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Flying with pets? Here's what to know.

By Anne Marie Lee

Edited By Alain Sherter

Updated on: April 6, 2024 / 10:08 AM EDT / CBS News

Thinking of taking your dog or cat with you the next time you fly? For a growing percentage of the 90.5 million pet owners in the U.S., the answer is yes. But while the notion of boarding a plane with your pet may seem simple, the rules and restrictions around traveling with an animal can be confusing. 

Eight major U.S. airlines allow pets to fly in-cabin as carry-ons. But flying with your pet takes research and planning, as pet policies vary from airline to airline, are steeped in restrictions, and are limited to specific countries and cities. You'll also have to pay an extra fee for your pet ranging from $95 to $200, depending on the airline and where you're flying. And restrictions often change.

For example, American Airlines  recently revised its policies  so passengers flying with pets may also bring one full-size carry-on or personal item. But the carrier prohibits carry-on pets on transatlantic and transpacific flights. Here's what you need to know when considering taking your fur baby with you on a plane.

Cargo, check-in or carry-on?

Most airlines offer three options for transporting animals: cargo, check-in or carry-on. But if your pet is larger than a bread box, your options are limited to the cargo or baggage check-in options, with very few exceptions. 

Given that large canine breeds such as Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers are among the most popular dogs in the country, the size restriction for in-cabin pet travel can be a major frustration for those who would rather not fly at all if that means putting their pet in cargo. 

A 2023 Forbes Adviser survey of 10,000 U.S. dog owners found that 33% of respondents fly with their pets, while 37% listed not being able to bring their dog on a plane as their biggest annoyance. (You can learn more about the differences between cargo, check-in and carry-on options  here , including warnings about the  dangers  involved when pets travel in the cargo hold.) 

Carry-on pets

Even for pet owners whose animals are small enough to fly as a carry-on, traveling is no breeze.

"When I fly with him I have to go to the desk," Margaret Rauch, 44, told CBS MoneyWatch, referring to her 15-pound poodle mix, Soda. The New York City resident has taken Soda on dozens of flights to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Soda, now 4, was being fostered by a friend after being found as a stray puppy in 2021. 

In addition to calling the airline in advance to register her dog for a flight, Rauch has to check in at the counter whenever she's traveling with Soda, so the airline agent can confirm her dog and pet carrier conform to the in-cabin pet requirements and that the flight hasn't already met its pet maximum. 

Rauch, who said she would never consider putting Soda in cargo, applauded American Airlines' new policy, while noting that in her experience the one carry-on rule was rarely enforced. 

"I feel the price is already high for what I get. Even with AA's rule change, I lose the underseat space," she said. "My dog creates no extra work for anyone."

Despite the added preparation, paperwork and hassle involved in flying with Soda — not to mention the unfriendly looks she occasionally detects from fellow passengers at the sight of her pet carrier — Rauch said, "It's absolutely worth it." 

Asked how the experience could be improved, she pointed to early boarding for pet owners as something that would help.

"If you can get in early, get a seat and settle down, that is an accommodation I don't expect to see anytime soon but I think it makes sense," Rauch said.

Safety and comfort

For the many Americans who see their pets practically as family members, one of the most challenging aspects of flying is ensuring their animal's comfort and safety. 

"The increasing humanization of pets, which involves treating them as part of the family rather than as mere animals, has increased the demand for pet travel services that are of high quality and can be customized to meet the specific needs of each pet," LinkedIn reported in December.

Among other tips, the U.S. Department of Transportation  and animal experts recommend that you not feed your pet four to six hours before a flight and limit their water intake. Others also suggest keeping bottled water on hand at all times. Additionally, most airlines require certain vaccination and vet certification that your pet is healthy enough to fly. Individual countries also have their own requirements for pets to enter.  

Not surprisingly, some airlines do better than others at handling pets. One of the best-rated carriers for pet travel is Alaska Airlines, which has repeatedly topped rankings, such as NerdWallet's Most pet-friendly airlines of 2024.  In recent years, the airline also has maintained one of the industry's lowest incident ratings, according to Veterinarians.org. United Airlines and Delta are among the airlines with the highest incident rates, according to the pet information website. 

On Rauch's first plane trip with Soda traveling home to New York, a layover in Miami led to the flight sitting on the tarmac for two hours. Calming treats are something that helps keeps her dog relaxed on flights. She also withholds Soda's food and limits his water intake up to five hours before a flight, which is also helpful given that he doesn't like using pet relief areas, which she said generally smell of urine and can be overwhelming for dogs. Flights between New York City and St. Croix are generally under six hours. 

"I'm not sure how I'd handle a flight to Singapore," Rauch said.

Here's a rundown of U.S. airlines' pet travel policies, along with fees and and restrictions:

Alaska Airlines

Pet fee: $100

Pets allowed: Dogs and cats are the only pets allowed in-cabin on international trips and flights to Hawaii. Domesticated rabbits and small household birds are allowed as carry-on on domestic flights.

Destinations: Domestic and international, with additional requirements and documentation required for  pets traveling to Hawaii  or  internationally .

See Alaska's full pet policy here .

American Airlines

Pet fee: $150

Pets allowed: Dogs, cats

Destinations: 

• Within the 48 contiguous U.S.
• The U.S. and Canada*
• Puerto Rico

*Additional special restrictions may apply. See American's full pet policy  here .

Pet fee: $75-$200, depending on destination

Pets allowed: Dogs, cats, household birds

Pet friendly destinations: 

• U.S., Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
• International destinations with the exception of Australia, U.K., Republic of Ireland and others .

Pets are not permitted on flights to Hawaii. See Delta's full pet policy here .

Frontier Airlines 

Pet fee: $99

Pets allowed: Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and household birds

Destinations: Domestic flights and international flights to and from the Dominican Republic and Mexico.

See Frontier's full pet policy here .

Pet fee: $125

Destinations: Domestic and international. See exceptions for international flights here .

See JetBlue's full pet policy here .

Southwest Airlines

Pet fee: $125 per pet carrier on the U.S. mainland; $35 per pet carrier between Hawaiian Islands

Destinations: Domestic U.S. flights only. For travel to Puerto Rico, specific requirements may  apply . For Hawaii travel, see rules and regulations here.

See Southwest's full pet policy here .

Spirit Airlines

Pets allowed: Dogs, cats, birds (with the exception of flights to or from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) or rabbits (with the exception of flights to or from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands).

Destinations: Domestic flights including Puerto Rico and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

See Spirit's full pet policy here .

United Airlines

Destinations: Domestic and international flights with a list of exceptions. United does not allow pets to fly to, from or through certain states and countries. View the list here .

See United's full pet policy here .

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BarkBox’s next big delivery: Charter flights for dogs

Starting in may, bark air will fly dogs and their owners from new york to l.a. or london.

BarkBox, the service that assembles and ships care packages for dogs to millions of subscribers each month, is expanding into a new market: pet-friendly charter flights. This spring, the company will begin transporting dogs (and their owners) on private planes via Bark Air.

Starting on May 23, Bark Air will fly weekly between Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y., and Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles. The following week, it will kick off bimonthly service between Westchester and London Stansted Airport. Reservations at dogsflyfirst.com will go live Thursday, on National Pet Day. The one-way cross-country flight costs $6,000 for one dog and one owner; the transatlantic flight goes for $8,000.

By comparison, for the same date as the launch, nonstop air on a major carrier starts at $220 one way from New York to Los Angeles and from $525 to London. Adding a dog would cost more.

Bark chief executive and co-founder Matt Meeker said the inspiration for Bark Air came from his Great Dane. Hugo visited nearly two dozen states and Canada during his 12-year lifetime, but he never pranced around the West Coast or Europe because of the challenges of flying pets, especially of his size.

Options are limited for pets too large for the cabin. Depending on the season, destination and airline, owners can transport their dogs as checked luggage or cargo, an arrangement that comes with risks. According to Transportation Department data, U.S. carriers reported nine incidents involving animals, including seven deaths, in 2022. (The agency has not published its annual 2023 numbers for these incidents).

To understand the experience of traveling as baggage, Meeker packed himself into a crate and was rolled across the tarmac and loaded onto a plane, where he stayed in his enclosure for 45 minutes to an hour. His experiment confirmed his suspicions: Flying in the belly of a plane can be traumatizing.

“It was very cramped, very dark. Loud noises. Disorienting. No food or water. Nowhere to go to the bathroom,” said Meeker. “It was very, very terrible.”

Moneyed travelers can book a private or charter plane. However, noncommercial air can be prohibitively expensive or unpredictable. K9 Jets , a private charter operator that started offering pet-friendly flights last year, flies to 13 destinations, including Dallas, Paris and West Palm Beach, Fla. It has similar prices to BarkAir — $6,650 from New Jersey to Los Angeles — but will cancel the flight if it is not at least 75 percent full.

“There’s a huge amount of interest and demand, and really frustration,” Meeker said. “People are looking for a reasonable solution to transport their dog if they’re moving or taking a summer vacation or weekend trip.”

Meeker said the company partnered with Talon Air , a New York-based charter company that will fly two Gulfstream G550s under the Bark Air banner. The plane can accommodate 14 passengers, but the company will cap the number at 10.

After the traveler books the flight, a concierge will contact the family to learn about the dog’s temperament and to help with logistics, including the documents required to enter England. The fare includes complimentary car service within a 30-mile radius of the arrival destination.

Meeker recommends passengers arrive 45 minutes to an hour before departure. Guests will wait in a private area inside the terminal, where a chef will prepare a hot meal for the human travelers to avoid any in-flight tray-table surfing. Before boarding, the dogs will have a chance to sniff each other out.

Onboard, pets can fly without a leash as long as they behave. During a test run, Meeker said the dogs were very courteous, with no unruly outbursts.

“They would say hello to the other dogs and say hello to the other people. Everyone was very calm about it,” he said. “For dogs who were a little more nervous, or people who were more nervous for their dogs, we have a place on the plane for them to sit without anyone bothering them.”

Since the pups are the top dogs onboard, the carrier will cater to their tastes. The menu will feature “Doggie Champagne” (actually chicken broth), doughnuts made for dogs and meaty snacks served on a silver tray. The flight crew will include professionals trained in veterinary care and dog behavior. At the end of the trip, the four-legged fliers will earn their wings, which they can proudly pin to their collar or harness.

If Bark Air does well, Meeker hopes to add larger planes to the fleet, which could help lower the fare. He also dreams of building the world’s first in-flight dog park.

“The dogs for those longer journeys will have a park where they can play with other dogs while their humans enjoy a drink at the bar around the edge of the park,” he said.

Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst with the Atmosphere Research Group, said pet airlines are more apt to fail than succeed. (RIP, Pet Airways.) However, Bark Air has a few advantages. It is not building an airline from scratch. It has brand recognition. And it oversees a mailing list with the names of millions of pet lovers willing to drop a small fortune on their pooches.

“Some people will absolutely do this,” Harteveldt said. “The question is: Will there be a enough people who love their pets enough to pay $6,000 or more to transport them coast-to-coast or from New York to London?”

More on air travel

Leave flying to the pros: Think you could land a plane in an emergency? Experts say you’re wrong . Here’s what you should actually do if something goes awry during a flight .

Pet peeves: Why do “gate lice” line up early for a flight ? Psychologists explained for us. Another move that annoys airline workers: abusing the flight attendant call button . For more on how to behave on a flight, check out our 52 definitive rules of flying .

Plane mess: Stories about extremely disgusting airplanes have been grossing out travelers. The question of plane cleanups became the subject of a recent debate after a flight attendant allegedly told a pregnant passenger to pick up the popcorn spilled by her toddler.

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BARK Air will provide pet-friendly charter flights for you and your dog

Bark, a company that sends subscription packages to dogs, is starting bark air in may.

By Alyssa Bradford

On Apr. 11, BARK published a press release empathizing with the challenges dog parents face while traveling long distances. Instead of placing dogs in cargo or under seats, the company partnered with a jet charter company to offer a solution: BARK Air.

Matt Meeker, BARK chief executive and co-founder, explained to The Washington Post what happens before, during and after the flight:

• In the terminal, owners of dogs will receive a meal. Dogs will also have the chance to meet the other dogs.
• Onboard, pets’ leashes can come off if they behave. There are more private spots on the plane for owners and dogs if needed.
• A “Doggie Champagne” (chicken broth), dog doughnuts and meat snacks will be served to the dogs on the flight.
• The flight crew, trained in veterinary care, will check up with passengers during the flight.
• At the end of the flight, dogs will receive a pilot wings pin for collars and harnesses.

BARK Air will begin offering flights on May 23. Routes will be between the Westchester Country Airport in New York, the Van Nuys airport in Los Angeles, California, and the Stansted Airport in London, England, according to the press release .

According to The Washington Post , cross-country flights will cost $6,000 and transatlantic flights will be $8,000 for one dog and owner.

Visit DogsFlyFirst.com to book a flight.

Why do some airlines not allow pets in the cabin?

The Federal Aviation Administration allows airlines to decide the allowance or regulations of pets onboard.

Airlines might not allow pets in-cabin due to allergies, not being trained, destination rules or if the chances of traumatizing an animal are high, per USA Today .

When animals are allowed, some airlines care about dimensions of carriers, breeds of animals and the weight of animals. If they don’t fit into specific regulations, the pet will not be allowed in cabin, according to The New York Times .

The U.S. Department of Transportation requires airlines to recognize and transport service animals for free as long as they meet safety and document conditions.

Is it safe to bring pets on flights?

According to The Humane Society of the United States , while pets can be safe on flights, there are some dangers associated with travel for pets. Therefore, it is best to consider:

• Visiting a vet to answer questions or get vaccinations.
• Research your destination and how it may affect your pet.
• Flying in the pet in-cabin, as flying in cargo areas, have resulted in death, though pets tend to be fine.

If BARK Air is not an option, NerdWallet ranked pet-friendly U.S. airlines in 2024 from best to worst noting average pet fees, airline safety records and where pets are placed: cargo, a bag or in cabin.

• Alaska Airlines.
• Frontier Airlines.
• Delta Air Lines.
• Southwest Airlines.
• Spirit Airlines.
• American Airlines.
• Hawaiian Airlines (combined with Alaskan Airlines but still operating under the Hawaiian brand).
• JetBlue Airways.
• United Airlines.

American Airlines changes pet policy, allows passengers to bring carry-on with pet carrier

Good news for pet owners! American Airlines is relaxing its pet policy and allowing those who travel with their animal companions to bring a full-size carry-on too, along with the pet carrier.

"On flights with American you can bring one pet carrier as a carry-on if: You pay the carry-on pet fee; Your pet stays in the pet carrier and under the seat in front of you the entire flight," says American Airline's on their website , adding that passengers can also bring "one additional item on board with your pet," which can be a personal item like a purse or small handbag or a carry-on bag that fits in the overhead bin and meets the airline's requirements .

"Remember, you can only bring one with your pet carrier, not both," says American.

Earlier, travelers with pets were only allowed to bring a small personal item, that could fit under the seat if they were bringing their pet onboard. Anything bigger than that, like a carry-on, was required to be checked for $35. Alternatively, pet owners could put their pet in the cargo hold if they wanted to bring a bigger item with them on the flight.

However, there has been no change in fees required to bring a pet onboard. That remains fixed at $150, as per the American Airline's website. Meanwhile, pet strollers are still required to be checked in and all checked bag fees apply.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

American Airlines did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment and what prompted the relaxation in policy.

Flying with a dog? Here’s how to ensure a smooth flight for your pet

Traveling with pets

Even with the relaxation in policy, experts advise thoughtful planning and research before traveling with pets and considering factors such as choosing a pet-friendly airline, insurance and preparing your pet for the journey ahead of time.

Every airline has its own guidelines for traveling with pets and the websites for domestic carriers like Southwest , JetBlue , American , Alaska , United and Delta each spell out what pets can travel where and the requirements for a carrier that can fit under the seat.

There are limitations on the number of pets a passenger can travel with on different aircrafts and travelers are advised to go through the airline policies before making their travel plans and booking tickets.

Similarly, country-based restrictions also apply, and travelers are advised to understand pet-entry requirements for their destination county when traveling abroad.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7.

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BARK Introduces New Era of Travel Made for Dogs with the Launch of BARK Air

Apr 11, 2024

Dogs Fly First: BARK Announces First-of-its-Kind Travel Experience Tailored to Dogs Starting May 2024.

NEW YORK, N.Y., April 11, 2024 – BARK, Inc. (NYSE: BARK) (“BARK” or the “Company”), a leading global omnichannel dog brand with a mission to make all dogs happy, today announced it has partnered with a jet charter company to launch BARK Air. BARK Air is the world’s first air travel experience designed specifically for dogs first, and their human companions second, enabling them to travel together comfortably and conveniently. Starting today, premium flights for dogs (and their humans) are available for booking, with the first flights taking off from New York on Thursday, May 23.

Traveling long distances with a dog is a challenge many dog parents face, particularly for those dogs that don’t fit into a carrier that can be placed under the seat in front. Too often, dogs are denied travel, confined to a duffle bag, or endure the stress of flying in cargo. Recognizing these challenges, and the increasing demand for an accessible solution, BARK Air presents a more fun – and humane – option for dogs traveling with their two-legged human companions. BARK Air exemplifies BARK’s dog-first mentality and award-winning customer experience, setting a new standard for dogs who love to travel but have been forced to settle for less-than-ideal traveling conditions.

“When we started BARK in 2011, we were on a mission to disrupt the dog space and create products designed for dogs and their humans. We are excited to take the insights we’ve learned over the years to create an experience that is truly dog-first, which is drastically different from just accepting dogs – from the ground to the skies,” said Matt Meeker, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at BARK. “We believe this initiative will elevate awareness of our brand’s mission and values, introduce more dog lovers to the BARK family, and help enrich the lives of dogs and their people around the world.”

BARK Air has taken the white glove experience typical of a human’s first-class experience and redirected all that pampering to pooches – from booking to arrival, to in-flight services and disembarkation, dogs will truly be the VIPs and treated to a positively luxurious, curated experience.

• Following booking, humans will be contacted by a BARK Air concierge to collect information about each dog and their human’s travel plans to ensure the best possible experience.
• On travel day, dogs and their companions will arrive at the airport 45 to 60 minutes before takeoff for a simple, efficient check-in process where dogs can meet other furry friends on their flight while their people are treated to meals prepared by onsite chefs – no crates, stressful TSA checkpoints, or screening,
• Before boarding, a highly skilled BARK Air concierge will welcome dogs at the gate to help them settle into their experience through socialization and dog-centric cabin preparation. The BARK Air concierge will also evaluate each dog to ensure they are enjoying their experience and adapting to the new environment and if additional attention and care is needed prior to boarding or once on board.
• Also prior to boarding, the plane will be treated to a “Dogs Fly First” flight prep with calming pheromones, music, and colors that pups prefer. All furry passengers will have access to various aids such as calming treats, noise-canceling ear muffs, and calming jackets to ensure a stress-free and enjoyable flight.
• Once onboard, dogs will be served their beverage of choice during ascent and descent to ensure they do not experience any ear discomfort commonly caused by changes in cabin pressure. Additionally, a variety of BARK-branded treats, snacks, and surprises will be provided throughout the flight with the intent of pampering furry passengers and their humans.

At launch, routes will serve the New York City metro area via Westchester County Airport (HPN) with flights to the Los Angeles area via Van Nuys (VNY) and London, England via Stansted Airport (STN). Through the partnership, an Argus Platinum-rated charter company is responsible for all aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance-related matters, while BARK is focused on creating and delivering a world-class air travel experience for dogs and their people.

“We believe this initiative will raise awareness of BARK’s mission in a cost-effective manner,” said Zahir Ibrahim, Chief Financial Officer at BARK. “Given we are not committed to booking flights far in advance, we have a lot of flexibility to opportunistically charter flights during times of high demand. In parallel, we believe the additional traffic to BARK.co will raise awareness of our full offering, benefiting our core business in the long term.”

For more information on BARK Air and booking, visit DogsFlyFirst.com and follow along on Instagram @barkair.

About BARK BARK is the world’s most dog-centric company, devoted to making dogs happy with the best products, services and content. BARK’s dog-obsessed team applies its unique, data-driven understanding of what makes each dog special to design playstyle-specific toys, wildly satisfying treats, great food for your dog’s breed, effective and easy to use dental care, and dog-first experiences that foster the health and happiness of dogs everywhere. Founded in 2011, BARK loyally serves dogs nationwide with themed toys and treats subscriptions, BarkBox and BARK Super Chewer; custom product collections through its retail partner network, including Target and Amazon; its high-quality, nutritious meals made for your breed with BARK Food; and products that meet dogs’ dental needs with BARK Bright®. At BARK, we want to make dogs as happy as they make us because dogs and humans are better together. Sniff around at BARK.co for more information.

Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, the future performance of BARK that are based on the Company’s current expectations, forecasts and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “plan,” "anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “intend,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future operating results, including our strategies, plans, commitments, objectives, and goals. Actual results could differ materially from those predicted or implied and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. Other factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to BARK; the risk that spending on pets may not increase at projected rates; that BARK subscriptions may not increase their spending with BARK; BARK’s ability to continue to convert social media followers and contacts into customers; BARK’s ability to successfully expand its product lines and channel distribution; competition; the uncertain effects of the COVID-19 pandemic or other global or macroeconomic events or challenges.

More information about factors that could affect BARK's operating results is included under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q, copies of which may be obtained by visiting the Company’s Investor Relations website at https://investors.bark.co/ or the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this press release, which are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update such statements.

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American Airlines just made it easier and cheaper to bring pets on flights

• American Airlines updated its policy to make flying with pets easier.
• Now, flyers can board with a pet in addition to a carry-on bag or a personal item.
• Before, flyers with a pet could only bring one small item. Any other carry-ons had to be checked.

American Airlines has streamlined its policy for passengers traveling with pets.

The airline is now allowing passengers to bring pets inside the cabin alongside a regular carry-on bag or a personal item, according to the Associated Press . However, passengers can not bring both a carry-on bag and a personal item.

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Previously, passengers who traveled with a pet could only bring one small item that fit beneath the seat in front of them, the outlet reported. Larger carry-on bags had to be checked for a $35 fee on top of the standard $150 pet fee .

Carry-on pets refer to cats or dogs that meet the specified requirements for age, size, and destination, according to its policy. Pets can also be placed in American Airlines cargo.

"On March 28, American updated its cabin pet policy allowing customers who are traveling with a pet to bring a personal item or a carry-on bag that fits in the overhead bins," an American Airlines representative told BI. "We made the change to provide a more convenient and comfortable experience to customers whose pets fly American."

The latest policy update comes after American Airlines announced in February it will raise checked bag fees . One checked bag used to cost $30, and the second was $40. Now, the first checked bag for domestic flights is $35, and the second is $45.

The airline also changed how customers earn frequent flyer miles and loyalty points.

Watch: Thousands of bags pile up at US airports after flight cancellations

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American Airlines Makes It Easier To Travel With Pets

T hey say to travel is to live, but deciding to leave a beloved pet at home can make you feel guilty - and bringing them along on an adventure can be tough on the bank account. No one truly wants to leave their four-legged best friend behind and figure out whether to hire a pet sitter or look for a boarding facility, but airlines don't always make it easy for pet parents to travel with their fur babies.

Finally, there's some good news for pet parents and their four-legged companions! American Airlines has changed their pet policy, making it easier and more affordable for pet owners to fly with their fur babies.

" On flights with American, you can bring one pet carrier as a carry-on if: You pay the carry-on pet fee; Your pet stays in the pet carrier and under the seat in front of you the entire flight," shared American Airlines' on their website . The company added that passengers can also bring " only one additional item on board with your pet" which can be a small personal item like a handbag or a purse, or a carry-on bag that meets the airline's requirements and fits in the overhead bin compartment. 

The important thing to note is that you can only bring one with your pet carrier, not both.

In the past, people who traveled with pets could only bring one small personal item abroad, which could fit under the seat. Anything bigger than that - for example, a larger carry-on bag that usually goes in the overhead bin - had to be checked, which was an additional $35. 

As an alternative, pet owners could transport their pets in the cargo hold if they wanted to take a bigger bag with them on the flight. 

Thanks to recent policy changes, people traveling with pets can now bring a pet aboard and choose whether they'll travel with a carry-on bag or a personal item. 

At the same time, no changes to American Airlines' pet travel fee have been made. According to the company's website, the fee remains fixed at $150 and applies per kennel, each way. For now, pet strollers must be checked at the ticket counter, and all checked bag fees apply. 

There are a few things to keep in mind before flying off into the sunset with your four-legged friend. All airlines are different. Every airline has its own policies for traveling with pets, so be sure to check the specific restrictions and fees on your flight before you book the tickets. Southwest, JetBlue, Delta, Alaska, and United are a few other airlines that allow pet travel, but each has its own travel requirements. 

Each airline specifies what pets can travel where. There are also limitations on the number of pets a passenger can bring abroad on different aircrafts. Only two pets in the same carrier can come aboard for American Airlines flights. Don't forget that capacity is limited, meaning that checked pets are accepted on a first-come basis. 

Country-based restrictions also apply, and people traveling with pets should check and understand destination restrictions when traveling abroad.

Lastly, whatever airline you decide to fly with, you have to find your pet an airline-compliant carrier. Without the right pet carrier, your fur baby won't be able to fly on a plane with you. 

There is a lot to think about when traveling with a pet. But all will become worth it when you touch down and start making fun and exciting travel memories with your four-legged companion. 

Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here .

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• Astana - Moscow (Vnukovo)

Classic Uzbekistan Group Tour 2024-2025

Our most popular escorted tour of Uzbekistan in a small group will acquaint you with the most famous ancient cities in Uzbekistan: Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand, as well as the modern capital, Tashkent.

Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand

8 Days | Spring, summer, autumn | from US$ 1,160 per person

Astana - Moscow (Vnukovo) Flights

Winter 2019 - 2020 schedule.

Astana (TSE) - Moscow (Vnukovo) (VKO)

Moscow (Vnukovo) (VKO) - Astana (TSE)