Are you a pet parent planning a trip soon? One question that may come to your mind is whether to take your furry friend with you. Is it really possible to do so? And if yes, then how? Well, you can consider yourself lucky if you have booked your flight tickets with Alaska Airlines. Alaska Airlines is a pet-friendly airline, as it allows small pets right in the cabin with you and has a dedicated space for larger pets in the baggage compartment.
However, before you bring your pet on the flight, you must understand the Alaska Airlines pet policy. Here in this blog, we have compiled everything you need to know about flying with your pet on Alaska Airlines, including carriers, fees, and which animals are allowed.
Overview of Alaska Airlines' Pet Policy
The Alaska Airlines pet policy outlines the rules and regulations for bringing a pet on its aircraft. Here are the quick facts you need to know about the pet policy of Alaska Airlines:
- The allowed pet animals are the dogs, cats, rabbits, and domesticated birds
- Your pet must fit in the seat in front of your cabin or in one of the available kennel sizes.
- Alaska Airlines limits the number of pets in the cabin on a single flight
- You may need to pay a $150 fee to bring your pet in checked baggage.
Flying With Your Pet in Alaska Airlines Cabin
Alaska Airlines gives you two options for bringing your pet on the flight. You can take your pet through the cabin or in the baggage compartment (cargo). So if your pet dog is smaller in size and can fit in an under-seat carrier, you fly with your pet in the cabin. For this, you need to pay a small fee of $100 each way. Moreover, there are guidelines for the carrier size, which are:
- Hard-Sided Carrier: This can’t be larger than 17” Lx11” Wx7.5” H.
- Soft-Sided Carrier: This can be a bit taller in size, which is up to 17” Lx11” Wx9.5” H
How to Book Your Pets’ Spot on Alaska Airlines?
This is something you cannot leave until the last minute. As you already know, the space for pets on an airplane is limited, so keeping that in mind, you must reserve a spot for your pet in advance. There are no hard-core rules for the reservation. It is simply based on the first come first serve basis. Here is how to book your pet’s spot on Alaska Airlines:
Book your tickets early:
For your trip, you need to book the tickets as early as possible. Because it increases your chances of getting a space booked for your pet. There are only three pet carriers allowed in the first class cabin and eight in the main cabin. So the sooner you book, the higher the chances of getting a fixed carrier space for your pet.
Check out the Alaska Airlines pet policies
You need to review Alaska's pet policies to determine which option is best for your pet. There are essentially different rules for each animal and how you want to bring them. For instance, your pet can’t weigh more than 150 lbs for cabin flying. If your pet is larger and heavier, you will have the cargo option.
Contact the Alaska Airlines Customer Service
Yes, it is the best way. You can directly reach out to Alaska Airlines' customer service team and request to book space for your pet. It can be quite helpful to avoid confusion about the Alaska Airlines pet policy. The customer service team can help you with your request based on your pet’s needs.
