Traveling with pets can be stressful especially when you are flying on passenger airlines. The majority of airline companies impose strict rules, and regulations for carrying, and transporting animals.
Like other airlines, Delta also features its own policies and guidelines regarding traveling with pets and transporting them via cargo service.
Delta Air Lines is among some airlines that allow traveling with pets or shipping them as cargo. In this article, we will explore the latest Delta Pet Policy along with requirements and restrictions.
Without any delay, let’s get started.
Is Delta strict with pets? What are the Delta Pet Policies?
As a Delta passenger, you can travel with your pet as a carry-on. Besides, your pet can also be shipped via a special Delta cargo service.
Delta also allows pets to travel as checked baggage however, this facility is available for active U.S. military, or active U.S. State Department Foreign Service Officers (FSO), and their spouses with active transfer orders.
Carry-on Pets Policy, Requirements, and Restrictions
Delta is among very few airlines that allow dogs, cats, and birds to travel in the cabin. Some big airlines including American Airlines, and United Airlines only allow dogs, and cats.
If you are carrying your pet in cabin kennels, it will be counted as your one carry-on item. That means you can carry one personal item onboard the Delta flight.
Kennel Size, and Dimension Requirements
As a carry-on pet, you need to bring a proper kennel that fits under the seat in front of you. The pet must comfortably fit in the kennel without touching or protruding from the sides of the kennel. Besides, your pet must be able to freely move around inside the pet carrier.
The soft-sided, or hard-sided kennels or pet carriers are recommended. Such carriers must be leak-proof, and feature ventilation openings on three sides. For international travel, ventilation on four sides is mandatory.
The recommended kennel dimension for the soft-sided kennel is 18in x 11in x 11in (Length x Width x Height). The maximum allowed dimensions are determined by your flight as the space under seats varies according to aircraft type.
Guidelines at the airport
Your pet must be kept inside the pet carrier or kennel with door secured at all times in a Delta boarding area, a Delta Sky Club location, and while on board the aircraft.
Guidelines inside the aircraft
Your pet must remain inside the closed/zipped-up pet carrier at all times while flying.
Besides, there are some restrictions to sitting in the aircraft with carry-on pets. Passengers must not sit in the following sections if they have carry-on pets.
- Bulkhead seats
- An emergency exit row
- Seats designated as “no stowage”
- Flat-bed seats
- Rows 30-35 on the A330-200 aircraft
- Rows 30-43 on the A330 -300 aircraft
- Center seats on the B757-200 aircraft
- Delta One® seats
Carry-on Pet Restrictions by various countries
Some countries have strict rules for traveling with pets while others completely prohibit pets on carry-on or cargo flights.
The following countries are stricter with the pet travel policy so, Delta customers need to review pet travel restrictions based on their destination, or connecting flights.
- Australia
- Barbados
- Brazil – Exit Brazil
- Colombia – Exit Colombia
- Dubai
- Hong Kong
- Iceland
- Jamaica
- New Zealand
- Republic of Ireland
- South Africa
- United Kingdom
- United Arab Emirates
Important Guidelines for Carry-on Pets
- Your pet must be at least 10 weeks old for domestic travel
- Your pet must be 16 weeks old if traveling to the U.S. from another country and must be at least 15 weeks old when traveling to the European Union
- One pet is permitted per kennel with the following exceptions:
- One female cat/dog may travel with her un-weaned litter if the litter is between 10 weeks to 6 months of age
- No limit on the number of animals in the litter
- 2 pets of the same breed and size between the age of 10 weeks and 6 months may be allowed to travel in 1 kennel as long as they are small enough to fit into a single kennel and are compatible – they will be charged as 1 pet
Carry-on Pet Fees
The carry-on pet fees depend on the destination as illustrated in the table below.
| DESTINATION (TO/FROM) | PET FEE EACH WAY |
| U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands | $95 USD/CAD |
| Brazil | $75 USD |
| International | $200 USD/CAD/EUR |
Transporting Pets as Checked Baggage
Delta Air Lines allows traveling with pets as checked baggage but for only active U.S. military, or active U.S. State Department Foreign Service Officers (FSO), and their spouses with active transfer orders.
At Delta, we’re here to assist all U.S. Military family members who travel, including pets. That’s why we only accept animals as checked baggage for active U.S Military or Active U.S State Department Foreign Service Officers (FSO) & their spouses with active transfer orders.
DELTA AIR LINES
Military members, and U.S. State Department Foreign Service officers can check their pets (Cats, Dogs, Household Birds, Guinea Pigs, Rabbits, and Hamsters) as baggage for a certain applicable fee. Besides, there are various policies, and guidelines for carrying pets as checked baggage.
Shipping Crate Requirements
Delta customers must bring an approved shipping crate to transport their pets as checked baggage. The crate must feature sufficient room for pets to stand, sit erect, move around, and lie down in a natural position.
Pet Shipping Crates can be purchased from Delta Cargo locations. The cost of different crate types are shown in the table below.
Shipping Crates Pricing
| CRATES TYPE | COST |
| 100 SERIES (SMALL) | $75 |
| 200 SERIES (MEDIUM) | $90 |
| 300 SERIES (MEDIUM) | $125 |
| 400 SERIES (LARGE) | $145 |
| 500 SERIES (EXTRA LARGE) Not available on Boeing 767-300/300ER/400ER Airbus A330-200 B717-200 CRJ-200/700/900 ERJ-145/170/175 | $160 |
Shipping Crates Dimension, and Weight Requirements
| CRATES TYPE | DIMENSION | WEIGHT |
| 100 SERIES (SMALL) | 21in x 15in x 16in | 6 lbs (3 kgs) |
| 200 SERIES (MEDIUM) | 27in x 20in x 19in | 12 lbs (5 kgs) |
| 300 SERIES (MEDIUM) | 32in x 22in x 23in | 18 lbs (8 kgs) |
| 400 SERIES (LARGE) | 36in x 24in x 26in | 24 lbs (11 kgs) |
| 500 SERIES (EXTRA LARGE) Not available on Boeing 767-300/300ER/400ER Airbus A330-200 B717-200 CRJ-200/700/900 ERJ-145/170/175 | 40in x 27in x 30in | 31 lbs (14 kgs) |
Weather Requirements
Temperature is one of the vital requirements for transporting pets safely. Delta doesn’t accept pets as checked baggage during extreme weather, or if the temperature goes out of the safety zone.
The safe temperature is infringed if the temperature exceeds 80F (26.5C) or lowers below 20F (-6.5C).
Breed Restriction
Delta Air Lines restricts some pet breeds to travel on their flights. Snub-nosed, or pug-nosed dogs, and cats are not allowed as checked baggage.
| RESTRICTED CAT BREED | RESTRICTED DOG BREED |
| British Shorthair Burmese Exotic Shorthair Himalayan Persian Scottish Fold | Affenpinscher American Bully American Pit Bull Terrier American Staffordshire Terrier Boerboel Boston Terrier Bull Terrier Boxer (all breeds) Brussels Griffin (Petite Brabacon) Bulldog (all breeds) Cane Corso Chow Chow Dogo Argentino Dutch Pug Douge de Bordeaux English Toy Spaniel Japanese Chin (Japanese Spaniel) Lhasa Apso Mastiff (all breeds) Pekinese Pit Bull Presa Canario Pug (all breeds) Shar Pei Shih Tzu Staffordshire Bull Terrier Tibetan Spaniel |
Aircraft Restrictions
Delta Airbus A330-200 aircraft doesn’t allow pets as checked baggage. Boeing 767 aircraft doesn’t accept pets as checked baggage or cargo.
Cost to transport pets as Checked Baggage
| DESTINATION (TO/FROM) | PET FEE EACH WAY |
| U.S./U.S. Virgin Islands/Puerto Rico | $200 USD |
| Brazil | $150 USD/CAD |
| International (Canada or Caribbean) | $200 USD/CAD/EUR |
Transporting Pets via Delta Cargo
If your pet doesn’t fit in the aircraft’s cabin (in the seat in front of you), your pets need to be shipped with Delta Cargo service. There are health, weather, and other requirements to safely transport pets via cargo flights.
Health Requirements
A valid health certificate is mandatory when your pets travel as cargo, or checked baggage. The certificate must be issued by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of the trip.
The health certifcate must contain the shipper’s name, address, tag numbers/tattoos assigned to the pet, pet’s age, the statement that the pet is fit to fly, the signature of the veterinarian, and the issuance date of the certificate.
As per the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines, the age of pets must be at least 8 weeks old (10 weeks old to carry in cabin), and fully weaned before their domestic travel, and at least 16 weeks old before traveling to the U.S. from other countries. For European travel, the age requirement is at least 15 weeks old.
The use of pet tranquilizers is not recommended as it may directly harm the pet’s health at high altitudes. However, if you require to sedate your pet, you must provide written consent from the pet’s veterinarian.
Feeding Requirements
If you are shipping your pet, you need to ensure your pet has been offered food, and water within 4 hours of check-in. You must also provide instructions for food and water for a 24-hour period.
Weather Requirements
The temperature and weather requirements are the same as requirements for pets as checked baggage. Delta will not ship your pet if the temperature exceeds 80F (27C) or falls below 20F (-7C).
If the temperature falls between 20F (-7C), and 45F (7C), you need to provide a certificate of acclimation.
Breed Restrictions
Delta, and Delta connection flights don’t permit transporting brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dogs, cats, and their breeds. The detailed list of restricted pet breeds is already mentioned above.
Conclusion on ‘Is Delta strict with pets?’
Delta Air Lines offers pet-friendly travel services however, customers need to follow adhere to the policies, and guidelines for safe travel.
With Delta, pets can be traveled as carry-on, checked baggage, or shipped via Delta Cargo service. Checked baggage service is only available to active U.S. military, or active U.S. State Department Foreign Service Officers (FSO), and their spouses with active transfer orders.
FAQs on Delta Pet Policy
What documents does Delta require for pets?
The Health Certificate is mandatory for pets traveling with Delta flights. It must be verified by a licensed veterinarian.
Can my dog sit on my lap during a flight with Delta?
If you are traveling with your pet as a carry-on, it must remain inside the closed/zipped-up pet carrier at all times while flying. The carrier must be kept under the seat in front of you.
Can I buy a seat for my dog on an airplane?
Almost all airline companies restrict traveling with pets on a seat. That means, if you’re carrying your pet as a carry-on, it must remain secured inside the pet kennel, or carrier under the seat in front of you at all times.
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