The Most Pet-Friendly Airports in America

It might not feel like pets are welcome on flights these days. Several airlines introduced stricter policies regarding bringing along support animals on flights recently. That could come as good or bad news depending on what your view is regarding animals on planes. While it may seem like airlines are cracking down on four-legged passengers, there are many airports that are accommodating animals like never before. A new study from Upgraded Points is revealing the 10 most pet-friendly airports in the United States. Find out if your favorite hub is rolling out the red carpet for pets.

Upgraded Points decided to assign airports around the country scores from one to 10 when it comes to how friendly they are to pets. The rankings are based on what they provide in terms of post-security relief areas and the quality of the pet-friendly amenities that are available. Here’s a look at the top 10 from top to bottom:

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) earned a score of 10.

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) earned a score of 9.5.

Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) earned a score of 9.0.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) earned a score of 8.5

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) earned a score of 8.25.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) earned a score of 7.75.

Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) earned a score of 7.5.

Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) earned a score of 7.25.

Denver International Airport (DEN) earned a score of 7.0.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) earned a score of 6.75.

What helped JFK to secure the top spot in the Upgraded Points ranking? Multiple terminals at the busy hub provide access to post-security pet relief areas. That means that travelers flying with their pets don’t have to leave the secured area of the airport when nature calls. In addition, JFK’s Terminal 5 features an outdoor patio that welcomes pets. The ARK at JFK is a spot that offers around-the-clock animal care and veterinary services for a wide variety of animals. Pushing JFK to the top is the fact that American Airlines just installed a new area for pets at its terminal that features 1,000 square feet of natural grass.

ATL definitely gives JFK a run for its money when it comes to pet-friendly amenities. The Southern hub actually provides indoor post-security relief areas for pets at every single concourse. Travelers can also take advantage of a pre-security dog park that spans a 1,000 square feet. A boarding facility called Pet Paradise is available 24 hours a day at the airport.

Pet lovers are sure to praise all of the efforts that the nation’s busiest airports are putting into welcoming animal travelers. Travelers who prefer to travel through the airport without seeing visions of fake fire hydrants and chew toys may not be as thrilled. The bottom line is that animals are probably here to stay when it comes to airline travel.

[Photo: Shutterstock]