JetBlue Pet Policy 2026: $150 Fee, No Cargo, Online Booking

JetBlue charges $150 each way to fly with a dog or cat in the cabin. No cargo option exists — if your pet doesn't fit under the seat, JetBlue can't help you.

You can book a pet online during checkout or add one later through Manage Trips — no phone call needed. JetBlue caps pets at 6 per flight, and those spots aren't visible during booking, so book early.

This guide covers cabin rules, carrier size, booking, and what changes on international routes.

In-Cabin Travel

JetBlue allows dogs and cats in the cabin on domestic and most international routes for $150 USD each way per carrier. The fee went up from $125 in April 2024.

Your carrier goes under the seat in front of you. JetBlue accepts both soft-sided and hard-sided carriers up to 17" × 12.5" × 8.5" (L × W × H). The carrier must have a leak-proof bottom, ventilation on at least two sides, and closures that prevent escape.

JetBlue doesn't publish a specific weight limit. The carrier must fit under the seat and your pet must be able to "stand up and move around inside the carrier with ease" — dimensions are the real constraint.

Each passenger can bring up to 2 pets, each in a separate carrier. The second pet needs an extra seat purchase plus a second $150 fee. Your carrier counts as your personal item — you keep a carry-on but lose the personal item slot.

Pets must be at least 8 weeks old for domestic flights and 16 weeks old for international flights. You need to be 18+ to travel with a pet.

In-flight rules: The carrier must be under the seat during taxi, takeoff, and landing. During the flight, you can hold the carrier on your lap — or place it on a purchased extra seat.

Seat restrictions: No Mint cabin, no exit rows, no bulkhead seats. Aisle seats give you the most under-seat space because in-flight entertainment boxes don't block that side.

Species

Dogs and cats only. No rabbits, birds, or other animals. Large dogs that don't fit in a cabin carrier have no option on JetBlue — there's no cargo alternative.

Cargo and Checked Pets

JetBlue doesn't transport pets in cargo or as checked baggage. Never has — this isn't a suspended program, it's a design choice. If your pet is too large for a cabin carrier, you'll need a different airline.

For large dogs, Alaska Airlines offers cargo at $200 each way.

Service Animals

JetBlue accepts trained service dogs only — no emotional support animals, no service animals in training.

Service dogs fly at no charge in all cabin sections including Mint. You need to submit the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form through the Open Doors Organization portal at least 48 hours before your first departure. If you booked less than 48 hours out, complete the form at the airport with a Complaints Resolution Official.

The dog must stay on the floor, harnessed or leashed, under the handler's control at all times. No exit rows. Max 2 service dogs per passenger.

Breed Restrictions

None. JetBlue has no breed restrictions for cabin travel — flat-faced breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, Persian cats) fly under the same rules as every other breed.

This is a real advantage if you have a flat-faced pet. Most brachycephalic breed bans exist for cargo travel, and since JetBlue doesn't offer cargo, the issue doesn't come up. Your Frenchie or Pug just needs to fit in a carrier under the seat.

Required Documents

These are JetBlue's rules — separate from what your destination may need.

Domestic flights: JetBlue doesn't ask for a health certificate or vaccination proof for domestic cabin travel. Show up with your pet in an approved carrier and you're set.

Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands: Vaccination paperwork is needed.

International flights: Destination-specific rules apply. Most countries need a health certificate issued within 10 days of travel and a USDA endorsement.

Dogs returning to the US: All dogs entering the US must be at least 6 months old, microchipped, and have a completed CDC Dog Import Form receipt — regardless of where you're coming from. For the full re-entry process, see our guide to re-entering the US with your pet.

How to Book a Pet on JetBlue

1. Book your flight first on jetblue.com or the app. Look for the "Extras" section during checkout to add your pet.
2. Already booked? Add a pet through Manage Trips on jetblue.com, the app, by calling 1-800-538-2583, or at the airport counter.
3. Pay the $150 fee. It's charged when you add the pet to your reservation.
4. Check in online or via the app starting 24 hours before departure. But you still need to visit the full-service counter at the airport to pick up your JetPaws bag tag for the carrier.
5. Arrive 30–60 minutes earlier than normal. The counter check adds time — staff will check the carrier and hand you the tag.
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. This applies even with TSA PreCheck or Mosaic expedited screening.

Tip

Call to confirm your pet reservation 24 hours before departure. JetBlue limits pets to 6 per flight and the spots fill separately from passenger seats.

Common Mistakes

What Travelers Say

We monitor recent traveler experiences through Reddit, Facebook groups, Twitter, Quora, and other sources. Here's what keeps coming up.

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On carrier checks:

"We don't weigh the carrier. We don't care as long as it fits under the seat. Enjoy your trip." — Anna M., JetBlue flight attendant

"I've flown about 15 times with my dog on JetBlue. They've never really looked at the carrier." — Eric S., frequent JetBlue flyer

"I flew JetBlue three times from New York to Puerto Rico. Not once did they inspect the carrier." — Julia R., NYC

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On what actually matters — carrier fit:

"I saw a woman taken off the plane because her carrier was sticking out from under the seat into the aisle. That's the one thing they do check." — Nancy L., regular JetBlue traveler

"Choose your seat carefully — there's a difference in under-seat space between window, middle, and aisle. Aisle gave me the most room." — Kelsey G., Morkie owner

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On keeping pets calm:

"I highly recommend a thunder vest and a pee pad inside the carrier. Don't feed or give water for a few hours before the flight. The fewer variables, the better." — Nick B., who flies cats on the NYC–Orlando route

"I brought $5 coffee gift cards for the crew and they were so sweet — took turns coming over to pet her." — Grace D., Aussiedoodle owner

Watch Out

Carrier fit is what staff actually check. A carrier that sticks out from under the seat might get you pulled off the flight. Test the fit before your trip — measure your carrier against JetBlue's 17" × 12.5" × 8.5" limit.

Tips for Flying JetBlue with Your Pet

Book early on NYC–Florida routes. Six pets per flight goes fast on JetBlue's busiest corridor. Add your pet during initial booking, not after — the spots fill separately from passenger seats and there's no waitlist.

Pick an aisle seat. In-flight entertainment boxes sit under window and some middle seats, cutting into the space your carrier needs. Aisle seats have the most clearance. A JetBlue flight attendant confirmed this is the best seat for pet carriers.

Use JetPaws perks. TrueBlue members earn 300 bonus points per flight segment when traveling with a pet. If you have Mosaic status, the Perks You Pick program includes a pet fee waiver as one of your selectable perks — that's $150 back per flight.

JFK Terminal 5 has two pet relief areas — including the "Wooftop Lounge" on the rooftop. If you're flying out of JFK, build in time before your flight. Not every airport has dedicated pet areas, and JFK T5 is one of the better setups.

The hidden costs add up. The $150 fee is just the airline's cut. A carrier runs $30–$80 (JetBlue sells one for $55 at JFK T5 or ShopJetBlue.com). If you need a health certificate for international travel, that's $150–$300 for the vet visit plus $38 for USDA endorsement. Budget the full picture.

International Routes

JetBlue flies pets to many Caribbean destinations — Bahamas, Jamaica, Barbados, Aruba, Bermuda, Cancun, and others. Same $150 fee, same cabin rules.

JetBlue's official page says pets are "not permitted on flights to Trinidad & Tobago and to or from the U.K./Europe." Based on route research, pets are also blocked to the Dominican Republic, Belize, Guatemala, Colombia (Cartagena, Medellin), Ecuador (Guayaquil), Haiti, and Guyana.

Pets are also not accepted on any interline or codeshare bookings — your flight must be operated by JetBlue, not a partner airline.

For international flights, you'll need whatever the destination country asks for — usually a health certificate and potentially a USDA endorsement. JetBlue's domestic "no documents needed" rule doesn't apply once you cross a border.

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

How JetBlue Compares

JetBlue's $150 cabin fee matches Delta, United, and American — all four now charge the same. The trade-off: fully online booking (no phone call needed), no breed restrictions, and TrueBlue points for pet travel. The lack of cargo is the biggest gap — if your pet doesn't fit under the seat, JetBlue isn't an option.

FAQ

Your next step: Add your pet during checkout on jetblue.com — only 6 spots per flight, and they fill without warning on popular routes.