Fido Factor Names the Top Dog Friendly Airlines for 2010

At Fido Factor we’re all about checking out great local spots with your dog, but we also appreciate a great dog friendly vacation! Whether your idea of a dog friendly trip involves, surf, snow, or exploring one of the country’s great cities, our mission is to make your getaway one that your dog can be a part of. Luckily traveling with your dog is easier than ever thanks to more and more hotels opening their doors to our four legged family members; but traveling by plane with your dog can still be difficult. Few industry standards exist for dog friendly air travel, leaving dog accompanied travelers guessing which airline provides their pooch with the best travel accommodations. To help tackle this issue we’ve gone ahead and researched the dog airline policies for six of the largest carriers and crowned one, the most dog friendly airline.

To come up with our rankings we looked at each airline's dog safety policy, dog travel options, dog specific programs, price, and general dog friendliness.

Southwest - 6th Place

In-Cabin: Yes ($75/each way)

Checked Baggage/Cargo: No

For an airline that touts itself as the low cost alternative, it shouldn’t be surprising that Southwest offers one of the lowest cost options for traveling with your dog. If your dog is small enough to fit under the seat, just $75 will buy a one way ticket. Travelers with large dogs will need to look for other alternatives; Southwest does not offer a checked baggage option for dogs traveling with their owners. What we found particular concerning, and the reason Southwest ranks at the bottom of the list despite their bargain pricing, the airline goes out of its way to note first aid and oxygen will not be administered to dogs that become ill during flight.

Delta - 5th Place

In-Cabin: Yes ($125 per container/each way)

Checked Baggage/Cargo: Yes ($200 per container/each way)

Delta offers what we would consider the bare minimum when it comes to dog friendly travel accommodations. Not only are their fees higher than industry average but they’re based on one way travel, charging an additional fee on round trip flights. Dogs who can comfortably fit under the seat are permitted to ride in-cabin, all other dogs must travel as checked baggage.

American Airlines - 4th Place

In-Cabin: Yes ($100 per container/each way)

Checked Baggage/Cargo: Yes ($150 per container/each way)

American Airlines offers the standard dog transportation options we’ve come to see from most major airline carriers. If your dog is small enough they can ride in the cabin with you, otherwise you’ll have to fork over an extra $50 to have them ride as checked baggage – just make sure they’re not over 100lbs. American Airlines does distinguish themselves from other dog friendly carriers with their list of “Animal Relief Areas”  - assuring dog owners can easily find a place to take their dog for a quick squat in any airport.

United - 3rd Place

In-Cabin: Yes ($125-175 varies on the time of year)

Checked Baggage/Cargo: Yes ($175-250 varies on the time of year and crate size)

United knows their dogs. We know this because United is one of the few airlines that restrict short-nosed breeds from traveling as checked baggage from May 1st to September 30th do to the likelihood of warm weather. Restricted breeds include Boxer, English Bulldog, and Pug. If your dog happens to be a small short nosed breed you are welcome to carry your dog on year round, assuming they can fit comfortably in a carrier and placed below the seat. Before flying make sure to check United’s website to see if your travel window is limited by the type of dog you have.

JetBlue - 2nd Place

In-Cabin: Yes ($100)

Checked Baggage/Cargo: No

As a relatively young airline, JetBlue continues to use free drinks, free snacks, in-flight television, and outstanding customer service (minus the JFK runway fiasco), to achieve one of the most customer friendly reputations in the business. The airline is now employing the same strategy to attract customers flying with their dog. Their “JetPaws” program provides dog owners with a free pet carrier bag tag, a pet travel etiquette guide, and 300 TrueBlue points for traveling with your dog. JetBlue also provides its dog loving customers with a free pet travel guide – something near and dear to our hearts – that lists pet friendly hotels, restaurants, parks, and veterinarians. So why did JetBlue finish second? Your dog will need to be small enough to fit comfortably under the in-cabin seat, there is no checked luggage option.

Continental - 1st Place

In-Cabin: Yes ($125 each way)

Checked Baggage/Cargo: Yes (Call for rates, 1-800.575.3335)

Continental is unique in that they offer a travel option for large dogs, but do not allow dogs to travel as checked baggage. Instead, if you are planning to head out on a dog friendly vacation and your dog is too large to ride in the cabin, you’ll have to transport them as cargo. The good news, Continental has the most dog friendly cargo option in the business. Their PetSafe program offers confirmed booking prior to departure, a dedicated 24-hour animal support team to monitor weather conditions, the ability to track and trace your dog from origin to destination, and transportation in climate-controlled vehicles between connecting planes. Continental also has a mileage reward program through the PetSafe program. Continental OnePass members earn one (1) OnePass mile for every dollar spent when transporting their dog.