IAD to SEA
Washington, DC to Seattle Pet Relocation
Moving to Seattle from Washington, DC? We arrange home pickup in the Washington, DC area, book your pet's flight to SEA and arrange delivery to your new home anywhere in the Seattle area.
Bringing your pet home to Seattle
Flying is the quickest way to bring a pet from Washington, DC to Seattle: about 5.5 to 6 hours in the air. Your pet travels as airline cargo in an approved crate.
You can fly on the same day or on a different day from your pet. We plan the timing with you, so someone is ready at each end.
We choose the flight and the timing that are easiest on your pet. Every booking depends on airline space, the weather and the breed rules, so we confirm the flight with the airline before anything is final.
Quick facts
- Airports
- Washington, DC IAD to Seattle SEA
- Flight time
- About 5.5 to 6 hours (scheduled)
- Hand-in
- At IAD airport cargo, no more than 4 hours before the flight
- Pickup
- Usually about 1 hour after landing, within 4 hours
- Health certificate
- Needed, within 10 days of the flight
- Summer
- Not on days over 85°F
Your price
What your Washington, DC to Seattle price includes
Your price depends on your pet's size and weight (the airline charges by the weight of your pet and the crate together), your addresses and the extras you choose. Fill in the form and on most dates you see your price on screen, with a list of what is included.
Included
- Home pickup in the Washington, DC area and IAD cargo check-in
- Airline cargo booking, with the airline's charges
- Pickup at SEA cargo and delivery to your home in the Seattle area
- Forms, labels and flight tracking, with updates for you
Prefer to handle one end yourself? Untick it in the form.
Extras
- Airline crate in the right size, ready to fly
- More than one pet: each pet flies in its own crate unless two young pets can share
Step by step
How it works on this route
- 1
Get your price
Fill in the form with your pet's size and your dates. On most dates you see your price right away.
- 2
Crate and vet
We confirm the crate size. Your vet in Washington, DC does the health certificate within 10 days of the flight.
- 3
Flight booked
We book the cargo space to SEA and send you the details.
- 4
Pickup in Washington, DC
Your pet is picked up at home and checked in at IAD cargo, no more than 4 hours before the flight.
- 5
Home in Seattle
Your pet is collected at SEA cargo when they land and brought to your new home.
Airline rules that matter on this route
- Health certificate: needed for every pet flying in the cargo hold, from a licensed vet, within 10 days of the flight. See vet health certificate for flying.
- Temperature: the airline generally flies pets in the cargo hold only when the forecast is between 45°F and 85°F at every airport on the trip. See summer heat rules.
- Breeds: snub-nosed breeds (including all bulldogs, boxers, pugs and mastiffs, and Persian and Himalayan cats) cannot fly in the cargo hold. See snub-nosed breeds and flying.
- Size: pet and crate together up to 150 lb, in a crate up to the 500 series. Bigger pets get a custom quote. See airline pet crates.
- Pickup on time: pets must be collected within 4 hours of landing, so the pickup is planned before we book.
More questions? See the FAQ and our guide to Alaska Airlines pet cargo.
Delivery areas in Seattle
We arrange delivery anywhere in Seattle, including Downtown, Capitol Hill, Ballard, Fremont, Queen Anne, West Seattle, and across the region: Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Renton, Kent, Federal Way, Tacoma, Burien, Tukwila, SeaTac, Des Moines and more. The form shows the price for your address.
Leaving Washington, DC
Your pet leaves from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). We arrange home pickup in Washington, DC and nearby areas, including Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda, Reston, Silver Spring.
Check the pet license rules for your new home in Seattle on the Seattle Animal Shelter site.
Settling in Seattle
- Book a visit with a new vet in the first few weeks and bring your pet's records.
- Update the address on your pet's microchip record.
- Keep your pet's routine, food and bedding the same for the first week.
Washington, DC to Seattle: questions
How much does it cost to ship a pet from Washington, DC to Seattle?
How long is the flight from Washington, DC to Seattle?
Can you deliver my pet to my door in Seattle?
Does my pet need a health certificate to fly to Seattle?
Can pets fly from Washington, DC in summer?
Can I fly on a different day from my pet?
Get your Washington, DC to Seattle price
Takes about three minutes. On most dates you see your price on screen.