Fly Your Dog On Delta

Delta allows pets to travel in the aircraft cabin, as checked baggage or as cargo.

Delta Air Lines offers customers three ways to travel with their dogs. Customers can bring their small pets on board in the cabin, ship their pets as cargo, or bring them along as checked baggage. For each option, a number of requirements must be met. Before traveling with your pet, check with your veterinarian, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or the agriculture department in your state to determine whether a certificate is needed. Certain states require a health certificate for pets traveling by air within the aircraft's cabin or as checked baggage.

Instructions

Carry On

1. Purchase a kennel that meets Delta's requirements. The dog must fit comfortably in a kennel under the seat in front of you. Passengers must contact Delta to determine the maximum carry-on kennel dimensions for the specific flight, because size restrictions may vary, depanding on the aircraft.

2. Verify that you meet Delta's carry-on allowance. Delta allows one carry-on bag on its flights. A pet brought on board counts as one piece of carry-on baggage.

3. Call Delta reservations at 1-800-221-1212 to arrange to bring the dog on board. Pets are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and Delta limits the number of pets that can be brought on board.

4. Pay a one-way fee when checking in at the airport. As of May 2011, the fee was $125 for travel within the United States, Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, and $200 for travel outside the United States. Fees are payable in the local currency of the departure airport.

Checked Baggage

5. Confirm that your pet is allowed on the Delta flight as checked baggage. Pets are not accepted as checked baggage on Delta flights operating from May 15 to Sept. 15 and must be shipped as cargo. From Nov. 1 to March 31, pets are not permitted as checked luggage on flights operated between Salt Lake City and Sun Valley, Twin Falls or Jackson Hole. Pets may also not be permitted during severe weather conditions, such as extreme cold (below 10 degrees Fahrenheit, unless the pet is a sled dog or other animal that normally lives outdoors and is naturally acclimatized to the cold) and heat (above 75 degrees Fahrenheit for snub- or pug-nosed dogs and above 85 degrees Fahrenheit for other breeds).

6. Purchase a kennel that meets Delta's requirements. Passengers are permitted to check up to two kennels per flight. Size restrictions apply, depending on the aircraft and class of service. Giant-size kennels can only be shipped as cargo. To transport your pet as checked baggage, a shipping kennel must be approved by and shipped in accordance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

7. Contact Delta reservations to arrange to check the dog as baggage. If you and your pet are making a connection with another airline, you should allow sufficient time to claim your animal and recheck it with the connecting airline. Pet owners should contact the other airline to confirm its policies on pet transportation before traveling.

8. Ensure that the kennel is travel ready. Pet owners should familiarize their dog with the kennel before traveling. The dog should be able to stand and sit erect, turn around and lie inside without touching the top. The kennel should also be ventilated, have absorbent padding and have one food dish and one water dish. Pets should be fed a light meal with a little water within two hours of the scheduled departure time.

9. Pay a one-way fee at check-in. As of May 2011, the fee on all flights was $200, paid in the local currency.

Cargo

10. Obtain a health certificate for your pet. The dated certificate must be issued and signed by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of travel. It must include your name and address, any tag numbers or tattoos assigned to the pet, the dog's age (animals must be at least eight weeks old and fully weaned), a statement indicating that the dog is in good health, a list of inoculations, and whether the pet is pregnant, if applicable.

11. Purchase a kennel that meets Delta's requirements. To transport your pet as cargo, a shipping kennel must be approved and shipped in accordance with U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines. Size restrictions may apply, depending on the aircraft.

12. Book online at Delta.com or call Pet First (1-800-SEND PET) to arrange your live animal shipment with Delta Air Lines. International shipments must be booked at least three days in advance and a maximum of 30 days in advance. Pet shipments within the United States must be booked at least 24 hours in advance and a maximum of seven days in advance.

13. Ensure the kennel is travel ready. Pet owners should ensure their dog is familiar with the kennel before traveling. The dog should be able to stand and sit erect, turn around and lie inside without touching the top. The kennel should also be ventilated, have absorbent padding, and have one food dish and one water dish. On the day of the departure, place a dish of frozen water in the kennel, and feed your dog a light meal and a little water no less than two hours before the flight departure time. If in-transit feeding is required, pet owners must provide Delta with food for the dog.

14. Check in your pet at the airport. When checking in, pet owners will be asked to complete a live animal checklist to confirm that the pet was offered food and water within four hours of check-in. The checklist will also include feeding and watering instructions for a 24-hour period. The checklist, a "live animal" label and directional arrows will be placed on the kennel.

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