Flying with a pet for Thanksgiving or Christmas (2026)
Reserve your pet's spot first. 10 US and Canadian airlines we track publish a per-flight limit on cabin pets, so a full flight has no spot left to add. Then check that your carrier fits your airline's published size limit, and order it a week or two before you fly so your pet can get used to it.
Your countdown
- For Thanksgiving: measure your pet and check your airline's size limit by 29 October (four weeks out). Have the carrier at home by 12 November (two weeks out).
- For Christmas and New Year: do the same by 27 November and 11 December.
- When you book the ticket: reserve the pet's spot with the airline and note the fee. It is charged each way, so a round trip is two fees.
- December flights: some airlines apply winter temperature limits to pets. See the cold-weather rules.
Airlines that cap pets per flight
Each line is the airline's own published wording, read from its policy page. Other US and Canadian airlines publish no per-flight number in the pet policy line we track, or do not allow pets in the cabin.
- American Eagle (regional, incl. Republic Airways) — One pet per kennel. On the regional aircraft American Eagle flies (CRJ-900/700/200, ERJ-190/175/145) American publishes a maximum of 1 pet carrier in the premium cabin and 5 in the main cabin per flight. Fee: $150 per kennel, each way.
- Avelo Airlines — 1 pet carrier per passenger · up to 2 small cats/dogs/rabbits/birds per carrier · up to 8 pet carriers per scheduled flight. Fee: $125 pet fare each way per pet carrier.
- Breeze Airways — 1 pet per guest; maximum 5 pets per flight. Fee: see the airline page.
- Contour Airlines — No more than three (3) pet containers in the cabin at any time, and only one (1) pet carrier per passenger. Fee: $150 each way (effective July 1, 2026; pets previously travelled at no charge).
- Delta Air Lines — Limit per flight, not per person: Delta First (domestic) 2 · Delta Comfort/Delta Main 4 · none in Delta One, Delta Premium or international Business. Pet + carrier must fit fully under the seat. Fee: $150 each way (within US/Canada/Puerto Rico/USVI); $200 international.
- JetBlue — 2 per traveler (each in its own carrier; 2nd needs a 2nd seat + fee) · 6 per flight. Fee: $150 each way (or TrueBlue points).
- JSX — 1 pet per carrier · 1 carrier per passenger · up to 5 pets in the cabin per flight. Fee: $100 per one way.
- Porter Airlines — 1 carrier per passenger · 1 pet per carrier · up to 2 pets in the cabin per flight. Fee: $50–$57.50 per direction ($50.00 CAD/USD plus applicable taxes) · non-refundable.
- Southern Airways Express — Generally two pets per flight; the Contract of Carriage states the number of pets allowed on each flight is also based on size, with exceptions at pilot discretion. Fee: see the airline page.
- Sun Country Airlines — 1 pet per traveler; maximum 6 pets per flight. Fee: $75 each way (booked in advance) or $100 walk-up.
Check what fits your airline
The carrier that fits one airline can be over the limit on another. Open your airline's fit page: Southwest Airlines · American Airlines · Delta Air Lines · United Airlines · Alaska Airlines · JetBlue · Frontier Airlines · Air Canada · WestJet · all airlines →
The carriers that clear the most airlines' published limits right now:
- Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) — 15 × 10 × 8.5 in, fits 41 of 58 airlines outright
- Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Mini (Low-Profile) — 17 × 11 × 9 in, fits 31 of 58 airlines outright
- Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Medium) — 17 × 10 × 10 in, fits 14 of 58 airlines outright
More: best carriers ranked by fit · fees by airline · how to measure your pet · the in-cabin checklist
Carriers that clear the most airlines
Ranked by how many of the 58 airlines with a published cabin limit each one clears at its published size — the same computation behind every fit verdict on this site.
Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our specs or which carriers we list.
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Mini (Low-Profile)Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Medium)Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Standard (Expandable)Common questions
How early should I book my pet's spot for Thanksgiving?
As soon as you book the ticket. 10 US and Canadian airlines we track publish a per-flight cap on cabin pets (listed above), and a full flight has no spot left to add.
Are the airline's pet rules different at Thanksgiving or Christmas?
The size, fee and per-flight figures on this page are each airline's standing published rules. We do not track separate holiday rules, so confirm with your airline for your travel dates.
When should I order the carrier?
A week or two before you fly, so your pet can get used to it at home. First check the carrier against your airline's size limit on its fit page.