Traveling with pets has long been a source of stress for many flyers. But as more travelers look to bring their dogs and cats along for the journey, airlines are responding with updated policies, dedicated services, and even luxury options designed with animals in mind.
The surge in demand has followed a larger shift in how Americans view their pets. According to the American Pet Products Association, approximately 94 million U.S. households now own a pet, and many consider them part of the family. That sentiment extends to vacation planning. Airlines have seen a rise in pet travel bookings over the past five years, with some seeing double-digit growth since the pandemic. For travelers seeking more flexibility, charter airlines and private jet services have begun offering pet-friendly packages, sometimes letting animals roam freely in the cabin.
The overall result is a travel environment that offers more options than ever—but also more confusion. Size limits, breed restrictions, advance booking requirements, and international regulations all come into play, and not every airline clearly communicates its policies upfront. Some commercial carriers allow small pets to travel under the seat for a fee. Others limit animal travel to cargo, where temperature and ventilation controls can vary, although some commercial carriers don’t allow pets to travel by cargo at all anymore.
To help make sense of it, we’ve broken down the best options for flying with pets into three key categories.
Commercial Airlines
For U.S. travelers flying with pets, several airlines offer in-cabin options for small animals. Some are better than others, and these are my tried and true options.
JetBlue Airways might be the most overtly pet-friendly U.S. airline for the sheer fact that it has an outdoor dog park past security at its terminal at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The airline allows small dogs and cats to travel in the cabin. Each customer may bring one pet, with the combined weight of the pet and carrier not exceeding 20 pounds. The pet carrier counts as a personal item and must fit under the seat. JetBlue even sells its own “JetPaws” carrier, which would at least help avoid any misunderstanding about size limits at check-in. Also only six pets are allowed per flight, so book early.
Delta Air Lines permits small dogs and cats to travel in the cabin on select domestic and international flights. Pets must be at least eight weeks old for domestic travel and stay comfortably in a soft-sided, ventilated carrier that fits under the seat. The carrier counts as the passenger’s carry-on item, and Delta is quite strict about this, so you really want to consolidate your bags and pack accordingly. There are restrictions on seating locations for passengers traveling with pets (i.e. no exit rows), and advance reservations are required as there is a limit on the number of pets allowed onboard per flight. (This limit does not extend to service animals.)
La Compagnie, a boutique all-business-class airline operating flights between the U.S. and Europe, is probably the most pet-friendly commercial airline you’ll find. It’s also the only one you’ll find that lets you book a non-service animal into business class seating. And if you’re traveling with a carrier, that extra room on the floor really makes all the difference. The airline permits small dogs, cats, and even dwarf rabbits to travel in the cabin for a fee of $200 per flight. Pets must be at least six months old and have up-to-date vaccinations. Also given these are only international flights, you should check with your vet before departure to make sure you have all the correct entry documents for your destination. Advance booking is required, and only one pet per passenger is allowed. That said, if you have two people on the same reservation, you can each bring a pet.
Charter Flights
If you’ve ever wanted to be on a plane full of dogs instead of people, there is now an airline for you. BARK Air, launched in April 2024, is a charter service designed specifically for dogs and their owners. Operating routes between cities like New York, Los Angeles, Paris, and London, BARK Air offers a “dog-first” experience with amenities such as noise-canceling earmuffs, treats, and in-flight entertainment tailored for canines. Dogs are not required to be in crates and can socialize freely in the cabin. Each ticket includes a seat for one dog and one human, with prices starting at $6,000 for domestic flights. Flights are infrequent and book up quickly, so you want to plan ahead if you opt for this route.
Private Jets
There’s one way to get around a lot of commercial airlines’ rules on pets, and that’s just booking your own plane (if you have the cash to do so). JSX, a semi-private air carrier, provides pet-friendly services that bridge the gap between commercial and private aviation. Small dogs and cats can travel in-cabin for a $100 one-way fee, provided they remain in an approved carrier under the seat. For medium to large dogs weighing up to 65 pounds, JSX allows them to fly in the cabin outside of a carrier if the owner purchases an adjacent seat. This policy offers a more comfortable experience for larger pets and their owners.
Rachel King (she/her) is a news writer at Town & Country. Before joining T&C, she spent nearly a decade as an editor at Fortune. Her work covering travel and lifestyle has appeared in Forbes, Observer, Robb Report, Cruise Critic, and Cool Hunting, among others. Originally from San Francisco, she lives in New York with her wife, their daughter, and a precocious labradoodle. Follow her on Instagram at .
