Allegiant serves a lot of Florida airports, so its pet policy matters more here than it might for a general travel site.
The good news is that Allegiant’s current policy is relatively simple:
Small domestic dogs and cats can travel in the aircraft cabin. Allegiant does not transport ordinary pets in the cargo area.
That makes Allegiant primarily an option for travelers with pets small enough to fit comfortably in an under-seat carrier.
Here’s what to know before booking.
Allegiant Pet Policy at a Glance
As of September 2026:
- Dogs and cats are accepted as ordinary cabin pets.
- Pets must be at least 8 weeks old.
- The pet must remain completely inside its carrier.
- Allegiant does not transport ordinary pets in cargo.
- The pet-carrier fee is $50 each way.
- Up to two pets may share one carrier if they fit comfortably.
- The carrier counts toward your onboard baggage allowance.
- Exit-row and bulkhead seating are not allowed with a pet.
For many Florida travelers, the most attractive part is that $50 fee.
It’s substantially less than what some major U.S. airlines currently charge.
How Much Does Allegiant Charge for a Pet?
Allegiant currently charges:
$50 per pet carrier, per one-way flight.
So a simple round trip would normally mean:
$50 outbound + $50 return = $100
assuming the itinerary doesn’t create additional chargeable flight segments under the applicable booking.
The charge is nonrefundable.
Which Pets Does Allegiant Allow?
For ordinary pet travel in the cabin, Allegiant currently accepts:
- Domestic dogs
- Domestic cats
The airline does not accept ordinary pets in its cargo area.
If you’re traveling with another species, Allegiant is probably not the airline to build the trip around.
Minimum Pet Age
Pets must currently be at least:
8 weeks old.
Destination-government requirements can still be stricter in situations where additional animal-entry rules apply.
Allegiant Pet Carrier Size
Carrier dimensions depend on whether the carrier is soft or hard sided.
Soft-Sided Carrier
Maximum external dimensions:
18 x 12 x 11 inches
Hard-Sided Carrier
Maximum external dimensions:
17 x 11 x 10.5 inches
Allegiant says soft-sided carriers are preferred.
The carrier must also be:
- Leak-proof
- Properly ventilated
- Secure
- Large enough for the pet to fit comfortably
- Fully closable around the animal
Can Two Pets Share One Carrier?
Yes, potentially.
Allegiant currently allows two pets in one carrier if both animals can fit comfortably inside the completely enclosed carrier.
The airport representative has final authority to decide whether the animals have adequate room.
Don’t build the plan around squeezing two animals into a carrier that only technically closes.
The Pet Must Stay Inside the Carrier
Allegiant’s policy is unusually explicit about this.
The animal must remain fully and completely inside the carrier:
- At the airport
- During boarding
- During the flight
- During deplaning
Failure to follow the policy can affect future travel with the animal.
So don’t plan on taking the dog out and holding it on your lap once the seatbelt sign disappears.
Where Does the Carrier Go?
The carrier goes:
under the seat directly in front of you.
You cannot:
- Put it on an empty aircraft seat
- Strap it into a seat
- Store it in the overhead bin
Does the Pet Carrier Count as Luggage?
Yes.
Allegiant says the pet carrier counts toward the two items you’re permitted to carry aboard.
With a pet carrier, you may bring:
Pet carrier + personal item
or:
Pet carrier + paid/eligible carry-on
but not all three.
This is easy to overlook when comparing fares.
A cheap Allegiant ticket plus:
- Pet fee
- Carry-on fee
- Seat fee
can be a different total than the headline airfare.
Calculate the entire trip.
Seat Restrictions
Passengers traveling with pets may not sit in:
- Exit rows
- Bulkhead rows
Allegiant also restricts pet carriers from aisle seats on Boeing aircraft because of foot-space limitations. A traveler who selected an incompatible aisle seat may be moved.
A window or suitable middle-seat location may therefore make more sense when selecting seats.
Are Pets Allowed in Cargo?
No ordinary pet cargo service is offered under Allegiant’s current policy.
This matters if you have:
- Medium dog
- Large dog
- Carrier too large for under-seat storage
Allegiant won’t solve that problem by checking the dog underneath the aircraft.
You need another airline or another travel method.
Does Allegiant Accept Large Dogs?
For ordinary pet travel, the practical limitation is carrier size.
If the dog cannot remain comfortably inside an approved under-seat carrier, Allegiant’s ordinary pet program isn’t suitable.
There isn’t a standard “buy the Labrador a seat” workaround.
Does Allegiant Allow Pets on Seats?
No.
The carrier cannot be placed on or strapped into an aircraft seat.
Buying another seat does not convert that seat into pet seating.
What About Service Dogs?
Service dogs operate under different federal rules from ordinary pets.
A qualifying trained service dog is not simply booked under the $50 ordinary pet policy.
See our Florida Service Animal Laws Explained and Flying to Florida With a Pet guides for the distinction between:
- Service dogs
- Emotional-support animals
- Ordinary pets
Military Pet Benefit
Allegiant also advertises a military travel benefit under which qualifying military travelers may bring one pet in the cabin without the normal pet charge.
Eligibility and accompanying-family rules should be verified directly before travel.
Is Allegiant Good for Florida Pet Travel?
For the right pet, yes.
Allegiant can make a lot of sense when:
- Your dog or cat is genuinely small.
- You live near an Allegiant airport.
- Allegiant offers a nonstop Florida route.
- You can travel light.
- You want to avoid a high cabin-pet fee.
It makes much less sense if your animal doesn’t fit comfortably under the seat.
Why Allegiant Is Especially Relevant to Florida
Allegiant’s route model serves many leisure destinations and secondary airports.
For Florida travelers, that can mean alternatives to only thinking about:
- Orlando International
- Miami International
- Tampa International
Depending on your route, Allegiant may put you closer to your actual vacation destination.
That can reduce the car portion of the trip — useful when you’ve already spent hours flying with a pet.
Before You Book Allegiant
Confirm all of this on your actual itinerary:
- Pet accepted
- Carrier size
- Aircraft seating restrictions
- Pet space available
- $50 one-way charge
- Destination requirements
- Baggage cost
- Return-flight pet space
Do that before buying a nonrefundable collection of add-ons.
What Carrier Should You Buy?
For most Allegiant travelers, a soft-sided carrier near—but not over—the airline’s stated maximum dimensions will be easier to manage.
But don’t buy one solely because the listing says:
AIRLINE APPROVED
There is no single universal airline-approved carrier size.
Compare the actual measurements with Allegiant’s current rules.
Airport Strategy
On travel day:
- Exercise the dog appropriately before leaving home.
- Arrive with extra time.
- Keep the pet inside the carrier as Allegiant requires.
- Carry vaccination and identifying information.
- Locate the pet-relief area before boarding.
- Offer water appropriately.
- Keep the pet secured after landing until you’re in a safe location.
Florida Arrival Warning
Once you land, don’t ruin a successful flight by leaving the dog in a parked rental car while you get food.
Florida heat can turn a vehicle dangerous extremely quickly.
See our Florida Pet Travel: Heat Safety guide.
Allegiant Pet Policy Bottom Line
For small dogs and cats, Allegiant has one of the simpler current U.S. airline pet programs:
$50 each way, cabin only, approved under-seat carrier, dogs and cats, minimum age eight weeks.
The deal-breaker is size.
If your pet can’t comfortably fit under the seat, choose another way to reach Florida.
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