Taking a pet dog on vacation can be extremely rewarding - canine companions love a change of scenery just as much as their owners do, and they are part of the family, after all. But the practicalities of flying with a dog may put some passengers off.
With the exception of service dogs, not all carriers accept pet dogs onboard, and those that do tend to have a strict set of rules to follow. But which US airlines allow passengers to travel with their furry friends in the cabin?
American Airlines
The world's largest airline allows dogs to travel in the cabin on flights within the US mainland, as well as to Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, and the US Virgin Islands. American Airlines charges a pet carry-on fee of $125.
However, there are some rules to follow - the dog must be over eight weeks of age, fit comfortably inside a carrier, and the carrier (with a pet inside) must not weigh more than 20 lbs and be placed underneath the seat in front. Larger dogs, and those on flights to other destinations, must travel in the aircraft hold.
It is worth noting that due to a lack of under-seat storage space, pet carriers are not allowed in the airline's first and business class cabins on its Boeing 777s and 787s fleet. Also, the pet carrier counts as a carry-on bag, meaning that the passenger is left with just a personal item for themselves.
JetBlue
JetBlue does not accept pets for travel in the aircraft hold. However, on all domestic flights, the airline allows passengers to bring their dog into the cabin, provided that it is kept comfortably inside a pet carrier weighing no more than 20 lbs. The fee for doing so is $125 each way.
Passengers can bring up to two pets onboard, but a separate seat must be booked for the second. That said, six pets are allowed on each JetBlue flight, so it pays to book early.
Southwest Airlines
Again, a standard fee of $125 is charged to bring a pet onboard Southwest Airlines, although this is reduced to $35 for passengers traveling between the Hawaiian islands. Passengers can bring one pet carrier into the cabin with them, with each carrier able to hold a maximum of two pets of the same species. They cannot travel in an exit row due to a lack of under-seat stowage.
United Airlines
United Airlines allows small dogs and cats to be carried onboard. There is no weight limit, but the pet must be housed comfortably in either a hard or soft-sided carrier that fits underneath the seat in front.
While pets can generally travel on United Airlines' extensive worldwide network, there are several exceptions; they are not permitted on flights to and from a number of countries, including the UK, Ireland, Jamaica, Barbados, and Iceland.
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines allows pets to travel in the cabin on flights to a wider variety of destinations than American Airlines. For a fee of $95, passengers can bring their dogs onboard flights within the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. For other international destinations, the fee rises to $200, except for flights to Brazil, where the cost is reduced to $75.
However, pets are not permitted to travel in the cabin on flights to particular international destinations, including Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. Also, pet carriers are not allowed in the airline's flagship Delta One cabin due to seating configurations.
Other US airlines that allow dogs to be carried in the cabin on certain flights include Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Spirit Airlines.
Discover the ins and outs of flying with service dogs with this report from the Simple Flying team.
Should more airlines allow flying with dogs?
Most US airlines allow passengers to travel with their dogs, albeit with certain conditions, but should the policy be expanded to cover more flights and airlines? Passengers often find the airport experience and flying, in general, to be stressful, and it is essential to consider the impact of such a journey on pets too. The changes in pressure, temperature, and unfamiliar environments and noises, can all turn traveling into a traumatic experience for pets.
Also worth considering are the statistics, which do not make for pleasant reading - according to a report from the US Department of Transportation, seven pets died during flights last year, and the total figure over the past decade is more than 200, the majority of them dogs.
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Do you travel with your pet dog? Which airline do you and your furry friend usually fly with? Share your experiences by commenting below.
Source: New York Times