Holiday Pet Embargoes in 2026: What US Airlines Actually Restrict at Thanksgiving and Christmas

The old advice was simple. Find your airline’s holiday embargo dates, circle them, and book around them.

In 2026 that advice points at something that has mostly gone. American, United and Delta now fly pets below deck only for military and State Department families travelling on official orders, and Southwest, JetBlue, Frontier and Allegiant don’t carry pets in the hold at all.

So the holiday squeeze has moved upstairs. It lives in the cabin now, in a few spots per flight, and those spots fill up the same way the seats do.

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Thanksgiving falls on Thursday 26 November this year, and Christmas Day is a Friday. Here is what each airline’s own pages say, and how to make sure your dog gets a spot on the flight you want.

Holiday pet rules for 2026, airline by airline

From each airline’s own pet and fee pages, checked 13 October 2026. Delta’s $150 covers the US, Canada and Puerto Rico on tickets issued since 8 April 2025. Between the Hawaiian islands, a cabin pet costs $35 on Southwest, Alaska and Hawaiian. In the hold, Alaska and Hawaiian charge $100 within Alaska and $60 within Hawaii.

Why there are no dates to circle

Embargo calendars were always a hold and cargo rule. A pet under your seat counts as your carry-on, so it never needed one.

With checked pets gone at American, United and Delta for everyone except families on orders, the old blackout dates have very little left to cover.

Two airlines are the exception, and both are worth a call if your dog is too big for the cabin. Alaska and Hawaiian still take pets in the hold, and their pet page says that space is subject to “travel date embargoes”, without listing any.

American sends pets that can’t fly in the cabin through its cargo arm, American PetEmbark. Its page lists a summer embargo for Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas and Palm Springs from 1 May to 30 September, and nothing for the holidays.

On either airline, ask about embargo dates when you book, not in December.

The real holiday crunch: pet spots per flight

Pet spots are counted per flight, and the numbers are small. JetBlue takes six pets on a flight, Delta four in the main cabin, and an American Eagle regional jet five.

That makes the pet the first thing to book, not the last. Add it in the same session as the ticket, while you can still switch flights if the spots are gone.

Flights in the days around 26 November and 25 December are the likeliest to run out, so book those first. Here is where each airline lets you add a pet:

• American: “Additional Services” on aa.com or the American app.
• United: choose “Travel with a pet” as a traveller when you book on united.com, or add it later in My Trips. United says you can’t add a pet in its app.
• Delta: call Delta Reservations, with your carrier’s length, width and height to hand.
• Southwest: call ahead to reserve, since space is limited. The pet fare is paid at the ticket counter and is refundable if you cancel.
• Alaska and Hawaiian: chat with an agent. Cabin pets must be reserved before the day of travel.
• JetBlue: the Extras step during booking, or Manage Trips afterwards.
• Frontier: “Cabin Pet” in the passenger details, or “Add Pet in Cabin” in Manage Trip.

Winter is the new embargo for pets in the hold

For the few pets still flying below deck, cold now does the job the holiday calendar used to do.

The rules apply to every airport on the trip, not just the two ends. A frosty connection in Chicago or Denver can stop a hold pet even when both home and destination are mild.

• American: pets outside the cabin can’t fly if the ground temperature is below 45°F anywhere on the itinerary. A vet’s letter can lift that limit, but not below 20°F.
• Delta Cargo: no pets below 20°F on the ground at any point, and a Certificate of Acclimation is needed between 20°F and 45°F.
• Alaska and Hawaiian: may refuse a hold pet when temperatures at the origin, destination or connection go past their limits. In winter, they suggest midday flights.

Book nonstop where you can, and check the forecast for every airport on the route in the week you fly.

Will your carrier fit under the seat?

Under-seat limits differ more than most people expect. A carrier that fits Delta’s limit can be more than two inches too tall for JetBlue.

Here is how the four carriers from our Delta carriers guide measure up against those limits, going by each brand’s published size.

Soft sides squash a little, but the published limit is the number you will be held to. If you fly more than one airline this season, the smallest carrier that fits your dog is the safest buy.

A holiday booking plan

1. Now: measure your dog and your carrier, then pick the airline whose under-seat limit you meet.
2. When you book: add the pet in the same session as the ticket, and confirm it shows on the booking.
3. About two weeks out: sort the paperwork. For a hold pet on Alaska or Hawaiian, the vet’s health certificate must be dated within 10 days of departure. Our guide to vaccinations for domestic flights covers the rest.
4. Travel week: check forecasts for every airport on the route, and get your dog used to the carrier at home. These tips for anxious travellers help.
5. Travel day: arrive early. Alaska and Hawaiian close hold-pet acceptance 90 minutes before departure, and most airlines want cabin pets seen at the counter or kiosk, so online check-in alone won’t do.

Flying with a dog for the first time? Start with our first-flight guide.

If your dog is too big for the cabin

This is where the holidays get hard. Your realistic options are three.

Alaska or Hawaiian, in the hold. It costs $200 each way on most routes, for a pet and kennel up to 150 lb combined. Short-nosed breeds are refused below deck, including French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, Boston Terriers and Shih Tzus. Pit bulls are accepted.

American PetEmbark, as cargo. It is booked separately from your ticket, and the price is confirmed at booking.

The car. For many families with a big dog, a holiday road trip is simply the kinder option. Our dog-friendly road trip planner maps the stops.

Heading to Hawaii? The state’s own entry rules matter more than any airline’s, so read our guide to getting your dog to Hawaii without quarantine first.

Sources

• American Airlines: travelling with pets
• American Airlines Cargo: American PetEmbark
• United Airlines: travelling with pets
• Delta: pet travel overview
• Delta: shipping your pet
• Southwest: pet policy
• Southwest: pet carriers
• Southwest: optional travel charges
• Alaska and Hawaiian: pets in the cabin
• Alaska and Hawaiian: pets in the baggage compartment
• JetBlue: travelling with pets
• Frontier: pets on board
• Frontier: optional services
• Allegiant: optional services and fees

By Gio. Gio’s research, sharpened with AI. How we make our guides.