Southern Airways Express pet policy — what it publishes, and what it does not
Southern Airways Express accepts pets in the cabin but does not publish a maximum carrier size, so we will not compute a fit rather than guess one. The in-cabin fee is $35 service fee per animal, per direction (up to two small animals with a combined weight of 25 lbs. or less in the same carrier). Confirm the under-seat allowance with Southern Airways Express before you book.
Southern Airways Express does not publish a maximum carrier height, so there is nothing to compare against the other airlines we track. Confirm the under-seat allowance directly with Southern Airways Express.
Southern Airways Express pet rules
| Max carrier size (published) | not published |
| Soft-sided required? | Soft recommended; hard allowed within its limit |
| In-cabin fee | $35 service fee per animal, per direction (up to two small animals with a combined weight of 25 lbs. or less in the same carrier) · compare all airlines → |
| Species allowed | domesticated dogs, cats |
| Weight | 15 lb maximum combined weight of any pet at the passenger's seat; up to two small animals with a combined weight of 25 lbs. or less may share one carrier |
| Minimum age | At least 8 weeks and weaned |
| Pets | Normally two pets per flight: two small pets (under 15 lb), or one small and one large (over 26 lb). Southern avoids carrying two large pets together. The exact number depends on the pets' size, and the pilot can make exceptions |
| Booking | Call the Southern Airways Express Call Center at (800) 329-0485 at least 48 hours before your flight or when making your initial reservation — there is a limit to the number of pets per flight. Booking a pet inside 48 hours, or arriving at the counter with a pet you did not declare, costs a $100 fee · what to book, buy and pack → |
| Seating restrictions | Not in the last row behind the boarding door or an emergency exit seat, and the pet may not block an exit. A pet of 16 lb or more can fly in its own seat: you pay the standard passenger fare for it each way, and its kennel (up to 40 × 27 × 30 in) is positioned on a bench seat. On Southern flights every carrier or kennel needs a companion aged 16 or older |
Source: official Southern Airways Express pet policy · verified 2026-10-10 · how Southern Airways Express ranks on fee and space →
Carriers that fit Southern Airways Express
Southern Airways Express publishes no under-seat size limit, so nothing below is matched against one. See the full Southern Airways Express 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 Southern Airways Express’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 | Size not published | See on Amazon → |
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Mini (Low-Profile) up to ~15 lb · over Southern Airways Express's 15 lb limit once the bag is counted | 17 × 11 × 9 in | Size not published | Not available on Amazon right now |
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Standard (Expandable) up to ~20 lb · over Southern Airways Express's 15 lb limit once the bag is counted | 18 × 11 × 10 in | Size not published | Not available on Amazon right nowIn stock and fits the same airlines: Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Medium) |
Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Medium) up to ~10 lb | 17 × 10 × 10 in | Size not published | See on Amazon → |
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Medium) up to ~16 lb · max pet 16″ long × 9.5″ tall · over Southern Airways Express's 15 lb limit once the bag is counted | 17 × 11 × 10.5 in | Size not published | See on Amazon → |
Sleepypod Air up to ~18 lb · over Southern Airways Express's 15 lb limit once the bag is counted | 22 × 10.5 × 10.5 in | Size not published | See on Amazon → |
Diggs Passenger pet size not published · Diggs discontinued this carrier — link goes to similar carriers | 17 × 12 × 10.5 in | Size not published | Search Amazon → |
ibiyaya JetPaw Expandable Backpack up to ~17 lb · over Southern Airways Express's 15 lb limit once the bag is counted | 18 × 12 × 10.5 in | Size not published | See on Amazon → |
Sleepypod Atom up to ~12 lb · over Southern Airways Express's 15 lb limit once the bag is counted | 17 × 8.5 × 10.5 in | Size not published | See on Amazon → |
Away The Pet Carrier pets up to ~18 lb · over Southern Airways Express's 15 lb limit once the bag is counted | 18.7 × 10.8 × 10.75 in | Size not published | Search Amazon → |
Petsfit (Medium) Expandable Soft-Sided up to ~13 lb · over Southern Airways Express's 15 lb limit once the bag is counted | 17 × 11 × 11 in | Size not published | See on Amazon → |
Bergan Comfort Carrier (Small) pet size not published | 16 × 8 × 11 in | Size not published | See on Amazon → |
Frisco Premium Airline-Compliant Carrier up to ~22 lb · over Southern Airways Express's 15 lb limit once the bag is counted | 18 × 11 × 11 in | Size not published | Search Amazon → |
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Large) up to ~22 lb · max pet 18″ long × 10.5″ tall · over Southern Airways Express's 15 lb limit once the bag is counted | 19 × 11.75 × 11.5 in | Size not published | See on Amazon → |
SturdiBag Pro (Large, Flexible Height) pet size not published | 18 × 11.5 × 11.5 in | Size not published | Not available on Amazon right nowIn stock and fits the same airlines: Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Medium) |
How to confirm your actual under-seat space
Southern Airways Express'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 Southern Airways Express to confirm under-seat dimensions for that aircraft, or
- Choose a collapsible / flexible-height carrier that adapts to a tighter space.
More airlines: Air Canada · Alaska Airlines · Allegiant Air · American Airlines · Breeze Airways · Delta Air Lines · Frontier Airlines · Southwest Airlines · United Airlines · Volaris · Vueling · WestJet · all →
Common questions
What size pet carrier does Southern Airways Express allow in the cabin?
Southern Airways Express's recommended maximum in-cabin carrier is not published. It must fit fully under the seat in front of you. Source: the Southern Airways Express pet policy.
How much does Southern Airways Express charge for an in-cabin pet?
$35 service fee per animal, per direction (up to two small animals with a combined weight of 25 lbs. or less in the same carrier). Always confirm the current fee on the official Southern Airways Express pet page before you fly.
Which pet carriers fit Southern Airways Express?
No carrier we track clears Southern Airways Express's published not published outright, and none compresses down far enough either — check Southern Airways Express's cargo or approved pet-shipper options. Full shortlist: /fits/southern-airways-express/.
Is under-seat space the same on every Southern Airways Express aircraft?
No. Southern publishes no under-seat carrier dimensions. Instead it defines placement: "Small pets must be able to fit on the floor at the passenger's feet (always during takeoffs and landings), or comfortably on the passenger's lap without spilling onto the aisle; the maximum combined weight of any pet at the passenger's seat is 15 lbs." The only kennel dimension in the Contract of Carriage — "The maximum size for any kennel/crate used to transport a pet is 40\" l x 27\" w x 30\" h" — applies to a pet occupying its OWN purchased bench seat, NOT to under-seat stowage, so it is deliberately NOT recorded as a carrier limit. The document also states the number of pets per flight depends on size, with pilot discretion. Neither owner nor pet may occupy the last row behind the boarding door or emergency exit seats. Treat the published figure as a fleet-wide maximum, not a promise for your seat, and prefer a collapsible or flexible-height carrier.
How many pets can I bring in the cabin on Southern Airways Express?
Normally two pets per flight: two small pets (under 15 lb), or one small and one large (over 26 lb). Southern avoids carrying two large pets together. The exact number depends on the pets' size, and the pilot can make exceptions. Species accepted: domesticated dogs, cats. Weight limit: 15 lb maximum combined weight of any pet at the passenger's seat; up to two small animals with a combined weight of 25 lbs. or less may share one carrier. Call the Southern Airways Express Call Center at (800) 329-0485 at least 48 hours before your flight or when making your initial reservation — there is a limit to the number of pets per flight. Booking a pet inside 48 hours, or arriving at the counter with a pet you did not declare, costs a $100 fee