Allegiant Service Dog Policy: Forms & Fees (2026)

Allegiant Service Dog Policy — Service dog vs pet policy, forms and fees.

The allegiant service dog policy is governed by the air carrier access act and the 2021 Department of transportation rule, and it is separate from the allegiant pet policy. Allegiant air flies a trained service animal — a dog individually trained to work for a disability — in the cabin free of charge once you submit the dot form, the transportation form Allegiant asks for before the allegiant flight. A regular pet, including a former emotional support animal, instead rides as a paid pet under the pet policy. Here is how the allegiant service dog policy and the allegiant pet policy differ in 2026.

Does Allegiant allow service dogs in the cabin?

Yes. Allegiant airlines carries trained service dogs in the cabin on every allegiant flight, within the U.S. and to its international destinations. Because service dogs fly as working animals rather than pets, there is no fee and no pet carrier requirement — the dog rides in your foot space, clear of the aisle and the exit rows. Allegiant accepts up to two trained service dogs per passenger, each of which must fit comfortably in your own foot space. A large service dog that cannot fit comfortably may need an extra seat.

What DOT transportation form does the Allegiant service dog policy require?

Allegiant requires the dot form — the Department of transportation service-animal air transportation form. Submit the completed form in advance, usually at least one hour prior to departure, attesting the animal is a trained service dog that is healthy and housebroken. A long trip may also need a relief attestation. Allegiant does not require a veterinary health form for a domestic service dog, though an international destination may. Bring the completed form and proper documentation to check in so an allegiant agent can confirm it before you board.

How to add a service dog before your Allegiant flight

File the transportation form, then contact Allegiant to note the service dog on your reservation. At the airport, arrive with sufficient time — plan extra time and reach the desk at least one hour prior — and tell the allegiant agent you are flying with a service dog. Pre-boarding lets the dog settle in the foot space before other passengers. Keep the dog on a leash through the airport and security; you remain responsible for the animal from the gate to the destination.

Trained service dog Pet / former emotional support animal
Accepted under Allegiant service dog policy Allegiant pet policy
Fee None Per-segment pet fee
DOT form required Yes N/A
Carrier None — rides in foot space Soft-sided, leak-proof pet carrier under the seat
Task trained Yes No

Allegiant service animal behavior and seating

Your service dog must be well behaved, housebroken, and odor free, kept under control at all times. Allegiant may deny transport to an animal that shows disruptive behavior — repeated barking, lunging at other passengers, or growling. Allegiant reserves the right to refuse a dog that is a direct threat to safety. The dog cannot occupy a seat, bulkhead seats, or the exit rows, and must fit comfortably in your foot space. A large service dog may need an extra seat purchased in advance to ensure compliance.

Psychiatric service dogs on Allegiant

Allegiant treats a psychiatric service dog like any other trained service dogs. A psychiatric service animal for PTSD, panic disorder, or another condition qualifies for the same free cabin access and the same dot form. You do not need an esa letter from a licensed mental health professional or any mental health professional note — those apply to an ESA. Allegiant can ask what task the dog performs, never your diagnosis, because the training defines a service dog, not the type of disability.

Allegiant pet policy: emotional support animals now fly as pets

Since 2021, Allegiant no longer recognizes emotional support animals as service animals; ESAs and esa letters no longer grant cabin rights. A former ESA now flies as a regular pet under the allegiant pet policy: domestic dogs and domestic cats only, in one pet carrier — a soft sided, leak proof carrier that fits under the seat — for a per-segment fee. Only one pet carrier per passenger is allowed, and pet carriers count as your personal item. Other service animals that are not dogs are not accepted as service dogs. If your animal is individually trained to work, it is a service dog; otherwise it is a pet.

Tips for flying Allegiant with a service dog

Submit the dot form early and keep the completed form with your proper documentation. Allow sufficient time: arrive at least one hour prior, give yourself extra time for check in, and walk the dog before security. Choose a bulkhead or window seat so the dog can fit comfortably in the foot space, and confirm rules for any international destinations. Keep the dog leashed, odor free, and calm, and your trained service dog will fly Allegiant without a hitch while pets pay the pet policy fee. On the day of travel, give the allegiant agent your completed form, confirm the service dog is noted on the allegiant flight, and ask about bulkhead seats if your dog needs room. A calm, well behaved, odor free service dog that was socialized through steady training clears boarding faster than a regular pet in a pet carrier ever will.

Service dog vs pet: what Allegiant Airlines allows

Allegiant airlines draws a sharp line between a service dog and a pet, and reading the allegiant airlines rules side by side helps. A service dog is defined by training: the training must teach the dog to perform tasks for a disability, and that training is what lets the dog fly free while a pet pays. The airline does not require proof of training, a health certificate, or any necessary documentation beyond the DOT form for a service dog on domestic flights; esa letters and a comfort animal note no longer grant cabin rights on any airline. Allegiant airlines applies no breed restrictions to a genuine service dog, though a pet may face them. On every aircraft the airline flies, service animals ride in the cabin near your feet, and the airline treats all service animals the same regardless of the disability. Because allegiant airlines is a low-cost airline built around the allegiant pet policy, travelers often confuse the two — but service animals and pets are governed by entirely different rules, and only service animals with real training fly free.

Summary — what to remember

Common questions about allegiant service dog policy

Does Allegiant charge for a service dog?

No. A trained service dog flies free in the cabin under the Allegiant service dog policy. Only a regular pet, including a former emotional support animal, pays the pet-policy fee.

What form does the Allegiant service dog policy require?

The DOT service-animal air transportation form, submitted in advance — usually at least one hour prior to departure. A relief attestation may be needed for a long flight.

Does Allegiant accept emotional support animals?

No. Since the 2021 rule, an emotional support animal flies as a regular pet under the Allegiant pet policy, in a soft-sided, leak-proof carrier for a fee, not as a service animal.

Does my service dog need a pet carrier on Allegiant?

No. A trained service dog rides in your foot space without a carrier. Only pets require a soft-sided, leak-proof pet carrier that fits under the seat.

Can a psychiatric service dog fly on Allegiant?

Yes. A psychiatric service dog is treated like any other trained service dog, with the same cabin access and DOT form. No ESA letter or mental health professional note is required.

How many service dogs can I bring on Allegiant?

Up to two trained service dogs per passenger, provided each fits comfortably in your own foot space without blocking the aisle, bulkhead or exit rows.

Sources

Written by USAR Editorial Team · Last reviewed:

USAR follows a strict editorial process: every guide is fact-checked against primary federal statutes and reviewed quarterly. We have no financial relationships with letter providers, training schools, or registries.