Flying Into Fort Lauderdale With a Pet

Most airlines that fly into Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) will carry a small dog or cat in the cabin for a one-way fee, in a carrier under the seat in front of you. There is a pet relief area outside every terminal, and a pet-friendly rideshare gets you to the house in about 15 minutes. Everything here was checked in September 2026.

Pet relief areas at FLL

• Outdoor pet relief areas (before security). Four, on the lower level outside each baggage claim, with free waste bags: outside Terminal 1 under the walkway from the garage, and outside the Palm Garage across from Terminals 2, 3 and 4.
• Indoor service animal relief areas (after security). Three in Terminal 1 (the B/C Connector, Concourse A and the U.S. Customs area) and one each in Terminals 2, 3 and 4, in Concourses D, F and G.

The indoor rooms are labeled for service animals, so with a pet in a carrier, plan on the outdoor areas: a last walk before you check in, and a first stop at baggage claim. Our FLL airport tips cover the rest of the terminal.

Airline pet rules at a glance

Fees are for U.S. domestic flights, from each airline's own site in September 2026. Check before booking, because fees and limits change.

Airline	In-cabin pets	Fee, each way	Soft carrier limit
JetBlue	Small dogs and cats; six per flight	$150	17 x 12.5 x 8.5 in
Southwest	Small dogs and cats, domestic only	$125 per carrier	18 x 10.5 x 10 in
Delta	Small dogs, cats and household birds	$150	18 x 11 x 11 in (recommended)
American	Cats and small dogs	$150 per kennel	18 x 11 x 11 in
United	Cats and dogs	$150	18 x 11 x 11 in
Allegiant	Dogs and cats	$50 per carrier	18 x 12 x 11 in
Frontier	Dogs, cats and some other small pets, domestic only	$149 per pet	18 x 14 x 11 in

Several airlines set different limits for hard-sided carriers. Spirit Airlines stopped flying in May 2026, so older guides that list its pet policy are out of date. For routes, see nonstop flights to Fort Lauderdale.

Booking your pet on the flight

Add the pet when you book, not at the airport: airlines cap the number of pets per flight, first come, first served. On most carriers the pet carrier counts as one of your carry-on pieces, stays under the seat in front of you for the whole flight, and keeps you out of bulkhead and exit-row seats.

A dog too big for a carrier generally can't fly with you as a pet. JetBlue, Southwest and Frontier carry no pets in the hold, and American and United check pets only for military and State Department staff on orders (American ships others through its PetEmbark cargo service). For a bigger dog, driving or taking the train may be the better plan.

From the airport to the house

Rideshare pickup for Terminals 1 and 2 is on the lower level near Terminal 2, with a temporary Terminal 1 zone just past the taxi podium. For Terminals 3 and 4 it is on the first floor of the Palm Garage, at the south end.

• Uber Pet matches you with a driver who takes pets: one pet, such as a dog or cat, with no breed or size limit, at a higher price than a standard ride. Uber can add a cleaning fee for hair or mess, so bring a towel for the seat.
• Lyft Pet rides take one animal and up to four people, for an added fee that goes to the driver. Check that the option appears in the app.
• Service animals can ride on any Uber or Lyft trip; both companies require drivers to take them.

Flying in from another country

Since August 1, 2024, the CDC has required every dog entering the U.S., including pets coming home, to be at least 6 months old, microchipped, healthy on arrival, and covered by a receipt from the online CDC Dog Import Form. The rest depends on where the dog has been in the past six months:

• Canada, Mexico and other dog-rabies-free or low-risk countries. The receipt is the only document the CDC asks for, and the dog can arrive at any airport, seaport or land crossing. One receipt covers repeat trips from the same country for six months.
• High-risk countries, vaccinated in the U.S. Add a USDA-endorsed Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination, done before the dog leaves. Any port of entry works.
• High-risk countries, vaccinated abroad. Extra forms, a rabies titer, and a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility at the arrival airport. FLL has none; as of September 2026 the closest is at Miami International.

Separately, the USDA requires dogs from countries with screwworm, Mexico included, to carry a certificate of an inspection done within five days before travel.

Service animals and emotional support animals

Under the Department of Transportation's air travel rules, a service animal is a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability, including a psychiatric one. Emotional support animals, service animals in training and other species don't qualify, so airlines treat them as pets.

With a trained service dog, an airline may ask for DOT forms on its health, behavior and training (plus a relief form for flights of eight hours or more), up to 48 hours ahead if you booked earlier. It may limit you to two service animals, ask that the dog fit in your foot space, and require a harness, leash or tether. It can't refuse a dog for its breed alone.

When you get to the house

Self check-in with a keypad starts at 4:00 pm, and the fully fenced backyard (roughly 3,000 sq ft, with a private entrance and new artificial turf) is a good first stop after the flight. Tell us about your pet (how many, what kind) when you book, and ask us about pet terms. There is more in our pet-friendly rental guide and in keeping your dog safe in South Florida.

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