JetBlue Pet Travel in 2026: Rules, Fees, Carrier Size and Where Pets Can Fly

JetBlue pet travel is JetBlue Airways' in-cabin program for flying with small dogs and cats: the animal rides in a closed, FAA-approved carrier under the seat in front of you, and nothing goes in the cargo hold. As of September 2026, JetBlue's official help page limits carriers to 17" L x 12.5" W x 8.5" H, charges a pet fee each way at booking, and bans pets from Mint. The second pet on one booking needs its own seat and fee.

This guide is written by the Animal Passport editorial team. We checked JetBlue's own help page, its contract of carriage, and U.S. government sources, and we note where they disagree with each other or with third-party guides. Airline pet rules change often, so confirm everything with JetBlue before you book.

JetBlue pet policy at a glance (September 2026)

Which pets can fly on JetBlue?

Only small dogs and cats can fly with JetBlue. The airline's help page says, “We only accept small dogs and cats. No large dogs are accommodated on JetBlue.” JetBlue's contract of carriage adds that no animals may travel as checked baggage and that no other species are allowed. That means rabbits, birds, reptiles and larger dogs cannot fly on JetBlue as pets.

Because JetBlue has no cargo pet program, the carrier size decides everything. If your animal cannot stand up and turn around comfortably in a carrier that fits JetBlue's limits, you will need another airline or ground transport.

Is there a weight limit?

Sources disagree. JetBlue's 2008 press release launching its JetPaws pet program said the combined weight of pet and carrier “may not exceed 20 pounds,” and many 2026 guides still repeat that 20-pound figure. JetBlue's current help page, however, does not publish a weight limit; it sets only the carrier dimensions and requires that the pet be able to move around inside with ease. A pet that fits comfortably in an 8.5-inch-tall carrier will usually be light anyway, but check with JetBlue if your pet is near that size.

JetBlue pet carrier size and requirements

According to JetBlue's help page (2026), carriers cannot exceed 17 inches long, 12.5 inches wide and 8.5 inches high (43.18 x 31.75 x 21.59 cm). Both soft-sided and hard-sided carriers are accepted, but they must have leak-proof bottoms, good ventilation and no gaps a pet could escape through. Only one pet per carrier is allowed, and the pet must be able to turn around comfortably when the carrier is closed.

The 8.5-inch height is the number that catches most owners out. Many carriers sold as “airline approved” are taller than that. Measure your carrier before you book, not at the gate.

If you do not have a suitable carrier, JetBlue says you can buy one online or at the JFK Terminal 5 ticket counter, depending on availability and with card payment only. Its help page lists the airport price as USD $55 and notes that quantities are limited.

Does the carrier count as a carry-on?

JetBlue's help page calls the pet and carrier “one personal item” in one section and your “carry-on item” in another. Either way, the carrier uses one of your cabin bag allowances and must fit under the seat in front of you. Pet strollers also count as carry-on items and must meet carry-on size limits.

How much does JetBlue charge to fly a pet?

JetBlue charges a non-refundable pet fee each way, per pet, paid when you book. The exact amount is where published sources differ:

• JetBlue's contract of carriage used in 2020 and 2021 set the in-cabin pet charge at $125 per pet, each way.
• JetBlue's May 2023 press release on its new TrueBlue loyalty program described the Mosaic Pet Fee Waiver perk as a “$125 value per flight.”
• The current JetBlue contract of carriage no longer states a dollar amount. It says only that “a fee will apply” and that payment must be made at the time of reservation.
• Several independent pet travel guides checked in September 2026, including Pet Travel Advisors, report a fee of $150 each way ($300 round trip).

Our reading is that the fee has probably risen to $150, but JetBlue's publicly fetchable pages do not confirm a dollar amount. The price shown in JetBlue's booking flow is the one that counts. If you bring a second pet, you pay a second fee and must also buy a second seat.

Can Mosaic members fly pets for free?

JetBlue's May 2023 TrueBlue release listed a Pet Fee Waiver as one of the Mosaic Perks You Pick, letting eligible members fly a cat or small dog on JetBlue-operated flights at no extra charge. Loyalty perks change, so check your TrueBlue account for what is available now.

How to book JetBlue pet travel: step by step

1. Check the route. Make sure your flight is not to or from the United Kingdom or European Union, or to Barbados or Trinidad and Tobago, where JetBlue's contract of carriage does not permit pets.
2. Book a JetBlue-operated flight. JetBlue's contract of carriage points travelers to separate codeshare and interline rules for pets, and independent 2026 guides report that pets are not accepted on codeshare or interline bookings. Book directly with JetBlue when a pet is traveling.
3. Add the pet early. Only six pets are allowed in the cabin per flight, so add your pet and pay the fee when you book.
4. Choose an eligible seat. Avoid Mint, exit rows and bulkhead seats. JetBlue recommends a window or aisle seat.
5. Get the paperwork. Check destination rules with the USDA APHIS Pet Travel website, and the CDC rules if a dog is entering or returning to the United States.
6. Check in and get the bag tag. Once your pet is confirmed, you can check in 24 hours before departure online, in the app or at a kiosk. At the airport, JetBlue says to visit the full-service counter or ask a crewmember in the self-service lobby for a JetPaws® bag tag for the carrier.
7. Go through security. You will carry your pet through the checkpoint while TSA inspects the empty carrier. JetBlue says your animal will never go through the X-ray machine.

At the airport and on board

JetBlue requires your pet to stay inside its closed, zipped carrier at the airport and on the aircraft. Its help page says you may unzip the carrier to feed or help your pet but must keep it closed at all other times.

During taxi, takeoff and landing, the carrier goes under the seat in front of you. During the flight, JetBlue says you may hold the carrier on your lap. If you bought an extra seat, the carrier can sit on that seat in flight, but the pet must always stay inside it.

Pet relief areas vary by airport. JetBlue warns that you may need to leave the secure area and go back through security if your pet needs a break, so plan extra time.

Can you fly internationally with a pet on JetBlue?

Yes, but not everywhere. JetBlue's current contract of carriage says pets will not be permitted on travel to and from the United Kingdom and the European Union, although service animals are accepted as required by law. It also says live animals and pets are not permitted on travel to Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago because of those governments' strict requirements.

For other international and Caribbean routes, JetBlue puts the paperwork on the passenger. Its help page says customers are responsible for understanding animal import requirements and getting all documents before travel. It also notes that Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands require vaccination records for pets, and that vaccination rules vary between U.S. states.

Which government agencies set the rules?

• United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS): for pets leaving the United States. APHIS (page updated August 2026) says to contact a USDA-accredited veterinarian as soon as you decide to travel, check the destination country's requirements every time, and obtain a USDA-endorsed health certificate where required.
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): for dogs entering or returning to the United States. The CDC says requirements depend on where the dog was vaccinated and which countries it visited in the previous six months. APHIS adds that U.S.-vaccinated dogs going to or returning from a high-risk rabies country need a “Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination” form completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian before they leave the United States.
• International Air Transport Association (IATA): JetBlue's help page directs travelers to IATA's online country database to review pet import requirements.

JetBlue notes that the USDA APHIS pet travel tool covers destination requirements only and does not override JetBlue's own policies. A pet that meets a country's entry rules still has to meet JetBlue's carrier and route rules.

Service animals and emotional support animals on JetBlue

Service animals follow separate rules from pets. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) final rule published in the Federal Register on December 10, 2020, defines a service animal as a dog, of any breed, that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. The same rule allows airlines to treat emotional support animals as pets.

JetBlue's contract of carriage says it accepts service animals at no charge, up to two per qualified passenger, and they must be harnessed, leashed or tethered. If you book more than 48 hours before departure, JetBlue requires the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form at least 48 hours in advance. An emotional support animal that is not a trained service dog must fly as a regular pet, meet the carrier rules and pay the pet fee.

JetBlue pet travel documents vs Animal Passport

Travelers searching for pet travel documents sometimes come across the name Animal Passport. It is worth being clear about what that is and is not.

Animal Passport is a digital animal and livestock identity record that uses muzzle biometrics. An animal's nose print is unique, much like a human fingerprint. A phone camera captures the muzzle, and the record links the 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 August 2025, it was used during livestock flood rescue in Pakistan so farmers could reclaim animals after paper ear tags washed away.

Animal Passport is not an airline pet document, a government-issued travel certificate, a USDA-endorsed health certificate, a CDC dog import form or an EU pet passport. It does not replace any JetBlue, USDA APHIS or CDC requirement. For JetBlue flights, you need JetBlue's booking confirmation and whatever the destination government requires. More livestock identity reporting is on the Animal Passport blog.

Where sources disagree

• Fee: JetBlue's older contract of carriage and its 2023 release say $125. Many 2026 guides say $150. JetBlue's current contract of carriage gives no figure.
• Weight: JetBlue's 2008 release set a 20-pound combined limit. Its current help page lists no weight limit.
• Pets per traveler: JetBlue's help page allows two pets per traveler with a second seat. The current contract of carriage still says a passenger “may not transport more than one pet per flight.” Ask JetBlue before booking two pets.
• Per-flight cap: JetBlue's 2008 release said up to four pets per flight. The current contract of carriage says six.
• JetPaws name: At least one 2026 guide says the JetPaws brand no longer appears on JetBlue's pet pages. JetBlue's help page still refers to a JetPaws® bag tag.

When in doubt, trust JetBlue's current booking flow and a phone confirmation with the airline over any summary, including this one.