≡ Menu

Can You Fly With a Puppy on Your Lap?

Unfortunately, in most cases, you can’t fly with a puppy on your lap. Airlines will almost always require a carrier when you bring a pet on a flight.

However, the one exception to the rule is if your puppy is an emotional support animal. Only then can you take your pup aboard your flight, as long as you have the necessary paperwork.

If you want to learn more, then keep reading below.

Dog Owner & Dog

Flying with an ESA Puppy

Emotional support animals, or ESAs, are about the only chance of a puppy being allowed to sit on your lap.

They help alleviate their owners’ stress and anxiety at the recommendation of a licensed medical professional.

Keep in mind that if you claim your puppy is an ESA, you’ll need to show some kind of proof.

Generally, this is a signed ESA letter from the licensed professional. This letter states that you're indeed recommended to have an ESA.

In airlines that allow ESAs, having a valid letter like this means your pet can board the cabin free of charge.

However, depending on the airline, a letter on its own isn’t enough. There may also be various forms that the licensed medical professional must fill out within 48 hours before the flight.

However, as of January 11, 2021, the US Department of Transportation announced that airlines are no longer legally required to accommodate ESAs.

This came about due to the extra costs airlines had to pay to support ESAs traveling onboard.

Thus, the following airlines have ceased to acknowledge ESAs and have started treating them as regular pets.

This means that when boarding any of these airlines, your pet will need to be put in a carrier. In addition, you’ll also need to pay the required fees for bringing an animal on a flight.

  • Air Canada
  • Air China
  • Air New Zealand
  • Alaska Airlines
  • All Nippon Airways
  • Allegiant Air
  • American Airlines
  • Cathay Pacific
  • China Eastern Airlines
  • Delta Airlines
  • Emirates
  • Eva Air
  • Hawaiian Airlines
  • Jet Blue
  • Korean Air
  • Qatar Airways
  • Southwest Airlines
  • Spirit Airlines
  • Turkish Airlines
  • United Airlines
  • Westjet

The good news is that there are a handful of airlines that still accommodate ESAs, including:

  • Latam Airlines
  • US Volaris
  • China Airlines
  • KLM
  • Singapore Air

Preparing Your Puppy

So, now you have an ESA puppy, and you’re taking an airline that will likely allow him to sit on your lap. The next thing you have to do is prepare your puppy for the flight itself.

Your Dog Must be Healthy

Flying is, without a doubt, a stressful activity for your puppy.

Being in a plane places them in an unfamiliar environment with bright lights and loud noises can be scary and make your pooch apprehensive of his surroundings.

That’s one reason we recommend you take a preflight visit to the vet to determine if he’s healthy enough to fly.

Airlines usually require an animal health certificate from a vet before allowing a pet onto the plane.

The certificate should be dated at least 10 days prior to the trip. However, just to be sure, contact your airline of choice to know what their requirements are.

Aircraft Cabin

Other health-related documents you might need are:

  • Microchip certificate (for countries other than the US, you may need an ISO microchip, which functions at a different frequency)
  • Rabies Titer test results
  • Parasite Treatment Certificate
  • Vet contact information

Breed Restrictions

Some dog breeds struggle with flying more than others due to physiological issues. Some of these breeds are brachycephalic or “pushed-in-face” dogs, such as Bulldogs, Pugs, and Shih Tzus.

The majority of airlines simply won’t allow such dogs into a flight as checked pets, let alone sit on your lap.

Other breeds are also not allowed on flights during certain seasons because of temperature changes, which could pose a threat to them.

Know the Age Restrictions

The minimum age requirement is to ensure the safety of your pet.

Puppies younger than eight weeks would have less developed lungs, which could lead to breathing difficulties during the flight.

While eight weeks old is the usual minimum age for pets mandated by federal regulations, some airlines have slightly different requirements.

For example, Latam Airlines adheres to the eight weeks minimum age limit. However, US Valoris, KLM, and Singapore Airlines only allow pets that are four months and older on their flights.

Then, you have China Airlines, which only allows six months old dogs and older onboard.

Your Puppy Must Be Well-Behaved

When taking a puppy with you on a flight, he has to be well-behaved. Under no circumstances should he bark incessantly or growl at other passengers and staff.

Any exhibitions of aggressive behavior before and during a flight would be grounds for your dog to be denied from boarding the cabin with you.

Exhaust Your Puppy Beforehand

It’s better if your puppy sleeps through the entire trip, so he doesn’t have to feel the stress that dogs would feel on a flight. To accomplish this, you’ll have to tire out your puppy beforehand.

You can take him on a walk around the airport. Another option is to play games, like fetch or hide-and-seek.

The point is to ease your puppy's anxiety while getting him to take part in various activities and exercises. This way, by the time you board the plane, he’s too tired to do anything but sleep.

Some might consider using sedation instead to put the dog to sleep. However, tranquilizing your puppy for the flight is considered controversial at best and unethical at worst by many veterinarians.

Also, some airlines won't even accept a sedated animal onto the plane.

In addition, sedation doesn't do much to change the dog’s behavior either way. Puppies that have been sedated are still stressed by the flight and might lash out.

Dog eating

Feed Your Puppy Beforehand

One of the main gripes passengers may have with dogs is when they need to go. As such, try not to feed them during the flight. Instead, schedule his feeding times to around four hours before the flight.

That way, he’ll be able to relieve himself before the trip begins.

Hydration is vital for your puppy’s well-being, so you can still give your puppy some water. However, keep in mind to greatly limit the amount so that he doesn’t have to go mid-flight.