Frontier Airlines Pet Policies: 2026 Guide to Fees, Carriers and Service Dogs

Frontier Airlines pet policies are the rules Frontier Airlines, a U.S. low-fare carrier, sets for animals that fly with its passengers. As of October 2026, Frontier allows small dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and small household birds in the cabin on flights within the United States, for $149 per pet each way. Each pet must stay in a carrier that fits under the seat (soft-sided carriers up to 18 x 14 x 11 inches). Frontier does not fly pets in cargo or on international routes.

This guide is based on Frontier's own policy pages, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) service animal rule, the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Where these sources differ, we say so. Last updated: October 3, 2026.

Frontier Airlines pet policy at a glance

• Fee: $149 per pet, per direction, non-refundable (Frontier Optional Services, 2026).
• Where pets ride: In the cabin only. Frontier states that it does not transport pets in the cargo hold and that checked pets are not allowed (Frontier FAQ, 2026).
• Routes: Domestic U.S. flights only. Frontier says it will not accept new pets for international travel (Frontier Family & Pets page, 2026).
• Limit: One pet in the cabin per passenger, and only one adult dog or cat per carrier.
• Minimum age: Dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks old.
• Carrier size: Soft-sided up to 18 x 14 x 11 inches; hard-sided up to 18 x 14 x 8 inches (length x width x height).

How much does Frontier charge to fly with a pet?

Frontier lists its pet charge as $149 per pet, per direction, non-refundable on its Optional Services fee page (Frontier Airlines, 2026). A round trip with one pet therefore costs $298 in pet fees on top of the fare. You can pay the fee when you book. If you do not, Frontier says you will pay it when you check in your pet.

Older blog posts and third-party sites sometimes show lower amounts. Low-fare carriers change ancillary fees often, so treat the Frontier Optional Services page as the authority and check it on the day you book.

Does the pet carrier count as a carry-on?

Not exactly. According to Frontier's Family & Pets page (2026), the pet carrier is counted separately from your bags: you may still bring either one personal item (8 x 14 x 18 inches) or a paid carry-on bag (10 x 16 x 24 inches) in addition to the pet container. You cannot bring both a personal item and a carry-on bag along with the pet.

Which animals can fly on Frontier?

Frontier accepts domesticated dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and small household birds on flights within the United States (Frontier FAQ, 2026). Dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks old.

Frontier says these animals are never accepted:

• Large birds, such as parrots, macaws, cockatoos and birds of prey
• Rodents other than guinea pigs and hamsters, including mice, rats and squirrels
• Beavers and ferrets
• Reptiles (including snakes) and amphibians
• Spiders and insects

Frontier also says a pet must be harmless, not disruptive, odorless and need no attention during the flight. Livestock such as calves, lambs or goats are not on the accepted list, so they cannot fly as cabin pets.

Frontier pet carrier size and rules

Frontier's carrier rules come from its Family & Pets page and pet FAQ (2026):

• The carrier must be large enough for the pet to stand, turn around and lie down in a natural position.
• It must fit under the seat in front of you. Frontier notes that some seats cannot hold a pet carrier and says it will help you find a seat that can.
• Hard-sided maximum: 18 inches long x 14 inches wide x 8 inches high.
• Soft-sided maximum: 18 inches long x 14 inches wide x 11 inches high.
• Frontier recommends soft-sided carriers.
• Your pet must stay in the carrier at all times, including at the gate and on board.

Height usually decides whether a carrier fits. A soft-sided bag can be up to 3 inches taller than a hard-sided kennel, which is why Frontier recommends soft-sided carriers.

Seating restrictions with a pet

Frontier says you may not sit in row one or in an exit row while traveling with a pet. Choose your seat after adding the pet so the booking flow can steer you to an eligible seat.

How to add a pet to a Frontier reservation

1. Check eligibility. Confirm your animal is an accepted species, at least 8 weeks old if it is a dog or cat, and that your route is entirely within the United States.
2. Measure the carrier. Make sure it is no larger than 18 x 14 x 11 inches (soft-sided) or 18 x 14 x 8 inches (hard-sided) and that your pet can stand and turn around inside it.
3. Add the pet while booking. Select Cabin Pet in the Passenger Info section (Frontier FAQ, 2026).
4. Or add it later. Go to Manage Trip and select Add Pet in Cabin.
5. Pay the $149 fee for each direction, either online in advance or when you check in your pet.
6. Check destination rules. Look up the receiving state or territory's animal health requirements on the USDA APHIS state-to-state page and ask your veterinarian whether a health certificate is needed.
7. Prepare for the flight. Frontier recommends no food or water for your pet within four hours of departure and asks that you not feed or water the pet on board.

Pets vs. service dogs vs. emotional support animals on Frontier

Frontier treats three groups of animals differently. The table below summarizes Frontier's 2026 policy pages and the DOT final rule published in the Federal Register on December 10, 2020.

Frontier service animal policy

The DOT final rule of December 2020 defines a service animal as a dog, regardless of breed or type, that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. It lets airlines treat emotional support animals as pets and limit each passenger to two service animals (U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Register, 2020). Frontier follows that rule.

According to Frontier's Special Services page (2026):

• Only dogs are accepted as trained service animals, including fully trained psychiatric service dogs.
• Each passenger with a disability may bring up to two service animals.
• Service animals in training are not accepted.
• The dog must be under the handler's control by harness, leash or tether in the airport and on the aircraft.
• The dog may sit on the floor or on your lap if it is no larger than a child under two. It cannot block the aisle, occupy a seat or sit in an exit row.
• A passenger with a service dog may also bring one pet in the cabin, if both sets of rules are met.

The DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form

Frontier requires the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form, which attests to the dog's health, behavior and training. If you booked more than 48 hours before departure, Frontier says you must submit the form at least 48 hours before travel. If you booked within 48 hours, present the form to a customer service agent at the airport. Frontier's service animal portal says typed PDF forms are approved or declined instantly, while handwritten forms can take up to 7 days to process. Keep a copy, because staff may ask to see it during your trip.

Emotional support animals

Frontier stopped accepting emotional support animals as of February 1, 2021, following the DOT rule change. An emotional support animal can still fly if it meets the pet policy, which means paying the $149 fee and staying in an under-seat carrier.

Do you need a health certificate to fly Frontier with a pet?

For U.S. flights, Frontier does not require a health certificate for pets in the cabin, but it warns that your destination state may (Frontier Family & Pets page, 2026). USDA APHIS confirms that it does not regulate owners moving their own pets between states; the receiving state or territory sets the requirements, which may include a health certificate, vaccinations, testing or treatments (USDA APHIS, page last modified June 10, 2026). Check the destination on the APHIS state-to-state page or ask that state's animal health official.

Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

U.S. territories have stricter entry rules. Frontier's Family & Pets page (2026) says animals traveling to and from Puerto Rico, service animals included, need:

• An official health certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian, valid for 30 days, stating the animal did not come from an area quarantined for rabies
• Rabies vaccination within six months before travel for pets more than four months old
• Treatment for external parasites within 72 hours before entry, recorded on the certificate
• Official identification, either a microchip or a collar with a metal ID tag

For the U.S. Virgin Islands, Frontier lists a health certificate stating the animal did not come from a rabies-quarantined area and rabies vaccination within six months before travel, except for dogs and cats under 12 weeks old.

Can you fly internationally with a pet on Frontier?

No. Frontier's Family & Pets page (2026) states that it will not accept new pets for international travel and accepts only service animals on international flights. For those service dogs, Frontier requires a CDC Dog Import Form receipt, a microchip that can be read by a universal scanner, and a dog that appears healthy on arrival. Dogs from high-risk rabies countries need extra documents.

Where the sources disagree: minimum age for international service dogs

Frontier's own pages are inconsistent. The Family & Pets page says international service dogs must be at least 4 months old, while the Special Services page says at least 6 months. The CDC requires every dog entering or returning to the United States to be at least 6 months old and to have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt (CDC, requirements in effect since August 1, 2024). The CDC rule applies at the U.S. border regardless of airline, so plan around 6 months.

Each dog needs its own CDC Dog Import Form. The form is free, and for dogs that have been only in dog rabies-free or low-risk countries, the receipt is valid for 6 months (CDC, 2026).

Practical tips from Frontier's policy

• Avoid sedation. Frontier notes that most veterinarians advise against sedating pets for flights because the effects of tranquilizers at altitude are unpredictable. Ask your own veterinarian.
• No in-flight oxygen for pets. Frontier states that it will not give oxygen to a pet in an emergency.
• Comfort through the carrier. If your pet gets restless, you must soothe it without taking it out of the carrier.
• Codeshare flights. If any leg is operated by a partner airline, that airline's pet rules may apply. Check Frontier's codeshare terms.

Airline pet documents vs. Animal Passport's biometric livestock ID

People searching for pet travel rules often come across the word passport, so it helps to be clear about what the official documents are. For a Frontier flight, the documents that matter are the ones Frontier, your destination state, USDA APHIS and the CDC ask for: your booking with the pet added, a state health certificate where required, the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form for service dogs, and the CDC Dog Import Form for dogs entering the United States.

Animal Passport is a different kind of product. It is a digital animal and livestock passport that identifies animals by muzzle biometrics: the nose print, which is unique to each animal, much like a fingerprint. A phone captures the nose print, and the record links the animal to its owner, breed, estimated age, body condition and vaccination history. Age is estimated from a dental photograph with a confidence score, and body condition is scored from 1 to 5 using a side-profile photo. In the August 2025 floods in Pakistan, Animal Passport records helped farmers reclaim livestock after paper ear tags washed away.

Animal Passport is not a government-issued travel document, a veterinary health certificate, a DOT form or a CDC Dog Import Form, and Frontier does not require or accept it in place of any of those. Use it as an identity and herd record, and use official channels for airline and border paperwork. Read more about animal identification on the Animal Passport blog.

Bottom line

As of October 2026, Frontier's pet policy is simple but strict: small, accepted species only, in an under-seat carrier, on U.S. flights, for $149 each way. Service dogs fly free with the DOT form, emotional support animals pay as pets, and pets cannot fly internationally or in cargo. Fees and rules change, so recheck Frontier's Optional Services and Family & Pets pages, and your destination's rules on USDA APHIS, before you fly.