Spirit Airlines has become known as a low-cost airline company, but even the policy of traveling with pets at Spirit Airlines is quite lenient – small dogs, cats, rabbits, and domestic birds are all allowed to travel in the cabin on domestic flights. Similarly to every other U.S.-based airline company, Spirit Airlines does not recognize the category of emotional support animals (ESA) anymore, which means that they have to travel according to the same terms as ordinary pets. The only exception are trained service dogs that travel for free according to federal legislation.
This guide is going to explain everything about pets at Spirit Airlines including what is allowed, the prices, weight and size restrictions, as well as the difference between the service dog policy and the ordinary pet policy.
What Is Spirit Airlines’ Pet Policy?
Spirit Airlines allows small domesticated dogs, cats, rabbits, and household birds to travel in the cabin for domestic flights. According to the existing policy, passengers may transport up to two pets per one carrying container as long as the latter complies with the size and weight restrictions imposed by Spirit Airlines and the regular fee for pets is paid. Pet cargo is not allowed at all.
Service dogs are allowed to travel free of charge as long as they adhere to the standards of training and behavior set out by the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). At the same time, emotional support animals cannot be considered as service dogs anymore as a result of DOT’s regulations implemented in 2021.
What Types of Pets Does Spirit Airlines Allow?
The pet policy of Spirit Airlines for in-cabin transportation includes small domestic dogs, cats, rabbits, and household birds on domestic flights. The animals should be in an acceptable, soft-side carrier that will fit underneath the seat in front of you and must be at least 8 weeks old.
There is no hard-and-fast rule in terms of a blanket ban on brachycephalic breeds such as Pug, Bulldog, or Persian cats. However, it is recommended that you consult your vet prior to flying due to the increased chances of respiration problems in flight. This is especially true in case of airlines having health advisory notes for certain breeds.
However, rabbits and household birds cannot fly in flights from or to Puerto Rico or US Virgin Islands even though they are eligible to fly in the usual domestic flights.
Does Spirit Airlines Allow Pets in Cargo Travel?
No. Spirit Airlines will never carry any pets as cargo on any of its flights because no living creature is ever allowed to go into the cargo area. All animals carried by Spirit Airlines – even service ones – go in the cabin. If your animal cannot comply with Spirit Airlines’ conditions concerning the size and weight of the carrier, then Spirit Airlines is not what you need for this journey.
Does Spirit Airlines Allow Pets for International Travel?
No, except for one case. On international flights, only trained service animals, meeting all the necessary requirements according to the documentation and behavior, are accepted. The regular pets and emotional support animals, like dogs, cats, rabbits, and birds, can travel only on domestic flights, which include flights within the United States and to and from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
How Much Does Spirit Airlines Charge for Pet Travel?
Spirit Airlines has recently revised its pet fee, which is now $125 for each carrier on each leg (up from a former fee of $110). The fee is charged by carrier, not animal, meaning that there would be no additional fee incurred in bringing two pets in one approved carrier. The fee cannot be refunded even in case of cancellation of your reservation, and it is independent of your regular airfare.
The service animals are exempted from the above fee, whereas the ESAs are not – being considered as regular pets, ESA passengers incur the same $125 fee for each leg as other pet passengers.
As there is a restriction on the number of carriers per flight (up to six), it is advisable to make your pet reservation as early as possible, as pet reservations cannot usually be made during the online booking process and require contacting Spirit’s reservations department.
What Is the In-Cabin Pet Policy for Spirit Airlines?
Pets are allowed inside the cabin on flights within the United States while international in-cabin flights allow service animals only. Smaller dogs, cats, rabbits, and birds can be accommodated provided that they are kept in an approved carrier with not more than two pets per carrier provided that they are at least eight weeks old.
The pets should be kept inside the carrier for the duration of the flight while the carrier itself should fit wholly underneath the seat directly in front of the passenger. Under Federal laws, pets as well as their carriers cannot be accommodated in the first row or in exit rows. The fee for the pets is charged per carrier and is seldom waived.
What Is Spirit Airlines’ Pet Carrier Size Policy?
Spirit Airlines requires all pet carriers inside the aircraft to be soft-sided, water-resistant, and well-ventilated, with hard-sided carriers being forbidden. Approved pet carriers should have maximum size dimensions of 18″ x 14″ x 9″ (length x width x height), enough to accommodate the pet completely under the seat in front of you.
The carrier should provide your pet with adequate space where it will be able to sit, turn around, and lie down comfortably. Gate agents will check your pet carrier before boarding, and the carrier which is too stiff or too big can lead to denied boarding, so it is important to re-check your pet carrier’s dimensions some days prior to your trip.
Is There a Pet Weight Limit for In-Cabin Travel on Spirit Airlines?
Yes. The total weight of both the pet and the carrier should not exceed 40 pounds. The limit is strictly observed, because Spirit Airlines employees will weigh the pet’s carrier at the ticket counter, and the total weight exceeding 40 pounds automatically excludes your pet from boarding. Thus, it is wise to weigh your pet in its travel carrier before going to the airport, as scales’ readings may slightly differ.
Can You Bring More Than One Pet In-Cabin on Spirit Airlines?
Yes, but only up to two. Spirit will allow up to two pets that weigh a total of 40 pounds or less, when contained in one carrier, to travel as cabin baggage on a single reservation. One pet carrier per person is all that is allowed; there is no other way to transport more than one pet in the cabin without increasing the cost to do so. Since the pet fee is levied per carrier rather than per animal, this does not make any difference to your bottom line.
Does Spirit Airlines Require a Health Certificate for In-Cabin Pet Travel?
No, usually not. Generally, a health certificate is not required from your veterinarian when making arrangements to bring a pet in the cabin as cabin baggage on any flight within the continental United States. Special requirements, however, exist for specific destinations; specifically, a current rabies vaccination certificate is required for flights into Puerto Rico. A veterinary health certificate may be required for flights into the U.S. Virgin Islands.
What Is Spirit Airlines’ Emotional Support Animal Policy?
Spirit Airlines is not treating emotional support animals differently than any other type of pet when traveling. This is because of the regulation introduced in January 2021 that changed the requirements for treating ESAs as service animals by the Department of Transportation.
In accordance with the new policy of the airline, ESAs have all the same requirements as common pets: they have to be transported in an approved pet carrier, have the same restrictions on weight and dimensions, and the same $125 per one way fee is applicable.
If you have an ESA letter just for the purposes of air travel, then there might be something you should reconsider about your documentation. ESA letters are perfectly valid and helpful for their purpose (for example, obtaining housing accommodations according to the Fair Housing Act,) but they have absolutely no meaning for any U.S. airline including Spirit Airlines. ESA Clinic can help you find a licensed psychiatrist to determine whether an ESA letter or a psychiatric service dog evaluation is more suitable for you.
Are ESA Letters Still Required to Fly With ESAs on Spirit Airlines?
No. Because ESAs are considered pets by Spirit, there will be no added benefits to flying your ESA with an ESA letter on Spirit, such as the exemption from the pet fees, exemption from the carrier regulations, or a guaranteed space on board. All ESAs that were previously flown on Spirit flights should now follow the same guidelines as other pets – approved species, an approved carrier, and the required pet fee paid. In case you are flying an ESA on a Spirit flight, it will be easier for you to plan and make reservations like you would with any other pet.
Can Spirit Airlines Deny an ESA?
Yes. Because ESAs are no longer classified as a special category of animals under the DOT regulations, Spirit Airlines may refuse an ESA admission in the same manner it would refuse admission to any other pet that does not meet the regulations of Spirit.
What Is Spirit Airlines’ Service Animal Policy?
Spirit allows dogs as their service animal, which also includes their psychiatric service dog that provides support for a psychiatric disability. The service animals fly free in the cabin and do not need to be placed inside a carrier. This represents a huge difference from their usual pet requirements.
The criteria for the service animal include being four months or older and having a certain task that is performed for a particular disability. The animal should be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, be at its handler’s feet, and be under control throughout the flight. However, there are no restrictions imposed by the carrier size and weight requirements of Spirit for service animals.
How Can I Add a Service Animal to a Spirit Airlines Flight?
Adding a service animal to a Spirit reservation requires a few simple procedures:
- Make your reservation via the Spirit Airlines website or customer service, providing your itinerary.
- Find the Special Assistance form. The Special Assistance part of Spirit Airlines’ website contains all the documents necessary for the transportation of a service animal.
- Fill out the DOT form. The Service Animal Air Transportation Form of the U.S. Department of Transportation ensures that your dog is properly trained, healthy and well-behaved.
- Submit the necessary documents in advance. Submit the filled form using Spirit’s Special Assistance portal, or take it to the airport prior to the flight for its review.
- Check that you meet all the eligibility criteria. Ensure that your dog fits Spirit’s requirements regarding minimum age (four months) and training.
- Request proper seating because your service dog needs room on the floor at your feet rather than in a crate.
- Arrive at the airport early enough for check-in and the verification of the service animal’s documents.
Travelers are responsible for controlling the behavior of their service dog throughout the journey. Any disruptions in the cabin (uncontrollable barking, growling, jumping, or any accidents) may result in denial of travel according to the spirit policy.
Do You Need to Notify Spirit Airlines in Advance for a Service Dog?
Yes. Spirit demands that DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form must be filled out before the journey to prove training, good health, and behavior of the animal. Although the fee for the pet is not charged for service animals, the above documentation is mandatory for getting permission to board. It will prevent any problems at the gate especially on busy flights.
Do Service Dogs Fly for Free With Spirit Airlines?
Yes. The service dogs trained to work are an exception to the standard fee paid for pets at Spirit Airlines because of the law. In particular, the law exempts only the dogs that are individually trained to do tasks associated with a disability. Such exemption does not apply to ESAs.
Are There Breed Restrictions for Service Dogs on Spirit Airlines?
No. Spirit Airlines does not limit the breeds of service dogs – all breeds can be a service dog if it has been appropriately trained and behaves well. It is in line with ACAA since ACAA prohibits airlines from discriminating based on the breed of a service animal. In contrast to pets, which are restricted in terms of size and weight, service dogs’ qualification depends only on the training and behavior of the animal.
Can You Bring More Than One Service Dog on a Spirit Airlines Flight?
Yes. Spirit Airlines allows a passenger to bring two service dogs if they are individually trained for doing a certain task related to some disability. In addition, they should be well-behaved and do not interfere in passengers’ way of moving.
Are There Size Restrictions for Flying With a Service Dog on Spirit Airlines?
No. Spirit does not have any requirements regarding the size or weight of service animals – a valid service animal will be allowed irrespective of its size provided it is properly trained and does not block any aisle or exit area. However, the limiting element here is the size or space occupied by the dog since it must remain within the floor space available to the handler.
Tips for a Smooth Flight With Your Pet on Spirit
Even minimal advance planning works wonders with this budget airline company that applies all policies rigorously:
- Secure space for your pet on the plane in good time. Six pet carriers per plane are the maximum allowed, and there is no option to book for pets on initial online reservation.
- Ensure that you weigh your pet along with the travel carrier at home. There is a combined weight limit of 40 pounds at the check-in desk, and any variation in measurement could result in denial of boarding.
- Make sure that your pet carrier measures up to Spirit’s specifications of 18″ x 14″ x 9″. Even soft-sided carriers that appear to comply in dimension may be denied boarding if they do not compress sufficiently to slip under the seat.
- Take into account any special documentation needed for your destination, including a health certificate for Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands, where the regulations are different from regular flights within the country.
- Do not book for exit-row or first-row seating if you have a pet accompanying you because federal regulations require that pet carriers must not be booked in these rows.
- Figure out what type of animals you have before booking a flight; service animals are different from ESAs both in fee structure and seating arrangements, among other things.
Choosing the Right Documentation Before You Fly
This shows that according to Spirit’s policies, travel accommodations for 2026 will be limited only to trained service animals and won’t be available for ESAs. If your ESA letter was issued primarily for the purpose of travel, it would be wise to reevaluate your needs as an ESA letter is valid from a legal perspective regarding housing while the psychiatric service dog evaluation is applicable in case your dog performs some disability-specific tasks.
It will provide you with the opportunity to be properly evaluated by a licensed mental health specialist and to determine which category suits your case best.
