Delta Air Lines

Service Animals (In-Cabin & Support)

To ensure a safe and enjoyable journey, your service animal must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be a dog fully trained to assist a person with a disability (service animals in training are not eligible)
• Be up-to-date on all vaccinations
• Fit within the foot space ("footprint") of your seat without intruding into aisles or other customers' space
• Refrain from aggressive or inappropriate behavior

Note: Emotional support animals are not recognized as service animals.

Animal Vaccination

• All traveling service animals must be fully vaccinated and at least 4 months old
• Puppies may be vaccinated for rabies at 3 months old, but must wait 30 days before flying at 4 months
• Dogs older than 15 months with expired rabies vaccinations may fly immediately after a booster without a 30-day wait

Aircraft Seat Regulations

• Exit row seating is not permitted when traveling with a service animal; reassignment will occur at the gate if selected
• Service animals must be placed on your lap or on the floor in front of your seat and may not occupy another customer’s space
• Animals are not permitted to eat from tray tables
• If a single seat cannot accommodate both you and your service animal without obstruction, you may:
  • Purchase an additional ticket for your animal to occupy floor space
  • Check your service animal to a holding area below the cabin at no extra charge

Animal Behavior

Your service animal will not be permitted to fly if it displays disruptive or aggressive behavior such as:

• Growling
• Biting
• Lunging
• Jumping on others
• Relieving itself outside approved animal relief areas
• Excessive barking (except in response to handler’s needs)
• Eating off seatback tray tables

Check-In

• Check in as usual via the Fly Delta app or at the airport
• Visiting the check-in counter for your service animal is not required but having the necessary DOT form is recommended
• Service animals do not count against carry-on allowances
• No fees are charged for transporting trained service animals or their assistive devices, even if checked
• Service animal kennels are considered assistive devices and exempt from baggage fees
• Additional essential items for your animal, such as beds or food, travel free of charge

Pet Relief Areas

All U.S. airports offer designated animal relief areas. Delta agents can assist in locating these areas and escort you through security if needed.

On Board

• Service animals may not occupy a seat or encroach on another customer’s space
• Allowed locations include your lap, your foot space, or a neighboring foot space if an additional ticket is purchased
• Your animal must remain with you at all times

Multiple Service Animals

• A maximum of two service animals are permitted to travel
• You must ensure adequate floor and/or lap space for both animals, which may require purchasing additional tickets
• Complete and submit required DOT documents for each animal, ideally 48 hours or more before departure

In-Cabin Carrier Details

Dog or cat travel outside the contiguous U.S. requires all necessary documentation and compliance with age, health, size, and kennel requirements.

• Pets must meet minimum age requirements:
  • At least 8 weeks old for domestic travel.
  • Dogs must be at least 6 months old and cats 16 weeks old when traveling to the U.S. from another country.
  • At least 15 weeks old when traveling to the European Union.
• One pet per kennel is permitted with exceptions:
  • One female cat or dog may travel with her un-weaned litter aged 8 weeks to 6 months; no limit on litter size if all fit safely in the kennel.
  • Two pets of the same breed and size, aged 8 weeks to 6 months, may share one kennel if compatible and small enough to fit.
• Pets must fit in a soft-sided, ventilated kennel that fits under the seat in front of you.
• Pets in kennels count as one carry-on item; you may also bring one personal item on board.
• Seat restrictions for customers with carry-on pets:
  • No bulkhead seats
  • No emergency exit rows
  • No seats designated as "no stowage"
  • No flat-bed or Delta One seats
  • No rows 46-51 on A330-200 aircraft
  • No rows 54-59 on A330-300 aircraft
  • No center seats on B757-200 aircraft

Carry-On Kennel Requirements

• Check aircraft dimensions to ensure kennel fits under the seat in front of you.
• Pet must fit comfortably inside the kennel without touching or sticking out.
• Kennel must be soft-sided, leak-proof, and ventilated on:
  • 3 sides for domestic travel
  • 4 sides for international travel
• Recommended maximum kennel size: 18" x 11" x 11".
• Pet must remain inside the secured kennel while in boarding areas, during boarding and deplaning, in Delta Sky Clubs, and on board the aircraft.

Checking in With Your Pet

• Visit the Special Service Counter at the airport to check in with your pet.
• A Delta agent will verify pet and kennel compliance and collect the pet fee.
• Allow extra time at check-in for pet processing.
• After check-in, remove your pet from the kennel at the security checkpoint.
• After security, pets must remain in their kennel unless in a designated relief area.

In Cargo Carrier Details

When transporting household pets or commercially shipping puppies and kittens via cargo, pet owners and shippers must comply with Delta Cargo’s Live Animal Policies and Requirements. Bookings must be made 1-14 days prior to departure.

Regulatory & Delta Cargo Requirements

• Minimum Age:
  • Cats and dogs: at least 12 weeks old for domestic travel, 15 weeks old for international travel.
  • Dogs entering the U.S.: at least 6 months old.
  • Other warm-blooded pets: must be weaned, fledged (birds), and self-feeding for at least 5 consecutive days.
• Weaned: Mammals taking solid food without nursing; birds self-feeding without supplemental feeding.
• Fledged: Birds developed enough feathers to fly.

Temperature Policy

• Forecasted temperatures must be between 20-80°F while the pet is in Delta’s care on the ground (origin, transfer, destination).
• An Acclimation Statement is required if the lowest forecasted temperature is between 20-45°F.

Crate Requirements

• Crates must comply with IATA Compliant Travel Crate Requirements and Delta's Crate Requirements.
• Crate size must allow the pet to sit, stand, and turn around without touching sides or top.
• Crate size must follow Aircraft Compatibility guidelines; some aircraft have size limits or restrictions.
• Only certain items are allowed inside or on the pet; prohibited items must be removed before shipment acceptance.
• Absorbent bedding must be inside the crate.
• Water and food containers must be attached to the inside of the crate door.
• Two dogs or cats allowed per crate only if:
  • Both animals are 12 weeks to 6 months old.
  • Each weighs less than 20 lbs.
  • The crate is large enough for both animals.
• Acclimate your pet to confinement in the crate prior to shipping; this may take weeks.

Documentation

• Air waybill from booking confirmation including common name, quantity of animals per container, and 24-hour emergency contact number.
• Domestic Health Certificate issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian within 10 days of travel.
• Electronic certificates of veterinary inspection with digital signatures required for most US states; APHIS 7001 form accepted for Hawaii travel.
• International Health Certificate issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by APHIS Veterinary Services within 10 days of travel, or by an active-duty military veterinarian within 10 days (no APHIS endorsement required).
• Certificate of Acclimation may be required if forecasted temperature is between 20°F (-7°C) and 45°F (7°C) during transport; must be signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian stating the lowest temperature limit.
• Import Permit required for dogs entering the US from CDC high-risk rabies countries.
• If the animal is in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, a letter from a licensed veterinarian stating the pet is safe to travel is required.

Check-in and Timing

• Acceptance cut-off time: 2.5 hours prior to departure for domestic travel, 4 hours prior for international travel.
• All live animal shipment information must be entered before the acceptance cut-off time.
• Late arrivals may require rebooking.
• Drop-off times:
  • Domestic: maximum 6 hours and minimum 4 hours prior to departure.
  • International: 6 hours prior to departure.
• Animals may not remain overnight at the station awaiting early flights.
• Recovery time after arrival:
  • Domestic flights: 2 hours.
  • International flights: 4 hours.