Why Can’t I Find an Airline to Ship My Pet?
The Truth Behind Finding an Airline to Ship Your Pet
You’ve spent hours on hold. You’ve clicked through every airline website. You’ve searched every variation of “DIY pet shipping” and still don’t have a clear answer.
You’re not doing it wrong – it’s genuinely this complicated. Here’s what’s actually going on, and what your real options look like.
Most US airlines have quietly cut their pet cargo programs.
Over the past few years, major US carriers have significantly scaled back or eliminated their pet cargo services entirely. United Airlines suspended its PetSafe cargo program. Delta no longer accepts pets as checked cargo unless you are an active US military moving on orders. American Airlines and British Airways are among the few that still allow customers to book pet cargo directly and even then, availability depends on the route, the season, and your pet’s size and breed.
If it feels like you’re hitting a wall, that’s because the wall is real.
Cargo, excess baggage, or cabin- the distinction matters more than you think
When people talk about flying a pet, they’re often mixing up three very different things:
- Cargo means your pet travels through the airline’s cargo division – a separate booking process from your passenger ticket. It allows for larger crates and more flexibility on breed. BA and AA are the main carriers that still allow customers to book this directly.
- Excess baggage means your pet travels in the hold but is booked on the passenger side, tied to your ticket. Restrictions are much tighter- smaller crate sizes, stricter breed rules, and it only works if you’re travelling on the same flight.
- Cabin (carry-on) is only an option for very small pets in an approved soft carrier, typically under 8kg combined weight. For most dogs and larger cats, this isn’t on the table.
Most airline websites don’t make these distinctions clear, and the rules change by route, by season, and sometimes by aircraft type. What worked for someone else’s pet last year may not apply to yours today.
Even when an airline says yes, the restrictions are significant
Say you find an airline that accepts cargo. There’s still a gauntlet to get through:
- Route availability. Not every route has cargo capacity. International moves add another layer- health certificates, import permits, microchipping requirements, and sometimes mandatory quarantine depending on the destination country.it.
- Breed restrictions. Brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds such as Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs, and Persian cats, are banned by most airlines due to the risk of respiratory distress. Some carriers have extended this list to include breeds not traditionally considered snub-nosed.
- Temperature embargoes. Many airlines won’t fly pets if the temperature at origin, destination, or any stopover exceeds a certain threshold, which is typically 85F or 29.5C. This can make summer travel nearly impossible on some routes.
- Crate size limits. If your dog needs a large crate, it may not physically fit in the cargo hold of the aircraft on your route. Smaller regional planes are especially limiting.
International moves add a different layer of complexity
If you’re relocating abroad with your pet, the DIY route gets significantly harder. Import requirements vary dramatically by country- some require blood titer tests completed months in advance, others have mandatory quarantine periods. Australia, New Zealand, and the UK are among the strictest. The paperwork needs to be completed in a specific order and within precise timeframes; one step out of sequence and your pet could be turned away at check in or not released from customs upon arrival.
European carriers- Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, British Airways- tend to have more established international pet cargo programs than their US counterparts and handle a large proportion of international pet moves. But navigating their booking systems, route options, and country-specific documentation requirements on your own is a significant undertaking. Additionally, pets transiting the European Union (EU) as cargo need to have an EU transit health certificate, which adds additional health requirements and complexity.
What actually works for DIY pet shipping
For straightforward domestic moves with a small, compliant-breed pet, DIY via excess baggage is very manageable. The key is knowing which airlines to approach, what documentation you need upfront, and how to size your crate correctly because once you’re on hold with a cargo desk, you want to have the right answers ready. Most people handle domestic moves just fine on their own.
International moves are where it gets genuinely complicated. Multiple carriers, country-specific import requirements, complex documentation timelines, and the sheer number of variables make it difficult to navigate alone and one wrong step can mean your pet gets turned away at the border.
Maroon Logistics handles international cargo bookings only. We’re a pet freight forwarder, we research the right carrier for your pet and route, secure the booking, and manage check-in so you’re not spending hours on hold or second-guessing whether you’ve got it right. You handle the crate and paperwork; we get your pet on the right international flight at an affordable price.
Frequently Asked Questions?
Find answers to common questions about our pet shipping services.
Can I ship any breed of dog as air cargo?
No. Most airlines ban brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds outright, including but not limited to Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Pugs, and Boston Terriers. Some carriers have extended their restricted breed lists beyond the traditional snub-nosed categories. Always confirm with the airline before booking.
What’s the cheapest way to ship a pet by air?
Excess baggage is typically the most affordable option- your pet travels in the hold on your ticket, which avoids separate cargo booking fees. The trade-off is tighter restrictions on crate size and breed. For larger dogs or international moves, cargo is usually the only viable route.
How far in advance do I need to book pet cargo?
As early as possible, cargo bookings can typically be secured 1-4 weeks in advance of travel depending on the airlines. For international shipments the timeline extends significantly, since some countries require health documentation completed weeks or months in advance. The paperwork timeline usually drives the booking timeline, not the other way around.
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