There are some dog breeds that just aren’t welcome on airplanes, particularly in the cargo hold. Certain breeds are banned from air travel due to health and safety concerns, no matter how well you think they’d do on the plane.

These restrictions often target brachycephalic breeds (dogs with short snouts) and dogs deemed too aggressive to fly. No matter how arbitrary it may seem to the dog owner, it’s important to know and understand these restrictions if you’re starting the travel planning process.

Snub-Nosed Breeds

Most airlines do not allow snub-nosed dogs, or brachycephalic dogs, to travel inside the cargo area. How they define these dogs can vary by airline, but policies typically include the following restricted breeds:

Affenpinscher
American Bully
Boston Terrier
Boxer
Brussels Griffon
Bulldog (all types, including English bulldogs and French bulldogs)
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel/English Toy Spaniel
Chow Chow
Lhasa Apso
Mastiff (including Bullmastiff, Cane Corso, Dogue de Bordeaux, and Presa Canario)
Pekinese
Pit Bull
Pug (including Japanese pugs, a mix with Japanese chin)
Shar Pei
Shih Tzu
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Tibetan Spaniel

Breed restrictions generally apply to both mixed breeds and pure-bred brachycephalic dogs. These breeds may be more susceptible to health issues mid-flight due to their short nasal passages, which makes them more vulnerable to changes in air quality and temperature.

While cargo travel is safe for the majority of pets, airlines worry that potential fluctuations in both air pressure and temperature put these breeds at an increased risk of breathing difficulties. (The same applies to sedation, which is why giving your dog sedatives before travel is unsafe.)

That said, the cargo arms of some international airlines like Emirates SkyCargo have begun transporting certain breeds and other live animals that were previously banned. This is based on advice from the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA).

The IPATA has developed a Brachycephalic Fit-To-Fly Assessment for snub-nosed breeds, which must be filled out by vets. This assessment determines how affected these dogs are by their anatomical structure.

Dogs identified as having true Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) based on that assessment should never fly in cargo. BOAS refers to physical features like narrow nasal openings, a soft palate, and a thick tongue that makes it riskier for some dogs to fly.

According to the IPATA, most snub-nosed breeds wouldn’t meet these new criteria, but the vast majority of airlines haven’t yet signed on to these recommendations. If you find a cargo option for your pet, it’s likely that your pet will need to undergo an additional assessment like this one.

If they are approved to fly, they may need a larger crate to improve ventilation mid-air. Your airline will have all of that information for you at booking.

If your snub-nosed dog is small enough, it should be able to fly in-cabin with you on many airlines. The airline may have additional requirements for small dogs to meet regarding overall health and pet carrier size.

Strong-Jawed Breeds

Depending on the airline, some strong-jawed breeds may also be restricted or outright banned from air travel. This pet policy is based on a perception that some breeds of dogs are more dangerous than others, leading some airlines to be concerned about safety during their transport.

Unfortunately, the temperament of your dog may not matter if you’re faced with such restrictions, even if you’re flying with service animals. Common breeds on the restricted list may overlap with the list of snub-nosed breeds. They generally include the following:

American Bulldog
American Bully
American Pit Bull Terrier
Boerboel
Dogo Argentino
American Staffordshire Terrier
Rottweiler
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Tosa

Some airlines may allow transport of these breeds in the cargo hold with CR82-compliant dog crates. These crates are made from more durable materials that are better able to withstand escape attempts. We can provide custom-built CR82 crates for breeds that require it.As these are large dog breeds, carry-on rules don’t apply here. Keep in mind that even if you have a large dog that is not on this list, additional restrictions based on size may apply. Some carriers won’t or can’t ship jumbo-sized breeds, especially on domestic routes

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Example Airline Breed Restrictions

Airline restrictions can change at a moment’s notice, but we wanted to give you an idea of what you’re up against if you’re planning pet travel with a breed that presents challenges. Contacting a professional pet shipper can cut down on the guesswork if you don’t find answers here.

You can also read through our detailed guide to airline policies for pets traveling in-cabin or as manifest cargo. We include information on popular domestic carriers like Alaska Airlines, Frontier, and JetBlue.

Alaska Airlines

There are no breed restrictions for in-cabin pets as long as they fit comfortably into an approved carrier. Alaska Airlines accepts most domestic pets for travel in their climate-controlled baggage and cargo compartments.

Active U.S. military or U.S. military dependents on travel orders may be eligible for a pet travel fee discount.

The following breeds are restricted from flying in cargo:

American Pit Bull
American Staffordshire Terrier
Boston Terrier
Boxer
Brussels Griffon
Mastiff (All Breeds)
Bulldog
Bull Terrier
Chow Chow
Dutch Pug
English Bulldog
English Toy Spaniel
French Bulldog
Japanese Boxer
Japanese Pug
Japanese Spaniel
Pekingese
Pug
Shih Tzu
Staffordshire Bull Terrier

American Airlines

There are no breed restrictions for in-cabin pets as long as they meet carrier size requirements. Pets are only allowed as excess baggage if they are attached to tickets for active-duty military or U.S. State Department foreign personnel traveling on official orders.

The American PetEmbark service is available for pets who don’t meet these requirements, but breed restrictions apply. American’s cargo service won’t fly any brachycephalic pets or dogs described as “historically aggressive.” Here’s the list:

Affenpinscher
American Bully
American Staffordshire Terrier
Boston Terrier
Boxer
Brussels Griffon
Bulldog
Chow Chow
English Toy Spaniel
Japanese Chin
Lhasa Apso
Mastiff
Pekingese
Pit Bull
Pug (All breeds)
Shar Pei
Shih Tzu
Staffordshire Terrier
Tibetan Spaniel

Delta

There are no breed restrictions for pets flying in-cabin as long as they fit in an approved carrier. Delta currently has an embargo on pets traveling through their Delta Cargo service for anyone other than active U.S. military or U.S. diplomats on travel orders.

The following breeds are restricted from flying even in those situations:

Affenpinscher
American Bully
American Pit Bull Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
Boston Terrier
Boxer
Bull Terrier
Brussels Griffin
Bulldog
Chow Chow
English Toy Spaniel
Japanese Chin
King Charles Spaniel
Lhasa Apso
Mastiff
Pekingese
Pit Bull
Pug
Shar Pei
Shih Tzu
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Tibetan Spaniel

United Airlines

There are no breed restrictions for in-cabin pets as long as they fit in a suitable carrier. United no longer flies any pets in cargo through their PetSafe program. Active U.S. military or U.S. State Department foreign personnel are the exception, but breed restrictions apply.

Banned breeds on that list include the following:

Affenpinscher
American Bully
American Pit Bull Terrier/Pit Bull
American Staffordshire Terrier
Boston Terrier
Boxer
Brussels Griffon
Bulldog
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Chow Chow
English Toy Spaniel
Japanese Chin
Lhasa Apso Pug
Pug
Tibetan Spaniel
Mastiff
Pekingese
Shar Pei
Shih Tzu
Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Alternatives to Flying in Cargo

Unfortunately, pet transport options are limited if you have a restricted breed. You may be limited to ground transportation or a pet-friendly ferry to get your pet to their destination. Some pet owners even look into charter flights. While costly, they may come with fewer restrictions.

It’s also important to note that some countries have active bans on certain breeds, particularly those described as “dangerous” dog breeds.

You may not be able to fly with your dog even if you jump through the hoops to make it happen if they have one of these breeds listed on their health certificate. This applies to mixed breeds as well as pure-bred dogs. Service dogs may be an exception, but that’s not always the case.

How We Can Help

If you’re to the point where you think you’ve exhausted all of your options for pet transport with a restricted breed, contact us. We’ve worked with all breeds and temperaments, including snub-nosed dogs.

While they may not be able to fly on your desired route, we may be able to arrange ground transport to get them safely to their destination. We may also know of an alternative you haven’t thought of yet or can offer advice from our in-house veterinarian.

REach pet relocation is different. For questions about cost or availability, we always start with a quote.

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Dog Breeds Restricted From Air Travel