American Ferret Association: Airline Pet Policies

Airline Pet Policies

This list is to help assist you in your travel. As such, any information contained within this site is subject to change with or without notice. American Ferret Association assumes no liability for these changes. Please check with your airlines with the updated rules and regulations. Have a safe trip.

AirTran Airways

Accepts small, domesticated cats, dogs and birds that will fit in an approved carrier under the seat.

http://www.airtran.com/policies/pets.aspx?nav_id=220

Alaska Airlines

Pets allowed in the passenger cabin are dogs, cats, rabbits, and household birds.

Pets that may travel in the climate-controlled baggage and cargo compartments include: cats, dogs, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, household birds, non-poisonous reptiles, pot bellied pigs, rabbits, and tropical fish.

http://www.alaskaair.com/as/www2/help/faqs/Traveling-With-Pets.asp

Allegiant Air

Allegiant accepts live animals/pets (domestic cats and dogs only) in the passenger cabin of the aircraft.

http://www.allegiantair.com/aaFAQ.php

American Airlines

Cats and dogs are the only types of pets accepted for travel on American Airlines.

http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/specialAssistance/travelingWithPets.jsp

American Airlines - AACargo

Animals are transported in the same compartments as baggage, mail and other cargo. These compartments are pressurized and maintain a temperature range from 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit.

https://www.aacargo.com/shipping/animals.jhtml

Continental Airlines

Cargo and QuickPak - Our program is called PetSafe®. Under this program, Continental does not accept pets as checked baggage.

http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/travel/animals/default.aspx

Delta Airlines / Northwest Airlines

Cargo shipment, pets travel in its climate-controlled and pressurized compartment.

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/special_travel_needs/pet_travel_information/index.jsp

Frontier Airlines

Frontier does not accept pets for travel in the main cabin of its aircraft. Pets are considered checked baggage.

http://www.frontierairlines.com/frontier/plan-book/travel-info-services/family-pets/traveling-with-pets.do

Hawaiian Airlines

HA will accept for transportation as baggage, dogs, cats and household birds (only in baggage compartment) which are kept as personal pets or as show or exhibition animals, subject to the provisions of this rule.

Please contact HA for rules applicable to cargo shipments.

http://www.hawaiianair.com/programs/pages/pettravelinformation.aspx?haid=1

JetBlue

Accepts small cats and dogs in the aircraft cabin on both domestic and international flights (with the exception of flights to Jamaica, Barbados, and Saint Lucia).

http://www.jetblue.com/jetpaws/about.asp

Midwest Airlines

Below-cabin in a temperature-controlled and pressurized pet compartment.

http://www.midwestairlines.com/ProgramsAndServices/PetTravel.aspx

Pet Air

Will accept all types of animals. Over twenty-eight years of experience in shipping animals.

http://www.flypets.com/default.asp

Southwest Airlines

Will only accept small cats and dogs in carriers that can be stowed under the customer’s seat. Under no circumstances will they accept pets in the cargo bin.

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/animals.html

Spirit Airlines

Allows the transportation of domesticated animals such as dogs, cats and domestic birds.

http://www.spiritair.com/HelpRightNow.aspx

Sun Country Airlines

Will accept cats and dogs as checked baggage on select flights within the contiguous United States.

http://www.suncountry.com/hometools/helpBaggage.shtml#pets

United Airlines

Checked baggage, transported in pressurized and heated cargo compartment of the aircraft.

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6867,51255,00.html

US Airways

Pets in passenger cabin - 1 small domestic dog, cat or bird per passenger is accepted in the passenger cabin for a fee each way. US Airways does not accept any animals in its cargo compartments.

http://www2.usairways.com/en-US/traveltools/specialneeds/pets.html

USA3000

USA3000 will accept cats and dogs on Domestic flights only. Pets will not be accepted on International flights.

http://www.usa3000airlines.com/pets.htm

Virgin America

Will accept cats and dogs in the main cabin of the aircraft. They do not allow pets to be shipped as cargo.

http://virginamerica.custhelp.com

Important Links:

If you are planning on traveling by air with your ferret (or any pet), here is a great website to have bookmarked. http://www.petflight.com/airlines This site lists all the current rules and regulations for all US domestic airlines. At this time ferrets are not allowed in cabin on any domestic airline.

If you need to ship your ferret, the best website is http://www.flypets.com. Several ferret breeders have used this service to ship ferrets coast to coast and they really know how to care for your ferret and get the ferret back and forth safe and sound.

There is another option for cats and dogs but the airports are limited and they do not allow ferrets at this time. http://www.petairways.com Hopefully they will allow ferrets as they expand their services.

Shipping Requirements:
(consult airline for specific requirements)

Embargo

Transfer to another carrier

Carrier / kennel requirements

Size and weight limitations

Health and vaccination requirements

Temperature requirements and restrictions

Quarantine and other destination restrictions

Food and water cups

Live animal labels

Helpful Hints:

Book direct flights and fly your ferret out as early as possible

Include ID tags with your name and phone number

Keep your pet as calm as possible prior to the flight

Purchase the kennel as far in advance of travel as possible and allow your pet to become familiar with it to ease the stress of travel

Have a secured food crock and always use a drip cup for the water bottle (a 4 ounce bottle is sufficient for one ferret for a domestic flight)

Use zip ties to secure the carrier top to the bottom and even the door so it can't be opened

Include a secured litter box in the kennel

Have ample bedding so if the water leaks your ferret will still have someplace to curl up and not be wet

List of animal relief areas at select airports - http://www.aa.com/i18n/disclaimers/animal-relief-chart.jsp

At the Airport:
(when checking your pet as baggage or carrying on your flight)

Check your pet in at the airport's full service counter

During security, carry your pet while the carrier is x-rayed

Your pet and carrier will count as your one personal item

Pet must remain inside a closed carrier while in the airport and on the aircraft

Web Sites:

International Air Transport Association (IATA) - http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/live_animals.html

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal, Plant, & Health Inspection Service - www.aphis.usda.gov

US Customs - www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/clearing/agri_prod_inus.xml

Hawaiian Department of Agriculture - hawaii.gov/hdoa

Consulate General of Japan - www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp/en/html/index.html

The United Kingdom Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs - www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/int-trde/default.htm

The European Union's portal website, EUROPA - http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/animal/liveanimals/pets/index_en.htm

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