Best Airline for Pets in Checked Cargo (2026)

Most major US airlines have suspended or restricted pet cargo programs since 2018. United Airlines discontinued PetSafe entirely after a series of high-profile pet deaths and injuries in 2017-2018, and the program has not restarted. Delta now ships pets only for active US Military and US State Department members on relocation orders. The US carriers that kept consistent general-public pet programs in 2026 are Alaska and Hawaiian (now a single merged carrier group) and American Airlines, whose American Airlines Cargo runs an active program called PetEmbark.

For international long-haul pet relocation, the structural picks are Lufthansa Cargo and Air France-KLM Cargo. They operate dedicated animal facilities at their hubs (Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris CDG), maintain on-site veterinary handling, and have decades-long pet cargo track records.

The most important advice in this guide: if a pet fits an under-seat cabin carrier, use pet-in-cabin instead of checked cargo. Cabin transport is dramatically safer, with the pet remaining in your control under the seat in front of you. Cargo is appropriate only for pets too large for the cabin or international moves where cabin travel is not permitted.

What we looked for

• DOT pet mortality and injury stats from monthly Air Travel Consumer Report, which is the most reliable proxy for cargo safety
• Temperature embargo policies which are universal but airline-specific in exact thresholds
• Brachycephalic breed acceptance since most US airlines prohibit snub-nosed breeds from cargo
• Dedicated animal handling facilities at international hubs (FRA, AMS, CDG)
• IATA kennel compliance which is industry-standard requirement
• Documentation requirements including USDA APHIS Form 7001, microchip standards, rabies vaccination timing
• Route-specific limitations including summer embargoes on hot-destination routes

1. Alaska Airlines (best US pet program)

Alaska Airlines is the most consistent US option for accompanied pet travel in 2026. Following the Alaska-Hawaiian merger, the two carriers now publish a single joint pet policy, so Alaska’s program and Hawaiian’s program are increasingly unified.

Why Alaska wins: year-round acceptance in climate-controlled baggage compartments subject to temperature embargoes and breed restrictions, strong DOT pet safety record (consistently among the lowest US carriers for pet incidents per 10,000 transported), direct booking when your pet travels in the baggage compartment on the same flight, and the Pet Connect service through Alaska Air Cargo for pets shipped unaccompanied.

Restrictions: pets in the baggage compartment are subject to breed restrictions, travel-date temperature embargoes, and fleet restrictions. Standard industry embargo thresholds are an 85F (29C) upper limit and a 20F (-7C) lower limit at any transit airport.

Fee: accompanied pet-in-baggage fees run roughly $100 to $200 each way per kennel depending on the route. Unaccompanied Pet Connect cargo is priced separately.

Limitations: Alaska’s mainline narrowbody fleet does not fly long-haul international. Hawaiian (now in the same group) operates A330 and 787-9 widebodies for long-haul, with consistent climate-controlled holds.

Use case: domestic US pet relocation, Pacific Northwest, Alaska, Hawaii-mainland routes. Best US carrier for routine pet travel needs.

2. Hawaiian Airlines (inter-island and Hawaii-mainland)

Hawaiian Airlines, now part of the same carrier group as Alaska after the merger, maintains a strong pet program optimized for Hawaii’s unique pet travel context (rabies-free state with specific quarantine requirements).

Inter-island routes: dogs and cats accepted year-round subject to temperature embargo. $35 inter-island pet cabin fee (as of recent updates; verify current rate). Cargo for larger pets.

Hawaii-mainland routes: $100 pet-in-cabin (as of January 2026); cargo for larger pets with similar pricing. Hawaii’s strict rabies-quarantine rules (“Hawaii’s Direct Airport Release Program”) require all pets entering Hawaii from the mainland to meet specific microchip, vaccination, and FAVN blood test requirements (or face up to 120 days quarantine at Honolulu Animal Quarantine Station).

HNL hub handling: Hawaiian’s pet handling at Honolulu is well-rated due to the airport’s developed pet-quarantine infrastructure. For mainland-Hawaii pet relocation, Hawaiian is often the most efficient choice because the airline understands the specific Hawaii pet entry requirements.

Aircraft: A330-200 and 787-9 widebodies for long-haul international plus 717-200 for inter-island. The widebody fleet means consistent climate-controlled cargo holds.

3. Lufthansa Cargo (best international)

For international pet relocation, Lufthansa Cargo is the industry standard.

Why Lufthansa wins: the dedicated Frankfurt (FRA) Animal Lounge spans roughly 4,000 sq m (about 43,000 sq ft) and combines handling, animal coordination, and veterinary services under one roof, with 24/7 qualified animal keepers and German state veterinarians on site. It holds dozens of kennels and stalls plus climate chambers for layovers. Lufthansa Cargo also operates dedicated freighter flights on major routes, which means more flexible pet routing.

Brachycephalic policy: Lufthansa does not carry snub-nosed (brachycephalic) dogs and cats in the cargo hold because of their hereditary respiratory risk. For these breeds, a specialist forwarder can sometimes arrange dedicated live-animal air freight, but standard hold carriage is off the table. Owners of bulldogs, pugs, or Persian cats should plan on in-cabin or ground transport where possible.

Hub network: Frankfurt (FRA) is the primary animal-handling hub. Connections through Lufthansa Cargo provide worldwide pet relocation reach.

Fees: vary by route, weight, and kennel size. Typical US-to-Europe pet cargo runs $1,000 to $2,500 depending on pet size and route, including veterinary handling fees.

4. Air France-KLM Cargo (the Schiphol and CDG options)

Air France-KLM Cargo runs the Schiphol (AMS) Animal Hotel, described by the carrier as the world’s largest airline-operated animal transit facility, staffed 24 hours a day by specially trained attendants who follow a veterinary-school-based training program and even offer a dog-walking service. The facility won the IPATA Excellence Award in 2019 and is widely regarded among pet relocation specialists as a top-tier option.

Air France maintains a dedicated animal facility at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) within the same Air France-KLM cargo system. Strong veterinary partnerships, and good reach for Europe-Africa routings.

Because Air France and KLM share one cargo organization, pet routing flexibility spans both AMS and CDG handling options.

For US-to-Europe pet relocation specifically, Lufthansa and Air France-KLM together cover almost all viable routings. Pricing is broadly comparable; the choice usually comes down to which hub matches your destination geography and whether your pet’s breed is accepted in the hold.

5. The United PetSafe history (and why it matters)

United PetSafe was discontinued in March 2018 after a series of high-profile pet deaths and injuries in 2017-2018:

• A French Bulldog puppy died in an overhead bin after a United flight attendant insisted the carrier be stored overhead (March 2018, viral incident that triggered congressional hearings)
• A German Shepherd was shipped to the wrong continent (sent to Japan instead of Kansas)
• A dog died on a flight due to inadequate temperature control
• Multiple other documented cargo incidents during the same period

United paused PetSafe operations in March 2018 and has not restarted the program. As of 2026, United does NOT accept pets in checked cargo or as cargo shipments on passenger aircraft, with the exception of registered assistance animals.

The history matters because: (1) it shows that pet cargo safety is not guaranteed even at major US carriers; (2) it demonstrates that DOT and consumer pressure can force airlines to suspend pet programs entirely; (3) it explains why Alaska and Hawaiian retain strong pet cargo programs (they invested in handling infrastructure and kept incident rates low).

For pet relocation that requires cargo transport on US routes United used to serve, current options are: drive (if domestic), use Alaska/Hawaiian routing or American Airlines Cargo PetEmbark if available, or use a pet relocation service that books cargo space on Lufthansa or Air France-KLM connecting flights.

6. Temperature embargoes (universal but airline-specific)

Industry-standard temperature embargoes refuse pets if forecast temperatures exceed or fall below specific thresholds at any transit airport (origin, connecting, destination).

Standard ranges (most US airlines):

• Upper limit: 85F (29C) at any transit airport
• Lower limit: 20F (-7C) at any transit airport
• Acclimation letter: American Airlines Cargo accepts pets between 20F and 44F (-7C and 7C) only with a veterinarian’s acclimation letter naming the exact lowest temperature; below 20F (-7C) it will not carry the animal at all

Brachycephalic note: rather than offering snub-nosed breeds a lower temperature ceiling, carriers like American and Lufthansa simply bar them from the cargo hold entirely. Check the specific carrier’s breed list before booking.

Practical implication: summer pet relocation to hot destinations (Phoenix, Las Vegas, Miami, Houston, Doha, Dubai between June and September) is often impossible due to embargo violation. The standard workaround is routing through cooler hubs or postponing to the cooler months.

Verify the day before flight: temperature embargoes are forecast-based, and last-minute weather changes can cause same-day pet refusal at the airport. Booking around predicted weather and having a flexible reschedule plan is essential.

7. Documentation: USDA APHIS Form 7001 and beyond

Standard pet cargo documentation requirements:

Domestic US (interstate):

• USDA APHIS Form 7001 (Veterinary Certificate of Inspection) issued by accredited veterinarian within 10 days of travel
• Rabies vaccination certificate within 1-3 years (state requirements vary)
• Microchip ISO 11784/11785 compatible (15-digit number)
• IATA-approved kennel with proper sizing and ventilation

International outbound (US to anywhere):

• All domestic requirements PLUS
• USDA APHIS endorsement of veterinary certificate (additional 1-3 weeks processing time)
• Destination country import permit (varies; rabies-free countries like UK, Japan, Australia have stricter requirements)
• Country-specific vaccinations (Australia, New Zealand have extensive lists)
• FAVN (Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization) blood test 90+ days before travel for rabies-free destination entry
• Microchip implantation before rabies vaccination (sequence matters for some countries)
• Quarantine arrangements (UK: 0 days if all requirements met; Australia: 10 days minimum at approved post-arrival quarantine; some countries: 30+ days)

USDA APHIS Pet Travel website (aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel) is the authoritative resource. Pet relocation specialists (PetRelocation, Pet Express, IPATA members) coordinate complex international moves and handle the documentation timeline.

The bottom line

For US domestic pet travel, Alaska Airlines (now merged with Hawaiian) is the structural pick. Year-round acceptance, strong DOT safety record, roughly $100 to $200 in baggage-compartment fees, plus the Pet Connect cargo service for unaccompanied pets. If you need a true cargo program open to the general public on a wider US route map, American Airlines Cargo PetEmbark is the other current option, with brachycephalic breeds excluded.

For Hawaii-mainland or inter-island pet routing, Hawaiian Airlines remains the obvious choice with developed HNL infrastructure and understanding of Hawaii’s specific entry requirements.

For international pet relocation (US to Europe, Asia, anywhere requiring long-haul cargo), Lufthansa Cargo and Air France-KLM Cargo are the structural picks. Lufthansa for the Frankfurt Animal Lounge and worldwide reach. Air France-KLM for the Schiphol Animal Hotel and the Paris CDG facility. Note that Lufthansa and American both bar snub-nosed breeds from the hold, so plan accordingly.

Avoid United Airlines for pet cargo. United PetSafe was discontinued in March 2018 and has not restarted. Pet-in-cabin is still available on United for cats and small dogs under the seat.

Use pet-in-cabin instead of cargo for any pet that fits an under-seat carrier. Cabin transport is dramatically safer than cargo, with the pet remaining under your seat throughout the flight. Cargo is appropriate only for larger pets or international moves where cabin travel is not an option.

For airline-specific pet-in-cabin rules and carrier dimensions, see Best Airline for Flying with Pets in Cabin which covers Alaska’s industry-leading cabin program, JetBlue’s cat-friendly carrier sizing, and the post-2025 pet-fee landscape.