Alaska Airlines Pet Policy: Guide to Fly with Furry Friend
Are you looking forward to traveling with your paw-some friend? We are looking forward to having you both! Everyone deserves to travel with their best friend, but if your best friend is a dog, then? In such cases, Alaska Airlines Pet Policy comes into play. With Alaska Airlines, you can travel freely with your dog, under some conditions, of course.
If you’re planning to take your pet for a vacation, read the following article to understand how Alaska Airlines Pet Policy works:
Related Policy
Pets in Cabin
If you have a small pet, then you are allowed to travel with it in the cabin. However, it depends on the space availability onboard. A fee of USD 100/CAD is chargeable for the same. To ensure space availability in the cabin, call the airlines as soon as your trip gets finalized so that you can reserve a seat for your pet. There is a limited number of seats available in the cabin, and preference is given on a first-come, first-serve basis. So, hurry up!
Terms for Pets in Cabin
- The passenger carrying a pet with themselves must be above 18 years of age.
- You are not allowed to occupy any bulkhead row or emergency row exit when traveling with a pet.
- Main Cabin accommodates eight pet carriers in one flight, whereas First Class Cabin accommodates three pet carriers in one flight.
- If you purchase a second ticket adjacent to your seat, then only you are allowed to travel with two pet carriers in the main cabin.
- Pets allowed in the cabin only include dogs, rabbits, cats, and household cats.
- Dogs and Cats need to be at least eight weeks old in order to be allowed in the cabin.
- Your pet must always stay inside the carrier, including its head and toe.
- The carrier’s door must be closed from the start, including boarding, deplaning, and inside the aircraft.
- If you want two pets to travel in the same carrier, they must be of similar height and same species.
- Pets that cause disturbance or have offensive odors must travel in the climate-controlled baggage compartment of Alaska Airlines.
Carrier Requirements
There are set requirements when it comes to the size of a carrier, and accordingly, the pet would be allowed to travel in it. An acceptable carrier must meet the following terms:
- Be exact or less than the dimensions of the carrier presented below.
- Carrier must be leak-proof and non-toxic to the animal.
- Carrier should have enough air ventilation.
- Carrier must fit the pet perfectly while also leaving enough space for the pet to stand, move and sit down.
Refer to the table given below to be aware of the carrier size:
TYPE | CARRIER SIZE | DIMENSIONS (L X W X H) |
Hard Sided | 50 | 17” x 11” x 7.5” |
Soft Sided | 50 | 17” x 11” x 9.5” |
Points to Keep in Mind:
- Since a limited number of pets are allowed due to availability, reserve your pet’s travel as soon as you can.
- Make sure your pet is comfortable in the carrier so that no problem occurs during the flight.
- Ensure your pet is smaller than the size of the carrier. The carrier is supposed to be kept under a seat, so the carrier dimensions are strict.
- We would recommend you not sedate your pets as the high altitudes could have a negative effect on the tranquilizers. If you want to sedate your pet, refer to your veterinarian first.
Pets in Cargo
Alaska Airlines Pet Policy Fly with Pets allows you to travel with your pets as cargo in two ways. The first is the option to travel on the same flight as you, and the second is separate. Ensure that you choose what best suits you, as the requirements differ for both.
A) Traveling with Pets on the Same Flight:
In order to travel with your pet on the same flight as yours, you need to make your pet travel in the climate-controlled baggage compartment. Read the below-mentioned criteria to check the requirements:
- One-way fee for pet travel on the same flight is $150.
- The carrier and pet combined should be a maximum of 150 pounds. It cannot exceed that.
- Dogs, ferrets, hamsters, non-poisonous reptiles, rabbits, cats, guinea pigs, household birds, pot-bellied pigs, and tropical fish.
- Persian cats and bulldogs, or any pet with snub noses, are restricted from flying in the baggage compartment.
- Some limitations also persist on flying during certain months; for example, from November 15 to January 10, people flying on Alaska Airlines flight number 2000-2999 or 3300-3499 will be unable to check their pets in the baggage compartment.
We suggest you book your pet’s travel as soon as you book yours, as only a limited number of pets are permitted in one flight. To book your pet’s reservation, you can either call Alaska Airlines by fetching their number from their official website or call us anytime.
B) Shipping your Pet Separately
Shipping your pet is not as easy as taking them on the same flight as yours. The weather conditions and destination sometimes cause a hindrance to the Alaska Airlines Pet Connect, so make sure you read this article thoroughly.
Some requirements need to be met if you want to check your pet as baggage. These requirements include:
- You must provide a health certificate duly signed by your veterinarian so your pet can travel in the baggage compartment.
- The pet must stay inside the carrier at all times and should fit inside the carrier so that no body part of the pet is outside the carrier.
- The carrier must be comfortable for your pet, and the pet should be able to stand, move and turn freely when inside the carrier.
- Kindly put a food and water dish inside the carrier, so Alaska Airlines staff can feed the pet whatever food you provide without having to open the carrier door.
- You can pick up your pet approximately 30 minutes after the flight arrives. The process of deplaning pets can take a while, so please be patient.
- We don’t recommend you sedate your pets as high altitudes may worsen their conditions. However, you can check with your veterinarian and sedate your pet if advised.
- Regarding unaccompanied pets, Alaska Airlines only permits pets to travel during months with temperatures between 45 and 85 degrees.
If you have a letter from your veterinarian stating that your companion is fit to travel in extreme weather conditions, then some exceptions may be made by Alaska Airlines.
Carrier Dimensions & Requirements:
SIZE | CARRIER SIZE | DIMENSIONS (L X W X H) |
Extra Small | 100 | 21” x 16” x 15” |
Small | 200 | 27” x 20” x 19” |
Medium | 300 | 32” x 22” x 23” |
Large | 400 | 36” x 24” x 26” |
Extra Large | 500 | 40” x 27” x 30” |
- The carrier must provide the pet with enough air ventilation, should be escape-proof, and have handles.
- Carriers with wheels are not accepted.
- Carriers should be made with solid material suitable for air transportation.
- Nuts and Bolts must secure the top and bottom of the carrier.
- We would suggest you view the IATA and USDA carrier requirements.
Service Animals on Alaska Airlines Pet Policy
As per the Alaska Airlines Pet Policy, Service Animals Policy, no charge is levied on the travel of service animals. However, to ensure your trained service animal is eligible to fly, read the following points about Pet Policy:
- Service animals trained to help people with disability or psychiatric service animals are most welcome on Alaska Airlines.
- Each passenger is allowed two service animals at most. The size of your service animal must not exceed the space of your personal seat.
- To complete the process of acceptance of service animals, you must start the process at least five days before the scheduled departure date.
- Start your request as soon as possible if you have booked your flight 48 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Emotional support animals are required to travel as per the Alaska Airlines Pet Policy and shall not be considered service animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
A. The dimensions for hard-sided carrier dimensions are 17" x 11" x 7.5", and soft-sided carrier dimensions are 17" x 11" x 9.5". Make sure the carrier does not exceed these dimensions.
A. No. As per the Alaska Airlines Dog Policy, your pet must fit perfectly well inside the carrier. No body part, including the tail or head of the dog, is allowed to be outside the carrier.
A. No. Alaska Airlines does not allow certain cat breeds, including Persian, Himalayan, Burmese, and Exotic Shorthair.
A. Two pets per carrier are allowed in Alaska Airlines, provided they are of the same breed and at least eight weeks old.
A. Alaska Airlines does not consider emotional support animals as service animals. Therefore, the charges for your pet would be as per the Alaska Airlines Pet Policy.
