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Pets Traveling with Your Baggage

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 baggage.

Priority Pet incorporates the following:

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 baggage on all U.S. domestic flights and on flights between the U.S. and Canada. On international flights pets traveling with baggage 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 baggage. 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 Air Lines 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.

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Pricing

The one-way fee for checking your pet on all flights is $175 USD ($175 CAD) for travel within or between the United States, Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Please see table below for international travel. If you and your pet are making a transfer to another airline, be sure to allow time to claim your animal and re-check it with the connecting airline. Contact Reservations at 1-800-225-2525 with any other questions.

  • 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.

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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.

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Travel Documents

Northwest Airlines does not require a health certificate for accompanied pets traveling with your baggage. 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.

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.

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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.

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Limitations 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 baggage:

    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 baggage 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.
    International Embargo:
    • 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 baggage. All animals, including service animals, must be transported using the cargo service. Read more information
  • U.K. P.E.T.S.: Scheme - Link to DEFRA

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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.

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Checklist for Pets Traveling With Your Baggage

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 Baggage. You will need Adobe Acrobat to view this checklist.

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