New York LaGuardia 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.

New York LaGuardia Airport Pet Relief Areas

Nearly all LaGuardia pet relief areas are located in pre-security areas outside the arrivals area of each terminal. There are five options in total—four pre-security and one post-security. Terminal A’s location is close to the Marine Air Terminal, the Terminal B station is near the arrivals taxi stand, the Terminal C area is on the east side of the arrivals terminal, and the Terminal D option is on the west side of the arrivals terminal. There is one post-security relief station—between Terminals C and D. It is LaGuardia Airport pet policy to relieve your animal before entering the airport if you are not in Terminal C or D, as this building is separate from other terminals. 

LGA Airport Pet Cargo Locations

When traveling with an animal, you will have three options. If he is small enough, he will be able to ride with you in the cabin. If your dog is too large for the cabin, you will have to choose between flying him as checked baggage or as cargo. As a result of safety concerns, few airlines continue to offer the checked baggage opportunity. However, if you choose this option, you can drop off your pup while checking into the flight and pick him up at excess baggage upon arrival. 

The other popular option is to fly your dog as cargo. The LaGuardia Airport pet policy requires animal owners to collect their pets from airline-specific cargo facilities. The cargo campus is unattached to the main terminal buildings, and there is no shuttle service. However, this portion of the airport is close to several rental car facilities; if you cannot secure private transportation from the airport, we suggest taking one of the rental car company-owned shuttles to this general area. 

Below, we have provided essential location and contact information for cargo facilities are LaGuardia airport.  

Delta Airlines Cargo
Building 28
Bowery Bay Boulevard 
Flushing, NY 11371
800-352-2746 

Southwest Airlines Cargo
Jetstream Ground Services, Inc.
Cargo Building Hangar 5A
Flushing, NY 11371
718-533-4550 

Air Canada Cargo
Hangar 5B
Flushing, NY 11371
718-899-9128 

United Airlines Cargo
73 W Merrick Boulevard 
Valley Stream, NY 11580
516-825-3066 

American Airlines Cargo
Hangar 5A
Flushing, NY 11371
800-227-4622 

 

More LaGuardia Airport Pet Policies

LaGuardia Airport pet policies require that all pets and animals—other than working or service animals—remain in carriers at all times. The airport makes exceptions for animals utilizing the pet relief area and those passing through security. However, due to lack of pet relief stations within the building’s secured areas, your animal should remain in a crate or carrier after the security check unless your flight is entering or departing Terminal C or Terminal D. 

The LaGuardia pet relief areas are small and partially-fenced. Though not explicitly stated as part of LaGuardia Airport pet policy, your pet should remain leashed while outside the crate or carrier on airport property—especially while using these areas. Located near traffic, the pet relief stations are small, loud, and open. If your pet is easily stressed out or scared by loud noises, he may try to run away. Keeping your animal on a leash prevents this from happening.  

The LGA pet policy urges passengers to contact their airlines directly for all additional animal-related details.  Looking for a different airport? We have an airport directory for pet policies.