Alaska Airlines in-cabin pet policy — and the carriers that fit
Alaska Airlines allows small pets in the cabin in a carrier up to 17 × 11 × 9.5 in, soft-sided, stowed under the seat in front of you. Already own a carrier? Enter its measurements below to check it against this limit. The in-cabin fee is $100 each way per kennel/carrier ($35 if traveling wholly within the State of Hawai'i), subject to space. 2 of the 15 carriers we track clear that published limit.
The Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) leaves the most room — 1" on its tightest dimension, while the Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Mini (Low-Profile) only just squeaks in with nothing to spare. Alaska's 9.5" height ceiling sits mid-pack among the 77 airlines we track (shared with Alaska Horizon (Horizon Air), Hawaiian): Aegean, Air Europa, Air Transat and Allegiant allow more, while EL AL Israel allows only 7".
Will your carrier fit Alaska Airlines?
Measure the outside of your carrier (bulges included) and enter it below. The check uses Alaska Airlines’s published 17 × 11 × 9.5 in limit — height is checked strictly, the footprint may rotate.
Carriers that clear Alaska Airlines (17 × 11 × 9.5 in)
Roomiest margin first. Sized to the airline’s limit, not to your pet — measure your pet first →
| Carrier | Size | Fit | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) up to ~8 lb · max pet 13″ long × 7.5″ tall | 15 × 10 × 8.5 in | Fits 1" spare | See on Amazon → |
 Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Mini (Low-Profile) up to ~15 lb | 17 × 11 × 9 in | Exact fit 0" spare | See on Amazon → |
Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our specs or which carriers we list.
Alaska Airlines pet rules
| Max carrier size (published) | 17 × 11 × 9.5 in |
| Soft-sided required? | Yes |
| In-cabin fee | $100 each way per kennel/carrier ($35 if traveling wholly within the State of Hawai'i), subject to space · compare all airlines → |
| Species allowed | small dogs, house cats, rabbits, small household birds |
| Minimum age | At least 8 weeks and fully weaned (dogs, cats and rabbits) |
| Pets | Up to 2 pets of the same species and similar size in one carrier; a second carrier only if you buy a second ticket for the adjacent seat. The carrier counts toward your carry-on allowance. |
| Booking | Reserve before the day of travel: cabin pet space is limited and first-come, first-served. The passenger traveling with the pet must be at least 18. · what to book, buy and pack → |
| Seating restrictions | Not in an emergency exit or bulkhead row; no pet carriers in Business Class on the A330 or 787. |
| Routes & cargo | Alaska does not carry pets at all, in the cabin or as cargo, to or from Australia, Belize, England, France, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Korea or New Zealand (Japan only for military orders, in the hold), and takes no cargo pets to or from Mexico. It advises against pet travel to or from Mexico and Costa Rica because of screwworm. Only dogs and cats can fly into Hawaii (rabbits to Honolulu only), and no pet may land in Honolulu after 10pm. |
Source: official Alaska Airlines pet policy · verified 2026-09-24 · how Alaska Airlines ranks on fee and space →
Carriers that fit Alaska Airlines
Matched to Alaska Airlines's published 17 × 11 × 9.5 in limit (height checked strictly; footprint may rotate). See the full Alaska Airlines carrier shortlist →
Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our specs or which carriers we list.
This table ranks by Alaska Airlines’s size limit — not by your pet. The weight under each carrier is what that size is rated to hold. A bag can clear the airline and still be the wrong size for the animal, which is the most common reason one goes back — measure your pet first →
| Carrier | Size | Fit | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) up to ~8 lb · max pet 13″ long × 7.5″ tall | 15 × 10 × 8.5 in | Fits 1" spare | See on Amazon → |
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Mini (Low-Profile) up to ~15 lb | 17 × 11 × 9 in | Exact fit 0" spare | See on Amazon → |
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Medium) up to ~16 lb · max pet 16″ long × 9.5″ tall | 17 × 11 × 10.5 in | Flexes — 1" over | See on Amazon → |
12 carriers too big for Alaska Airlines
Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Medium) up to ~10 lb | 17 × 10 × 10 in | Too tall (10" > 9.5") | View on Amazon |
Sleepypod Atom up to ~12 lb | 17 × 8.5 × 10.5 in | Too tall (10.5" > 9.5") | View on Amazon |
Petsfit (Medium) Expandable Soft-Sided up to ~13 lb | 17 × 11 × 11 in | Too tall (11" > 9.5") | View on Amazon |
Bergan Comfort Carrier (Small) pet size not published | 16 × 8 × 11 in | Too tall (11" > 9.5") | View on Amazon |
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Standard (Expandable) up to ~20 lb | 18 × 11 × 10 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
Sleepypod Air up to ~18 lb | 22 × 10.5 × 10.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
Diggs Passenger pet size not published · Diggs discontinued this carrier — link goes to similar carriers | 17 × 12 × 10.5 in | Too big | Compare similar on Amazon → |
ibiyaya JetPaw Expandable Backpack up to ~17 lb | 18 × 12 × 10.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
Away The Pet Carrier pets up to ~18 lb | 18.7 × 10.8 × 10.75 in | Too big | Compare similar on Amazon → |
Frisco Premium Airline-Compliant Carrier up to ~22 lb | 18 × 11 × 11 in | Too big | Compare similar on Amazon → |
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Large) up to ~22 lb · max pet 18″ long × 10.5″ tall | 19 × 11.75 × 11.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
SturdiBag Pro (Large, Flexible Height) pet size not published | 18 × 11.5 × 11.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
How to confirm your actual under-seat space
Alaska Airlines's number is its published maximum, not a guarantee for your exact seat. Before you buy or fly:
- Check which aircraft operates your flight (in your booking or on a seat-map site).
- Avoid bulkhead and exit rows — bulkheads have no under-seat storage and most airlines ban pets there — and check this airline's seat rules above.
- Call Alaska Airlines to confirm under-seat dimensions for that aircraft, or
- Choose a collapsible / flexible-height carrier that adapts to a tighter space.
By animal
Alaska Airlines publishes a specific term for these — each has its own conditions:
small dogs house cats rabbits small household birds
More airlines: Air Canada · Allegiant Air · American Airlines · Breeze Airways · Delta Air Lines · Frontier Airlines · Southwest Airlines · United Airlines · American Eagle (regional, incl. Republic Airways) · all →
Common questions
What size pet carrier does Alaska Airlines allow in the cabin?
Alaska Airlines's recommended maximum in-cabin carrier is 17 × 11 × 9.5 in. It must fit fully under the seat in front of you. Source: the Alaska Airlines pet policy.
How much does Alaska Airlines charge for an in-cabin pet?
$100 each way per kennel/carrier ($35 if traveling wholly within the State of Hawai'i), subject to space. Always confirm the current fee on the official Alaska Airlines pet page before you fly.
Which pet carriers fit Alaska Airlines?
2 of the 15 carriers we track clear Alaska Airlines's published 17 × 11 × 9.5 in. The roomiest is the Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small), with 1" to spare on its tightest dimension. The heaviest pet any carrier that clears Alaska Airlines is rated for is 15 lb. Full shortlist: /fits/alaska/.
Does Alaska Airlines require a soft-sided pet carrier?
Yes — Alaska Airlines requires a soft-sided carrier in the cabin. Height is what rules carriers out: Alaska Airlines publishes 9.5", against 13" at the most generous airline we track.
How many pets can I bring in the cabin on Alaska Airlines?
Up to 2 pets of the same species and similar size in one carrier; a second carrier only if you buy a second ticket for the adjacent seat. The carrier counts toward your carry-on allowance. Species accepted: small dogs, house cats, rabbits, small household birds. Reserve before the day of travel: cabin pet space is limited and first-come, first-served. The passenger traveling with the pet must be at least 18.