How big can a pet carrier be on a plane?

While there are no weight or breed limitations for pets, they must travel in either a hard-sided or soft-sided carrier. This carrier must fit under the seat in front of you or you cannot fly with your pet. There can only be one pet per carrier, and they must be able to stand up and turn around while inside.



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At the time of publishing, to travel with a pet on Delta, United, or American Airlines, your soft-sided pet carrier must be 18 by 11 by 11 inches or smaller. To travel with a pet on JetBlue, your in-flight carrier can't exceed 17 by 12.5 by 8.5 inches, and cargo hold dimensions vary.

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The carrier containing your dog can only go completely under the seat in front of you. Carriers cannot be stored on your lap, in an overhead bin or anywhere else. Your dog must remain in its carrier under the seat in front of you for the duration of the trip.

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Even though you can't buy an extra seat for your cat, you'll still have to make a reservation for it. Several of the biggest airlines in the U.S. charge $125 each way for an in-cabin cat. However, fees are somewhat less on other airlines, like Southwest Airlines ($95) and JetBlue ($100).

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Usually dogs are only allowed to fly in the cabin—known as carry-on pets—if they can comfortably fit in a carrier that you can stow under the seat in front of you. A small number of airlines, including JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, and Etihad Airways, allow passengers flying with dogs to buy an extra seat for their pet.

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Window and Middle seats usually have wider space underneath the seat in front of you between their supports. Underneath the aisle seat is typically more narrow. If it were me I would recommend the window seat that way no one will jostle the dog if they get up to use the restroom during the flight.

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Carry-On Pets They must be able to fit in a small, ventilated pet carrier that fits under the seat in front of you. One pet is permitted per kennel with the following exceptions: One female cat/dog may travel with her un-weaned litter if the litter is between 10 weeks to 6 months of age.

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Your airline may allow soft-sided pet carriers for in-cabin travel. One option for small dogs is the Snoozer Roll Around Travel Dog Carrier Backpack 4-in-1 a well-ventilated, soft-sided dog carrier that's a backpack, a rollable carrier with wheels, a safe dog car seat, and a pet bed, all in one.

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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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Most of the time, cats travel quite well without the need for medication. Some cats, on the other hand, experience tremendous stress when subjected to air travel. Consult your veterinarian to create the best travel plan for your cat if she does not travel well.

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Though your cat may not be happy with plane travel, there are ways to keep your cat calm during a flight.
  1. Choose a Comfortable Cat Carrier. ...
  2. Train your Cat to Like the Carrier. ...
  3. Try Using Pheromones to Calm Your Cat. ...
  4. Prepare for Security Checks. ...
  5. Consider Putting Your Cat in the Cargo Area.


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Your pet container must be small enough to fit underneath the seat without blocking any person's path to the main aisle of the airplane. Your pet container must be stowed properly before the last passenger entry door to the airplane is closed in order for the airplane to leave the gate.

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However, some airlines just don't allow pets in the cabin and to ensure that no passengers suffer from an allergic reaction while on board. Airlines must choose to put the needs of their human passengers first.

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Adult dogs and cats easily make it through the night without having to relieve themselves, so your pet should also be OK on most very long flights. Regardless, you'll have to line their carrier with something absorbent - a Dry Fur pad works nicely under your pet's own crate pad or thin blanket.

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There is a $125 fee each way for traveling with your pet. There is also a $125 fee for each layover of more than four hours for flights within the U.S. and more than 24 hours internationally. You cannot use travel credits to pay this fee.

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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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