Airline Dog Policies

by Therese Wite, stardust@fc.net
http://www.fc.net/~stardust

As of June 1, 2001, this is what the airlines do but it could change at anytime.

American

Still takes dogs as excess baggage for $75 each way but they have a summer embargo at the moment until September 15th. So right now no dogs on American. Letters to them to continue taking dogs might help.

Delta

They also have a summer embargo until September but you can send your dog their new way. It's a combination of Delta Dash and priority first called "Delta Pet First" and it is very expensive. If you look on their site they have a chart of prices. Before the embargo, they were taking dogs as excess baggage for $75 each way. I have a feeling they will not go back to the excess baggage at the end of the summer. Letters to them to continue taking dogs might really help!!!!!! (Delta's site http://www.delta.com/travel/trav_serv/pet_travel/index.jsp)

Continental

They were the first to do the Live Animal Desk and never transport dogs as excess baggage anymore. A 500 crate is $299 each way. Friends and I have written them a bunch of letters but they say they will not change back. It would be great to get a bunch of letters to them. Maybe they would reconsider.

Northwest

They do it the same as continental. $299 each way for a 500 kennel. They don't seem to have as good a system as Continental.

United

No excess baggage only cargo and you have to be a known shipper. Also, their prices are the highest I've seen. TWA-no excess baggage, only cargo

US Air

Still does excess baggage but has a weight limit of 100 pounds. They could change this anytime.

Frontier

Still does excess baggage but only allows one 500 crate per airplane and you need a reservation for the dog. They charge $50 each way for the dog. They are not in many markets, so it's hard to use them. They are based out of Denver.

I definitely think it can't hurt if everyone will write. It might even help with Delta and American to write letters stating that you are happy that they take the dogs and hope they continue to do so after the summer embargo. This might make it so that they don't do what the other airlines are starting to do. The other airlines that will only take dogs as cargo need letters telling them that they need to start taking dogs as excess baggage again.

I hope everyone can help. Maybe it will make a difference.

Last Update: 01/21/06, 12:54:10  Terms of Use and Disclaimer.