One of the Best Air Carriers for Your Pet May Be One You Never Heard Of

JSX, a semi-private air carrier, is unconventional for a host of reasons. For one thing, planes have just 30 seats. Travelers skip traditionally long security lines because JSX departs from private air terminals. Once on board, snacks and drinks are complimentary, every seat has power outlets, and legroom is plentiful.

And then there’s one perk that (used to) stand out as especially generous: Small pets were once permitted to fly free.

“Pets are family and at JSX, we believe you should have the option to fly with your whole family,” JSX spokesperson Meghan Patke told NerdWallet.

While that option still exists, passengers must now pay a $100 fee per one-way trip to fly in-cabin with small cats and dogs.

What other airlines charge for pet fees

While some major airlines ban furry friends, JSX allows cats and dogs on board. And while they no longer fly for free, pets small enough to fit under the seat can be brought on all JSX flights.

NerdWallet analyzed 14 major airlines worldwide as part of its annual 2023 Best-Of Awards. Of those, most U.S. airlines charged $85-$125 for in-cabin pets, so JSX sits somewhere around the middle of the pack for cost. (Note that JSX was not considered for these awards because it didn’t meet other criteria to be evaluated, such as having a loyalty program.)

JSX pet policies

Does JSX allow dogs? What about other pets? In short, it depends. Here are the JSX pet rules:

Flying with small pets on JSX

If a cat or dog is in a carrier small enough to fit underneath the seat, they're good to fly.

Even if the pet is an emotional support animal, it must remain stowed in its carrier throughout the flight, so no sitting on the owner’s lap. Each passenger may only have one carrier with one pet inside, and the pet counts toward the one allowable personal item quota.

There are a few other rules, such as a maximum of five pets in the cabin per flight, and no pets deemed aggressive. Passengers must call JSX Customer Support to add a pet to a reservation.

Flying with larger dogs on JSX

The JSX dog policy states that larger dogs can still fly — for a cost. Owners of medium-to-large size dogs can purchase the seat next to them at the advertised price. The dog will not be allowed to sit in the seat, though. It'll have to lie on the floor in front of the seat.

There are additional restrictions, including that dogs must remain leashed and cannot weigh more than 79 pounds. Tickets must be purchased over the phone, and there’s an extra liability form to fill out.

Why JSX might be right for your pet

For pet owners based in the West, JSX has several route options. JSX fares are usually more expensive than those of conventional airlines, but often the cost is just incrementally more compared to typical fares with higher pet fees.

Plus, JSX provides a business class experience for both pets and passengers. So in some cases, the price difference is more than worth it for the added comfort and convenience. 

Here’s how the JSX pet experience compares:

JSX is sometimes cheaper

NerdWallet compared JSX airfare against the cost to fly the same route on Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines, which won first and second place in NerdWallet’s Most Pet-Friendly Airlines of 2023. On most flights, Alaska charges $100 each way for pets that fit in a carrier under the seat. Southwest offers a slightly cheaper $95 pet fare for animals that fit in a carrier under the seat. (Pets are not allowed on international Southwest flights, though.)

To compare prices, NerdWallet analyzed 2023 airfares on 75 nonstop routes shared by Alaska, Southwest and JSX. On a few routes, JSX was cheaper — and sometimes a lot cheaper. 

For example, Alaska charged $224 (or $324 with the pet fee) for a one-way flight between San Diego and Phoenix, while JSX charged just $199 for the same route that day. Even with the new $100 pet fee, that's still cheaper than flying Alaska.

The prices in the analysis were based on the lowest non-basic economy fare each airline offers. For airlines with multiple flights on the same day, the cheapest departure time was selected.

Especially on shorter routes like Los Angeles to San Francisco — where fares are typically cheap (but pet fees are fixed) — pets can amount to a huge chunk of overall flying costs depending on the airline, which sometimes makes JSX the cheaper option.

Less wait time and a better onboard experience

JSX flights depart from private air facilities, so you won’t have to arrive for your flight two hours in advance, and the security screening process is much less invasive. This can cut down on the time you might have to spend wrangling a stressed pet at the airport.

Then there’s the onboard experience. Humans and pets alike get a business class-like experience on JSX flights. JSX spokesperson Meghan Patke told NerdWallet that pets are given a JSX–branded bandana.

Why flying JSX still might not make sense

• Limited route availability. JSX’s route map is pretty limited, only operating out of about two dozen airports around North America. Southwest and Alaska serve more than 110 airports each. 

• Larger animals aren’t cheap. For large dogs, you’ll have to buy their own seat — which will likely be pricier than the roughly $100 pet fees on most airlines.

• It’s usually more expensive. When we did the math for our 2023 Best-Of Awards, JSX fares were more expensive than Alaska fares 60% of the time and more expensive than Southwest fares 76% of the time. In raw dollars, Southwest airfare with a pet averaged $103 cheaper than the same JSX route. And that was before JSX switched to charging the $100 fee.

• For large groups with just one pet. For an individual traveling with their pooch, the upcharge might be worth it for the JSX experience. But for large groups, the price difference for seats starts to become a lot starker.

Should you fly JSX with your pet?

Now that JSX charges a $100 fee for small pets, flying this semi-private carrier doesn't quite present the advantage it used to. Even with the fee, though, it sometimes nets out to be the cheapest option to fly, as some other airlines still charge more to fly with pets. And given that JSX provides a business class experience for both pets and passengers, it might be worth the extra cost.

(Top photo courtesy of JSX)