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Booking pet travel Kennel requirements Traveling to Hawaii International travel Fur-st Class™ care Pet Connect™ animal travel FAQ

Kennel requirements for the cargo compartment

The USDA and IATA "This indicates a link to an external site that may not meet accessibility guidelines."have specific requirements for kennels traveling in the cargo compartment. To ensure your pet travels safely, checked kennels must meet the following requirements, in addition to USDA and IATA requirements:

Kennel compliancy chart
Kennel must: Kennel must not:
Be of solid construction and composed of plastic, wood, metal or material of comparable strength and able to withstand rigors of normal transportation. Be collapsible, snap-top or soft-sided, or composed of wire, mesh, cardboard or wicker.
Be secured with nut- and bolt-type fasteners if the kennel is not constructed as one piece.
Example of nut and bolt fastened kennel		 Be secured with twist, slide, or snap fasteners.
Example of improper fastened kennel
Be escape-proof with one metal grated door fastened securely to prevent accidental opening. Have a plastic door.
Be constructed with original or standard replacement parts. Use zip ties, duct tape or rubber bands to construct the frame.
Have handles or handholds on the exterior to lift without tipping. Have permanently attached wheels. Wheels must be removed or rendered inoperable.
Have a solid roof. Ventilation slots are permitted if roof integrity remains intact. Have sharp points or edges, with no protrusions that could injure the animal.
Have adequate air ventilation. Vents must be covered with permanent bars or other sturdy material. Be secured with a lock.
Be clean and leak-proof with absorbent bedding made of material that is safe and non-toxic to the animal. Contain bedding material when traveling to Mexico. Shredded paper or absorbent pads are acceptable.
Contain a food and water dish clipped inside the door to allow feeding without opening the door. Have a plastic or fabric covering such as a tarp or kennel cover.
Allow the animal to stand up (head erect and not touching the top), lie down and turn around in a normal, comfortable position.
Example of comfortable position
Have releasable zip ties securing the closed door to the frame, utilizing all original drill holes. (Alaska can supply)

The following kennel sizes are allowed on Alaska Airlines:

Kennel size chart
Size Kennel size Average Dimensions (height x width x depth)
Extra small 100 15" x 16" x 21"
Small 200 19" x 20" x 27"
Medium 300 23" x 22" x 32"
Large 400 26" X 24" x 36"
Extra large* 500 30" x 27" x 40"

* Extra large (Size 500) kennels may be accepted on Alaska Flights operated with Boeing 737, Horizon Air Q400 and E175, and SkyWest ERJ-175 aircraft.

Notes: Pets are not permitted to travel in the baggage compartment on Airbus aircraft. Contact reservations to confirm your pet's kennel can be accommodated.