rules are set by Contour Airlines and change without notice. Always confirm current requirements directly with Contour before you book.
Contour's phone-only booking and three-pet cabin cap aren't unusual for smaller carriers. Compare fees, carrier limits, and booking rules across airlines before you lock in your route.
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