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Flying with pets

Flying with pets requires planning. Rules depend on the airline, animal size, route and destination country.

Planning overview only: there is no universal pet allowance. Use the airline guide as a starting point and confirm the current rules with the operating airline and destination authorities.

Guide reviewed:

Pets in the cabin

Some airlines accept small dogs or cats in an under-seat carrier. The permitted species, carrier size and combined weight are airline-, fare- and route-specific.

Pets in the hold or as cargo

Acceptance, booking channel and crate requirements differ. Confirm the exact process with the operating airline before buying a crate or ticket.

Documents & health

Required records, certificates, identification and deadlines depend on origin, destination, transit countries and airline. Verify every authority involved.

Assistance dogs

Eligibility, documentation and advance-notice rules differ between airlines and countries. Contact the operating airline early for an individual assessment.

Plan the trip in three steps

Use these prompts before you commit to a flight. The airline, every country on the route and your vet may each have separate requirements.

  1. Before booking

    • Check the operating carrier on every flight, including codeshares.
    • Ask whether pet space must be requested and confirmed separately.
    • Check whether the route, aircraft, connection or season affects acceptance.
    • Know what happens to the pet booking if the flight changes.

  2. Documents and timing

    • Check the rules of the departure, destination and transit countries.
    • Put vaccinations, tests, treatments and certificates on a dated plan with your vet.
    • Make sure the animal's identification matches every travel document.
    • Confirm where document and identity checks take place on arrival.

  3. Carrier and travel day

    • Measure the complete carrier and compare it with the airline's current instructions.
    • Give the animal time to become familiar with the carrier before the trip.
    • Discuss fitness to fly, feeding and any medication with a vet; also check the airline's rules.
    • Confirm the check-in location, required arrival time and documents to present.

Long flights and time in the carrier

Cabin travel, hold transport and cargo shipments use different handling processes. These questions show what to clarify without turning a general guide into an individual health assessment.

How is my pet given water or food on a long journey?

There is no universal promise that a pet will be fed or given water during the flight. For an animal in the hold or travelling as cargo, ask the operating airline about the complete journey, connections, delay plan, attached containers and when trained staff can reach them on the ground. Do not assume anyone can open the carrier while airborne.

May I put a water or food bowl in the cabin carrier?

Ask the operating airline about the exact carrier setup before travel. Any permitted container must still allow the carrier to remain closed and leak-resistant and fit under the seat; a loose or open bowl can spill and may affect acceptance. Do not open the carrier to offer food or water unless the crew specifically instructs you to do so.

May I take my pet out of its carrier during the flight?

Current IATA cabin guidance says a dog or cat must not be removed from its travel container during the flight and the container should not be opened. The operating airline and cabin crew instructions apply throughout the journey.

What if my pet becomes very anxious or panics?

Do not open the carrier on your own; follow the cabin crew’s instructions. Familiarise the animal with the actual carrier well before travel. If severe anxiety is expected, discuss fitness to fly and individual preparation with a vet before booking—a general guide cannot predict an animal’s reaction.

Can I give my pet a sedative or tranquilizer?

Do not treat medication as a generic travel solution. IATA discourages sedatives and tranquilizers because of possible adverse effects during transport. A vet must assess the individual animal, and the operating airline’s current medication and acceptance rules must also be checked.

What happens during a delay or connection?

Ask before booking who has custody of the animal, whether it must be collected and checked in again, where ground care can take place, how feeding and watering instructions are handled and what happens after a missed connection. The answer varies by airline, airport, route and transport type.

Official travel-preparation sources

These sources describe general transport preparation and handling. The operating airline, route authorities and your vet remain responsible for the individual journey.

Pet policies by airline

Compare the currently researched status for 50 airlines. Open an airline guide for species, carrier, route and booking conditions.

This status overview is a starting point. Pet rules can change and may depend on the animal, route and operating airline. Check the airline's current official rules and the relevant entry and transit requirements before booking and departure.

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