Flying to the US with a dog: what airlines check and how to choose

In short

• Every dog flying to the United States travels in one of three ways: in the cabin, as checked baggage, or as air cargo. Your airline decides which ones it offers on your route.
• Whatever the option, the airline must create an air waybill (a shipping record) for every dog flying to the US, including dogs in the cabin.
• Before boarding, the airline checks your CDC receipt, that the dog looks at least 6 months old and healthy, and, for high-risk dogs, the documents and the arrival airport.
• A dog refused on arrival is sent back within 72 hours, at your cost.

Cabin, checked baggage or cargo: what is the difference?

Airlines use three ways to carry a dog. The names vary, but the idea is the same everywhere.

Not every airline offers all three. Several large US airlines have narrowed the checked option: American Airlines, for example, accepts checked pets only for active-duty US military and State Department Foreign Service staff on official orders, and does not allow carry-on pets on trans-Atlantic trips. Policies change often, so read the current page of the airline you plan to fly.

The paperwork the airline must create

The CDC requires airlines to create an air waybill (AWB), a transport record, for every dog flown to the United States. This covers dogs in the cabin and dogs as checked baggage, not only cargo. An airline that cannot create one must hold a waiver from the CDC.

For you, this mostly means one thing: tell the airline about your dog when you book, not at the airport. A dog the airline did not expect can be a problem at check-in.

What the airline checks before boarding

Under CDC guidance, the airline must check these points for every dog flying to the US, service dogs included:

1. The CDC Dog Import Form receipt. The airline does not call the CDC for approval. It looks at your receipt, on paper or on your phone.
2. Age. The dog must look at least 6 months old.
3. Health. The dog must look healthy.
4. Microchip. For a dog that has been in a high-risk country in the last 6 months, the chip number must appear on the receipt or on a government-endorsed document.
5. High-risk documents. For those same dogs, the airline checks one of these: a valid Certification of US-Issued Rabies Vaccination, a USDA-endorsed export certificate issued by 31 July 2025, or a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility.
6. The arrival airport and date. A high-risk receipt is valid only for the port and date you declared. The airline checks that they match the flight.

If any of these fails, the airline must refuse to board the dog. That is why it pays to check your documents against the flight itself, not just against the CDC rules.

What happens if your dog is refused on arrival

The CDC puts the airline in charge of dogs that are refused entry. The airline must keep a representative at the arrival inspection area until every dog is cleared or cared for, house refused or sick dogs in a suitable place, and send refused dogs back to their departure country within 72 hours. The cost falls on the owner.

The most common reasons are listed in why dogs get refused at the border.

Connecting flights

If you change planes on the way, the way your dog travels matters. A dog that stays with the airline as checked baggage or cargo and does not clear customs is treated differently from a dog in the cabin or a dog that changes airlines. The details are in layovers and connecting flights.

Heat, cold and flat-faced breeds

These are general points, not CDC rules. Your airline’s page has the final word.

• Seasonal limits. The US Department of Transportation notes that some airlines stop carrying animals in the hold during summer and winter, because of temperatures on the ground. A booking can also be cancelled on the day if it is too hot or too cold.
• Short-nosed breeds. Bulldogs, pugs, boxers and similar dogs can struggle to breathe under stress and heat. Many airlines refuse them in the hold. Air France, for example, does not accept snub-nosed dogs in the hold. American Airlines does not accept them as checked pets.
• Health certificate. Some airlines ask for a recent health record from your vet, sometimes issued within 10 days of travel. This is an airline rule, separate from the CDC form.
• Crates. Hold and cargo crates usually must be rigid and IATA compliant (the International Air Transport Association standard). The dog must be able to stand, turn and lie down.

How to check your airline’s pet policy

Before you book, open your airline’s own pet page and look for five things:

1. Which of the three options it offers on your exact route (some allow cabin pets on domestic flights only).
2. Size, weight and crate limits.
3. Breed restrictions.
4. Seasonal or temperature embargoes.
5. Booking deadlines and the documents it wants at check-in.

Official pages for a few major airlines flying to the US:

• Delta: Traveling with pets (opens in a new tab)
• American Airlines: Traveling with pets (opens in a new tab)
• Air France: Travel with your pet (opens in a new tab)
• Alaska Airlines: Traveling with pets (opens in a new tab)

If the page is unclear, call the airline and ask them to note the dog on your booking. Keep the CDC receipt and every vet document together, on paper and on your phone.