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Can you fly with an 80 pound dog?

Several airlines do accept large dogs by storing them in the plane's cargo. The hold is temperature-controlled and pressurized, so it is a humane way to transport them. For most airlines, pets weighing 17 pounds or more qualify as large and must travel in the hold.



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Flying with a larger dog as either check-in baggage or in cargo can cost anywhere between $200 to over $1000. The range between prices is why it's vital to contact your airline or research online to see what costs may be involved.

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Yes, you can fly with large dogs so long as they are properly crated and prepared to fly. Many airlines require your pet to be at least 8-weeks old before flying. Any younger and dogs are thought to be too fragile for long flights. Your pet must also be free of fleas, ticks, and or infectious diseases.

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In general, if your pet carrier (with your pet inside) can fit under the seat in front of you, your dog can ride in the cabin on flights that permit it. Typically, this would be a dog weighing up to about 20 pounds.

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If you're considering flying with a dog If you want more space, some airlines let you buy an extra seat that you might be able to use to place your pet's carrier on during the flight. However, your pet generally needs to stay in its carrier the whole trip.

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Can I Buy A Plane Ticket For My Large Dog? If you're flying with a pet-friendly airline, you'll typically be allowed to purchase an extra seat for your large dog, but you may have to pay an extra pet fee depending on the airline.

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Typically, large dogs are only allowed to be flown as checked baggage or cargo. Cargo is the more costly option, but it allows you to fly separately from your dog, and it is easier to track their journey since they are not attached to your passenger ticket.

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Flying with a larger dog as either check-in baggage or in cargo can cost anywhere between $200 to over $1000. The range between prices is why it's vital to contact your airline or research online to see what costs may be involved.

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How to Carry a Large Dog. If you need to pick up a large dog, remember to bend at your knees first rather than at your waist. Wrap one of your arms across his front (supporting his chest in front of his front legs but below his throat.) Then put your other arm around his back legs, supporting his rump.

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In general, yes, flying with a dog in cargo is safe. Thousands of animals fly in cargo across the globe annually. We just hear about the unfortunate cases where something goes wrong. Think about how many shelters transport cats and dogs every day.

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Typically, they need to weigh 20 lbs. or less, following the airline's carry-on luggage weight restriction. If you have a large dog, you can still take them on the plane but not in the cabin. Depending on how large your dog is, they could travel as checked baggage or as cargo.

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Your dog must stay under the seat in front of you and inside their carrier at all times. To fly in-cabin on United Airlines, your pup will need to be at least 4 months old. If your dog is too big to fly in-cabin, they will have to fly through United Airline's PetSafe® program (see below).

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Bringing your pet on the plane We only accept small dogs and cats. No large dogs are accommodated on JetBlue. The combined weight of your pet and the carrier must not exceed 20 pounds.

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Example Estimate: Flying one small dog (like a Chihuahua) domestically via cargo with a pet-friendly airline, will likely cost between $275 USD to $300 USD. Larger dogs' airfreight (like a Great Dane) can go up to around $1000 USD for a domestic move, especially if you have a custom kennel.

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Bigger dogs: Bend at the knees! Place one arm around the front of their chest (under the neck) and one arm around their back legs underneath the rump. Lift up with your legs.

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Federal law mandates that airlines accept service animals, including psychiatric service dogs, but allowing ESAs in the cabin is at the airline's discretion. If your ESA has not been individually trained as a psychiatric service dog, or if they are an unusual species, they are likely to be viewed as a pet.

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Many airlines allow pets to fly in the cabin as a carry-on, so long as they stay inside a carrier that's small enough to fit under the seat in front of you for the duration of the flight. Southwest, Alaska, United, American, Delta, Hawaiian, Spirit, and Frontier are some of the airlines that allow pets as carry-ons.

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When checking a pet, you need to:
  1. Contact Reservations at least 48 hours prior to travel.
  2. Check in at the ticket counter with your official orders.
  3. Allow extra check-in time (at least 2 hours and no more than 4 hours before your flight)
  4. Complete a checklist with an agent.
  5. Provide a health certificate.


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