Houston 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.

Houston Airport Pet Relief Areas

The Houston Intercontinental Airport boasts 4 animal/pet relief areas. All four of the relief areas are located post-security in Terminals B, C, D and E. You can find exact locations with our guide to IAH pet relief areas.  

Official airport maps may list these areas as service animal relief areas, but they can also be used by approved pets. As with other airports, however, pets must stay in their carriers except when going through security or visiting one of these relief areas, per Houston Airport pet policy.


Houston Airport Pet Cargo Facilities

Whether as checked baggage or as air cargo, pets are generally prohibited from flying when the ground temperature is above 85 degrees. This is a common Houston Airport pet policy especially in the summer, so keep this in mind when choosing your flight and in the days leading up to the flight. During the coldest winter days, it may drop below 45 degrees and require a thermal acclimation letter from your veterinarian.  

If you’re traveling with a pet as checked baggage, airline policies will have you drop your pet off at the ticketing counter and pick them up at excess bag claim. Instead of checked baggage, it’s also possible that your pet will be flying as pet cargo. This involves dropping off and picking your pet up at the airline’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport cargo facility.  

Delta Airlines Cargo
19115 Lee Rd #195
Humble, TX 77338
(800) 352-2746 

American Airlines Cargo
19175 Lee Rd #10
 Humble, TX 77338
(281) 230-1757 

 United Airlines Cargo
3230 Pallet Rd
Houston, TX 77032
(800) 822-2746 

Alaska Air Cargo
19175 Lee Rd., Pod I, #350
Humble, TX 77338
(800) 225-2752 

Lufthansa Cargo
19115 Lee Rd #195 
Humble, TX 77338
(800) 542-2746 

More Information about IAH Airport Pet Policies

The Intercontinental Houston Airport pet policy is slowly transforming the airport from a modestly pet-friendly travel destination to one that an airport of this size and importance deserves. There may not be any places that remind you of a pet-sitting and animal grooming service, but they still get the job done.  

IAH Airport pet policies are also a larger reflection of the travel patterns associated with the Houston Airport system and the geographical location of this metro area. More than just U.S. domestic travel, Houston Airport pet policies and animal services make this destination a popular one for international pet travel. Additional restrictions apply, but the number of flights to Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean make International Terminals D and E a popular spot for animals that are at the limits of travel time.  

Looking for a different airport? We have an airport directory for pet policies.