Alaska Airlines Pet Policy — Every Rule That Matters Before You Book

These are the searches and questions that come up most before flying a pet on Alaska — answered directly, without burying the answer in three paragraphs of preamble.

• 1
  How much does it cost to bring a pet on Alaska Airlines? In-cabin: $100 each way · Checked baggage: $200 each way (was $150 before Jan 2, 2026) · Within Alaska state: $100 checked · Within Hawaii: $35 in-cabin, $60 checked · Active US military: $100 checked

  Fees are charged per carrier, per flight segment — not per pet, and not per round trip. A nonstop round trip with one pet in the cabin costs $200 total. If your itinerary involves a connection, each leg is a separate fee. The January 2026 fee increase for checked pets from $150 to $200 caught travelers who had booked early by surprise — the higher fee applies based on the departure date, not the booking date. If you’ve already booked a trip with a pet as checked baggage and weren’t told about the increase, call Alaska Airlines reservations to confirm what you’ll owe.
• 2
  What are the carrier size limits for Alaska Airlines cabin pets? Soft-sided: 17″ L × 11″ W × 9.5″ H · Hard-sided: 17″ L × 11″ W × 7.5″ H · Must fit under the seat in front of you · Smaller than most major airlines — measure carefully before buying a carrier

  Alaska’s carrier dimensions are notably stricter than Delta, United, and American, which allow 18″ × 11″ × 11″ soft-sided carriers. The 9.5″ height limit means many popular “airline approved” carriers sold as universal fits don’t actually work on Alaska flights. If you’re buying a new carrier specifically for an Alaska flight, don’t rely on the “airline approved” label — measure the actual bag and verify it meets Alaska’s specific limits. Soft-sided is strongly preferred over hard-sided not only because of the extra 2″ of height allowance but because soft sides compress slightly in the seat pocket, giving a little extra room if needed. Alaska does not enforce a strict combined weight limit for cabin pets — the real test is whether the animal fits comfortably inside the carrier with the door closed.
• 3
  Can I buy a seat for my dog on Alaska Airlines? Yes — in a limited way. You can purchase an adjacent seat to bring two pets in two carriers · The second carrier counts as the carry-on for that seat · The two carriers still need to fit under the respective seats · Not a “dog sits in a seat” situation — the pet stays in the carrier under the seat

  Alaska is one of the few major U.S. carriers that allows a second pet carrier when a second adjacent seat is purchased — a rule that benefits owners of two small pets or a single owner who wants two pets side by side. The animal still stays in the carrier under the seat; Alaska does not allow pets to sit uncontained on a purchased seat the way some private carriers do. If you want to bring two pets and have only one ticket, your second option is to have a travel companion book a separate reservation and each take one animal. Spots are strictly limited per flight, so if you’re buying two adjacent seats for two pets, book both immediately after booking your main ticket.
• 4
  Are rabbits allowed on Alaska Airlines in-cabin? Yes — reinstated January 14, 2026, after a short-lived ban · Allowed in the cabin on domestic routes within the continental U.S. and Alaska · Not permitted to Hawaii or international destinations · Standard carrier size rules and $100 fee apply · Must be booked in advance

  The rabbit reinstatement is one of the more notable policy reversals in recent airline history. Alaska removed rabbits from in-cabin eligibility in mid-2025, drawing immediate pushback from rabbit owners — particularly those who rely on cabin travel rather than cargo for animals that are highly sensitive to temperature and stress. After months of public pressure and direct customer outreach, Alaska reversed course in January 2026. Rabbits can now fly in the cabin on domestic routes using the same carrier requirements as dogs and cats. They are still not permitted on Hawaii or international routes, which restrict in-cabin animals to dogs and cats only. Book your rabbit’s space by calling Alaska Airlines at (800) 252-7522 or through online chat — rabbit travel cannot currently be added through the standard online booking flow at all airports.
• 5
  My dog has a flat face (Pug, Bulldog, French Bulldog) — can they fly Alaska? In cabin: yes, if the carrier fits under the seat · Checked baggage / cargo: NO — brachycephalic breeds are fully banned from the baggage compartment · Exception: brachycephalic breeds traveling cargo to or from Hawaii only, in a kennel one size larger than standard

  Alaska’s brachycephalic ban for baggage is firm and broadly applied. The full restricted dog breed list includes: Boston Terrier, Boxer (all breeds), Bulldog (all breeds), Bull Terrier, Brussels Griffon, Chow Chow, English Toy Spaniel, Japanese Chin, Mastiff (all breeds), Pekingese, Pit Bull (all breeds), Pug (all breeds), Shih Tzu, and Staffordshire Terrier. Restricted cat breeds are: Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan, and Persian. The reasoning is physiological — short airways make these animals significantly more vulnerable to respiratory distress during the temperature variation, altitude stress, and reduced oxygen of a cargo hold. The in-cabin exception exists because the cabin is pressurized, temperature-regulated, and the animal is in a small controlled space rather than an open hold. If your brachycephalic dog is too large for a cabin carrier, contact Alaska’s cargo team about Pet Connect — but be aware that the breed restriction generally blocks cargo as well, except for the Hawaii-specific exception with the oversized kennel requirement.
• 6
  What does flying a pet to Hawaii on Alaska Airlines actually require? Only dogs and cats accepted to Hawaii (no rabbits, birds, or exotic pets) · In-cabin fee is $35 · Checked pet fee is $60 · Hawaii has strict rabies-free quarantine laws — extensive documentation required · Pets arriving without correct permits face up to 120 days quarantine at owner’s expense · Start the Hawaii process 4–6 months before travel

  Hawaii’s animal import process is one of the most demanding in the U.S. — the state has been rabies-free for over a century and takes enforcement seriously. The core requirements for the 5-Day-or-Less program (which lets your pet skip most of the quarantine): your dog or cat must be microchipped, have a current FAVN rabies antibody titer test performed at least 90 days before arrival, have two documented rabies vaccinations at least 30 days apart, have a health certificate from a USDA-accredited vet issued within 14 days of arrival, and carry a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit if continuing beyond Honolulu. Cats have slightly different vaccination requirements. Missing any one of these items can result in your pet being held at the Animal Quarantine Station for up to 120 days — at several hundred dollars per day in boarding fees. Hawaii’s state Department of Agriculture website has the current checklist. Begin this process no later than four to six months before your trip.
• 7
  What is Alaska Airlines Pet Connect and when do I need it? Pet Connect is Alaska’s cargo service for pets over 150 lbs (pet + kennel) · Also used for pets traveling without a human passenger on the same flight · Managed through Alaska Air Cargo — book separately at alaskacargo.com · Not available to Mexico or Costa Rica · No live animal transport on Airbus aircraft

  Pet Connect fills the gap between checked baggage (which requires the passenger and pet to be on the same flight) and standard cargo. If your pet needs to travel without you — say you’re relocating and shipping your dog ahead — Pet Connect is the route. The pet must have a health certificate from a licensed vet, connections must be at least two hours minimum, and pickup is required within four hours of arrival to avoid additional kenneling fees. Connections cannot exceed six hours unless advance kenneling arrangements are made. Hot and cold weather restrictions also apply to Pet Connect — no travel when departure, connection, or arrival temperatures exceed 85°F or fall below 45°F (a vet’s Certificate of Acclimation can grant cold-weather exceptions). No service to Mexico or Costa Rica through this program.
• 8
  Do I need a health certificate to fly my pet on Alaska Airlines? In-cabin domestic: no certificate required · Checked baggage and cargo: health certificate required, issued within 10 days of the initial travel date · Valid for up to 30 days for return travel on the same reservation · Hawaii: health certificate from a USDA-accredited vet required within 14 days · Travel within or to Alaska (state): rabies certificate required

  The no-certificate rule for domestic in-cabin travel catches people off guard in the other direction — they expect to need one and are surprised when they don’t. For checked pets, the 10-day window is strict. Your vet must issue the certificate within 10 days of your outbound departure date, and Alaska accepts it for return travel up to 30 days later if booked on the same reservation (verify the return date with your vet before the appointment). A separate certificate is typically needed for the return portion of a trip if it’s on a separate booking. For travel to, from, or within the state of Alaska (not the airline, the state), a rabies vaccination certificate is required for both interstate and in-state travel — this applies even to in-cabin pets on domestic U.S. routes that pass through Alaskan airports.

Alaska’s carrier size limits are among the strictest of any major U.S. carrier. If you already own a carrier that works on Delta, United, or American, measure it before assuming it works on Alaska.

Use the buttons below to locate veterinarians for health certificates, pet supply stores for approved carriers, and Alaska Airlines airport locations near you.