Delta Airlines Animal Policy: Pets, Service Animals, and Cargo Rules Explained

Delta Air Lines' animal policy allows small dogs, cats, and household birds to fly in-cabin for a fee, permits trained service animals to fly free after completing a federal form, and has an open-ended cargo embargo on shipping pets as checked baggage. As of August 2026, the in-cabin pet fee is $150 each way within the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, and $200 on other international routes, according to Delta's official pet travel page.

What Does Delta's Animal Policy Actually Cover?

"Delta Airlines animal policy" is really three distinct policies bundled under one name: paid in-cabin pet travel, no-cost trained service animal travel governed by federal law, and Delta Cargo's checked-pet shipping program, which is currently paused. Confusing these three tracks is the most common mistake travelers make when booking. The sections below walk through each one using Delta's own published requirements.

Flying With a Pet In-Cabin on Delta

Delta permits dogs, cats, and household birds to travel inside the cabin on eligible routes for a one-way fee collected at check-in, per Delta's pet travel overview. Household birds are limited to travel within the domestic United States.

Carrier requirements

• Soft-sided kennel with ventilation on 3 sides for domestic travel and 4 sides for international travel.
• Recommended maximum dimensions of 18 x 11 x 11 inches, small enough to fit completely under the seat ahead.
• The pet must remain inside the carrier for the entire flight, including taxi, takeoff, and landing.

Age minimums

• Domestic U.S. travel: at least 8 weeks old.
• International travel into the U.S.: dogs at least 6 months old; cats at least 16 weeks old.
• Travel to the European Union: at least 15 weeks old.

Fees and cabin limits

These figures reflect Delta's fee schedule for tickets issued on or after April 8, 2025, and remain current as of August 2026 per Delta's official pet travel page.

Destinations that do not allow in-cabin pets

Delta does not permit pets in the cabin on flights to or from Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Iceland, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, or the United Arab Emirates, according to Delta's pet travel page. Some of these restrictions stem from the destination country's own animal import rules rather than Delta policy alone, so travelers should also check the destination government's requirements before booking.

Delta Cargo's Pet Shipment Embargo

Delta Cargo has an active, open-ended embargo on Pets in Hold (AVIH) bookings, meaning the general public cannot ship a pet as checked cargo on Delta as of August 2026, per Delta's pet policies page for travel agents. The only exceptions are active-duty U.S. military personnel and U.S. State Department Foreign Service Officers traveling on official orders, and even then, flights must be under 12 hours. Delta does not accept snub-nosed (brachycephalic) dog or cat breeds in cargo under any circumstance, including these military and government exceptions. Travelers whose pet cannot fly in-cabin or as a service animal should plan for a ground alternative or a specialized pet-shipping service, since there is no published end date for the embargo.

Traveling With a Trained Service Animal on Delta

A trained service animal is a dog individually trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability, and it flies free on Delta without a carrier fee or cabin pet count, under the U.S. Department of Transportation's Air Carrier Access Act framework. Delta's accessible travel page requires the following:

1. Complete the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form, attesting to the animal's health, training, and behavior.
2. Submit the form through Delta's system at least 48 hours before departure.
3. For flights scheduled at 8 hours or longer, also submit a DOT Relief Attestation Form confirming the animal will not need to relieve itself, or can do so in a sanitary manner.
4. Ensure the animal is at least 4 months old, current on vaccinations, and able to fit within the passenger's seat and foot space without blocking the aisle.

Delta caps trained service animal travel at two animals per passenger, each requiring its own completed DOT documentation. Service animals in training and emotional support animals do not qualify under this category; Delta explicitly excludes emotional support animals from its service animal policy, meaning they must travel under the standard paid in-cabin pet rules if they otherwise meet the size and species requirements, or cannot fly at all if they do not.

In-Cabin Pet vs. Service Animal vs. Cargo: Quick Comparison

International Travel: Health Documentation Beyond Delta's Policy

Delta's own fee and carrier rules are only part of the picture for international trips. Destination and transit countries set their own animal import requirements, and in the United States, pet owners traveling abroad typically need veterinary health documentation from a licensed veterinarian recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) before departure. Airlines like Delta enforce their own carrier and fee rules at check-in, but they do not replace a country's customs, quarantine, or health-certificate requirements. Always confirm both Delta's policy and the destination country's animal import rules before booking international pet travel.

How to Book Pet Travel on Delta: Step by Step

1. Confirm the route allows in-cabin pets; check Delta's restricted-destination list before booking.
2. Add the pet to the reservation online or by phone, since Delta limits the number of pets per cabin and fees are collected at check-in, not at booking.
3. Measure the carrier against the 18 x 11 x 11 inch limit and confirm it fits under the seat Delta assigns.
4. For international trips, separately arrange any required health certificate or import paperwork with the destination country, in addition to Delta's own policy.
5. For a trained service animal instead of a pet, submit the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form (and Relief Attestation form if the flight is 8+ hours) at least 48 hours before departure through Delta's accessible travel service.

Why Reliable Animal Identification Matters for Travel

Every step of Delta's animal policy, from the DOT service animal form to international health paperwork, depends on being able to prove which animal is which and that its vaccination and health records are accurate and attached to the right animal. That same identity problem exists well beyond air travel. Animal Passport addresses it for livestock and working animals with a phone-based digital ID that captures a muzzle print, unique to each animal like a fingerprint, along with owner details, breed, an estimated age from a dental photo, and a body condition score from a side-profile photo. It is not an airline-recognized pet travel document, a government-issued passport, or a substitute for the DOT forms or USDA APHIS paperwork described above; those remain the official requirements for flying with an animal on Delta. Where the tool has proven valuable is disaster recovery: during livestock flood rescue efforts in Pakistan in August 2025, responders used it to help farmers reclaim animals after paper ID tags were washed away. For more on how digital identity tools apply to animals outside the airline context, see the Animal Passport blog.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring my dog on a Delta flight in the cabin?

Yes, if the dog and its soft-sided carrier fit within 18 x 11 x 11 inches and the route is not on Delta's restricted-destination list. Delta charges $150 each way within the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, or $200 for other international routes.

Does Delta still ship pets in cargo?

No, Delta Cargo has an active embargo on Pets in Hold (AVIH) bookings for the general public, with no announced end date as of August 2026. Only active U.S. military and State Department Foreign Service Officers on official orders qualify for a limited exception.

Is an emotional support animal the same as a service animal on Delta?

No. Delta only recognizes dogs individually trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability as service animals under DOT rules; emotional support animals must fly under Delta's standard paid pet policy if they qualify by size and species.

What form do I need for a service animal on Delta?

Delta requires the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form, submitted at least 48 hours before departure, and an additional DOT Relief Attestation Form for flights scheduled 8 hours or longer.

How many pets can I bring on one Delta flight?

Delta caps in-cabin pets at 2 per Delta First cabin and 4 per Comfort or Main cabin; Delta One and Business cabins do not allow pets or service animals.

Are there breed restrictions on Delta?

Delta does not publish general breed restrictions for in-cabin pet travel, but it does not accept snub-nosed (brachycephalic) dog or cat breeds for cargo shipment under any circumstance, including military exceptions to the cargo embargo.

Can household birds fly on Delta?

Yes, but only on domestic flights within the United States, per Delta's pet travel policy.

Does Animal Passport count as a travel document for flying with pets?

No. Animal Passport is a biometric digital identity tool for livestock and working animals; it does not replace the DOT service animal forms, Delta's booking requirements, or USDA APHIS international health certificates needed to fly.