Planning to travel with a pet? Be mindful of these airport pet policies in NY

Emily Barnes, New York State Team

Are you planning on traveling with a pet?

Airports throughout New York advise pet owners to check with their specific airline to make sure all guidelines are followed, as each airline establishes its own policies. But the airports themselves also have their own set of rules and regulations.

Here's what to know about the varying policies regarding pets in some airports throughout the state.

Airports throughout New York, like the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport pictured above, have differing pet policies.
Airports throughout New York, like the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport pictured above, have differing pet policies.

Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport

Pets are allowed inside the airport if they are traveling with their owner, but should not be brought into the terminal to greet arriving passengers, said Monroe County deputy director of communications Meaghan McDermott.

Designated pet relief areas are located outside of the airport and in each of the concourses.

LaGuardia Airport and others throughout New York have differing pet policies.
LaGuardia Airport and others throughout New York have differing pet policies.

JFK, LaGuardia, Newark Airports

Port Authority New York/New Jersey airports like John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark follow U.S. Department of Transportation guidelines.

"No person shall enter any Port Authority of New York & New Jersey operated area, public landing area, public ramp and apron area, public passenger ramp and apron area, or public cargo ramp and apron area of the air terminal with any animal except a service animal ... or one properly confined for shipment," a Port Authority representative said in a written statement.

In designated pet relief areas, animals can be on a leash but elsewhere in the terminal, they should be placed in an airline transport-approved carrier.

Airports throughout New York, including the Syracuse Hancock International Airport pictured above, have differing pet policies.
Airports throughout New York, including the Syracuse Hancock International Airport pictured above, have differing pet policies.

Syracuse Hancock International Airport

Animals except for service animals or animals being used for law enforcement purposes are not allowed inside the airport unless they are being transported on a plane, according to a Syracuse Hancock International Airport representative. If that's the case, those animals need to be on a leash or in a crate.

The airport also has multiple pet relief rooms located outdoors and one inside Terminal A.

Emily Barnes is the New York State Team consumer advocate reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Barnes at ebarnes@gannett.com or on Twitter @byemilybarnes.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Traveling with a pet? Here are some of New York's airport pet policies

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