The short answer to the question of costs to fly a dog on a plane is that it costs somewhere between $30 and $200 approximately, depending on your circumstances. Those circumstances may include:
- Whether or not you are also traveling on that same flight
- Whether the dog will be traveling in the passenger cabin or cargo hold
- The size and/or breed of the dog
- Whether the dog is a pet, a service dog or an emotional support dog
- The airline on which the dog will be flying
How Much Does It Cost to Put a Dog on a Plane with Different Airlines?
Below, you’ll find the answers to the question, “How much does it cost to fly a dog on a plane with various airlines?” Use this information to help you plan for your next trip. Compare the cost to fly your dog on a plane with various airlines and factor in that difference when calculating which airline offers the most affordable flights with all costs considered.
Across all airlines, the answer to, “How much does it cost to put a dog on a plane?” varies depending on certain circumstances of the flight. Combining the different circumstantial factors listed above, the following are the different types of costs you may have to pay to put your dog on a plane, depending on your own scenario:
- To fly your pet dog with you in the passenger cabin of a plane
- To put your pet dog on a plane in the cargo hold
- For your dog to fly on an international flight, either with you in the passenger cabin or the cargo hold
When looking at the question, “How much does it cost to fly a dog on American Airlines within the United States?” the answer is $200 per dog carrier to check in the pet as a checked pet and $125 per dog carrier to bring your dog with you into the main cabin. These charges also apply on flights to, from and within Mexico, Canada, Central America and the Caribbean. If checking in your dog, the charge also applies on flights to, from and within South America (note: dogs are not permitted as carry-on pets to and from most of South America, only as checked pets.) There is, however, an additional $150 toll to fly a dog as a checked pet to and from Brazil. If bringing your dog with on board as a carry-on pet, the $125 charge also applies on flights to, from and within Colombia.
Regarding, “How much does it cost to fly a dog alone on American Airlines?” you can use the American Airlines Cargo service rate calculator to determine your answer. Factors influencing this cost include the points of departure and destination and the dog’s weight. As an example, to put a dog on a plane alone between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and California’s Los Angeles International Airport, it costs:
- $250 for a dog up to 25 pounds
- $310 for a dog between 26 and 50 pounds
- $385 for a dog between 51 and 70 pounds
- $485 for a dog between 71 and 100 pounds
For large dogs over 100 pounds, you’d have to call the airline to find out the charge.
As far as, “How much does it cost to fly a dog internationally on American Airlines?” you can also calculate the cost using the American Airlines Cargo service calculator as that is how the dog will travel to or from any permitted transatlantic or transpacific location, including the EU, UK and Ireland. No pets are allowed in-cabin on transatlantic or transpacific flights on American Airlines.
Answering the question, “How much does it cost to fly a dog on Southwest Airlines?” is simple compared with many other airlines, as there’s only one fee to be concerned with: $95. That is the one-way Pet Fare to and from any destinations that Southwest Airlines serves. Dogs are only allowed to travel in-cabin. No dogs are permitted to travel in the cargo hold of any Southwest Airlines flight. This is a nonrefundable fee, unlike many other Southwest Airlines fees, and cannot be applied toward travel at a future time if not used. If you lack the proper pet carrier for traveling with your dog on a Southwest Airlines flight, the Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter and Southwest: The Store online sell official carriers for $58.
When addressing the question, “How much does it cost to fly a dog on United Airlines?” you must look at the number of legs in your flight and how long the layover is between each leg. United Airlines charges a pet travel fee of $125 for each one-way flight including those with layovers of four hours or longer if in the US or 24 hours or longer if outside the US.
The cost is the same for, “How much does it cost to fly a dog to Canada on United Airlines?” unless the dog is unable to travel in the main cabin and must travel in the cargo hold as a checked pet. In that case, as with the answer to, “How much does it cost to fly a dog internationally on United Airlines?” the charge can be anywhere between $201 and $417 depending on the departure and destination points and the size of the dog. These charges also answer the question, “How much does it cost to fly a dog alone on United Airlines?” as they must travel in cargo if traveling alone. Similarly, these charges also apply even if you’re traveling with your dog but because of your dog’s size or some other reason your dog must travel in the cargo hold as a checked pet.
When looking at the question, “How much does it cost to fly a dog on Delta Airlines?” the answer is $125 each way. As for, “How much does it cost to fly a dog to Canada on Delta Airlines?” it’s the same as the cost to fly a dog within the United States as well as between the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. To fly a dog to Brazil on Delta Airlines will only cost $75 while the cost is $200 to fly a dog to the US Virgin Islands or anywhere else internationally. These costs are for bringing your pet in-cabin with you on a flight one way and are applied per carrier. To determine the cost to fly with your dog round trip, double the fee. You do not pay this cost when you make your initial reservation but rather when you arrive at the airport with your dog to check in. Even though you have to pay for this accommodation, your dog carrier is counted as your one permitted carry-on item.
Special Circumstances
In certain situations, costs to fly your dog on a plane might vary from the norm, such as when flying with a particularly large pet dog or when flying with an emotional support dog or service dog.
How Much Does it Cost to Fly a Large Dog?
In terms of, “How much does it cost to fly a large dog?” that depends on whether the dog is a pet or a service dog or emotional support animal. If the dog is a service dog or emotional support animal, there is no charge to fly a large dog, and the airline is required by law and FAA regulations to allow the dog to fly with you in the passenger cabin. If the cabin on a particular flight is too full to accommodate the large dog, the airline is at least required to accommodate you a different way, such as by rebooking you on a different flight that can accommodate your emotional support dog or service dog. If the large dog is a pet, then the dog may not be allowed to accompany you in the passenger cabin and you may be required to check-in the dog as a checked pet to travel in the plane’s cargo hold.
How Much Does it Cost to Fly an Emotional Support Dog or Service Dog?
Assuming all your paperwork and credentials are in order to qualify your dog as an emotional support dog or service dog, there is no charge for bringing that dog on a flight with you. That is not to say you can’t be charged a fee to put the dog on a plane alone to travel without you, even if it is an emotional support dog or service dog. For a service dog or emotional support dog to travel with you on a plane, however, airlines are forbidden by law to charge you a fee.
You will, however, need to pay any fees associated with establishing you as a legitimate and authorized owner of a service dog or emotional support dog and your dog as such. This may include, but is not limited to, the costs for necessities like:
- An ESA letter from a doctor
- Current rabies and other necessary pet vaccinations
- A proper pet carrier, if needed, and a collar and leash
- Proper ID tag and identifying harness (for a service dog only; not applicable for an emotional support dog)