For most of us — the most that wouldn't have hundreds of dollars to spare, won't take multiple trips a season or don't own a private jet — the price of air travel with pets can prohibit inclusion of furry friends in all but the most important of situations (like relocation). If you're wondering how much it will cost to include a pet on your next trip, I've gathered up the prices for the major airlines. How much will you pay as you go? Find out the one-way rates in the chart below.
| Airline | In-Cabin | Checked Baggage | As Cargo |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirTran | $69 | n/a | n/a |
| Alaska | $100 | $100 | n/a |
| American | $100 | $150 | n/a |
| Continental | $125 | n/a | 800-575-3335 |
| Delta | $100 | $175 | $179–$689 |
| Frontier | n/a | $100–$200 | n/a |
| JetBlue | $100 | n/a | n/a |
See the rest of the chart when you read more.
| Airline | In-Cabin | Checked Baggage | As Cargo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midwest | $125 | $150 | n/a |
| Southwest | $75 | n/a | n/a |
| Spirit | $100 | n/a | n/a |
| United | $125–$175 | $175–$500 | 800-822-2746 |
| US Airways | $100 | 800-428-2966 | n/a |
| Virgin America | $100 | n/a | n/a |
(If a phone number is listed, you'll need to call a representative who can give you the current rates for your pet's type, weight, kennel size, and destination.)
Source: Getty
Miss Sixty
Versace
TX Technoluxury
I will never, ever fly my dog again. I had to fly him to New York from Washington when I left to go out of the country for deployment and I arranged through a travel agent to have my labrador fly as excess baggage. I even called and verified with the airline. When I got to the counter with my dog in his crate all set to go, the agent there told me that the airline wasn't flying animals (not because of weather, just because they weren't doing it). They refused to refund my ticket and I wound up having to pay for an on the spot ticket at another airline. It was a complete nightmare. I will never do it again.
1Nicole, that sounds horrible! I'm planning on flying with my dog in December and paying the extra fees isn't going to be fun, but it will still be cheaper than boarding her for the 11 days I'll be gone!
2What's this about having a dog in the cabin? I imagine that's just for the little yappers who can sit in a carry on bag?
I will never put my dog in the belly of a plane, period.
3What's the difference (besides price) between checked baggage and cargo?
4I assumed that checked baggage meant checked in the undercarriage on a flight you were on and cargo meant flown on a separate cargo plane with only other cargo.
But I don't really know for sure.
5My dog has flown 3 times internationally, and it is so expensive, after all the taxes and fees, it cost almost $2000 each time!!! Obviously we were moving to these countries, and it wasn't just for a vacation, but it is a huge expense. But we will do it again if we have to. Oh and Virgin Atlantic is great with animals, we even got a nice passport cover for her.
6Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.