Priority Pet

Shipping Options when traveling with your pet

Whichever option you choose to send your pet on Northwest, your animal will travel in temperature controlled holds in our aircraft. You are required to obtain proper documentation for your pet for all shipping options, and service fees will apply as outlined below.

Carry-On

Guidelines to take your pet on board the aircraft are as follows:

• Inform Northwest when you make your reservation that you will be bringing an animal in addition to your carry-on luggage.  Call Northwest at least 24 hours prior to your flight to confirm your pet is traveling with you.
• Restrictions: Northwest does not allow pets in cabin to several destinations, including Hawaii, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong. Aircraft restrictions that limit pets in cabin  (including pets in World Business Class on A330 aircraft) and a limit to the number of animals onboard individual flights also apply. 
• Your pet must be in an approved Carry-on kennel when you check in (maximum kennel size is 17" x 12.3" x 8"). In addition to standard Carry-on kennels, Northwest permits soft-sided animal carriers for animals traveling in the passenger cabin. Kennels are available through pet supply shops and a limited supply at select Northwest stations. Click here for Northwest kennel pricing.
• Northwest Airlines reserves the right to access a $20 gate processing fee for pets not disclosed prior to boarding. To avoid this additional fee please dislcose all pet-in-cabin requests prior to travel at 1-800-225-2525 or at the ticket counter at least one hour prior to departure for domestic flights, 2 hours for international flights.

Checked Luggage
You may transport your pet as Checked Luggage on your same flight, in addition to the luggage allowance for your flight. Click here to obtain the cost for pet transportation. Dogs, cats, household birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and monkeys used as service animals may fly as Checked Luggage. Animals must be under 100 pounds and 160 inches (with kennel) for domestic travel and 150 pounds and 160 inches (with kennel) for international travel.

Guidelines to travel with your pet as luggage on your flight are as follows:

• Advise the agent when you make your reservation that your pet will be traveling with you as Checked Luggage.
• Call Northwest 24 hours prior to your flight to confirm that your pet is traveling with you.
• Check-in at Northwest ticket counter at least two (2) hours prior to flight with your pet (curbside check-in is not available for pets).
• Claim your pet at the Northwest luggage claim area of the airport, 1-2 hours after arrival.
• Northwest flight series numbers 2000-9699 may not accept animals as luggage. Call Northwest toll-free at 1-800-225-2525 to confirm the acceptance of animals on your flights (for TDD for the hearing impaired, call 1-800-328-2298).
• If you plan to transfer to another airline, you will need to allow time to claim your animal and re-check it with the connecting airline.
• To ensure that your pet will be transported as 'Checked Luggage' to your final destination on another airline, please check with all airlines in your itinerary for their pet policies.

Service Animals
Animals traveling in service to passengers with disabilities, with trainers, for law enforcement or search and rescue are welcome on board Northwest flights. No fee will be assessed for service animals.

To take your service animal on-board, you must adhere to the following procedure:

• Inform Northwest at the time of reservation that you will be bringing a service animal.
• Your pet must be with you and properly harnessed when you check-in.
• These animals may travel in the passenger cabin without a kennel, provided they are properly harnessed. Our personnel can assist you with seating arrangements and information regarding all required documentation.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulate the transportation of animals. These regulations apply to you, the shipper, as well as all airlines. It is your responsibility to obtain the proper paperwork for your pet.

Health Requirements and Documentation:

• Northwest recommends but does not require a health certificate for household pets traveling with customers. Passengers are responsible to know and comply with all animal documentation requirements for their destination.
• Sedatives are strongly discouraged, as their effects at high altitudes are unpredictable. If your veterinarian decides that tranquilizers are medically necessary, the name of the drug, the dosage, and how the drug was administered must be indicated on the kennel. Northwest personnel will not administer tranquilizers.
• USDA regulations require that your animal be at least eight (8) weeks old and fully weaned before traveling.
• Northwest cannot guarantee acceptance of any animal before it is seen by airport personnel. Important considerations for acceptance include health and disposition of the animal. Northwest will not transport an animal that is violent, ill, or in physical distress.

Entry Point and Quarantine Restrictions:
You are required to obtain proper documentation for your pet for each state and/or country along your pet's planned itinerary. Arrangements should be made well in advance of travel.

• Many destinations have restrictions on the types of pets accepted, and how these pets are transported into the country. Pets may not be allowed entrance, may only be accepted for certain modes of transport, or may require quarantines of up to six months.
• Violation of these restrictions can result in confiscation and even destruction of your pet.
• Destinations frequently visited, with such restrictions include Hawaii, London, Tokyo, Osaka, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Manila, and Guam. Restrictions can exist for other destinations as well.
• For the most up-to-date information, contact the nearest embassy or consulate general office for each country on your itinerary at least four (4) weeks prior to departure.

Temperature Restrictions

Northwest personnel will determine if the weather temperatures are in acceptable ranges at time of check-in. If your pet cannot be accommodated due to temperature limitations, Northwest personnel will work with you to arrange alternate dates for your pet to travel. Always contact our Reservations office or Cargo office prior to departing for the airport. We can advise you if temperatures for any point in the itinerary are too extreme on the day of travel.

Low Temperatures

• No animal travel (other than Carry-on) when the temperature at any point on the planned routing is below 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-12°C).
• Choose mid-day flights when temperatures are likely to be warmer.
• Dogs, cats, rabbits and other warm-blooded animals (except birds) traveling as Cargo must be accompanied by a Certificate of Acclimation, issued by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days prior to departure, when the temperature at any point on the planned routing is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 C). Click here to access PDF version of the Certificate of Acclimation.

High Temperatures

• Animals will not be accepted on any Northwest flight if the temperature at ANY point on a planned itinerary is forecast to exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29.5°C) at time of travel.
• Choose early morning or late evening flights during summer, which avoid the worst heat of the day.
• Brachycephalic (Snub-Nosed) dogs and cats are very sensitive to high temperatures and will not be accepted when temperatures at any point on the planned itinerary exceed 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24°C).

• American Straffordshire Terrier
• Boston Terrier
• Boxer
• Brussels Griffin
• Bull Terrier
• Dutch Pug
• English Bulldog
• English Toy Spaniel
• French Bulldog
• Japanese Spaniel (Japanese Chin)
• Japanese Pug
• Pekinese
• Shih Tzu
• Straffordshire Bull Terrier

Helpful Travel Tips

• Take along a leash and collar for walking your pet prior to departure, on an extended layover and upon arrival.
• Include identification tags with your home address and phone number, as well as the address and phone number of your destination.
• Never ship an animal with a choke collar or muzzle, as both are dangerous when an animal is alone or in transit.
• Keep your animal as calm as possible prior to the flight. A walk immediately prior to departure is a good idea. For cats, disposable litter boxes are available at pet supply shops and are easy to take along.
• Familiarize your pet with the kennel to ease the stress of travel for your pet. Purchase the kennel as far in advance as possible. Veterinarians recommend leaving the kennel door open in the house with an old sock or familiar object inside so that your pet may spend time near the kennel and perhaps venture inside on its own. Familiarization with the kennel is essential for your pet to be relaxed during the flight.

Cost of Animal Travel

Northwest Airlines now allows customers to pay pet transportation fees over the phone prior to arriving at the airport.  Please read the following rules and guidelines about pet travel fees.  Pet fees can then be collected over the phone - limited to travel on Northwest/Pinnacle/Mesaba operated flights for travel in the United states or Canada only.  Call 1-800-225-2525.

Checked Luggage Charges:

There is a one-way per kennel, per airline, charge for pet transportation. This charge cannot be substituted, nor count as part of your free luggage allowance. This transportation charge will always apply.

• International destinations:
  Pet charges are excess luggage charges, which are based on the size and weight of the pet and kennel. Contact Northwest Reservations (1-800-225-2525) for details.

Carry-on:

• Within 50 United States and Canada:
  USD $80.00 or CAD $80.00 per kennel.

Assist Animals: There is no transportation fee for service, assist, or search animals.

Charges may be pre-paid or payable at an Airport Ticket Office, City Ticket Office or Travel Agency. Pet charges are payable by cash, check, or credit card.

All kennels must follow the following guidelines:

General Rules

• Type/size of Kennel:The kennel must be sturdy, properly ventilated, and, most importantly, must be large enough for the animal to freely sit and stand with its head erect, turn around, and lie down in a normal posture. To prevent accidental injury, no part of the animal's body can protrude through any openings in the kennel. For this reason, kennels made exclusively from wire are not accepted. Please note: collapsible kennels of any size are not acceptable for pet travel as cargo.
• Closing Mechanism:Check the closing mechanism to make sure it works properly. Do not put a lock on the kennel door. In accordance with federal regulations, your pet must be accessible in the event of an emergency.
• Wheels:Northwest discourages kennels with wheels on the bottom unless the wheels have a locking device. If your kennel has wheels, it is recommended that they either be removed or taped in order to prevent them from rolling in transit.
• Kennel Doors: Doors made of plastic or fiberglass are strictly prohibited.

Additional Federal Regulations

• Each kennel should contain no more than 1 adult dog or cat, or no more than 2 puppies or kittens younger than 6 months, of comparable size, and under 20 lbs. each. Dogs and cats cannot travel together in the same container.
• For carry-on pets, the maximum weight of pets and kennel is 15 pounds.
• Pets traveling as carry-on luggage must remain in the kennel at all times during flight.
• Include two empty dishes: One for food and one for water, accessible from the outside.
• Absorbent Material: The kennel must contain absorbent material or litter. (Black and white printed newspaper is a good choice. However, newspaper with colored ink or advertisements can be toxic to animals.) Please note that the use of straw, hay or wood shavings is prohibited for international shipments.

One of the most important steps you can take to ease the stress of travel for your pet is to make sure it becomes familiar with the kennel. Purchase the kennel as far in advance as possible. Veterinarians recommend leaving the kennel door open in the house with an old sock or familiar object inside so that your pet may spend time near the kennel and perhaps venture inside on its own. Since it is important that your pet be as relaxed a possible during the flight, familiarization with the kennel is essential.

Kennel Label Requirements

The kennel must be properly marked. Federal regulations require that the following also apply to each kennel.

• Display a "Live Animals" Label with letters at least 1 inch high, on top and on at least one side of the kennel.
• Indicate the Top with arrows or "This End Up" markings on at least two sides.
• Display Feeding Instructions. (If food is necessary it must be attached to the outside of the kennel).
• Certification: Any animal traveling must display certification attached to the kennel stating that the animal has been offered food and water within four hours prior to scheduled departure. Do not feed in the two hours prior to departure as a full stomach can cause discomfort for a traveling pet.
• Contact Information: Label the kennel with your name, address and phone number at origin as well as destination. Include your pet's name and clearly indicate the final destination on the top of the kennel.

Northwest Kennels

Priority Pet Fee Structure

• General Application
  • For North America travel which includes United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

• For pets in the cabin:
  • Includes Northwest Airlink operated by Mesaba Airlines (XJ) and Pinnacle Airlines
  • USD $80.00 or CAD $80.00 per kennel, one-way

• For pets as checked luggage:
• Includes Northwest Airlink operated by Mesaba Airlines (XJ), flight range 2700-3699.

* Minimum Kennel Size: no smaller as 45 in / 113 cm (will not withstand normal handling as checked luggage). Soft-sided kennels are for carry-on animals only.

Helpful Travel Tips

• Take along a leash and collar for walking your pet prior to departure, on an extended layover and upon arrival.
• Include identification tags with your home address and phone number as well as the address and phone number of your destination.
• Never ship an animal with a choke collar or muzzle as both are dangerous when an animal is alone or in transit.
• Check Temperatures: Remember to check with our Reservations or Cargo offices prior to departing for the airport to verify that temperatures are within acceptable ranges the airport early. If your pet is traveling as luggage or VIP, check-in will be at the airport. If your pet is traveling via Cargo, you may need to bring your animal to our Cargo facilities. Most often it is located in a separate building than the airport terminal.
• Keep your animal as calm as possible prior to the flight. A walk immediately prior to departure is a good idea. For cats, disposable litter boxes are available at pet supply shops and are easy to take along.

Priority Pet Center Information Line

1-888-NWA-4PET (692-4738)

Terms and Conditions

These pages are for informative purposes only and does not form a contract. As such, any information contained within this site is subject to change with or without notice. Northwest assumes no liability for these changes. Northwest also reserves the right to interpret and apply these policies and procedures. In each case, Northwest's interpretations and applications shall be final and conclusive.

The mission of Northwest Airlines is to provide reliable, convenient and consistent air transportation that meets or exceeds our customers expectations. With Priority Pet, we extend the word customer to include our winged, gilled, and four-legged passengers as well. Our Priority Pet program was created because we care about the animals that fly with us.