Delta Air Lines Pet Policy (2026): Fees, Kennel Sizes and Rules
Delta lets small dogs, cats and household birds fly in the cabin on flights within the contiguous US, for $150 each way. Dogs and cats can also fly in the cabin on many international routes for $200 each way, if you have the paperwork for the destination. Pets aren’t allowed in the cabin to Hawaii, the UK and several other places.
Last checked against Delta’s own pages on 1 October 2026: Delta.com Pet Travel and the Service Animal Policy on Delta.com. Airlines change their rules, so confirm with Delta before you book.
Delta pet policy at a glance
| Rule | What Delta says |
|---|---|
| Fee, US, Canada, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands | $150 each way (USD or CAD), for tickets issued on or after April 8, 2025 |
| Fee, international and Brazil | $200 each way |
| Which animals | Small dogs, cats and household birds within the contiguous US; dogs and cats elsewhere |
| Recommended kennel | Soft-sided, up to 18 x 11 x 11 inches, which fits most aircraft |
| Minimum age, domestic | 8 weeks |
| Minimum age, entering the US | Dogs 6 months, cats 16 weeks |
| Minimum age, to the European Union | 15 weeks |
| Pets per flight | 2 in domestic Delta First, 4 in Delta Comfort and Delta Main; none in Delta One, international Business Class or Delta Premium |
| No cabin pets | Hawaii, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and others (full list below) |
Can my dog fly in the cabin on Delta?
Yes, if your dog is small enough to fit comfortably in a kennel that goes fully under the seat in front of you, able to move around without touching or sticking out from the sides. The fee is collected at check-in.
Outside the contiguous US, dogs and cats can fly in the cabin only if you have all the documents needed for your pet to enter the destination, and to come back to your home country if that applies.
Delta warns that if you don’t follow its pet rules, including keeping your pet in the kennel at all times in the airport and on board, you may lose the ability to travel with your pet on future flights.
Can birds fly in the cabin on Delta?
Yes, but only within the contiguous US. On domestic flights within the contiguous United States, small household birds can travel in the cabin alongside small dogs and cats, if they meet the age, health, size and kennel rules. Outside the contiguous US, including international flights, Delta’s policy covers dogs and cats only, so birds can’t fly in the cabin internationally.
How much does it cost?
| To or from | Pet fee each way |
|---|---|
| US, Canada, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands | $150 USD/CAD for tickets issued on or after April 8, 2025 ($95 for tickets issued before) |
| International | $200 USD/CAD/EUR |
| Brazil | $200 USD for tickets issued on or after April 8, 2025 ($75 for tickets issued before) |
The CAD amount is charged leaving Canada and the EUR amount leaving Europe.
How do I book a pet on Delta?
Pets in the cabin are first come, first served, with a limit on each flight. Once you have a reservation, contact Delta Reservations as soon as you can to add your pet, and have the kennel’s length, width and height ready.
| Cabin | Pets allowed per flight |
|---|---|
| Delta First (domestic, including Canada, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam) | 2, but not in cabins with flat-bed seats |
| Delta Comfort and Delta Main (domestic and international) | 4; restrictions may apply |
| International Business Class, Delta One, Delta Premium | None (service animals excepted) |
If part of your trip is on a partner airline, check that airline’s own pet rules.
Kennel rules
- You can bring 1 pet kennel on board, plus 1 personal item or 1 carry-on item.
- The kennel must fit fully under the seat in front of you. The space varies by aircraft, so check your flight’s under-seat dimensions.
- Delta recommends a soft-sided kennel no bigger than 18 x 11 x 11 inches, because it fits most aircraft.
- A soft-sided kennel must be leak-proof and have ventilation openings on 3 sides for domestic travel and 4 sides for international travel.
- Your pet stays inside the kennel at all times in the airport, in a Delta Sky Club and on the plane, except at security and in a pet relief area.
How many pets in one kennel?
One, with two exceptions. A female cat or dog can travel with her un-weaned litter if the litter is between 8 weeks and 6 months old and they fit safely. And 2 pets of the same breed and size, between 8 weeks and 6 months old, may share a kennel if they fit and get along; they’re charged as 1 pet.
Where can I sit with my pet?
You can’t choose:
- bulkhead seats or an emergency exit row;
- seats marked “no stowage”;
- flat-bed or Delta One seats;
- rows 46 to 51 on the A330-200, or rows 54 to 59 on the A330-300;
- center seats on the Boeing 757-200.
How old does my pet need to be?
- Domestic travel: at least 8 weeks.
- Coming to the US from another country: dogs at least 6 months, cats at least 16 weeks.
- Traveling to the European Union: at least 15 weeks.
Where pets can’t fly in the cabin
Delta doesn’t allow pets in the cabin for any travel to or from:
- Australia
- Barbados
- Hawaii (no pet travel on flights to Hawaii)
- Hong Kong
- Iceland
- Jamaica
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- United Kingdom
- United Arab Emirates
Pets starting their journey in Brazil, Colombia or the Dominican Republic aren’t allowed either.
What paperwork do I need?
Bringing a dog into the US
Dogs entering the US must look healthy, be microchipped and be at least 6 months old, and come with a receipt for a completed CDC Dog Import Form. More documents may be needed depending on where the dog’s rabies vaccination was given and whether the dog has been in a high-risk country for rabies in the past 6 months.
Flying to Mexico with a dog
From August 3, 2026, every dog entering Mexico needs a New World Screwworm Inspection Certificate completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian, issued no more than 5 days before arrival. Delta checks it at check-in.
Coming to the US from a country affected by screwworm
USDA APHIS requires documentation, issued no more than 5 days before arrival, stating that the dog was inspected for screwworm and is free of it, or was treated in quarantine until free of it.
Other destinations have their own rules. Delta points to USDA APHIS’s “Travel With a Pet” pages.
At the airport
- Go to Delta’s Special Service Counter to check in. An agent checks your pet and kennel and collects the fee, so allow extra time.
- At security you take your pet out of the kennel.
- After security, your pet stays in the kennel except in a designated relief area.
Larger pets and military families
Delta’s pet travel pages cover pets in the cabin. Delta has separate rules for active US military and US State Department Foreign Service Officers with transfer orders: see Military Travel With Pets. If your pet is too big for a cabin kennel, ask Delta what your options are before you book. You can also look at Delta Cargo Live Animals.
Service dogs on Delta
- A service animal must be a dog fully trained to assist a person with a disability. Service animals in training aren’t eligible, and emotional support animals aren’t recognized as service animals; they travel as pets.
- The dog must be fully vaccinated and at least 4 months old, fit within the foot space of your seat, and behave.
- Forms: the DOT Service Animal Air Travel Form for every flight, plus the DOT Relief Attestation Form for flights of 8 hours or more. Submit them with a service request at least 48 hours before departure.
- You can’t sit in an exit row. The dog sits on your lap or on the floor in front of you, and can’t take up another customer’s space.
- If one seat can’t fit you and your dog without blocking others, you can buy an extra ticket for the floor space, or check the dog to a holding area below the cabin at no extra charge.
Quick answers
Does Delta allow dogs in the cabin?
Yes. Small dogs can fly in a kennel under the seat for $150 each way within the US, Canada, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, and $200 each way internationally.
Does Delta allow birds in the cabin on international flights?
No. Household birds can fly in the cabin only on domestic flights within the contiguous US. Internationally, Delta takes dogs and cats only.
Can I fly to Hawaii with my dog in the cabin on Delta?
No. Delta doesn’t allow pets in the cabin to Hawaii.
What size carrier does Delta allow?
It depends on the aircraft. Delta recommends a soft-sided kennel up to 18 x 11 x 11 inches, which fits most of its planes.
Can my emotional support dog fly free on Delta?
No. Delta doesn’t recognise emotional support animals as service animals, so they travel as pets.