Summer Pet Shipping: Heat Embargoes and How to Plan Around Them

Alaska Air Cargo says many of its stations have seasonal temperature embargoes for animal shipments over a summer season that generally runs from May 1 to October 16. American says pets outside the cabin cannot travel to, through or from Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas or Palm Springs from May 1 to September 30. When the ground temperature at any airport along the route (origin, transit, or destination) exceeds a set threshold, the airline will not accept live animals in cargo.

The threshold varies by airline. American and Alaska Air Cargo use 85F as the upper temperature limit for pets in the hold, and Delta uses 80F. American checks the actual or forecast temperature at each flight’s departure and arrival time for every station on the itinerary. Brachycephalic breeds are a separate question. American and Delta will not carry brachycephalic, or snub-nosed, dogs and cats in the hold, and Alaska Air Cargo says it generally does not accept them there.

The airline thresholds sit on top of a federal floor. Under the Animal Welfare Act rules that USDA APHIS applies to air transport, dogs and cats “must not be exposed to air temperatures above 85 °F (29.5 °C) or below 45 °F (7.2 °C) for a period of more than 4 hours” in holding areas. While a pet is being moved to or from the aircraft, that exposure can last no more than 45 minutes. That is why the cold end of the year has embargoes too.

The reason is simple: pets in cargo are exposed to outdoor temperatures during loading, unloading, and tarmac transfer. The ground handling stages can be dangerously hot. American applies its temperature limits wherever the animal waits: holding areas, terminal facilities, the move out to the aircraft, and a plane awaiting departure. Airlines impose embargoes to prevent heat-related illness or death.

American checks the actual or forecast temperature at each flight’s departure and arrival time for every station on the itinerary. Alaska Air Cargo says it reviews weather conditions for every city on a pet’s itinerary. Alaska Air Cargo says many of its stations have seasonal temperature embargoes for animal shipments over a summer season that generally runs from May 1 to October 16.

In practice, this means:

If you know you are relocating and have flexibility, plan the pet move for March, April, or early May before temperatures climb. October and November are also good windows. These shoulder seasons offer the widest selection of routes and the fewest weather-related disruptions.

Morning departures (before 10 AM) are the most likely to clear temperature checks, even in summer. The tarmac is cooler, and handling happens before the day heats up. We prioritize early flights for all summer bookings.

If the direct route passes through a hot city, an alternative routing through a cooler hub may work. For example, a pet traveling from Phoenix to London in July might route through San Francisco or New York instead of connecting through Dallas.

For international moves, we sometimes use ground transport to get the pet from a hot origin city to a cooler departure airport, then fly the international leg from there. A climate-controlled van from Houston to Denver, followed by a cargo flight from Denver to Europe, avoids the Texas heat entirely.

If your pet is small enough to fly in-cabin, heat embargoes do not apply. In-cabin pets travel with you in the climate-controlled cabin. This is the simplest workaround for small dogs and cats during summer.

Even with careful planning, a sudden heat wave can disrupt a scheduled pet shipment. If the temperature at any point on the route exceeds the airline’s limit, the airline will deny boarding for the pet.

When this happens, the options are:

This is one of the reasons working with a relocation service helps during summer. We monitor the weather forecasts at every airport on the route in the days before travel and have backup plans ready.

Heat gets the most attention, but cold embargoes exist too. American transports warm-blooded animals when ground temperatures are between 45F and 85F. Below that it requires a letter of acclimation signed and dated by a licensed veterinarian, which covers 20F to 44F, and it will not carry an animal at all below 20F. That matters most for northern and Midwestern US cities in winter.

American, Delta and Alaska Air Cargo each accept a veterinarian’s letter or certificate of acclimation for cold weather: American between 20F and 44F, Delta between 20F and 45F, and Alaska Air Cargo below 45F, issued within 10 days of travel.

For a deeper look at winter travel, see our guide on relocating pets during winter.

The sweet spot for pet air travel in the US is:

These windows offer the widest route options, the fewest weather disruptions, and the most predictable scheduling. If you have any flexibility in your move date, aiming for these months will make the pet transport smoother and less expensive.

If your relocation timeline falls in the summer months, start planning early. The earlier we know your route and dates, the more options we have for routing around hot airports and securing early morning flights.

Request a quote and we will put together a detailed plan and price for your specific route.

Prefer to talk? Give us a call at 1-877-540-0555.

Embargo dates and thresholds move. Checked September 2026, and always worth confirming with the carrier for your specific route.

Yes, but options are limited. Early morning flights from cooler airports are often available. In-cabin travel for small pets is unaffected by heat embargoes. Ground transport is another option. The key is planning ahead and having flexibility on departure time and routing.

The airline makes the call based on the forecast temperature at each airport on the route at the time of the pet’s handling. If any airport along the route exceeds the threshold, the shipment is denied.

No. In-cabin pets are with you in the climate-controlled passenger cabin. Heat embargoes only apply to pets traveling in the cargo hold.

Airline refund policies vary. Most will rebook at no additional charge, but refund rules depend on the carrier and ticket type. We help navigate rebooking when weather disruptions happen.

American and Alaska Air Cargo use 85F as the upper temperature limit for pets in the hold, and Delta uses 80F. We track the policies of every airline we work with and route through carriers that give the best chance of clearance for your route and season.

Moving between October and March? Our guide to fall and winter pet travel embargoes covers the closures and temperature limits that decide whether a booking survives the season.