Effective March 1, 2016, Delta will discontinue acceptance of pets as checked baggage, and will instead accept shipment of pets for travel as freight through Delta Cargo. Pets as carry-on will continue to be an option for Delta customers and there are no changes to Delta’s policy of welcoming service and emotional support animals in the aircraft cabin.
Delta recognizes that pets are important members of one’s family, and this change will ultimately ensure that the airline offers a consistent, high quality for customer service for customers who choose to ship their pet with Delta Cargo.
There are exceptions to the Delta policy to discontinue acceptance of pets as checked baggage, including:
- Active US Military personnel who are traveling on official orders
- Service and emotional support animals that comply with federal regulations including proper documentation
- Customers traveling on or before February 29, 2016
Any pets, which were previously transported as checked baggage, must travel as cargo under this new policy unless the pet meets one of the above noted exceptions.
Customers who are booked for travel after March 1, 2016 with reservations that include a pet as a checked bag will be proactively contacted by Delta to be advised of the new policy and to offer assistance with options.
The Relocation Review 