Flying With a Dog: Cabin vs. Cargo, Explained

In this guide

1. Option 1: in the cabin
2. Option 2: in the hold (checked or cargo)
3. Option 3: service dogs
4. Before you book
5. Preparing your dog
6. Flight day
7. International travel
8. Is flying the right choice?
9. Frequently asked questions

This guide explains each option, the federal rules that apply to every airline, what to do before and on the day of the flight, and the extra steps for international trips — including the CDC rules for bringing a dog into the US.

Option 1: in the cabin

This is how most dogs fly, and it's the least stressful for many of them because they stay with you.

• The carrier must fit under the seat in front of you, and your dog must be able to stand and turn around in it.
• Your dog stays in the carrier for the whole flight, including at the gate and on the plane.
• There's a fee, charged each way, and the pet often counts as your carry-on item.
• Space is limited. Airlines cap the number of pets per cabin, so call or book the pet as early as possible.
• Seat restrictions apply — usually no exit rows or bulkhead seats, which have no under-seat storage.

In practice, in-cabin travel suits small dogs. Check your airline's carrier dimensions and weight limits before you buy a carrier.

Option 2: in the hold (checked or cargo)

Larger dogs can't fit under a seat, so historically they flew in the pressurized, temperature-controlled hold. Today, this option is much more limited:

• Several major US airlines restrict or no longer accept pets as checked baggage, and some route them through dedicated cargo programs instead.
• Breed restrictions are common. Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds, like bulldogs and pugs, are often refused in the hold because of breathing risks.
• Seasonal temperature limits can block travel on very hot or very cold days at either airport.
• Crate requirements are strict — size, ventilation, secure door, and labeling.

Policies here change often. Before planning a trip around cargo travel, get your airline's current rules in writing, or consider whether driving is the better option.

Option 3: service dogs

The US Department of Transportation's final rule on service animals, which took effect in 2021, set the current standard for flights to, within and from the US:

• A service animal is a dog — of any breed or type — individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability, including physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual and other mental disabilities.
• Emotional support animals are not service animals under the rule. Providing comfort or companionship doesn't count as a trained task. Airlines may treat emotional support animals as regular pets.
• Service animals in training, and animals other than dogs, are not service animals under the rule.
• Airlines may require DOT forms attesting to the dog's health, behavior and training, and — for long flights — that the dog can avoid relieving itself or do so in a sanitary way.

Before you book

1. Read your airline's pet policy for your exact route, including carrier size and weight limits.
2. Call to add your pet to the reservation; cabin pet spots are limited.
3. Book a direct flight whenever possible. Fewer connections mean less stress and less risk of delays.
4. Choose mild times of day in hot or cold seasons, especially for any hold travel.
5. Check your destination's rules — states, cities and countries can have their own entry and licensing requirements.

Preparing your dog

• Crate or carrier training weeks ahead. Leave the carrier open at home with a blanket and treats, then practice short car rides in it.
• A vet visit for a health check, current vaccinations and any certificate your airline or destination requires.
• Sedation: many vets advise against sedating dogs for flights, since it can affect breathing and balance. Ask your vet — don't decide on your own.
• ID everywhere: tags on the collar, your contact details on the carrier, and a microchip with up-to-date information.

Flight day

• Exercise before leaving for the airport, and give a bathroom break as late as possible.
• Feed a light meal several hours before the flight, not right before.
• Arrive early. Pets usually require check-in at the counter, not online.
• Security: you'll typically carry or walk your dog through the metal detector while the empty carrier goes through the X-ray machine. Keep a leash handy.
• Use airport pet relief areas before boarding and during layovers.
• Keep the carrier zipped during the flight, and resist opening it.

International travel

Coming into the United States

Since August 1, 2024, CDC rules require every dog entering the US to:

• Be at least six months old.
• Have a microchip.
• Arrive with a CDC Dog Import Form online submission receipt, which can be shown printed or on your phone and is valid for six months, including multiple entries.

Dogs that have been only in dog rabies-free or low-risk countries for the past six months need just the CDC form. Dogs that have been in high-risk countries face additional requirements. These rules apply to US-based dogs coming home from a trip, too — check the CDC's page before you leave.

Leaving the United States

Each destination country sets its own rules — vaccinations, microchips, health certificates, sometimes blood tests and waiting periods. The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) publishes country-by-country requirements for pets leaving the US. Start planning months ahead for some destinations.

Is flying the right choice?

If you decide to drive instead, see our road trip with a dog checklist.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: U.S. Department of Transportation, final rule on traveling by air with service animals and FAQs; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dog importation rules effective August 1, 2024; USDA APHIS pet travel. Airline policies change often — confirm with your airline before booking.