Delta allows small dogs, cats, and household birds in the cabin on domestic flights, with a detailed fare-class and seating structure most travelers don’t expect. Cargo shipping, meanwhile, is now restricted to a narrow group — not something most pet owners can use at all.
Current as of 2026: Delta raised its in-cabin pet fees on April 8, 2025 — if you’ve seen an older, lower fee quoted elsewhere, it’s out of date. Confirm current details directly with Delta before booking.
The Short Answer
- In-cabin travel is available for small dogs, cats, and household birds on domestic flights, subject to fare-class limits and kennel-size rules.
- Cargo shipping is restricted to active-duty U.S. Military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service Officers with active permanent-change-of-station orders — it is not a general-public option.
- Several destinations don’t allow cabin pets at all, including the UK, Australia, and Hong Kong.
- Delta doesn’t accept pets originating in Brazil, Colombia, or the Dominican Republic, and prohibits pets on all Hawaii-bound flights.
In-Cabin Eligibility and Kennel Requirements
Eligible pets are small dogs, cats, and household birds, on domestic flights within the contiguous US. Minimum age requirements depend on your situation: 8 weeks for domestic travel, 6 months for dogs entering the US from abroad, 16 weeks minimum for cats entering the US, and 15 weeks minimum for European Union travel.
Your kennel needs to:
- Be small enough for your pet to fit comfortably and move around in.
- Fit fully underneath the seat in front of you.
- Be soft-sided and leak-proof, with ventilation on 3 sides for domestic travel or 4 sides for international travel.
Delta’s recommended maximum kennel size is 18" × 11" × 11".
Two exceptions worth knowing: two same-breed, same-size pets aged 8 weeks to 6 months can share one kennel and are charged as a single pet, and a nursing female dog or cat can travel with an unweaned litter (8 weeks to 6 months old) in one kennel.
Cabin Allowances by Fare Class
| Fare Class | Pet Limit |
|---|---|
| Delta First (Domestic) | 2 pets |
| Delta Comfort+/Main Cabin | 4 pets |
| Business/Delta One | Not permitted |
First Class excludes flat-bed-seat cabins from this allowance. Cabin pet space is first-come, first-served, with a cap on the total number of pets allowed per flight — book early if you’re relying on it.
Seating restrictions: if you’re traveling with a cabin pet, you can’t select bulkhead seats, emergency exit rows, seats marked “no stowage,” flat-bed/Delta One seats, or certain rows on Delta’s A330 and B757 aircraft.
Cabin Pet Fees
Recent policy change: Delta raised its in-cabin pet fees on April 8, 2025. Several third-party sites still quote the older, lower figures — the table below reflects the current fee.
| Route | Fee Before Apr 8, 2025 | Fee After Apr 8, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| US / Canada / Puerto Rico / USVI | $95 | $150 |
| Brazil | $75 | $200 |
| International (general) | — | $200 (USD/CAD/EUR) |
Where Cabin Pets Aren’t Allowed
Delta does not permit pets in the cabin on flights to or from: Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Iceland, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, or the United Arab Emirates.
Separately, Delta does not accept pets originating in Brazil, Colombia, or the Dominican Republic, and prohibits pets on all Hawaii-bound flights specifically — a stricter rule than the destination list alone suggests.
Cargo Shipping: Not a General-Public Option
This is the detail that surprises the most travelers: Delta Cargo’s pet-shipping service is currently limited to active-duty U.S. Military or U.S. State Department Foreign Service Officers traveling with active permanent-change-of-station orders. If that’s not your situation, cargo isn’t available to you on Delta — plan around in-cabin travel, another airline, or a professional pet mover instead.
For those who do qualify:
- Booking is separate from your passenger reservation and can’t be combined with it.
- Booking opens 14 days before departure.
- Your pet isn’t guaranteed to travel on the same flight or schedule as you.
- Domestic acceptance cutoff is 2.5 hours before departure; international is 4 hours.
- Arrive 4–6 hours early domestically, or 6 hours early internationally.
- Drop-off and pickup happen at separate Delta Cargo facilities, not passenger terminals.
Crate and health requirements: an IATA-compliant crate that lets your pet stand, sit upright, lie down, and turn around; a health certificate from a USDA-accredited veterinarian within 10 days of travel (an international certificate for international trips); brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds are restricted; and sedatives are prohibited.
Weather restrictions: shipping is suspended above 80°F or below 20°F, and a Certificate of Acclimation is required between 20–45°F.
Delta doesn’t publish a specific cargo fee online — it states only that “additional fees and charges apply.” Confirm current pricing directly with Delta Cargo.
Federal Requirements Still Apply
Delta’s own pages remind travelers that its policy sits alongside, not instead of, federal requirements: your dog needs to appear healthy, be microchipped, be at least 6 months old, and have a completed CDC Dog Import Form, with rabies documentation depending on origin country. Delta separately flags a New World Screwworm (NWS) Inspection Certificate requirement for dogs entering Mexico or arriving from other NWS-affected countries, issued within 5 days of arrival.
For the full federal picture, see our CDC Dog Import Requirements and Rabies Vaccination Requirements guides.
Check-In and Compliance
Check in for a cabin pet at the Special Service Counter, and allow extra time for pet verification. At the security checkpoint, your pet has to come out of its kennel; otherwise, it stays kenneled at the airport except in designated pet relief areas. Delta is explicit that not following its pet policies — including keeping your pet kenneled at all times in the airport and onboard — can cost you the ability to bring a pet on future Delta flights.
