Delta Flying With Pets: Complete 2026 Rules, Fees, and Required Documents

Delta flying with pets in 2026 means bringing a small dog, cat, or household bird into the cabin in an airline-approved carrier for a one-way fee — currently $150 for U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands itineraries — because Delta Air Lines has paused pet cargo shipping for the general public. Trained service dogs travel under a separate, no-fee policy governed by U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) rules. This guide walks through Delta's current carrier requirements, fees, restricted routes, and the federal paperwork pet owners need before booking.

Delta's Pet Travel Options at a Glance

As of September 2026, Delta Air Lines offers two ways for a pet to fly: in the cabin with its owner, or as checked cargo through Delta Cargo — though the cargo option is currently restricted. Delta does not allow pets as regular checked baggage handled by gate agents; cargo shipment is a separate booking through Delta Cargo.

In-Cabin Pet Rules: Carrier Size, Fees, and Seating

Delta allows one pet carrier per customer to travel in the cabin, and the kennel must fit fully underneath the seat directly in front of the traveler. Delta recommends a soft-sided kennel with maximum dimensions of 18" x 11" x 11", since hard-sided carriers often don't fit under Delta's seats. The enclosure must be leak-proof and ventilated on three sides for domestic trips and four sides for international trips, according to Delta's official pet travel page.

Delta's carry-on pet fee increased to $150 each way for U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands itineraries effective April 8, 2025 (up from $95), and international in-cabin pet travel costs $200. These fees apply per kennel, not per animal, though only one pet is generally allowed per carrier.

Seating and Cabin Restrictions

• Pet carriers are not permitted in Delta One, bulkhead seats, exit rows, or seats marked "no stowage."
• Cabin pet capacity varies by class: Delta First allows up to 2 pet carriers, Delta Comfort+/Main up to 4, and Business/Delta One classes permit none.
• A pet must be at least 8 weeks old for domestic travel; dogs entering the U.S. from abroad must be 6 months old and cats at least 16 weeks, per Delta and U.S. entry requirements. Pets traveling to the European Union must be at least 15 weeks old.

Routes Where Cabin Pets Are Not Allowed

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, and the United Arab Emirates, according to Delta's pet travel overview. Travelers connecting through these markets should check both origin and destination rules before booking, since a layover country's import rules can also apply.

Delta Cargo Pet Shipping Is Paused for the General Public

Delta Air Lines has suspended pet cargo shipments "until further notice," a policy Delta states applies to the general public; only active-duty U.S. military personnel and U.S. State Department Foreign Service Officers traveling on permanent change of station (PCS) orders remain eligible, and their pet must be too large to fit comfortably in a soft-sided in-cabin kennel. For those who do qualify, Delta Cargo bookings cannot be made until 14 days before departure, and pets must arrive at a separate Delta Cargo facility 4–6 hours before a domestic departure or 6 hours before an international one.

Delta also does not accept brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds — such as bulldogs, pugs, and Persian cats — as cargo, and cargo travel is barred when forecast temperatures exceed 80°F or fall below 20°F, with a certificate of acclimation required between 20°F and 45°F, per Delta's official shipping policy.

Trained Service Dogs: A Different, Fee-Free Category

Delta accepts only fully trained service dogs that perform tasks for a person with a disability; service animals in training and emotional support, comfort, or companionship animals are not accepted as service animals and instead must fly under the standard paid pet policy if they meet its size and carrier rules. Under the U.S. Department of Transportation's Air Carrier Access Act rules, airlines may require the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form for every trip, plus a Relief Attestation Form for flights of 8 hours or longer; Delta requires both forms to be submitted through its online system at least 48 hours before departure.

A service dog must be able to fit within the handler's foot space without blocking the aisle or intruding on another passenger's space, cannot occupy exit-row seats, and is limited to two animals per passenger. Delta charges no fee for a qualifying service dog. For a full walkthrough of these forms and deadlines, see Animal Passport's guide to Delta service animal rules and required forms.

Health Certificates and International Paperwork

Delta's booking system and gate staff check that a pet fits the airline's carrier and fee rules, but Delta does not issue the health documents a destination country requires. For international travel, most countries require a United States Interstate and International Certificate for Health Examination for Small Animals — USDA APHIS Form 7001 — issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and, in most cases, endorsed by the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS). Airlines typically require this certificate to be no more than 10 days old at travel, even when the destination country accepts an older one, according to USDA APHIS.

For domestic interstate travel within the U.S., USDA APHIS does not endorse or set health certificate requirements; travelers should confirm rules with the destination state's animal health office instead. Mexico-bound pets also face a New World Screwworm inspection certificate requirement that Delta says takes effect August 3, 2026.

USDA APHIS: "A USDA-accredited veterinarian must issue all live animal export certificates" that require USDA endorsement.

Where Animal Passport Fits — and Where It Doesn't

Animal Passport is a phone-based digital identity product that uses muzzle biometrics — a nose print, unique to each animal like a fingerprint — to bind an owner's record to a specific animal, along with breed, an estimated age from a dental photo, a body condition score from a side-profile photo, and vaccination history. It was used during livestock flood rescue efforts in Pakistan in August 2025, helping farmers reclaim animals after paper ear tags washed away.

Animal Passport is not a government-issued travel document. It does not replace Delta's pet booking process, the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form, USDA APHIS Form 7001, or any EU or UK pet passport. Those are the documents airlines and border agencies actually check. Owners preparing to fly with a pet or livestock animal can still use a biometric identity record like Animal Passport as a supplementary way to prove which animal is theirs — for example, if a paper carrier tag or collar is lost in transit — but it does not satisfy Delta's or USDA's paperwork requirements. Learn more about the product at Animal Passport or browse related travel-document explainers on the Animal Passport blog, including the guide to USDA APHIS pet travel health certificates.

How EU and UK Pet Passports Differ From Delta's Rules

Travelers researching "pet passports" sometimes conflate three different things: Delta's own booking rules, the EU pet passport scheme, and biometric identity products like Animal Passport. The EU pet passport is an official document under European Union pet-movement regulations that records a pet's microchip number, rabies vaccination, and owner details for travel within the EU; the UK operates a separate Animal Health Certificate process for pets entering Great Britain post-Brexit. Neither of these EU/UK government documents is issued or accepted by Delta as a substitute for its own booking requirements — travelers still need to meet Delta's carrier, fee, and route rules in addition to whatever government paperwork the destination requires.

Step-by-Step: Booking a Pet on a Delta Flight

1. Confirm your route isn't on Delta's restricted list (e.g., UK, Australia, Hawaii) for cabin pet travel.
2. Measure your pet and carrier against Delta's 18" x 11" x 11" soft-sided kennel guidance.
3. Add the pet to your reservation and pay the applicable fee ($150 domestic, $200 international, as of 2026).
4. If your pet is a trained service dog instead, submit the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form (and Relief Attestation Form for 8+ hour flights) at least 48 hours before departure.
5. For international trips, contact a USDA-accredited veterinarian early to schedule the health exam and USDA APHIS endorsement, since some countries require the certificate within 10 days of travel.
6. Check destination-specific rules (vaccination, microchip, quarantine) directly with the destination country's official animal import authority.

FAQ: Delta Flying With Pets

How much does it cost to fly with a pet on Delta?

Delta charges $150 each way for in-cabin pets traveling within the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, and $200 each way for international in-cabin pet travel, per Delta's official pet travel policy.

Can I ship my pet as cargo on Delta?

Not currently as a member of the general public. Delta has paused pet cargo shipping "until further notice," limiting it to active-duty U.S. military and State Department Foreign Service Officers on PCS orders.

What size carrier does Delta allow in the cabin?

Delta recommends a soft-sided kennel no larger than 18" x 11" x 11" that fits fully under the seat in front of you; hard-sided carriers often don't meet this fit requirement.

Does Delta allow emotional support animals?

No. Delta does not recognize emotional support, comfort, or companionship animals as service animals; they must travel under Delta's standard paid pet policy if they meet the size and carrier rules.

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

Delta requires the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form for all service animals, plus a DOT Relief Attestation Form for flights of 8 hours or more, both submitted at least 48 hours before departure.

Do I need a health certificate to fly with my pet domestically?

USDA APHIS does not endorse or require health certificates for interstate pet travel within the U.S.; check with the destination state's animal health office, since some states set their own requirements.

Is Animal Passport the same as a Delta pet travel document?

No. Animal Passport is a biometric muzzle-ID record for owner and animal identity; it is not a government travel document and does not replace Delta's booking process, DOT forms, or USDA APHIS health certificates.

Which breeds does Delta restrict from flying?

Delta does not list cabin breed restrictions for in-cabin pets, but it excludes brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dog and cat breeds, such as bulldogs and Persian cats, from cargo shipment.