If you are trying to fly with a pet in the United States, the rules depend less on your pet and more on which airline you call. The three biggest carriers have moved in very different directions over the past few years, and much of the advice floating around online is out of date. Here is where Delta, United and American actually stand, checked against each airline’s published policy in July 2026.

The short version

All three airlines will let a small dog or cat ride in the cabin with you for a fee, as long as the carrier fits under the seat in front of you. The differences appear the moment your pet is too big for that carrier. Delta and United no longer ship pets in the hold for the general public. Checked pets on all three carriers are reserved for active duty US military and State Department personnel traveling on official orders. American is the only one of the three that still runs a cargo program open to everyone, through American Airlines Cargo.

That one change explains why so many families with a Labrador or a German Shepherd end up calling a pet relocation company. For most large dogs, the big three either cannot take them at all or can only take them under a program most owners do not qualify for.

Delta pet policy

Delta accepts small dogs, cats and household birds in the cabin on domestic flights. The fee is $150 each way within the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, and $200 on most international routes. Your pet travels in a soft-sided kennel under the seat, and Delta recommends one no larger than 18 x 11 x 11 inches. Pets must be at least 8 weeks old for domestic travel, and the kennel counts toward your carry-on allowance.

Space is limited and first come, first served. Delta allows up to 4 pets in Main Cabin and Comfort, 2 in domestic First, and none in Delta One or Premium Select. Call to add your pet as soon as your ticket is booked, not the week before the flight.

Cabin pets are not accepted at all to or from Australia, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Iceland, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and a few other destinations. For those routes your pet needs a different plan entirely.

Checked pets and Delta Cargo shipments are currently limited to active US military and State Department Foreign Service personnel with transfer orders, and Delta describes that restriction as in place until further notice. Where cargo travel is allowed, snub-nosed dogs and cats are excluded, and shipments stop when ground temperatures leave the 20 to 80 degree Fahrenheit range.

United pet policy

United is now cabin-only for the general public. Its PetSafe cargo program was suspended in 2018 and has never reopened for regular customers, so the only pets United carries in the hold today belong to military and State Department families on official orders.

The cabin rules themselves are simple. Cats and dogs fly for $150 each way, there are no breed or weight limits for cabin pets, and your pet must stay in a carrier that fits under the seat. One pet per traveler is the rule, and if you want to bring a second one you buy the adjacent seat. If your dog is too large for an under-seat carrier, United has no option for you at any price.

American pet policy

American gives cabin travelers the most generous terms of the three. The carry-on fee is $150 each way, and unlike Delta, the pet carrier does not use up your carry-on allowance, so you can still bring a personal item or a regular carry-on bag. Soft-sided carriers up to 18 x 11 x 11 inches work on all flights, and mainline aircraft can take up to 20 pet carriers per flight. Carry-on pets are not accepted on transatlantic or transpacific routes, or to Hawaii.

Checked pets follow the same military and State Department restriction as the other two carriers, at $200 per kennel. The difference is what comes next. American Airlines Cargo runs the American PetEmbark program for pets that do not qualify for the cabin, and it is open to the general public, with pricing that depends on the route and the size of the kennel. For families whose dog is simply too big for a carrier, this is the last mainline cargo door still open in the US.

PetEmbark and checked travel come with real restrictions. American does not accept snub-nosed breeds in the hold, a list that covers bulldogs, pugs, boxers, mastiffs, Shih Tzus and Persian cats among others. Pets cannot travel when temperatures along the route are forecast above 85 degrees or below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, and no pets move through Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas or Palm Springs between May 1 and September 30. Connections with a pet are only allowed through 10 designated hubs, and none of the three airlines accept a pet that has been sedated.

If your pet is too big for the cabin

This is where most of our calls start. When a dog cannot fit under a seat, the realistic options are American’s PetEmbark program, an international carrier with a dedicated live-animal program such as Lufthansa, KLM or Air Canada routed through their gateway cities, or professional ground transport for moves within the continental US. Which one makes sense depends on your route, your dates, the season and your dog’s breed.

Snub-nosed breeds deserve special mention. All three US majors refuse them in the hold, so a French Bulldog or a Pug needs either a cabin seat, a ground plan, or one of the few specialist routings that still accept them. We cover this in more detail in our guide to breed restrictions in pet shipping.

If you are weighing up what any of this will cost, our guide to pet shipping costs breaks down what drives the price. And if you would rather hand the whole puzzle to someone who plans pet routes every day, request a quote and we will map the options for your pet and your dates.

One last note. Airline pet policies change with little warning, and fees are set by the ticket contract in force on the day you book. Everything above was verified against Delta, United and American in July 2026, and it is still worth a final check on the airline’s own page the day you book.

Frequently asked questions

Can my dog fly in the cabin on Delta, United, or American?

Yes, if your dog is small enough to ride in a carrier under the seat in front of you. All three airlines charge a per-flight fee. Once a dog outgrows that under-seat carrier, cabin travel is off the table on all three.

Which US airline still ships pets as cargo?

Among the big three, only American, through American Airlines Cargo. Delta and United no longer ship pets in the hold for the general public, and the checked-pet programs on all three are limited to military and State Department families on official orders.

How do I fly a large dog if the big three cannot take it?

The usual routes are American’s cargo program, an international carrier with a live animal program on your route, professional ground transport, or a relocation service that books through the right channel. We compare all the options in our guide to pet air transport.

Do airline pet policies change often?

Yes. Fees, embargo dates, and cargo rules shift from year to year, and much of the advice online is stale. This guide was checked against each airline’s published policy in July 2026. Confirm the details with the airline when you book.

Ready to plan your pet’s move?

Tell us your route and your pet. Request a quote and we will reply with a plan, a timeline, and clear next steps, usually within two business hours.