Detroit Metro Airport Service Animal Policies

Assistance animals are welcome to travel with passengers who have disabilities. Certain exemptions are provided to these animals, but some rules and restrictions still apply. To determine if your dog qualifies to be certified as a Psychiatric Service Dog and can be accepted as such for air travel, you can visit Pettable’s PSD service.

Detroit Metro Airport Pet Relief Areas

Detroit Metro Airport has five pet relief areas in total. Passengers traveling with animals can find two pet relief areas at the McNamara Terminal and three pet relief areas at the North Terminal. Both terminals offer pre- and post-security animal relief areas for optimal convenience. All four locations provide plastic bags and a container for solid waste disposal. The Detroit Metro Airport pet policy requires that all pet owners properly dispose of solid waste after the animal has used the relief station.


DTW Airport Pet Cargo Locations

If your pet is too large to fly with you in the cabin, you have two choices. The first choice is flying your pet as checked baggage. Airlines are beginning to limit this practice due to safety concerns. If you choose to fly your pet as checked baggage, you can will check your pet in at the check-in desk and collect your pet at excess baggage upon arrival. 

The second choice is flying your pet as cargo. If your dog travels as cargo, the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport pet policy requires you, the owner, to retrieve your pet from an airline-specific cargo facility. Though the cargo buildings are a part of the airport campus, they are not attached to the main terminal building. It is therefore necessary to secure private transportation.  

Delta Airlines Cargo
Building 536 East Service Drive
Detroit, MI 48242
800-352-2746 

United Airlines Cargo
614 E. Service Drive
Detroit, MI 48242
734-942-4015 

Southwest Airlines Cargo
614 E Service Drive
Detroit, MI 48242
734-784-2578 

Lufthansa Cargo
13495 Inkster Road
Taylor, MI 48180
800-542-2746 

If your pet is traveling as checked baggage or cargo, keep an eye on the weather forecast in the days leading up to his flight. Most airlines have temperature-related animal restrictions; if the weather forecast calls for temperatures above 85 degrees or below 45 degrees, your pup may not be able to get on the flight. To avoid this, do your best not to travel through Detroit in the winter months.    

More Detroit Metropolitan Airport Pet Policies

As with most airports, DTW pet policy requires that all animals remain in their crates or carriers while inside the airport. The only exceptions exist for service animals and those utilizing a dedicated animal relief area. The airport also advises that those traveling with service animals alert their airline prior to the trip.  

Detroit Metro Airport pet policy mentions that only animals who are packed and ready for travel are always welcome at the airport. All other pets should be left at home or in the car. This means that furry friends are not welcome in the ticketing area for last-minute goodbyes. The rule exists for a good reason: more uncrated animals means a greater potential for noise. Large rotundas and atriums capture noise more than most areas, so a barking dog in the ticketing level is a huge inconvenience for other travelers.  

All Detroit Airport pet relief areas provide plastic bags and a container for disposal of solid waste. If you require help to utilize these areas, the airport recommends contacting your airline to arrange for escort assistance.  

Looking for a different location? We have a comprehensive airport directory for you to use.