Airline Pet Policy Tracker
Cabin limits, cargo programs, breed restrictions, and fees for 8 commercial airlines — plus private charter options for pets that can't fly commercial. Filter by weight to see what works.
Hub: Panama City (PTY) — direct routes from US/CA to PTY
🇵🇦 Best option for direct US/CA → PTY. Hub airline gives maximum flight options. Verify pet acceptance on your specific flight number when booking.
🌡️ Copa does not accept pets when actual or forecast temperatures are above 85°F (29.4°C) or below 45°F (7.2°C) at any airport on your itinerary, as reported by PetTravel. Check your route with the Weather-Gate tool.
Hubs: Miami (MIA), Dallas (DFW), New York (JFK) — flies MIA→PTY
🇵🇦 AA flies MIA→PTY but cabin pets are typically not permitted on international routes. If you cannot fly another airline, contact AA directly to confirm your specific flight.
Hubs: Houston (IAH), Newark (EWR), Chicago (ORD) — flies IAH→PTY
🇵🇦 ⚠️ Cabin pets allowed USA → PTY only — NOT on the return flight PTY → USA. Cargo discontinued since COVID. Plan your return trip accordingly.
⚠️ The USA → PTY-only cabin rule and the cargo status are community-reported and not yet confirmed with United.
Hubs: Atlanta (ATL), New York (JFK) — flies ATL→PTY
🇵🇦 ⚠️ Delta Cargo is reported to be unavailable for Panama, so plan on cabin only and confirm cargo status with Delta. Verify ATL→PTY cabin pet acceptance at booking.
⚠️ The Panama cargo restriction is community-reported, and the reason for it is not confirmed. It is not yet verified with Delta. The cabin fee comes from Delta's pet travel page.
⚠️ Spirit Airlines ceased operations and filed for bankruptcy. No longer flying.
🇵🇦 Spirit Airlines shut down following bankruptcy proceedings. Do not book travel with Spirit.
Hubs: New York (JFK), Boston (BOS), Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
🇵🇦 JetBlue does not fly direct to PTY and does not allow cabin pets on international routes beyond the Caribbean. Not a viable option for Panama travel with pets.
Hubs: Toronto (YYZ), Montreal (YUL), Vancouver (YVR)
🇵🇦 Canadian travelers: Air Canada to a US hub (MIA, IAH, ATL) then Copa to PTY is a common routing. Confirm pet acceptance on both carriers.
🌡️ Cargo embargoes during extreme cold (below -20°C) at Canadian departure airports in winter.
Hub: Bogotá (BOG) — connects US West Coast and East Coast via BOG to PTY
🇵🇦 Avianca routes US → Bogotá (BOG) → Panama City (PTY) are viable for pet families, especially from the West Coast where Copa doesn't fly direct. Verify pet acceptance on both flight segments.
Can't fly? Drive the whole route.
No breed restrictions. No weight limits. No cargo stress. Our By-Land route guide covers all 7 legs, every border crossing, and what you need for each country.