Ask a QuestionPets Traveling with Your Luggage
We know your pet is important to you. Your pet is also important to us at Northwest Airlines. For this reason, the Priority Pet program was developed to provide your pet with a safe and comfortable journey when accompanying you and traveling with your luggage.
Priority Pet incorporates the following:
- Employee training at all locations.
- Dedicated personnel and facilities to speed connections at our Detroit, Memphis and Minneapolis/St. Paul hubs.
- Written confirmation provided to you before departure that your pet is safely onboard the aircraft.
- Transportation on all Northwest and Northwest Airlink aircraft equipped with heated and pressurized luggage compartments.
Dogs, cats and household birds whose size or weight prohibit carriage in the passenger cabin, and other pets like rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, and monkeys (when used as service animals), may accompany you and travel with your luggage on all U.S. domestic flights and on flights between the U.S. and Canada. On international flights pets traveling with luggage are limited to dogs and cats only.
Reservations
- Advance arrangement is required: The number of pets allowed per flight is limited. When making your travel plans, inform Northwest reservations or your travel professional that your pet will be traveling with your luggage. When booking online at nwa.com, contact Northwest Reservations after purchasing your ticket to make arrangements for your pet.
- Choose nonstop or direct flights: Whenever possible, Northwest recommends that you make reservations for your pet on nonstop or direct flights. In cold weather, choose mid-day flights when temperatures are likely to be warmer. When the weather is hot, choose early morning or late evening flights, which avoid the worst heat of the day.
- Flight connections to another airline: If your travel plans include a connection to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Delta Airlines or another member of our SkyteamSM Global Alliance, please note that their guidelines may differ from Northwest's. We recommend that you contact the airline directly. For your convenience, a list of the SkyTeam member airlines' web sites is included below.
- Travel within the U.S., and between the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean: The pricing for the Priority Pet service is based on the kennel size dimensions (length + width + height). NOTE: All pricing is based on one-way travel unless otherwise stated.
Domestic Pet Transport
Size & Cost Small Medium Intermediate Large Extra Large Giant Dimensions
(L+W+H)56 in.
(140 cm)73 in.
(182 cm)80 in.
(200 cm)89 in.
(222 cm)100 in.
(250 cm)115 in.
(292 cm)USD $139 $169 $199 $229 $299 $359 CAD $139
$169
$199
$229
$299
$359
- International travel: Priority Pet fees are based on weight only (up to 165 pounds or 75 kg) and will vary depending upon your origin and final destination. Please review the multiplier table and excess fee links below and contact Reservations at 1-800-225-2525 with any other questions.
International Pet Transport
Total Weight
(Pet + Kennel)Less than
70 lbs.
(32 kg)71 - 100
lbs.
(33 - 45 kg)101 - 121 lbs.
(46 - 55 kg)122 - 143 lbs.
(56 - 65 kg)144 - 165 lbs.
(66 - 75 kg)Multiplier
(Number of Excess Charges)1 3 4 5 6 * Use this number to multiply the excess fee according to the
Trans-Pacific or Trans-Atlantic Excess Fee charts.
Service Animals
View detailed information about service animals
Service Animals into London are allowed provided passenger has completed all UK DEFRA tests and procedures. Details are available at www.defra.gov.uk.
Travel Documents
Northwest Airlines does not require a health certificate for accompanied pets traveling with your luggage. However, it is your responsibility to comply with all applicable local, state and national entry requirements.
Many states and foreign countries require that pets be accompanied by a health certificate. Additional requirements may also apply. More information on these regulations can be found on the web sites listed below.
- > State Regulations (excluding Hawaii)
- > Hawaii Regulations
- > Foreign Regulations
Note: When traveling internationally, failure to comply with all requirements may result in your pet being refused entry, placed into quarantine or returned to origin at your expense. 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.
Kennel Requirements
All pet kennels need to adhere to the requirements mandated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). You may use your own kennel or purchase an approved kennel at most pet supply shops.
- Kennel Regulations: View additional details on these regulations and guidelines.
- Container Guide: Download a Measurement Guide for Dog and Cat Containers to assist you in the kennel selection. You will need Adobe Acrobat to view this guide.
Limitation and Restrictions
To ensure a safe and comfortable environment for your pets, U.S. and international regulators mandate certain restrictions be enforced.
- Temperature Restrictions:
Northwest personnel will determine if temperatures are within acceptable limits 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. Please remember, if Northwest determines that temperatures are unsuitable for transporting your pet, it is for the safety and health of your pet.
Temperature guidelines are based on the actual or forecasted temperature upon departure or arrival for each airport location on the itinerary. The temperature guidelines shown in the table below will apply to all accompanied pets traveling with your luggage:
PRIORITY PET TEMPERATURE GUIDELINE 85oF / 29oC Maximum for all pets (except snub-nosed dogs and cats) 75oF / 24oC Maximum for snub-nosed dogs and cats* 10oF / -12oC Minimum for all pets *Snub-nosed pets include - but are not limited to:
- Dogs: Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brussels Griffin, Bulldog (all breeds), English Toy Spaniel, Japanese Spaniel (Japanese Chin), Pug (all breeds), Pekinese, Shar-Pei and Shih-Tzu.
- Cats: Himalayan and Persian
View additional information on these restrictions.
- Summer Pet Embargo: Northwest Airlines does not accept accompanied pets traveling with your luggage to or from specific locations where the temperature is normally above 85oF / 29oC.
Domestic Embargo:
- June 1 through September 15
- Applies to Las Vegas, NV and all cities in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
- July 1 through September 15
- Applies to Bangkok, Beijing, Bombay (Mumbai), Busan, Jakarta, Kaohsiung, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Nagoya, Osaka, Saipan, Seoul (Incheon), Shanghai, Taipei and Tokyo and all locations in Guam, Hong Kong and Singapore.
- Embargo Exclusion: This embargo does not apply to pets traveling in the passenger cabin as Carry-on, VIP or General Cargo shipments, or pets traveling on flights operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Pet acceptance for cities/countries not listed in the embargo remains contingent upon acceptable temperatures on the day of travel.
- U.K. Exceptions: United Kingdom (U.K.) regulations do not permit carry-on pets or accompanied pets traveling with passenger luggage. All animals, including service animals, must be transported using the cargo service. Read more information
- U.K. P.E.T.S.: Scheme
Helpful Tips
- Save time at the airport: Pay your pet fee over the phone before you travel. Contact Northwest Reservations for more information.
- Avoid unnecessary fees: Northwest Airlines reserves the right to assess an additional $20.00 administrative fee when customers arrive at the airport with a kennel or pet larger than what was advised to Northwest when the reservation was made. To avoid this fee, please determine the kennel size for your pet prior to making your reservations. Use this guide to assist you in selecting the correct kennel size.
Checklist for Pets Traveling With Your Luggage
Careful planning is essential to ensure a safe and comfortable journey for your pet. To prepare your pet for travel, download our Checklist for Pets Traveling With Your Luggage. You will need Adobe Acrobat to view this checklist.
