How to Fly With My Dog: Step-by-Step Rules, Costs, and Documents

To fly with your dog, you need a small enough pet to qualify for in-cabin travel (or an alternative to cargo if not), a carrier that meets your airline's size rules, and — for international or many interstate trips — a health certificate from a USDA-accredited veterinarian endorsed by USDA APHIS. Book pet travel directly with the airline in advance, since most US carriers cap the number of pets allowed per flight.

This guide covers airline booking rules, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint steps, United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) paperwork, International Air Transport Association (IATA) global standards, and how EU pet passport rules differ from a livestock identification product like Animal Passport. As of September 2026, the guidance below reflects the most recently published official rules.

Step 1: Confirm Your Dog Is Eligible to Fly in the Cabin

Most US airlines only allow small dogs in the cabin, and the carrier plus dog together usually must weigh no more than about 20 lb (9 kg), fitting entirely under the seat in front of you. Delta Air Lines lists a recommended soft-sided kennel size of 18 x 11 x 11 inches, ventilated on three sides for domestic flights and four sides for international flights (Delta Air Lines, 2026). United Airlines allows a maximum soft-sided carrier of 18 x 14 x 11 inches, or 17.5 x 12 x 9 inches for hard-sided kennels, with tighter height limits on Boeing 737 MAX aircraft (United Airlines pet policy, via BringFido, 2026).

If your dog is too large for an in-cabin carrier, your options narrow. Delta and United no longer accept checked pets from the general public in cargo — that option is now reserved for active-duty US military and State Department personnel on official orders (Delta Air Lines, 2026). American Airlines still operates a separate cargo shipping program, American Airlines Cargo, for larger pets, run independently of passenger check-in. Ground pet shippers and specialized pet airlines are common alternatives for large dogs.

Step 2: Book Early and Confirm Fees

In-cabin pet fees at American, Delta, United, and JetBlue run about $150 per pet, each way, as of 2026 (industry fee comparison via Chewy and BringFido, 2026; confirmed against Delta's published fee table showing $150 domestic one-way as of April 8, 2025, and $200 for international itineraries). Airlines cap the number of pet carriers allowed per cabin — Delta, for example, allows up to two pets in First Class and four in the Main Cabin — so book your pet's spot when you book your own ticket, not after.

Step 3: Get the Right Health Documentation

Domestic flights within the US generally don't require federal paperwork beyond what your airline asks for, but interstate and international travel is different. A USDA-accredited veterinarian must examine your dog and complete a health certificate — commonly APHIS Form 7001, the United States Interstate and International Certificate of Health Examination for Small Animals — before international departure (USDA APHIS, 2026).

For many international trips, that certificate must then be endorsed by a USDA APHIS Endorsement Office, often submitted through the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS). USDA APHIS' published 2026 fee schedule charges $101 per certificate when no laboratory tests are required, rising to $160 for one to two tests, $206 for three to six tests, and $275 for seven or more tests, with small per-pet surcharges for additional animals on the same certificate (USDA APHIS, 2026). APHIS does not charge this endorsement fee for ADA-defined service dogs, but it does charge it for emotional support animals, which are not covered by that exemption (USDA APHIS, 2026).

If your dog is traveling to or returning from a country the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies as high-risk for dog rabies, a separate Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination must be completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian before departure — it cannot be issued after the fact (USDA APHIS, 2026). Destination-country entry rules can change without notice, so confirm current requirements with USDA APHIS and your airline before you fly, not just before you book.

Step 4: Prepare the Carrier

IATA's Live Animals Regulations (LAR) — the global reference standard airlines and countries use for pet and animal transport — set baseline welfare requirements. Under the 2026 edition, dogs must be at least eight weeks old and fully weaned before flying, and their container must let them stand fully, turn around normally, and lie in a natural position (International Air Transport Association, 2026). IATA also advises feeding a light meal roughly two hours before the flight and exercising your dog immediately before it goes into the carrier, and it notes that veterinary and airline authorities generally discourage sedating pets for air travel because of the risk of adverse effects at altitude (IATA, 2026).

Step 5: Get Through Airport Security

At the TSA checkpoint, your dog must come out of its carrier before screening begins. Send the empty carrier through the X-ray machine, then carry your dog through the metal detector or walk it through on a leash — TSA is explicit that a pet must never go through the X-ray tunnel itself (Transportation Security Administration, 2023). Officers may also swab your hands for explosive-residue testing. If your dog is anxious about handling, you can ask for private screening in a separate room, with your dog remaining in its carrier until you reach that space (TSA, 2023).

US Airline Pet Policy Comparison (2026)

Figures are drawn from official Delta Air Lines publications and airline-policy aggregators citing current published fees; always verify against the airline's live policy page before booking, since fees and restrictions change.

Flying Internationally: How the EU Pet Passport Differs From a Biometric ID

If you're flying into the European Union, note that the "EU pet passport" is a specific legal document, not a general travel app. Under EU rules, a dog needs an ISO-compliant microchip implanted before its rabies vaccination, a rabies vaccination given at 12 weeks or older with at least 21 days of validity before travel, and a passport completed and issued by an authorized veterinarian recording the microchip code and vaccination history, per the model set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/705 (European Commission, 2026). Dogs entering Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland, or Norway also need tapeworm treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis within 120 hours of arrival (European Commission, 2026).

This is a different category of product from Animal Passport's biometric identification tool. Animal Passport uses phone-captured muzzle biometrics — a nose print, unique like a human fingerprint — to build a digital record binding an owner, breed, estimated age, body condition score, and vaccination history for an animal. It has been used in livestock flood rescue in Pakistan in August 2025, helping farmers reclaim animals after paper ear tags were washed away. It is a livestock and companion-animal identity record, not a government-issued pet travel document, and it does not replace the EU pet passport, a USDA APHIS health certificate, or any airline's required paperwork. If you're researching pet travel documentation more broadly, the Animal Passport blog covers USDA and airline-specific requirements in more depth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fly with my dog in the cabin?

Yes, if your dog is small enough to fit in an airline-approved carrier under the seat in front of you — typically a combined pet-and-carrier weight around 20 lb — and your airline permits pets on that specific route (Delta Air Lines; American Airlines, 2026).

How much does it cost to fly with a dog?

In-cabin fees at Delta, United, American, and JetBlue run about $150 per pet each way domestically, with international fees often higher — Delta lists $200 for international itineraries (Delta Air Lines, 2026). International trips may add USDA APHIS endorsement fees starting at $101 per certificate.

Do I need a health certificate to fly with my dog?

For most international flights and many interstate trips, yes — a USDA-accredited veterinarian must complete a health certificate, which USDA APHIS endorses for a fee (USDA APHIS, 2026). Purely domestic flights usually follow airline-specific rules rather than a federal certificate requirement, so check with your airline directly.

What happens to my dog at TSA security?

You remove your dog from its carrier, send the empty carrier through the X-ray machine, and carry or walk your dog through the metal detector; your dog itself never goes through the X-ray tunnel (TSA, 2023).

Can large dogs fly at all?

Large dogs generally cannot fly in the cabin. Delta and United no longer offer cargo pet shipping to the general public, reserving it for military and State Department relocations, though American Airlines Cargo still ships pets for the public (Delta Air Lines; United Airlines PetSafe policy, 2026).

Is the EU pet passport the same as a digital pet ID app?

No. The EU pet passport is a specific legal document issued by an authorized veterinarian, recording a microchip and rabies vaccination under EU law (European Commission, 2026). Digital identity tools such as Animal Passport's muzzle-biometric record serve a different purpose — animal identification and recordkeeping — and are not a substitute for official travel documents.

How old does my dog need to be to fly?

Under IATA's Live Animals Regulations, dogs must be at least eight weeks old and fully weaned before air travel, though many international destinations require older animals for rabies vaccination validity (IATA, 2026 edition).

Should I sedate my dog before a flight?

Veterinary and industry guidance generally advises against it. IATA notes that airlines and veterinary organizations discourage sedating pets for flights because of the risk of adverse effects during travel (IATA, 2026).

Always confirm current requirements directly with USDA APHIS, your airline, and the destination country's official agriculture or customs authority before you fly — pet travel rules change without notice and vary by route.