Delta Dog Policy: Fees, Carrier Rules, and the Cargo Embargo Explained

Delta Air Lines' dog policy allows small dogs to fly in the cabin, in an approved carrier, for a fee of $150 USD/CAD each way on U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands routes, and $200 each way internationally, for tickets issued on or after April 8, 2025 (Delta Air Lines, 2025). Checked-baggage (cargo) pet shipping is currently under an embargo for the general public, and dogs entering the U.S. also need a federal CDC Dog Import Form. Here is what changed, what still applies, and how it differs from an official pet travel document.

What Is Delta's Dog Policy, in Plain Terms?

Delta's dog policy is the airline's set of rules for flying with a dog: which dogs qualify for the cabin, how much it costs, what carrier is required, which breeds are restricted, and how paper documentation is checked before boarding. As of August 2026, Delta accepts small dogs, cats, and household birds in the cabin on most routes, but it does not currently accept general-public dogs as checked cargo. That second point is the change most pet owners miss, because many third-party blogs still describe cargo shipping as available.

Delta In-Cabin Dog Fees (2025 Pricing Update)

Delta raised its pet-in-cabin fees for tickets issued on or after April 8, 2025. The table below compares the current fee structure to what Delta charged before that date.

Source: Delta Air Lines' official pet travel page (delta.com/us/en/pet-travel/overview).

Carrier Size and In-Cabin Requirements

Under Delta's dog policy, an in-cabin dog must travel in a carrier that fits entirely under the seat in front of the passenger, with the dog able to stand and turn around without touching the sides. Delta recommends a soft-sided carrier no larger than 18" x 11" x 11", ventilated on three sides for domestic travel and four sides for international travel, and leak-proof on the bottom (Delta Air Lines, 2025).

• Pets must remain in the carrier for the entire flight, including boarding and taxiing.
• Delta First allows up to 2 in-cabin pets per flight; Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin allow up to 4.
• Pets are not permitted in Delta One, Business, or First class on any international flight, regardless of aircraft type, due to space constraints.
• Domestic dogs must be at least 8 weeks old; dogs flying internationally must be at least 6 months old, and EU-bound dogs at least 15 weeks old.

Breed Restrictions: Snub-Nosed and Pug-Nosed Dogs

Delta does not accept snub-nosed or pug-nosed dog breeds — such as pugs, bulldogs, boxers, and similar brachycephalic breeds — as checked baggage under any circumstance, citing higher risk of respiratory distress during travel. These breeds can still fly with Delta only if they are small enough to meet in-cabin carrier requirements (Delta Air Lines). This restriction applies regardless of whether the traveler is a civilian or active-duty military/State Department passenger using the checked-baggage exception described below.

Delta Cargo's Pet Embargo: What Changed

The biggest recent shift in Delta's dog policy is on the cargo side. According to Delta's own agency policy page, Delta Cargo has an ongoing embargo on Pet in Hold (AVIH) bookings for the general public, with no announced end date as of 2026. The only exception is active U.S. military members and U.S. State Department Foreign Service Officers traveling on official orders, who may still check a dog with at least 48 hours' advance booking, on flights under 12 hours, with a maximum of two kennels per flight (Delta Air Lines, pro.delta.com). Delta and Aeromexico have also historically applied seasonal heat restrictions on checked pets from roughly May 15 through September 15, when cargo-hold pet shipping is unavailable in warm-weather markets — a restriction now largely superseded by the broader embargo.

Separately, Delta has an embargo on Pets in Cabin (PETC) for flights originating in the Dominican Republic, effective January 24, 2025, and does not accept pets — cabin or cargo — inbound to several destinations including Australia, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Iceland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, largely because those places require lengthy quarantine or import protocols incompatible with commercial pet transport.

Federal Documentation: What the CDC Requires Beyond Delta's Own Rules

Delta's dog policy operates alongside federal rules that apply no matter which airline a dog flies. Since August 1, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has required a completed CDC Dog Import Form for any dog entering or returning to the United States by air, commercial or private (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024). Two other requirements travel with this rule:

1. All imported dogs must have an ISO-compatible microchip implanted before any required rabies vaccination is given.
2. Dogs arriving from countries the CDC classifies as high-risk for dog rabies need additional certification — either a foreign-issued or U.S.-issued rabies vaccination certificate, depending on vaccination history.

Delta staff verify the CDC Dog Import Form receipt at check-in and match the dog's description across documents; dogs that fail to meet CDC requirements can be denied entry and returned to their country of departure at the owner's expense. This CDC rule is separate from, and layered on top of, Delta's own carrier-size and fee rules.

Service Dogs vs. Pets Under Delta's Policy

Delta's dog policy treats trained service dogs differently from pet dogs. A service dog performing tasks for a passenger with a disability is not charged Delta's pet fee and is not subject to the same carrier-size limits, because federal air travel rules — administered by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) — require airlines to recognize trained service dogs separately from pets. Emotional support animals, by contrast, are treated as pets by Delta and other major U.S. carriers and are subject to the standard fees and carrier rules described above.

Delta Dog Policy vs. an Animal Identity Product

Because "passport" and "pet ID" terms get used loosely, it's worth being precise about what Delta requires versus what a product like Animal Passport does. Delta's dog policy requires airline-specific paperwork (carrier confirmation, fee payment) plus the federal CDC Dog Import Form for U.S. entry — none of which Animal Passport issues or replaces. Animal Passport is a digital identity record built around muzzle biometrics: a phone captures a dog or livestock animal's nose print, which functions like a fingerprint, and binds it to a record of owner, breed, estimated age (from a dental photo, with a confidence score), and body condition score (1–5, from a side-profile photo). The concept was field-tested during livestock flood rescue efforts in Pakistan in August 2025, where farmers used it to help reclaim animals after paper ear tags washed away. That is a livestock-identity use case, not an airline travel document, and Animal Passport is not a government-issued or Delta-accepted travel credential unless a cited official source explicitly says otherwise. Readers researching official pet travel paperwork should also see Animal Passport's guides on APHIS health certificates and EU pet passport rules, which draw the same distinction.

Quick Reference: Delta Dog Policy Checklist

• Confirm your dog and carrier meet the 18" x 11" x 11" soft-sided limit before booking.
• Pay the $150 (domestic) or $200 (international) in-cabin fee at check-in, per Delta's April 8, 2025 pricing.
• Do not plan to check a dog as cargo unless you qualify for the active-military/State-Department exception.
• If entering or returning to the U.S., complete the CDC Dog Import Form in advance and bring the receipt.
• Check Delta's destination-specific embargo list (UK, Australia, Hawaii, Iceland, and others) before booking international dog travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Delta's current dog policy for flying in the cabin?

Delta allows small dogs in an approved carrier to fly in the cabin for a fee of $150 each way domestically or $200 each way internationally, for tickets issued on or after April 8, 2025 (Delta Air Lines, 2025).

Can I still check my dog as baggage on Delta?

Not as a general-public passenger. Delta Cargo has an ongoing embargo on Pet in Hold shipments, with an exception only for active U.S. military and State Department Foreign Service Officers on official orders (Delta Air Lines).

What size carrier does Delta require for a dog?

Delta recommends a soft-sided carrier no larger than 18" x 11" x 11" that fits under the seat in front of the passenger, with ventilation on three sides for domestic flights and four sides for international flights.

Does Delta allow pug-nosed or snub-nosed dog breeds?

Delta does not accept snub-nosed or pug-nosed breeds as checked baggage under any circumstance; they may only fly if small enough to meet in-cabin carrier requirements.

What documents does a dog need to fly into the United States on Delta?

Since August 1, 2024, dogs entering or returning to the U.S. by any flight need a completed CDC Dog Import Form, and dogs from high-risk rabies countries need additional rabies certification (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024).

Is a service dog treated as a pet under Delta's policy?

No. Trained service dogs are recognized separately from pets under federal rules administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation and are not charged Delta's pet fee.

Does Delta allow dogs on international flights in business or first class?

No. Delta does not permit pets in Delta One, Business, or First class on any international flight, regardless of aircraft type.

Is Animal Passport an official Delta or government pet travel document?

No. Animal Passport is a private biometric livestock and animal identity product using muzzle prints; it is not issued or accepted by Delta, the CDC, or USDA as a travel document.

Animal Passport, last updated August 2026. This article summarizes publicly posted Delta Air Lines and CDC policy; always confirm current fees and embargoes directly with Delta before booking, as airline pet rules change without notice.