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The terms and conditions for pet transportation are different for every country or destination. Pets (Dogs or Cats) may or may not be allowed for some flights and destinations. So, if you have booked tickets with Delta airlines and want to travel along with your pet then, do gain a thorough knowledge of the Delta Airlines pet policy and all its rules and regulations to be prepared in advance. Passengers get a Delta Pet First Service which follows the terms and conditions of Delta pet policy.


Rules and Regulations According to Delta Airlines Pet Policy

  • Passengers will have to present before `the health certificates and documents of the pet for shipping them as cargo.
  • No health certificates and documents are required, for the pets travelling in the cabin of the flight but the certificate may be demanded after you reach the destination.
  • The kennel should be spacious and large enough for the pet to stand, move around and sit comfortably without touching the kennel’s top.
  • Fishes, Reptiles, and Amphibians are only allowed to travel as cargo and not accepted in the aircraft or as checked baggage.

Delta Airlines always takes care of the pet’s safety and comfort. Passengers can choose to take along their pets in the cabin, as checked baggage or as cargo shipment. Passengers can be assured for their pet’s safety with Delta Airlines.

With Delta Airlines you get the first-come-first-serve service. So, book a spot for your pet as early as possible because the Delta Airlines per flight pet limit is of 2 pets for the first class, 2 pets for the business class, and 4 for the main cabin of aircraft. Passengers can call on the Delta pet first number for booking a space for their pets.


Delta Flying with Pets in Cabin Policy

If your pet is eligible according to the Delta flying with pets in cabin policy then, you must have an approved pet carrier. Pet’s carrier should be waterproof and it must have enough space for the pet to stand and move around in the carrier without touching head at the top. The carrier should have proper locks of strong metal.

Allowed pets:

Pets such as small dogs, cats, and birds are allowed on flights within Canada, Puerto Rico, Us Virgin Islands, and the United States(excluding Hawaii). No pets are allowed in the cabin of the Business Class, First Class or Business Elite of the international flights. This condition may apply to some of the domestic flights as well.

Age criteria:

All pets should be at least 10 weeks old to be accepted for travel in the cabin within the United States. For international flights to the U.S., the pet’s age must be at least 16 weeks old. And for the flights to the European Union, the age of pets must be at least 15 weeks old.

Restricted routes:

No pets are allowed to travel in the cabin on the routes of Dakar, Hawaii, Dubai, Australia, Hong Kong, Barbados, United Kingdom, South Africa, Jamaica, United Arab Emirates, Ireland, New Zealand, and Iceland.

Only service animals are allowed to travel in the cabin of flights to/from Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and South Africa.


Delta Pet Carrier in Cabin Size/Dimensions Requirement:

The pet carrier in cabin size/dimensions requirement depends on the route of the different flights. The allowance is of one pet per passenger unless the passenger is carrying a mother dog or cat with the puppies or kittens. Passenger can put along two pets together in a cage if they are of the same size, same species and the age of pets should be 10 weeks or 6 months old. The carrier must be spacious enough for the two pets to fit in and move around without their head touching the top. The carrier containing two pets will be charged for one only.

Delta Checked Pet Policy:

Pets are not allowed to check-in at the curbside so, the passenger will have to check-in with the pets from the passenger counter. Passengers will also have to pay the pet fee and charges at the time of check-in. The pet carrier will be counted as a piece of carry-on baggage.


Delta Airlines Service and Emotional Support Animals:

The disabled passengers are allowed to carry along their service animals in the cabin without any fee or charge while travelling with Delta airlines. The notice for carrying along service animals must be provided at least 48 hours before the originally scheduled flight. As per the Air Carrier Access Act, Delta Airlines allows its customers/passengers to travel along with their emotional support animals(ESA) and psychiatric service animals in the cabin of flight without in charge.

From 18th December 2018, Delta airlines do not allow any puppies or kittens under 4 months of age as service or emotional support animals.

Passengers will have to submit the following documents and forms before the 48 hours of departure: veterinary health and immunization certificates, Authorization letters from a mental health specialist or a licensed doctor, and training certification.

The passengers/pet owners will have to sign a written confirmation on the pet training form while self-attesting to their emotional or service support animal’s good and pleasant behaviour.

Delta Airlines allows only one service or emotional support animal per passenger in the cabin.


Delta Pet Cargo Policy:

As per the delta pet cargo policy, No pets will be accepted to travel as checked baggage but there is an exception for the US Military on active transfer orders. Pets having a larger size to travel as checked baggage will have to be booked as cargo for shipping with the aircraft excluding the B-767-300, A-330-200, 300ER, CRJ 200-700-900, 170-175, and ERU 145.

The Military Personnel will have to provide a notice at least before the 48 hours of originally scheduled departure. Pets such as dogs and cats (except the banned breeds) are allowed to travel on both domestic and international flights. But the pets such as rabbits, household birds, guinea pigs, hamsters, and marmots are allowed to travel only in the domestic flight.

Delta pet cargo service is offered for the regions of South America, Carribean, South America, Europe, Canada, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, Latin America, Asia, and the United States. The international cargo shipment is booked through an IPATA agent.

Delta Airlines Pet Cargo
Delta Airlines Pet Cargo

Allowed pets in Delta Airlines:

The pets which belong to the warm-blooded mammals and birds category are allowed for cargo shipment with Delta Airlines. No dangerous, unhealthy and banned animals will be accepted for the cargo shipment with Delta Airlines.

Dogs/Cats Age criteria:

All pets should be older than 10 weeks and properly vaccinated for domestic flights, older than 15 weeks for flights to the EU and older than 16 weeks for flights to other countries.

Delta Airlines Pet Cargo Reservations:

All of the cargo reservations must be done in between 3 to 14 days before the originally scheduled departure. No immediate bookings will be welcomed by Delta Airlines. 

The international cargo booking should be done through an international pet and animal transportation association’s member. Passengers can contact the Delta airlines for more information regarding international cargo booking.

Contact on the delta pet cargo phone number to book a cargo space for your pet.


Documents and Certificates Required:

Passenger should present before the health certificate of the pets within the 10 days of original booking, all vaccination certificates and other necessary documents required by the destination country.

Check-in:

The check-in location will depend according to the cargo office’s location. All pets are required to complete the check-in process at least 3 hours before the original departure time. No sedated pets will be allowed to travel in the cargo shipment.

Restricted aircrafts:

Delta airlines do not allow the transport of live animals on the Airbus 330(series 200) and Boeing 767 aircraft. And no exceptional conditions apply to this rule.

Delta banned dog breeds

Delta Airlines does not ship the following breeds of dog or any crossbreed with a short snout as cargo or checked baggage: Affenpinscher, Snub-Nosed (Brachycephalic) Breed dogs, American Bulldog, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Boxer(All Breeds), Bulldog(All Breeds), Boston Terrier, Brussels Griffin, Chow Chow, English Toy Spaniel(King Charles), Cane Corso, Dogue De Bordeaux, Japanese Chin, Mastiff(All except Great Danes), Pit Bull, Shih Tzu, Tibetan Spaniel, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Pekinese, Lhasa Apso, and Pug (All Breeds). 

The following snub-nosed cat breeds are also restricted to travel with Delta Airlines: Exotic, Burmese, Persian, and Himalayan. 

Temperature restrictions:

Delta Airlines does not ship any warm-blooded animals as cargo. If the current or forecasted temperature is below 10 degrees F(-12 degrees C) or above 80 degrees F(2 degrees C) then, pets will not be accepted as cargo. No exceptions will be considered against the temperature standards. Passengers will have to provide the acclimation certificate for all the live animals travelling while the temperature is below 45 degrees F.

Exceptional restrictions:

  • Delta airlines will not allow any sedated pets to be shipped as cargo.
  • Delta airlines will no longer ship live animals as cargo under the Delta DASH criteria.

Delta pet carrier cargo dimensions/size requirement:

From 1st March 2019, Delta airlines cargo department does not allow any pet carrier over the size of 24 inches (61 cm) long but the exception of service animals, emotional support animals, and military reservations are accepted. The tenure for this restriction is not defined.

Two pets belonging to the same species and size are allowed to fly in a single carrier with the Delta Airlines if the age of both pets is under 6 months and their weight is not more than 20 pounds each. There should be enough space for the pets in the carrier to stand and move around comfortably without their heads being touched at the top of the carrier.  

The locks of the carrier must be made of strong metal hardware. Delta airlines only allow those carriers which have plastic or metal threaded nuts and bolts at both ends of the carrier for assuring the security. The overall built of the carrier must be strong enough.


Delta Pet Fee:

The fees and charges for pet transportation depend on the method used which is in the cabin or as cargo. The fee and charges are different for both the pet transportation methods. Delta airlines do not provide the facility of shipping pets as a piece of checked baggage. Read below to know the Delta pet fee structure.

Delta Pet in Cabin Cost/Fee:

Pets such as cats, dogs, and household birds are allowed to travel along with the passenger in the cabin and the one-way fee which is collected at the time of check-in for different destinations is: 

  • The Virgin Islands- $200 USD/CAD
  • The U.S./Canada- $125 USD/CAD
  • Outside the United States- $200 USD/CAD
  • Brazil- $75USD 
  • Puerto Rico- $125 USD/CAD

Delta Pet Cargo Cost/Fee:

If your pet qualifies with the requirements and standards to travel with the Delta cargo then, the passenger needs to find a USDA and ITA regulations compliant carrier. 

The cargo bookings and reservations with Delta airlines should be made at least 14 days prior to the original date of departure and there must be a two-hour connection for the pets to be transferred safely from the aircraft. Passengers can make bookings for domestic cargo through the official website or mobile app of the airlines or by calling on the delta pet cargo phone number . As already stated above, passengers need to contact an IPATA member for international cargo reservations and bookings.

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2 thoughts on “Delta Airlines Pet Policy
  1. Steves J on Reply

    I have Siberian husky can you please tell me if delta airlines allow Siberian dogs in the flight or not? I want to fly to NYC from Chicago. I don’t have anyone to take care of my do so really need to fly with him. please guide me also please let me know the fees. please email me the delta airlines dog charges & allowed dogs breeds list.

  2. Theresa Zarcone on Reply

    We are permanently moving from NY to Puerto Rico with our 2 dogs and 1 cat. We have a small jack russel and small cat, but we also have an Aussie Shepard and I am confused about the no more than 24″ height allowed in cargo. Can you please recommend carriers and kennels that are approved for travel on Delta?

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