Airlines That Carry Dogs in the Summer

As the world becomes increasingly mobile, dogs traveling on airplanes becomes more frequent. However, it is not as simple as owner and dog just driving up to the airport and boarding a plane, especially during the heat of summer. Many airlines do not fly dogs during summer months. Others have breed restrictions during the summer.

  1. United Airlines

    • United Airlines accepts dogs as carry-on or checked baggage. Pet owners must provide current health and travel documents for animals. From June 1 until Sept. 30 of each year, the following breeds are not accepted for flight either as checked baggage or cargo: Boston Terrier, Boxer, English or French Bulldog, King Charles Spaniel, Lhasa Apso, Pug, Shar-Pei, or Shih Tzu. Call 1-800-UNITED-1 to make reservations for your dog. Fees apply.

    Delta Airlines

    • Delta Airlines has a four-pet limit in its main cabin with a $125 charge. Checking a pet is $200 each way. From May 15 through Sept. 15, dogs cannot be checked as baggage on Delta, but they may be shipped as cargo. Specific kennel and health requirements must be met, and a live animal checklist must be completed when you check in your dog. Short-nosed breeds are not accepted if the temperature at any time during the flight rises above 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Continental

    • Continental has transported more than 500,000 pets between 2005 and 2009, according to spokesperson Christen David. The airline has a PetSafe program to ensure the safety and comfort of the animals they transport. Continental offers a separate check-in area, air-conditioned vans to keep animals cool to and from the aircraft, and staff training on how to handle dogs.

      Not all dog breeds can fly with Continental. The carrier prohibits all bulldogs, adult pitbulls, and adult American Staffordshire Terriers. The Department of Transportation reported that short-nosed breeds such as bulldogs accounted for about half of all dog deaths in the same five-year period.

      Contact Continental's Live Animal Desk at 800-575-3335 for current dog travel rates.

    Pet Airways

    • Pet Airways is a pet-only airline and flies to Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, New York, Omaha, and Phoenix. Each plane has two pilots, a special pet attendant, and holds about 50 animals. Health requirements must be met and reservations can be made online. Pet Airways even has a tracking feature to follow your dog's travel.