Do you have to pay for ESA on plane?

Prepare for fees No more free emotional support animals in the cabin means you should expect fees when bringing your pet. Alaska Airlines charges $100 each way. Traveling with an emotional support animal on United, Delta or American Airlines will cost you $125 each way.



In 2026, the answer for Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) on U.S. domestic flights is yes, you almost certainly have to pay. Following the 2021 DOT rule change that allowed airlines to reclassify ESAs as "pets," major carriers like Delta, United, and American no longer recognize ESAs as service animals. This means your ESA is now subject to the standard "Pet in Cabin" fee, which typically ranges from $95 to $150 per flight in 2026. Your animal must also fit within a TSA-approved carrier under the seat in front of you. Only "Task-Trained" Service Animals (like guide dogs for the blind or medical alert dogs) are exempt from these fees and allowed to fly outside of a carrier on the floor. If you are flying in 2026, you must notify the airline in advance and pay the pet fee during the check-in process; failing to do so may result in being denied boarding or having to check the animal as cargo at a significantly higher cost.

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United Airlines ESA Policy: A Pet Fee For domestic pets to fly in-cabin, there is a $125 service charge each way on United Airlines. If you have stopovers within the US for more than four hours, there may be an additional cost of $125.

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Pets traveling in the cabin need to stay inside a carrier. Carrier requirements may change from airline to airline, but dogs should be able to stand naturally and turn around inside it without touching the sides or top. Can my cat or dog sit on my lap? No.

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The whole process of flying can be stressful for a dog, but those levels of stress can be greatly reduced with a few simple home comforts and reassurances. Ensuring your flight is a non-stop flight rather than one with changeovers can be a huge benefit to your dog, as can looking to travel at a suitable time.

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We only allow service dogs flying with their owners, or service dogs in training who are flying with their trainers, on our flights for free. All other cats and dogs fly as pets.

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Dogs must still fly in a carrier and fit under the seat to be stowed for taxi, takeoff, and landing (on Etihad, carriers can take up more space if being used with an additional seat); outside of those flight phases, passengers are generally allowed to put the dog carrier on their lap or in the seat next to them that ...

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Airlines are required to permit trained service dogs to fly, unless the pets create a dangerous or disruptive environment. Unlike service dogs, airlines are not required to permit emotional support dogs, or any type of emotional support animal, to fly.

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Dogs' ears can be sensitive to changes in air pressure during flights, which can cause discomfort or pain. Providing your dog with plenty of water and a comfortable carrier can help alleviate these symptoms.

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Yes, you can fly with a large ESA dog as long as the airline has no size restrictions. But each airline has its own rules about traveling with an ESA dog, so it's important to check with the airline you'll be flying with to find out if there are any size restrictions in the cabin of an airplane.

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