Alaska Airlines Pet Policy 2026: $100 Cabin, Cargo & Booking

Alaska Airlines charges $100 each way to fly with a dog or cat in the cabin on domestic routes. Cargo runs $200 each way through the baggage compartment, with a separate Pet Connect program for unaccompanied pets via Alaska Air Cargo.

You can't book a pet online — it's phone (1-800-252-7522) or chat only. Alaska caps cabin pets at 8 per flight in Main Cabin and 3 in First Class, so spots fill without warning.

This guide covers cabin and cargo rules, carrier size, breed restrictions, the booking process, and what changes on international and Hawaii routes.

In-Cabin Travel

Alaska allows dogs and cats in the cabin on all domestic routes for $100 USD each way per carrier. Flights within Hawaii drop to $35 each way.

Your carrier goes under the seat in front of you. Alaska's official policy lists soft-sided carriers up to 17" × 11" × 9.5" (L × W × H). Hard-sided carriers aren't listed for cabin travel — if your pet doesn't fit in a soft-sided carrier, the baggage compartment with a hard-sided kennel is the alternative.

Alaska doesn't publish a weight limit for cabin pets. The carrier size is the real constraint — if your pet fits comfortably in an approved carrier that slides under the seat, you're good.

Each passenger can bring up to 2 pet carriers, but the second one needs an adjacent seat purchase. The carrier counts as your carry-on, so you keep either a personal item or a standard carry-on alongside it — not both.

Pets must be at least 8 weeks old and fully weaned for 5 days. You must be 18+ to travel with a pet. No exit rows, no bulkhead rows.

No health certificate needed for cabin travel on domestic flights. This is where Alaska is simpler than some competitors — you show up with your pet in an approved carrier, and you're set. Health certificates only kick in for baggage compartment travel and international flights.

Species note

Only dogs and cats can fly in the cabin. Alaska also allows rabbits in the cabin as of early 2026, but household birds are being phased out — birds can still fly if your ticket was bought before June 5, 2025, but that window closes April 4, 2026.

Cargo Travel (Baggage Compartment)

Alaska calls this "baggage compartment" travel — your pet flies in the pressurized, temperature-controlled cargo hold on the same flight as you.

The fee is $200 USD each way per kennel, effective for flights departing on or after January 2, 2026 (up from $150). Flights wholly within Alaska, active-duty military, and military dependents on travel orders pay $100 each way. Flights within Hawaii are $60 each way.

Kennel requirements

Your kennel must be hard-sided, IATA-compliant, with a metal-grated door secured by zip ties. No soft-sided carriers, no collapsible crates, no wire kennels.

Alaska offers five kennel sizes:

Maximum belly load is 53" × 48" × 34". Combined weight of pet plus kennel can't exceed 150 lbs.

Food and water dishes must be attached inside the kennel. Your pet must be able to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably.

Species and restrictions

The baggage compartment accepts a wider range of species than the cabin: dogs, cats, rabbits, household birds, guinea pigs, hamsters, ferrets, non-poisonous reptiles, pot-bellied pigs, and tropical fish.

Flat-faced breeds are banned from the baggage compartment but can still fly in the cabin if they fit under the seat. See the full breed list in Breed Restrictions below.

Aircraft restriction

Pets cannot travel in the baggage compartment on Airbus aircraft. Alaska operates a mix of Boeing and Airbus planes, and this restriction isn't always obvious when booking. Call reservations to confirm your specific flight uses a Boeing aircraft before booking your pet in the baggage compartment.

Temperature and seasonal embargoes

Alaska may decline to transport pets in the baggage compartment when ground or forecast temperatures are too extreme. The airline doesn't publish specific temperature thresholds on its official pages — the decision is made on a per-flight basis.

A vet-issued acclimation certificate can extend the acceptable temperature range for cold weather, but Alaska still won't fly pets when conditions are dangerous.

Hawaii seasonal embargoes: Baggage compartment pet travel to and from Hawaii is suspended during peak summer months. Check with reservations for current embargo dates when booking Hawaii travel.

Health certificate

A health certificate from a USDA-accredited vet is required for all baggage compartment travel. It must be issued within 10 days of outbound departure (30 days for return travel). This is an airline rule, separate from any destination requirements.

Watch Out

If you're switching from cabin to cargo last-minute, you'll need a health certificate you didn't plan for. Schedule a vet visit that lands within the 10-day window before your flight.

Pet Connect (unaccompanied cargo)

If your pet needs to fly without you, Alaska Air Cargo runs the Pet Connect program. Same species, kennel, and temperature rules as the baggage compartment. Contact the Cargo Call Center through the Pet Connect page to arrange shipment.

Service Animals

Alaska follows DOT rules — only trained service dogs qualify. Emotional support animals don't count and must travel as regular pets under the pet policy.

Service dogs fly at no charge. You need to submit the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form attesting to the dog's health, training, and behavior. The form expires when your dog's rabies vaccination expires.

Submit the form through Alaska's Service Animal Form Portal (SAFP) at least 48 hours before departure, or bring a printed copy to check-in if you booked less than 48 hours out. Max 2 service dogs per passenger. No exit rows — window seats are recommended. The dog must fit within the floor space below your seat for the entire flight.

Breed Restrictions

Flat-faced breeds (also called brachycephalic) are banned from the baggage compartment on Alaska Airlines. They can still fly in the cabin if they fit in an approved carrier under the seat.

The ban exists because flat-faced breeds have shortened airways that make them more vulnerable to breathing problems during the stress, temperature changes, and pressure of cargo travel. This applies to both dogs and cats.

Banned dog breeds (cargo): Boston Terrier, Boxer, all Bulldogs, Bull Terrier, Brussels Griffon, Chow Chow, English Toy Spaniel, Japanese Chin, all Mastiffs, Pekingese, all Pit Bulls, all Pugs, Shih Tzu, Staffordshire Terrier.

Banned cat breeds (cargo): Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan, Persian.

Mixed breeds with restricted-breed characteristics face the same ban. If your pet has a visibly flat face, expect questions at check-in regardless of breed label.

Required Documents

These are Alaska Airlines' rules — separate from what your destination country or state may need.

Cabin (domestic): No documents needed beyond your boarding pass and the pet in an approved carrier.

Baggage compartment: Health certificate from a USDA-accredited vet, issued within 10 days of departure. Cold-weather travel may also need a vet-issued acclimation certificate.

International flights: Health certificate plus whatever the destination country requires. For Hawaii, see the International section below.

How to Book a Pet on Alaska Airlines

1. Book your own flight first. You can do this online as usual — the pet reservation is a separate step.
2. Call 1-800-252-7522 or use Alaska's chat to add your pet. You can't do this online. Have your confirmation code, flight details, and pet info ready. Call as early as possible — spots are limited per flight and fill separately from passenger seats.
3. Confirm the aircraft type if booking baggage compartment travel. Ask the agent whether your flight is on a Boeing or Airbus — Airbus flights don't allow pets in the cargo hold.
4. Pay the pet fee. $100 each way for cabin, $200 for baggage compartment. The fee is charged when you add the pet to your reservation.
5. Arrive at the airport 30–60 minutes earlier than normal. Check in at the counter with your pet. Baggage compartment pets need the health certificate reviewed. Cabin pets get a visual check of the carrier.
6. At TSA security: Remove your pet from the carrier, carry them through the metal detector, and send the empty carrier through the X-ray belt. This takes a few extra minutes — some pets panic when briefly separated from the carrier, so plan accordingly.

Tip

Call to confirm your pet reservation 24 hours before departure. Alaska occasionally overbooks pet spots — catching this before you're at the airport saves a crisis.

Common Mistakes

Tips for Flying Alaska Airlines with Your Pet

Use the lounge. Alaska is one of the few US airlines that allows pets in their airport lounges. Your pet stays in the carrier, but you get a quieter, less chaotic pre-boarding experience than the main terminal. Worth it for anxious pets (and anxious owners).

Phone waits are real — use chat. Alaska's phone lines for pet bookings can mean 30+ minute holds during peak travel season. The chat option on alaskaair.com connects you to the same reservation system with shorter wait times. Either way, don't wait until the week of travel.

Know the hidden costs. The $100 cabin fee is just the airline's cut. A soft-sided carrier runs $40–$80. If you need a health certificate for cargo, that's $150–$300 for the vet visit. Baggage compartment travel adds a hard-sided kennel ($60–$200 depending on size). Budget the full picture.

Alaska Mileage Plan doesn't cover pet fees — but the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card earns 3x miles on Alaska purchases, including pet fees. If you fly Alaska regularly with your pet, the miles add up.

International and Hawaii Routes

International and Hawaii pet travel on Alaska adds steps compared to domestic flights. Only dogs and cats are allowed — no rabbits, birds, or other species on these routes.

Hawaii

Hawaii requires a valid rabies vaccination, microchip, and pre-travel documentation through the state's Animal Quarantine Information Page. Start the process at least 30 days before travel to avoid the 120-day quarantine.

Cabin pet fees to Hawaii are $100 each way (not the $35 intra-Hawaii rate — that's only for flights between Hawaiian islands). Baggage compartment to Hawaii is $60 each way.

Hawaii has seasonal embargoes on baggage compartment pet travel during summer months. Always confirm availability with reservations before booking.

International destinations

Alaska flies pets to Canada, Mexico, and Costa Rica, among other destinations. Each country has its own entry rules — a health certificate and USDA endorsement are standard for most.

Alaska does not allow pets on flights to: Italy, England, Iceland, Guatemala, or Belize. These are hard bans regardless of the destination country's pet import rules.

Mexico and Costa Rica note: These countries are in screwworm-affected zones. Dogs returning to the US from screwworm countries need a screwworm freedom certificate from a local government vet before re-entry. Start the paperwork before you travel — this catches people who plan the outbound trip but forget the return requirements. For the full re-entry process, see our guide to re-entering the US with your pet.

For country-specific entry rules, check our country guides.

How Alaska Airlines Compares

Alaska's $100 cabin fee is now the lowest among major US airlines — Delta, United, and American all raised to $150 in 2024–2025, and Southwest charges $125. Alaska's active cargo program is a real advantage for larger dogs that can't fly in the cabin.

FAQ

Your next step: Call 1-800-252-7522 to reserve your pet's spot before buying a non-refundable ticket — Alaska limits pets per flight and the spots fill separately from seats.