Delta Air Lines' pet policy: Everything to know before flying with a pet on Delta

Are you looking to fly Delta Air Lines and bring your dog — or cat or bird — with you on your next vacation? If so, you're in luck, as Delta allows these three types of animals to fly with you in-cabin for a small fee.

But before you go ahead and book your flight, you'll want to be extremely aware of the Delta pet policy. There are some confusing rules and Delta doesn't allow a pet to fly with you on board on all routes, aircraft and seats. Having all the information in advance will ensure that your pet can join you on your travels.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Delta Air Lines pet policy.

Delta Air Lines pet policy

With the Delta pet policy, you can bring small dogs, cats and household birds with you in-cabin to select destinations. All pets must fit into a pet carrier and be at least 10 weeks old for domestic travel, at least 16 weeks old if traveling to the U.S. from another country and at least 15 weeks old when traveling to the EU.

Passengers are only allowed to bring one pet carrier on board, but in some cases, multiple pets are allowed per carrier. For example, one female cat or dog can travel with her un-weaned litter (with no cap) if the kittens or puppies are between 10 weeks to six months of age. Additionally, if you have two pets of the same breed and size between the ages of 10 weeks and six months, those pets are allowed in one pet carrier as long as they fit. In these situations, Delta will only charge you for one pet.

Delta also limits where you can sit if you bring a pet. Per the Delta pet policy, you'll need to avoid selecting seats at the bulkhead and in emergency exit rows. Likewise, avoid seats designated as "no stowage," which are rows 30 to 35 on the A330-200 aircraft, rows 30 to 43 on the A330-300 aircraft and center seats on the B757-200 aircraft. Also, know that carry-on pets are not allowed in any cabin with flat-bed seats, international business class, international Delta One or Delta Premium Select.

There are also additional restrictions when flying with a pet on Delta outside the U.S.:

• You can only bring household birds on domestic U.S. flights (excluding Hawaii, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam).
• You can't bring pets to Hawaii, the United Kingdom and Ireland.
• You can't travel to or from Hong Kong, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand with pets.
• The CDC currently bans dogs from entering the U.S. from high-risk countries for rabies, such as Egypt.

Since country rules can change at any time, make sure to review Delta's international pet travel restrictions.

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Additionally, at the onset of the pandemic, the Delta pet cargo option was put on hold and has yet to come back. Per the Delta dog policy, your dog must fit in an approved pet carrier tha can fit under the seat in front of you — so larger dogs usually can't travel with you on Delta.

Related: A comprehensive guide to traveling with pets

Flying with a pet on Delta

Delta Air Lines recently decreased the cost of bringing a pet on board with you. For tickets purchased on or after Feb. 28, 2022, the cost of flying with a pet on Delta is $95 for flights within the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For previously purchased flights, the cost is $125.

However, if you're flying internationally, the cost is slightly different. For all international flights — except to or from Brazil — the price is significantly more expensive, at $200. However, flying with a pet on Delta to or from Brazil is only $75.

All fees are one-way and are collected when checking in for your flight at the airport.

The Delta Air Lines pet policy limited the number of pets on board and within each cabin. So, you'll want to contact Delta as early as possible if you plan to bring a pet.

Finally, if one of Delta's partners operates your flight, you'll need to call the partner airline directly to learn more about its pet policies.

Related: 8 things to consider before flying with your pet

Delta Air Lines’ pet carrier requirements

All pets on a Delta flight must fit into a pet carrier or kennel, and that carrier or kennel must fit under the seat in front of you.

The pet carrier can be soft-sided or hard-sided, but it must be leak-proof and ventilated (three side ventilation openings or four sides for international travel). The pet also must be able to move around and not protrude from the sides. All pets must stay in their carrier while in the boarding area, on the aircraft and in Delta lounges.

Delta recommends a soft-sized kennel with a maximum size of 18 inches by 11 inches by 11 inches. But, some seats may feature more under seat storage and fit a larger kennel. The agent will record your kennel dimensions when you contact Delta to add your pet to your reservation.

When flying with a pet on Delta, remember that your pet carrier will count as one of your carry-on items. So, in addition to your carrier, you can also bring one personal item on board.

Related: How to change or cancel a Delta Air Lines flight

Bottom line

As long as you do your research regarding the aircraft and cabin you book, bringing a small dog, cat or bird with you on your next Delta flight is incredibly easy. While you can't bring larger dogs with you right now, Delta may resume the Delta pet cargo program in the future.

Make sure to review all of the rules before booking your flight. By doing so and paying a modest fee, you might be able to enjoy your next trip with your small dog, cat or household bird.