Your Guide to Flying With a Large Dog

Flying with a large dog may sound intimidating at first, but with some planning and prep work, you can make sure your pet has a safe, stress-free journey to their destination. 

This guide covers everything, from knowing which airlines to target for pet-friendly travel to breed restrictions to extras that may not already be on your checklist. We’ll also include information about situations where you may need to call in the experts for peace of mind. 

In-Cabin Rules

In-cabin rules can vary somewhat depending on the airline, but generally, if your pet and their carrier can’t fit underneath the seat in front of you, they’ll have to fly as manifest cargo. You can’t just buy a seat on the airplane for your dog, especially larger dogs.

It’s unlikely a gate agent will weigh your dog and pet carrier at check-in, but assume that your pet and their carrier should weigh no more than 15-20 pounds. Your pet’s travel carrier should be a maximum of 17-18” in length, and many airlines count this as your carry-on. (You can still bring a personal item in most cases.)

This is if the airline’s pet policy allows pets on their aircraft at all, of course. Some don’t, which means no small in-cabin pets, either.

The only exception for large dogs in the cabin is if you hire a specialized, pet-friendly charter or private jet or are flying with service animals. Service dogs fly free on most airlines when accompanying a person with a disability under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). 

This includes airlines that may not fly large dogs in cargo, like Southwest Airlines. Advance notice, documentation, and behavior requirements may apply in each case, and this does not cover emotional support animals (ESAs). 

Up until a few years ago, ESAs were still allowed to fly with pet owners if they showed up with the required documentation proving they were there to serve the needs of their owners. That could have been assisting with flight anxiety, for example. 

Unfortunately, many passengers falsely claimed pets as ESAs. A series of onboard incidents led to a reversal by the U.S. Department of Transportation that only trained service dogs qualified for special accommodations.

Flying Cargo

There are 2 options for dogs outside of the main cabin: checked luggage or manifest cargo. The cost of each varies by airline. Dogs flying as checked luggage, or excess baggage, are on the same ticket as their owner in the cargo hold of the plane.

Dogs flying as manifest cargo are also in the hold, but may not be on the same flight as you. This may sound scary for the pet owner, but it could actually be more stress-free for your pet.  

A direct flight or flight with limited layovers is always preferable over bookings with multiple layovers, even if your pet can’t be on the same aircraft. It’s less likely they’ll face flight delays with fewer layovers, too.

This is part of the reason why some airlines don’t allow pets to fly as checked luggage in favor of travel on their cargo affiliates. These are safe, pressure-controlled environments run by experts who often specialize in pet travel.

That said, most airlines have size and weight limits, even for dogs flying in cargo, often around 150 pounds. This includes the crate or kennel. Some airlines that allow jumbo-sized pets may boost that upper limit to about 165 pounds, crate included.

Crates must meet International Air Transport Association (IATA) standards. That means they’re well-ventilated, secure, and large enough for the dog to stand, turn, and lie down. Your dog will likely be asked to do this at check-in. 

Sedation is never recommended, even if you’re traveling with an anxious pet. Sedatives can make it harder for your dog to regulate their heart rate, respiration, and body temperature in the air. Your dog may not even be allowed to board if they appear sedated or lethargic at check-in.

Breed Restrictions 

Depending on the airline, certain large dog breeds may be banned from air travel, even in the cargo hold. This includes brachycephalic dogs, or snub-nosed breeds, and dogs deemed too aggressive to fly.

Airlines worry about the health of snub-nosed breeds in the cargo hold, although some carriers make exceptions with the right paperwork. Here are a few larger dog breeds that could fall under that category:

• American Bully
• Boxer
• Bulldog (all types, including English bulldogs and French bulldogs)
• Chow Chow
• Mastiff (including Bullmastiff, Cane Corso, Dogue de Bordeaux, and Presa Canario)
• Pit Bull
• Shar Pei
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier

If you have a smaller snub-nosed dog that’s just a little too big to fit comfortably in a carrier under the seat in front of you, they have to fly in cargo. This might include small dogs like Boston terriers, pugs, and Cavalier King Charles spaniels.

Many airlines also restrict strong-jawed breeds due to safety concerns about transporting them. They may overlap with snub-nosed breeds. These include: 

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

Don’t assume all hope is lost if you’re traveling with one of the breeds listed above. The airline’s cargo arm may make exceptions or require a custom crate for dogs they consider more aggressive. 
At Tailwind, we’ve worked with all kinds of big dog breeds and can provide custom-built CR82 crates for breeds that require it.

Airline Policies 

Some airlines are more pet-friendly than others. Here is a quick list of airlines for international and domestic flights that allow large dogs to fly as either checked luggage or manifest cargo:

• Air Canada (Air Canada Cargo)
• Air France
• Air Tahiti Nui (Air Nahiti Nui Cargo)
• Air New Zealand (You must book through a pet shipper for international flights.)
• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines (American PetEmbark)
• British Airways (PetAir UK from the UK or IAG Cargo to the UK)
• Emirates (Emirates SkyCargo)
• Hawaiian Airlines
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
• Lufthansa
• Qantas (You must book through a pet transport specialist for travel to/from Australia.)
• Qatar Airways
• Scandinavian Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• Turkish Airlines
• Virgin Australia (Virgin Australia Cargo)

Some airlines, like Delta and United Airlines, make exceptions for military personnel or U.S. diplomats traveling on orders. If this applies to you, contact the carrier about dog travel on that airline.

Airlines may have additional restrictions for pet travel even if they allow dogs in the hold. Pets may be denied boarding if the weather at their departure or arrival city is outside of 45-85 degrees. 

The cargo hold is temperature-controlled, but this is to account for any waiting time on the tarmac, pet relief areas, or elsewhere before boarding. (Some international airports operate out of indoor-outdoor facilities.)

Exceptions may be possible with a certificate of acclimation from your vet, but this generally only covers temperatures on the colder end.

There may also be specific requirements depending on your destination. All airlines want to see that your dog has an ISO-compliant microchip and health certificates stating they’re healthy enough to fly. You may also need to provide additional paperwork to meet vaccine requirements.

Rabies-free countries and territories like Hawaii may require an official history of rabies vaccinations, rabies titers, and certificates endorsed by USDA-accredited vets. 

These regulations don’t just apply to your large dog. All dogs traveling to these destination points need to meet these standards.

A Few Extra Tips 

We know we’ve already shared a lot of information with you. Here are a few more things to know as you plan that trip or relocation for your large dog:

• The number of pets matters. Most airlines allow up to 2 dogs per passenger. Depending on the size of your pet, 2 dogs may be able to share a crate if they’re from the same family.
• Book as early as possible. There is limited space for large dogs in cargo. Some routes may not allow them at all due to temperature requirements or a lack of temperature control in the hold on some aircraft. Don’t assume you’ll have unlimited options.
• Train your dog for travel. Traveling in the cargo hold is different than flying in the cabin. For many, it’ll be less stressful, but it’s still a new environment. Go beyond crate training with practice car rides in their travel kennel to expose them to different sights and sounds.
• Review crate requirements. We’ve touched on this already, but airlines are very strict about crate size and style. Crates should be large enough for dogs to comfortably stand up and turn around. Some breeds may require reinforced crates.
• Label crates appropriately. Your carrier will help you with live animal stickers, but your dog’s crate should also be labeled with their itinerary and relevant import documents. Print off contact information and a pet photo. Some destinations require crate sealing, too.
• Know what to pack. Line crates with absorbent padding or a thin crate bed, but avoid thick bedding that will limit their space and cause overheating. Thin blankets or a piece of clothing with your scent are fine. Toys and other choking hazards aren’t allowed.

Depending on your dog’s itinerary, your airline may also ask that you secure a bag of food to the outside of their crate. Water bowls should be accessible from the outside of the crate and firmly secured so they don’t come off mid-flight.

Tailwind Makes Travel Effortless

At Tailwind, we’ve worked with all types of breeds, including jumbo-sized dogs. We’ve even come up with solutions for clients who have dogs on banned breed lists. (We can do ground transportation, too!)

Whether you’re flying to a destination that requires a professional pet shipper to meet country requirements or just want to make sure you don’t miss anything in the planning, we can help. If you’re traveling through Los Angeles and need dog boarding, we can help there, too.

Ready to get started? Each pet relocation situation is different. To get an idea of the costs involved, fill out a free quote request.