Last Updated on August 26, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Frontier Airlines lets travelers bring certain small pets in the cabin on flights within the United States, but the rules have changed in important ways. The current policy covers which animals qualify, the pet fee, carrier dimensions, seating restrictions, health paperwork, airport screening, and what happens when traveling with a trained service dog.
Quick Answer
Frontier Airlines allows approved small pets in the cabin on U.S. flights for a current non-refundable charge of $149 per pet, per direction. One cabin pet is allowed per passenger, and the pet must stay in an under-seat carrier. Frontier does not accept ordinary pets as checked baggage, cargo, or on new international pet bookings.
Key Takeaways
- Frontier currently allows domesticated dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and small household birds on flights within the United States.
- The current Frontier pet charge is $149 per pet, per direction and is non-refundable.
- Pets travel in the cabin only. Frontier does not transport ordinary pets as checked baggage or in the cargo hold.
- Maximum carrier size is 18 x 14 x 8 inches for hard-sided carriers or 18 x 14 x 11 inches for soft-sided carriers.
- Passengers traveling with a pet cannot sit in row one or an exit row, and the pet must remain inside its carrier during the flight.
- Frontier limits ordinary cabin pets to one pet in cabin per passenger.
- Frontier is not accepting new ordinary pets for international travel. Qualifying trained service dogs follow separate rules, including DOT paperwork and destination-entry requirements.
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Frontier Airlines Pet Policy at a Glance
| Current pet fee | $149 per pet, per direction; non-refundable |
| Where ordinary pets can travel | In the cabin on U.S. Frontier flights |
| Checked or cargo pets | Not accepted |
| Hard carrier maximum | 18 in L x 14 in W x 8 in H |
| Soft carrier maximum | 18 in L x 14 in W x 11 in H |
| Minimum age | Dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks old |
| Restricted seats | Row one and exit rows |
| Pets per passenger | One ordinary pet in cabin per passenger |
Frontier publishes its current rules on its Family & Pets page and lists the current pet charge on its Optional Services page. Because airline policies and fees can change, these official pages are the best reference when preparing for a future trip.
Types of Pets Allowed on Frontier Airlines
Frontier’s current domestic policy covers more than dogs and cats. On flights within the United States, the airline allows domesticated dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and small household birds when they meet the carrier and behavior requirements.
Frontier does not accept every small animal. Its prohibited list includes large birds such as parrots and macaws, mice, rats, squirrels, beavers, ferrets, reptiles such as snakes, amphibians, spiders, and insects.
Dogs and cats must be at least eight weeks old. The animal must also be harmless, non-disruptive, and able to remain comfortably inside an approved travel container. Frontier currently limits ordinary cabin pets to one pet in cabin per passenger.
Note: Frontier’s current published cabin-pet rules do not list a general dog- or cat-breed ban. Carrier fit, behavior, and the animal’s ability to travel safely still matter.
Requirements for Traveling with Pets on Frontier Airlines
Before traveling, make sure your pet is healthy enough for air travel and can remain comfortably in the carrier. Dogs and cats must be at least eight weeks old, and Frontier requires the pet to stay inside the travel container during the flight.
Frontier does not require a health certificate for ordinary cabin pets traveling within the United States. That does not mean paperwork is never needed. A destination state or U.S. territory may impose its own vaccination, health-certificate, testing, identification, or treatment requirements.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture explains that interstate pet-entry requirements are set by the receiving state or territory. Travelers should therefore check the rules for their destination rather than assuming the airline’s boarding requirements are the only requirements that apply. See the USDA APHIS state-to-state pet travel guidance.
Keeping an identification tag on the pet and carrying vaccination records is also sensible even when Frontier does not require those records for the flight itself.
Warning: Airline approval does not override state or territorial animal-entry rules. Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii, and other destinations can have additional health or identification requirements, so verify destination rules before departure.
Frontier Airlines Pet Fee and Restrictions
Frontier’s current published pet charge is $149 per pet, per direction. The charge is non-refundable. A round trip therefore normally involves the directional charge for both the outbound and return portions.
For an ordinary round trip, the published pet charge is normally $298 total because Frontier charges $149 in each direction.
| Animal Type | Charge | Key Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Approved cabin pet | $149 per pet, per direction | U.S. flights; approved under-seat carrier; must remain contained |
| Checked or cargo pet | Not available | Frontier does not transport ordinary pets as checked baggage or in the cargo hold |
| Qualifying trained service dog | No pet charge | Must satisfy Frontier and U.S. DOT service-animal requirements |
Frontier also limits where passengers with pets may sit. A traveler with a cabin pet cannot sit in row one or an emergency exit row.
The pet’s travel container does not eliminate the rest of your baggage allowance. Frontier says that, in addition to the pet container, you may bring either one qualifying personal item or a carry-on bag. A normal carry-on charge applies when the carry-on is not otherwise included in your fare or benefits.
Booking a Flight with a Pet on Frontier Airlines
You can add a cabin pet while making a reservation by selecting the cabin-pet option in the passenger-information portion of the booking process. If your flight is already booked, Frontier’s current FAQ says you can open Manage Trip and select the option to add a pet in cabin.
Adding the pet to the reservation ahead of travel is preferable to arriving at the airport without it recorded. After adding the pet, review your itinerary and payment details so you can confirm that the pet service is attached to the correct traveler and direction of travel.
When you arrive at the airport, allow enough time to deal with any carrier or pet-document checks that may apply.
Pro Tip: Before departure day, put your pet inside the carrier and check the carrier’s outside dimensions yourself. Your pet should be able to stand, turn around, and lie down naturally while the carrier remains small enough to fit under the aircraft seat.
Tips for Traveling with Pets on Frontier Airlines
Start carrier training before the trip instead of introducing the carrier at the airport. Leave it open at home, place familiar bedding or a favorite toy inside, and allow your pet to enter voluntarily. Short practice periods can make confinement less unfamiliar on travel day.
Keep your pet’s routine reasonably consistent in the days leading up to the flight. Exercise, bathroom breaks, and a calm pre-airport routine can help reduce avoidable stress.
Useful items to keep accessible include:
- A secure leash or harness for the airport security checkpoint.
- Identification and vaccination records.
- Any veterinarian-prescribed medication the animal normally needs.
- Absorbent carrier lining or pads.
- A small supply of dry food for delays or arrival.
- Cleaning supplies and waste bags.
Frontier recommends that pets not receive food or water within four hours of departure and asks passengers not to provide food or water to ordinary pets while on the aircraft. If your animal has a medical condition or special hydration needs, discuss the safest travel plan with your veterinarian rather than changing its routine solely on general advice.
Frontier Pet Carrier Guidelines
The carrier is one of the most important parts of Frontier’s pet policy because it must both fit under the seat and provide enough room for the animal to stand, turn around, and lie down naturally.
- Hard-sided carrier: maximum 18 inches long x 14 inches wide x 8 inches high.
- Soft-sided carrier: maximum 18 inches long x 14 inches wide x 11 inches high.
- Placement: the carrier must fit under the seat in front of you.
- During the flight: the pet must remain inside the carrier.
- Carrier preference: Frontier recommends soft-sided carriers.
- Dogs and cats: only one adult dog or cat may be transported per container.
A carrier should also be secure and well ventilated. Check zippers, closures, mesh panels, and the base before leaving home. A worn zipper or damaged mesh panel can turn into a serious problem in a crowded airport.
Going Through TSA Security with a Pet
The airline’s in-flight rule that your pet stays inside its carrier does not mean the pet remains inside the carrier during airport security screening.
The Transportation Security Administration instructs passengers with small pets to remove the animal from its carrying case so that the empty carrier can be screened. Maintain control of the pet during the process. TSA recommends using a leash, although the leash should be removed when carrying the animal through a metal detector.
You can review current guidance on the TSA travel tips page.
Note: If you are worried that your pet could escape while being removed from its carrier, tell a TSA officer before opening it and ask what screening options are available at that checkpoint.
Pet Comfort and Safety on Frontier Airlines
A pet that technically fits Frontier’s carrier limits may still be a poor candidate for flying if it cannot stand, turn, and rest naturally in the carrier. Carrier dimensions are maximum limits, not a guarantee that every animal of a particular weight or breed will fit comfortably.
USDA guidance also notes that short-nosed, or brachycephalic, dogs and cats can have increased risks of breathing problems and heat stress during air travel. Examples include bulldogs, pugs, boxers, Persian cats, and related short-nosed breeds. Owners of these animals should discuss air-travel suitability with a veterinarian before booking.
Familiar bedding or a familiar-smelling item can make the carrier less strange, but do not add bulky items that reduce the animal’s usable space or block ventilation.
Frontier warns that most veterinarians advise against sedating pets for air travel because tranquilizers can have unpredictable effects during flight. Do not give a sedative or other medication merely to make a pet quieter unless a veterinarian who understands the animal’s health and travel conditions has specifically advised it.
Frontier also notes that oxygen will not be administered to an ordinary pet during an in-flight emergency. That makes an honest assessment of the animal’s health before travel especially important.
International Travel with Pets on Frontier Airlines
Frontier’s current international policy is much more restrictive than its domestic pet policy. The airline states that it is not accepting new ordinary pets for international travel. Travelers should therefore not assume that an animal accepted on a domestic Frontier flight can accompany them on an international Frontier itinerary.
Qualifying trained service dogs are handled separately. Frontier says international service-dog travel requires airline documentation and can also involve destination-country entry rules, vaccination requirements, a health certificate, microchip requirements, and U.S. re-entry rules.
For dogs entering or returning to the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently requires a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Dogs must also be at least six months old at U.S. entry, appear healthy, and have a microchip detectable by a universal scanner. The additional paperwork depends on where the dog has been during the previous six months and where its rabies vaccination was given.
If a U.S.-vaccinated dog has been in a country that CDC classifies as high risk for dog rabies during the previous six months, current CDC rules require the CDC Dog Import Form receipt plus a Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA before the dog leaves the United States. USDA-endorsed export health certificates issued after July 31, 2025, do not replace that CDC vaccination form for this situation.
Current U.S. requirements are available through the CDC dog importation guidance.
Requirements for entering another country are set by that destination. USDA recommends starting the international pet-document process early because vaccinations, tests, government endorsements, or other steps may take time.
Warning: Frontier’s minimum age for a trained service dog is four months, but a dog entering or returning to the United States must meet the stricter CDC entry age of at least six months. Always apply the stricter rule that governs your actual itinerary.
Service Animals on Frontier Airlines
Frontier treats trained service animals separately from ordinary pets. Under its current policy, only dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a qualified person with a disability are accepted as trained service animals. Psychiatric service dogs can qualify when they meet that task-training definition.
Emotional-support animals, comfort animals, companionship animals, service animals in training, and other animals that are not individually task-trained do not receive trained-service-animal status under Frontier’s policy.
Frontier accepts up to two trained service dogs for a single passenger with a disability. The airline does not accept a trained service dog younger than four months. A service dog must be under the handler’s control by harness, leash, or tether while in the airport and on the aircraft.
Passengers traveling with a trained service dog must complete the U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form, which covers the dog’s health, behavior, and training. For a flight segment scheduled to last eight hours or more, DOT rules also allow an airline to require the separate service-animal relief attestation covering the dog’s ability to avoid relieving itself or to do so in a sanitary way.
For reservations booked more than 48 hours before departure, Frontier says the completed Service Animal Air Transportation Form must be submitted no later than 48 hours before travel. For reservations made less than 48 hours before departure, Frontier instructs passengers to provide the completed form to a customer-service agent at the airport.
Frontier’s Special Services page contains its current service-dog procedures.
A trained service dog must remain under the handler’s control. Frontier can deny transport when an animal poses a direct threat, is not properly controlled, creates a significant disruption, violates applicable health or entry requirements, or cannot be accommodated safely. Service dogs also cannot obstruct an aisle or access needed for emergency evacuation.
What Happens If a Pet Becomes Disruptive?
Frontier requires ordinary cabin pets to be harmless, non-disruptive, and able to remain inside their travel containers. If the animal becomes restless, the owner is responsible for calming it without removing it from the carrier during the flight.
A pet that behaves aggressively, creates a safety problem, or cannot meet the airline’s cabin rules can create boarding or travel problems. This is one reason carrier acclimation before the trip matters.
Service dogs are subject to separate federal and airline rules, but they also must behave appropriately in a public setting and remain under the handler’s control. Frontier lists behaviors such as growling, biting, lunging, excessive barking, or relieving itself in inappropriate areas as examples that may lead to denial of transport.
If you are also preparing your own travel gear, this guide to the best waterproof sneakers for travel can help with airport and destination packing. A compact travel setup can make it easier to manage your own belongings while keeping your attention on your pet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Frontier Airlines’ current pet policy?
Frontier allows approved small pets to travel in an under-seat carrier on flights within the United States. Ordinary pets cannot travel as checked baggage or cargo and must remain in the carrier during the flight.
What types of pets are allowed on Frontier Airlines?
On U.S. flights, Frontier currently accepts domesticated dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and small household birds. Large birds, mice, rats, squirrels, ferrets, reptiles, amphibians, spiders, insects, and several other species are not accepted.
How much does Frontier charge for a pet?
Frontier’s current Optional Services page lists a non-refundable pet charge of $149 per pet, per direction.
What size pet carrier does Frontier allow?
Hard-sided carriers can be up to 18 inches long x 14 inches wide x 8 inches high. Soft-sided carriers can be up to 18 x 14 x 11 inches. The carrier must fit under the seat and give the animal enough room to stand, turn, and lie down naturally.
Does Frontier require a health certificate for a domestic pet?
Frontier does not require a health certificate for ordinary cabin pets traveling within the United States. However, the destination state or territory may require a certificate, vaccinations, testing, identification, or other documentation.
Can Frontier pets travel as checked baggage?
No. Frontier does not transport ordinary pets as checked baggage or in the cargo hold. Approved pets travel in the passenger cabin.
Can ordinary pets fly internationally on Frontier?
Frontier currently states that it will not accept new ordinary pets for international travel. Qualifying trained service dogs are handled under separate service-animal and international-entry requirements.
Are there breed restrictions for pets on Frontier?
Frontier’s published cabin-pet policy focuses on permitted species, carrier fit, age, behavior, and safety rather than listing a general dog- or cat-breed ban. Short-nosed breeds can face increased respiratory and heat risks during air travel, so owners should discuss travel suitability with a veterinarian.
Do emotional-support animals fly free on Frontier?
No. Frontier does not recognize emotional-support or comfort animals as trained service animals. Only qualifying individually task-trained service dogs receive treatment under Frontier’s service-animal policy.
How many pets can one passenger bring on Frontier?
Frontier currently limits ordinary pets in cabin to one per passenger. Its separate service-animal policy allows up to two qualifying trained service dogs for one passenger with a disability.
Do I take my pet out of the carrier at TSA security?
Yes. TSA instructs travelers to remove a small pet from the carrier so the empty carrier can be screened. Keep control of the pet with a leash, but remove the leash when carrying the animal through the metal detector.
What paperwork does Frontier require for a trained service dog?
Frontier requires the U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form. For bookings made more than 48 hours before departure, Frontier requires submission at least 48 hours before travel. Flights scheduled for eight hours or more may also require the DOT service-animal relief attestation.
Sources
- Frontier Airlines — Family & Pets — accepted animals, domestic restrictions, seating, carrier sizes, health guidance, and international limitations.
- Frontier Airlines — Optional Services — current pet charge.
- Frontier Airlines — Special Services — trained service-dog rules and DOT form requirements.
- USDA APHIS — State-to-State Pet Travel — destination health and documentation requirements.
- Transportation Security Administration — Travel Tips — security screening procedure for travelers with pets.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Bringing a Dog into the U.S. — current U.S. dog-import requirements.
