Ever wondered what a dog thinks when they gaze up at the sky and see an airplane? Probably something along the lines of, "You expect me to believe that giant metal bird can fly?" Honestly, it’s a marvel we all accept with a straight face. We casually buckle into a seat inside a humongous metal tube, laden with overly expensive snacks, too little leg room, and questionable coffee, and somehow we take flight defying gravity.

Yet, here we are, confidently strapping our furry companions into these marvels of engineering, convinced they’ll enjoy the ride just as much as we do. After all, nobody wants their dog to travel in the cargo hold with no company all alone. Why not take the dog into a passenger cabin where you can pet their silky coat, keep watch over them, and avoid thinking about the metal contraption that is propelling you both across the skies?

Unfortunately, there are not many airlines that are fond of transporting our four-legged partners in the passenger cabin due to various concerns like hygiene, safety, the comfort of other passengers, and other associated costs.

How Do People Feel About Flying in the Company of Dogs?

There are a lot of opinions on the topic of flying with dogs in the passenger cabin. There are plenty of anecdotal reports shared online. This is what Selantra shared on Reddit:

“I don't think I would want to fly an airline with other people's pets. I have spent a lot of time and effort to train my dogs well but the average dog owner does not. I imagine it would smell or my dog would be harassed half the flight when we walked down aisles. Plenty of lunging dogs on our way to the bathroom saying their dogs are friendly and want to play.”

Others like Annoyedpetparent on Reddit are comfortable with dogs being transported in the cargo hold:

“Dogs do fine in cargo. I wouldn't do it for a few weeks of vacation, but if you are moving or going for an extended period of time, it's actually quite safe for dogs to fly cargo. There are horror stories ofc, but most dogs who fly cargo are completely fine.

My dog (10lbs) flew cargo when I moved internationally, and while she was definitely stressed on the plane (got a little sick her in crate), there were no lasting impacts. She was very happy to see me post-flight and quickly returned to her fun-loving and curious self.”

There are also people who understand that some dogs such as specially trained service dogs have to be allowed in the passenger cabin with their owner/handlers. This is what hume_er_me says on Reddit:

“There is a DOT form you can find online. That is the only form required to fly with a service dog in a cabin, and it's free. I fly with my psychiatric service dog several times a year on both Alaska and Delta. Search "Alaska Airlines traveling with service dog" on Google and you should find their page. I believe for Alaska Airlines there is a specific registration you do when you request the accommodation, that goes through an outside company. You may get more advice if you post in the service dog subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/service_dogs/)”

Why Would You Want to Travel With a Dog in the Airplane Cabin?

If you are a frequent airplane passenger you might have seen people with their dogs board the aircraft without a peep from the in-flight crew. That is because people with disabilities may use service dogs who are specially trained animals that perform one or more tasks that directly benefit their users. For example, a diabetic alert dog is trained to keep watch on their user and alert them of a low or a high level of blood sugar. Are they using special dog magic to accomplish this? Kind of. They use their amazing sense of smell to monitor their user’s body odor and alert you of a potential medical emergency via pawing, nose nudging, or giving a kiss. Service dogs are also known as assistance dogs in Europe and Australia and there are many types of service dogs such as psychiatric service dogs (mental dogs), guide dogs (seeing eye dogs), seizure alert dogs, etc.

It is true that some airline passengers are not as honest and truthful about their dogs’ training and temperament. But those people have to worry about legal fees, potential jail time, and airplane cleanup fees and are typically quickly escorted out of view. Let’s not forget that service dogs provide invaluable support to their owners and they are trained to remain focused on their owners and avoid causing trouble, seeking attention, or begging for food. Service dogs also go through public access training and are trained to ignore distractions, walk properly on a loose leash, tolerate physical contact with strangers, and ignore items that they are not supposed to touch. Service dogs can quite literally save lives and just like airplanes – exceed your expectations. If you want to learn how to interact with people with disabilities who are accompanied by service dogs please check the amazing video from Rocky Mountain ADA Center.

Dog-Friendly Airlines

Now that you know a bit more about why dogs might have to accompany people on the airplane let's talk about the top five dog-friendly airlines. The statements below are based on customer feedback sent to our support team and feedback from air passengers posted online. Please note that some airlines will refuse to have large and giant-sized dogs in the passenger cabin due to weight and size limitations. Many airlines will decline to transport any animals in the cargo hold during periods of potentially dangerous hot and cold weather. With this in mind let’s take a look at the list below.

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines operates a diverse fleet that includes aircraft from Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, and Embraer. They have more than a dozen models and have been reported to allow dogs to take seats and not just stay on the floor. Of course, this is not likely the norm but an exception. Still, if you plan on flying anywhere with a service dog it is worth noting that your dog could fly a bit more comfortably on a Delta aircraft. Please, make sure to talk to the support team in advance of booking a flight so you can check the size limitations for the available airplanes for your route. Some larger dogs like German Shepherds may have to fly in the cargo hold depending on the aircraft model servicing your route. You can check the routes serviced by Delta here.

United Airlines

United operates a fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft with plenty of space. The airline provides options for people to bring in up to two animals with them on the flight. However, please keep in mind that you will be expected to pay for two seats – one for you and one for your two service dogs if you decide to bring both of them. Additionally, not all airplanes will be able to accommodate two dogs per handler/owner and there is a limit to how many animals can travel on a single aircraft. Prepare for your flight by checking what airplane you will be using and talking to the customer support team at least a week in advance of your departure. More details are posted here.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet, making it unique among major U.S. carriers for its exclusive use of a single aircraft family. This strategic choice allows for simplified maintenance and training, contributing to their efficiency. They have received a lot of praise for the performance of their pilots and flight attendants. Many passengers with service dogs have reported “being treated as family” and we can sincerely recommend using Southwest Airlines for your route. Please, make sure to fill out and submit all necessary paperwork for your flight at least a week before your flight (preferably two weeks in advance). More details are posted here.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines operates a diverse fleet primarily composed of Boeing and Embraer aircraft. The Embraer aircraft are operated by Alaska's regional partners, Horizon Air and SkyWest Airlines. Small pets are accepted for travel in the passenger cabin for a fee of $100 USD/CAD each way, subject to space availability onboard. Please, make sure to check with the airline about the available space and the weight limitations. Service dogs are subject to the same size and weight limitations as pets. The airline has received praise for quickly processing requests for travel with service dogs. This can be somewhat attributed to their partnership with the Service Animal Form Portal (SAFP) by OpenDoors. More details can be found here. Additionally, you can find reports of them going the extra mile to assist people with large dogs. Please, make sure to talk to the customer support team for the airline at least a week in advance if you plan on traveling with a dog so they can do their best to accommodate you.

Porter Airlines

Porter Airlines operates a fleet primarily consisting of the Embraer E195-E2 and the De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft. They operate routes primarily in North America and their aircraft are on the smaller side compared to what Delta and Southwest are using. What they may lack in available space they make up with good customer service and dedication to supporting service dog teams. Many air passengers report warm and professional treatment from the flight attendants. Please talk to the customer support team at least a week in advance of your flight to let them know that you will be accompanied by a service dog so that they can prepare accordingly and make sure you have a comfortable flight. Considering that the aircraft of this airline are on the smaller side we would not recommend you to use them if you have to be accompanied by medium-to-large canines. You can find more details here.

Honorable Mentions

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

The company has been very friendly to our service dog teams in Europe and they have a big network of international routes. KLM Airlines has been reported to quickly respond to inquiries from customers and process requests for travel with a service dog in a timely manner. Their in-flight staff has been praised for their attentiveness and willingness to make your flight enjoyable and comfortable. Additionally, their flights have been reported to be on time and passengers with connecting flights can feel more at ease.

ITA Airlines (formerly known as Alitalia)

The airline has been friendly to some of our customers and they have treated them on a case-by-case basis. They are still a viable option for people who need to travel to Southern Europe. Please, try to negotiate your boarding with them at least two weeks in advance so you have wiggle room in case you need to change airlines and your route.

Important to Consider

As with every transport service with thousands of staff members and hundreds of offices—your experience with any of these airlines may vary a lot. If you dig into online reviews it would be easy to find negative experiences posted online for the world to see. As mentioned above, this article is based on feedback from our customers and online reviews.

If you plan on flying internationally with an owner-trained service dog, please understand that this type of training is not widely accepted in Europe and there are various limitations when you want to fly to Asia, Africa, and Australia. South America has been generally very open to self-trained service dog teams and many clients do not have trouble flying across the continent.

This means that you have to learn about the legal requirements for traveling with a self-trained service dog and accept the fact that not all airlines will accept your service dog in the passenger cabin for the route you want to take. Even if your dog is on their best behavior, fully vaccinated, and freshly out of the groomer’s saloon there is still a chance that the airline may not be willing to transport the canine in the passenger cabin. Please, see our article “URGENT!! Why Was My Service Dog Denied Access to the Passenger Cabin?”. Some countries will only accept professionally-trained service dogs within their borders and this remains a limitation for users of owner-trained service dogs that you have to understand.

Stay sharp, prepare for your flight as early as possible and you should find a way to enjoy traveling with your service dog!