Alaska Airlines Pet Policy 2026: Cheapest Cabin Fee and a Hold Option

Travel · PetzDay Editorial · 2026-11-13

Alaska charges $100 each way for a cabin pet — the cheapest of the five largest U.S. airlines — accepts only soft-sided carriers up to 17 × 11 × 9.5 inches, and is the only one that still sells hold space to ordinary passengers.

Alaska is the cheapest and the most flexible of the five largest U.S. airlines for pets, and the two facts are connected: $100 each way for the cabin, and — uniquely among the five — hold space you can still buy as an ordinary passenger, at $200 each way for pets whose body plus kennel stays under 150 pounds.

The trade-off is the strictest cabin carrier rule of the group: soft-sided only, 17 × 11 × 9.5 inches, no hard kennels at all.

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An Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9. Alaska's cabin pet space is the cheapest of the five largest U.S. carriers. Photo: Sam Almo-Milkin / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Alaska pet fee in 2026

• The city-pair fee is per kennel, per direction.
• A round trip is two fees.
• Fees cover Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines flights only. If your itinerary includes another carrier, that airline charges its own pet fee — and Alaska does not transfer hold pets between carriers.
• Pet space is subject to availability in both the cabin and the hold.

Alaska cabin carrier: 17 × 11 × 9.5 inches, soft-sided only

Alaska's cabin limit is the smallest of the five largest airlines, and it is the reason the size chart recommends 17 × 11 × 9.5 inches as the "works everywhere" dimension.

Soft-sided is the only carrier type Alaska accepts in the cabin. Photo: Sciencia58 / Wikimedia Commons (CC0).

• Soft-sided only. Alaska does not accept hard-sided kennels in the cabin at all.
• 17 × 11 × 9.5 inches maximum — one inch shorter in both length and height than Delta, American and United's 18 × 11 × 11.
• Under the seat in front of you, for the entire flight, with the dog inside.
• The usual functional test: the dog must stand, turn around and lie down inside the closed carrier without touching the sides.

If you already own an 18 × 11 × 11 soft bag, it is over Alaska's limit on paper. The airline pet carrier size chart shows which single size clears all five airlines.

Top-Side Expandable Pet Carrier, Treat Window,18x11x11 Airline Approved

18 × 11 × 11 exceeds Alaska's 17 × 11 × 9.5 cabin limit — size down for this airline

Compare carriers on Amazon

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The hold option: Alaska's real advantage

This is the only one of the five airlines where an ordinary passenger can still buy space in the baggage compartment — with real conditions attached.

• Combined pet-and-kennel weight limit: 150 pounds.
• Climate-controlled compartment, which is what makes it viable at all.
• Breed restrictions apply, and flat-faced dogs are the classic exclusion because of breathing risk in a hold.
• Seasonal embargoes in hot months, and fleet restrictions — not every aircraft carries pets below.
• A health certificate is required, unlike the cabin.
• Hard-sided kennel that meets IATA-style requirements.
• Pets travelling without you go through Pet Connect animal cargo instead.

Hold transport needs a rigid IATA-style kennel, a health certificate and a route clear of summer embargoes. Photo: Chachacha369 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

For a 40-pound dog that fails every cabin test, this is the difference between flying Alaska and driving. The airline pet fee comparison shows that United, American, Southwest and JetBlue all close this route.

How to book a pet on Alaska

1. Book the passenger ticket first on alaskaair.com.
2. Start a chat or call to reserve the pet. This step is mandatory — Alaska states plainly that you must contact the airline after booking to reserve space.
3. Confirm which option you bought: cabin or baggage compartment. They have different carriers, different fees and different documents.
4. Check in at the counter and allow extra time — Alaska recommends arriving early for pet check-in.
5. Use an airport animal relief area before the gate.

Hawaii and international routes

Alaska is one of the few carriers that does allow cabin pets to Hawaii — subject to Hawaii's agricultural rules, which are strict in their own right. That makes it the practical answer to "which airline can fly my dog to Hawaii in the cabin", since Delta and United both exclude Hawaii entirely.

For international travel, Alaska follows the destination country's import rules, and every dog returning to the U.S. needs the CDC Dog Import Form receipt. The health certificate and vaccine guide covers the paperwork.

FAQ

How much does Alaska charge for a pet in the cabin?

$100 each way, per kennel — the cheapest of the five largest U.S. airlines. Travel wholly within Hawaii is $35 each way. Hold transport is $200 each way.

What carrier size does Alaska allow?

Soft-sided only, up to 17 × 11 × 9.5 inches. Alaska does not accept hard-sided kennels in the cabin at all, which makes it the strictest carrier rule of the five.

Can my dog fly to Hawaii in the cabin on Alaska?

Yes, subject to Hawaii's agricultural requirements — Alaska is one of the few carriers that allows cabin pets to Hawaii, where Delta and United do not.

Does Alaska still fly pets in the baggage compartment?

Yes. Alaska is the only one of the five largest U.S. airlines that still sells hold space to ordinary passengers, at $200 each way, with a 150-pound combined pet-and-kennel limit, breed restrictions and seasonal embargoes.

Does Alaska require a health certificate?

For the cabin, no — Alaska's cabin rules focus on carrier size and advance reservation. For the baggage compartment, yes, a health certificate is required.

Is Alaska the most pet-friendly U.S. airline?

On price and options, yes: the cheapest cabin fee, the only hold option, and cabin pets allowed to Hawaii. On carrier size it is the strictest, which is why the 17 × 11 × 9.5 inch soft bag exists as the universal answer.

References

• Alaska Airlines — Pets in cabin
• Alaska Airlines — Pets in the baggage compartment
• Alaska Airlines — Pet travel to Hawaii
• Alaska Airlines — Pets travelling internationally
• USDA APHIS — Take a pet from one U.S. state to another
• CDC — Dog import form and instructions

All web sources accessed November 13, 2026. Alaska's fees, carrier limits and embargoes change by route and season; confirm when you reserve the pet.

Last reviewed: November 13, 2026.