For the 40,000-plus pets traveling every year via Alaska and Hawaiian Air Cargo’s Pet Connect Travel service — and the humans who love them — preparations begin well before the day of flight.
From securing a veterinarian’s health certificate to ensuring an appropriate kennel size, our Pet Connect travel guidelines are designed to keep our four-legged flyers safe and comfortable during travel.
Here are some of our top tips for pet owners and shippers to ensure a smooth Pet Connect experience:
1. Check if your pet’s breed is cleared for travel
Before booking your pet, please be sure to check our website to confirm if your pet’s breed is approved for travel on our Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines aircraft. See a list of restricted breeds on our Pet Connect website.
In addition, many animals are not allowed to travel to the state of Hawai‘i. Before booking, please refer to the state’s rules for animal travel.
2. Make sure your pet is healthy to fly
Pet owners should ask their veterinarian to fully evaluate any health challenges and include a statement of acclimation in the health certificate if the animal is traveling to a warmer or colder climate. Learn more about health certificates on our Pet Connect website.
3. Choose a sturdy kennel sized for your pet’s safety and comfort
Kennels must be made of a rigid construction with a solid top — and must be large enough for an animal to comfortably stand, turn around and lay down. The pet’s ears cannot touch the top of the kennel. Also, keep in mind that many regional flights with smaller aircraft can’t carry larger kennels. Check our kennel requirements for kennel-construction rules, as well as minimum and maximum sizes.
4. Plan for layovers
Pet shippers are encouraged to book nonstop flights whenever possible. When a pet has multiple flights, take care to keep the animal comfortable during layovers and plan for care stops to allow your pet to receive food, water, medication and comfort during extended travel. A care stop is required when:
- The first flight is seven hours or longer and included a connection.
- The connection between booked flights is six hours or longer.
- A same-day connection is not possible.
- The total itinerary exceeds 24 hours.
Connection requirements vary by aircraft and destination. Learn more.
5. Check weather conditions and flight status before taking your pet to the airport
Before a flight, check our Alerts and Embargoes page for weather-related restrictions on pet travel. Animals often can’t fly in the cargo compartment when temperatures are hotter than 85 degrees or cooler than 45 degrees in the departure or destination cities, and seasonal travel restrictions may be applied to ensure pets’ safety during hot and cold months.
Also, please check the flight status before taking your pet to the cargo station. If a flight is canceled or delayed, call us at 1-800-225-2752 to rebook your pet or discuss alternate travel options.
See current Alerts and Embargoes.
The requirements for pet shipping may seem overwhelming for a first-time shipper, but they’re designed to ensure pets have the smoothest, safest journey. And pets traveling via Alaska and Hawaiian Air Cargo always receive VIP (Very Important Pet) treatment with priority last-on, first-off loading.
More pet travel resources
About Alaska Air Cargo and Hawaiian Air Cargo
Together, Alaska Air Cargo and Hawaiian Air Cargo reach 110-plus cargo destinations around the world, including cities across Asia, the South Pacific and Europe. With more than 90 years of experience carrying vital shipments to remote communities, our air cargo teams share deep connections to the communities where we live, work and fly.
A small pet whose carrier fits under a passenger-cabin seat may be able to travel in the cabin with a ticketed passenger. Eligible larger pets may travel as checked baggage if they are traveling with a passenger, or as cargo if they are traveling alone. Here’s how to find the right option for your four-legged friend:
PASSENGER CABIN: Small dogs and cats may travel with a ticketed passenger over the age of 18 if the carrier fits under the seat and the pet is added to the passenger reservation. Rabbits and some pet birds are allowed on U.S. mainland flights only. Additional fees apply, and a limited number of pets are allowed per flight. Learn more about traveling with your pet in the cabin.
CHECKED BAGGAGE: Breeds accepted for travel in the cargo compartment may also travel as checked baggage with a ticketed passenger traveling on the same flight. If the pet and passenger are traveling on connecting flights, the passenger must pick up the pet at baggage claim after the first leg of the journey, and recheck the pet for the next. Learn more about checking your pet as baggage.
CARGO: Eligible breeds can travel alone as cargo. Follow our Pet Connect checklist for complete guidelines.
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