Compare Pet Travel Policies Easily

Service Animals (In-Cabin & Support)

The ACAA permits Hawaiian Airlines to ask specific questions and conduct verification to confirm your service animal qualifies for air travel and can do so safely.

• In-person verification: Notify a Hawaiian Airlines agent at the airport that you are traveling with a service animal. The agent will ask:
  • Is the animal required to accompany you as an accommodation for a disability?
  • What work or task has your animal been trained to perform for you?
• Animal behavior: The agent will observe your animal to confirm safe and appropriate behavior. Disruptive behaviors include:
  • Repeated barking or growling
  • Jumping on others
  • Biting or causing injury
  • Running freely
  • Relieving themselves unsanitarily in the airport or cabin
• Control: Service animals must remain under the handler’s control and be leashed or harnessed at all times in the airport and on the aircraft.
• Food and water: Hawaiian Airlines does not provide food, water, pillows, or blankets for animals.
• Animal relief areas: Available at the airport.
• Service animals in carriers:
  • Carriers are not required but must meet size limits: maximum 17" long x 11" wide x 9.5" tall.
  • Carriers are subject to measurement and inspection before travel.
  • If the carrier does not meet requirements, the animal may still travel but the carrier cannot be used in the cabin.
  • Your service animal is not required to stay in the carrier in the terminal or onboard, but the carrier must be stowed beneath the seat during flight.
  • Animals in carriers are not permitted in bulkhead seats, exit rows, or seats without proper under-seat stowage.
  • If the carrier is not accepted, you may check it at the counter (fees apply) or carry the empty carrier onboard as one of your two allowed items and stow it overhead.
• Seating with service animals:
  • Service animals must remain on the floor, fit within your foot space, and not obstruct aisles or exit rows.
  • Small service animals smaller than a lap child may be placed on your lap.
  • Animals may not be placed on seats, harnessed to seats, or encroach on another guest’s space.
  • Large service animals may share foot space with other members of your party in adjoining seats with their consent.
  • Hawaiian Airlines may reseat you if your animal obstructs areas or encroaches on other seats.
  • No complimentary seat upgrades or additional seats are provided for large service animals, but efforts will be made to accommodate them.
• Additional notes:
  • Service animals that cannot be accommodated in the cabin due to size may need to travel as checked baggage.
  • Service animals in training are considered pets and must follow pet travel policies.
  • Arrivals into HNL after 4:30 PM may require your service animal to remain overnight at the HNL AQF at AQF personnel discretion.

In-Cabin Carrier Details

Hawaiian Airlines complies with regulations for in-cabin pet transport. Guests must be 18 years or older to travel with a pet in the cabin.

• Maximum pet carrier size: 17" long x 11" wide x 9.5" tall. Carriers will be measured at check-in.
• Pets in cabin do not count towards carry-on allowance on flights within Hawaii but count towards the 2-piece carry-on limit on US Mainland flights.
• Failure to disclose pets prior to boarding or non-compliance with Hawaii’s animal entry requirements may result in travel restrictions.

Arrival Procedures at HNL (Honolulu)

• HNL is the only Hawaii airport with an on-site Department of Agriculture Animal Quarantine Facility (AQF), open 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM HST.
• Upon arrival, identify yourself to the Hawaiian Airlines agent at the gate; you and your pet will be escorted to the AQF immediately.
• Do not leave the gate without a Hawaiian Airlines agent.
• Arrivals before 8:30 AM must remain in the terminal with an escort until AQF opens.
• Arrivals after 4:30 PM may require the pet to stay overnight at AQF, subject to AQF personnel discretion.

Arrival Procedures at LIH, OGG, and KOA

• These airports do not have an on-site AQF; a valid Neighbor Island Inspection Permit (NIIP) is required from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.
• NIIP must be issued for the first city of entry into Hawaii and presented as a hardcopy at check-in.
• Without an NIIP, pets may only enter Hawaii on non-stop flights to HNL.
• Upon arrival, identify yourself to the Hawaiian Airlines agent at the gate; you and your pet will be escorted to the screening area for inspection by the Authorized Inspector.
• Do not leave the gate without a Hawaiian Airlines agent.
• If flights are delayed or changed, contact the inspector for a new appointment; pets cannot be released until cleared.

Route Restrictions

• Pets are not permitted in the cabin on international flights.
• Pets are not permitted on flights to or from PPG.

Seating Restrictions

• Pets are not allowed in First Class on flights between Hawaii and US Mainland.
• Pets cannot occupy bulkhead seats, exit rows, or any seat without adequate under-seat stowage.

Stowage Requirements

• Pets must remain completely inside their carrier while in the terminal and onboard.
• Carriers must be stowed under the seat directly in front of you during the flight.
• Pets or carriers cannot be placed on laps, seats, or in overhead bins.
• If the carrier does not fit under the seat, you may be reseated or required to transport your pet in the baggage compartment using a hard-sided kennel.

Pet In-Cabin Limits

• Each ticketed guest may travel with one pet carrier in the cabin.
• A single carrier may contain either:
  • One adult dog or cat; or
  • Two puppies or kittens of the same breed, between 8 weeks and weaned.
• Documentation from the treating veterinarian may be required to verify age and eligibility.

Pet Check-In

• Self-service check-in is restricted; you must check in with an agent at the front counter with your pet and documents.
• Check-in is recommended 3 hours before departure with printed documents.
• A special tag will be placed on the pet carrier after check-in to indicate clearance.

Animal Strollers and Wagons

• Strollers or wagons used for animals are not eligible for complimentary gate-checking.
• They may be checked as baggage at the ticket counter with applicable fees.
• Small strollers or wagons meeting carry-on size limits may be taken onboard as one of two carry-on items and stored in overhead bins.

In Cargo Carrier Details

Hawaiian Airlines does not transfer animals traveling as checked baggage between airlines, including Alaska Airlines. You must allow extra time to claim and re-check your pet with the other carrier.

• Minimum connection time of 4 hours is required when connecting between Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines codeshare flights to retrieve, re-check your pet, and complete paperwork.
• Contact Alaska Airlines directly to confirm their pet policies and fees for animals traveling in the baggage compartment.

Hawaiian Airlines complies with USDA Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and USDA requirements.

You are responsible for providing a kennel for your animal; kennels are subject to inspection and approval before travel.

Kennel Requirements

• Effective June 9, 2025, updated kennel requirements apply.
• Household birds within Hawaii must be transported in mosquito-proof kennels per State of Hawaii regulations.
• Maximum kennel size: 36" long × 25" wide × 28" high.
• Your pet must fit comfortably within the kennel dimensions.
• Maximum combined weight of pet and kennel: 150 lbs.
• Active-duty U.S. military personnel and dependents traveling on official orders may also use the 150 lbs combined weight limit (effective June 4, 2025).
• All pets and kennels must meet the Pets as Checked Baggage Guide requirements.

Animal Limits

• Limited number of animals allowed per flight; accommodated on a first-booked basis.
• One kennel may contain only one of the following:
  • One adult dog or cat
  • Up to two puppies or kittens of the same breed (8 weeks and weaned)
  • Within Hawaii only: Up to two adult household birds
  • Within Hawaii only: Up to two young household birds of the same breed (at least 14 days old)
• Hawaiian Airlines may require veterinarian documentation to verify age and eligibility.

Animal Check-In

• Self-service check-in options are restricted for pets traveling as checked baggage.
• You must check in with a Hawaiian Airlines agent at the front counter to allow inspection of your pet, kennel, and documents.
• Check-in is recommended 3 hours prior to departure with printed hard copies of all documents.

Route Restrictions

• Pets are not permitted as baggage on international flights, including PPG.
• Exceptions for active-duty military personnel on orders between SEA and NRT, and HNL and select Japan cities.

Seasonal Embargo Periods

Pets are not permitted as baggage from April 15 to October 15 due to extreme weather conditions on flights to/from:

• San Jose, California (SJC)
• Sacramento, California (SMF)
• Las Vegas, Nevada (LAS)
• Phoenix, Arizona (PHX)
• Salt Lake City, Utah (SLC)

Environmental Conditions

• Pets will not be accepted if local temperature at origin, destination, or connection airport exceeds 85°F (29°C) or is below 20°F (-7°C).
• For temperatures between 20°F (-7°C) and 45°F (7°C), a current acclimation certificate from a veterinarian dated within 10 days of travel is required.