Airline Pet Policies
Overview of major airline pet travel policies. Policies change frequently — always confirm directly with your airline.
Last updated: September 15, 2026
How airlines actually carry dogs
Before comparing carriers, it helps to know the three ways a dog can travel by plane — the policies in the cards below slot into one of these.
In the cabin
Small dogs that fit — with their soft carrier — under the seat in front of you. This is the only option where your dog stays with you throughout the flight, which is why weight limits are strict.
In the hold (checked baggage)
Your dog flies in an IATA-compliant hard crate in the pressurised, heated cargo hold, on the same flight as you, and is checked in with you at the desk. Availability depends on aircraft, route and airline.
As manifest cargo
Larger dogs, or dogs travelling unaccompanied, are handled by the airline's cargo division or a specialised pet shipper. More paperwork and earlier booking, but the standard solution for big breeds on long-haul routes.
Which of the three is available to you is decided by each airline — never assume. The cards below show what each carrier publishes today; the airline's own pet page is the final word at booking time.
What every airline checks before accepting a dog
The details differ per carrier, but the checks are always the same five things.
Combined weight
Cabin programmes are capped by the total weight of dog plus carrier — most airlines sit at or under roughly 8 kg, a few accept more. The weight that counts is the one on the day of travel: weigh the loaded carrier before you fly and confirm the exact limit with your airline.
Carrier dimensions
Cabin carriers must be soft-sided and fit under the seat in front of you; hold travel requires a hard, IATA-compliant crate sized so your dog can stand, turn around and lie down. Each airline publishes its own maximum dimensions — check them before buying a carrier, not after.
Breed and health restrictions
Many airlines restrict or refuse snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds in the hold, and some have breed-specific bans beyond the brachycephalic rules. Sick, pregnant or very young animals are generally not accepted. If you own a French Bulldog, Pug or similar, read the breed notes in the cards above carefully before booking.
Documents
The airline checks health paperwork on top of the destination country's entry rules — commonly a recent health certificate stating your dog is fit to fly, plus the vaccination records your destination requires. Country-by-country requirements are detailed in our destination requirements guide.
Space on the flight
Every flight accepts only a limited number of animals, in the cabin and in the hold. Pet spots are first-come, first-served, and your dog's place is only secured when the airline confirms it — not when the booking screen accepts your payment.
Booking a pet ticket without surprises
- Compare pet programmes before choosing the flight — a cheaper ticket on an airline that does not take your dog's size is worthless.
- Confirm a pet spot exists on your exact flight with the airline before paying — availability is never guaranteed at booking time.
- Add the pet to the reservation and note the fee, charged per direction and set by each airline; reconfirm the amount when the airline confirms the pet.
- Prepare the documents: the destination's entry requirements plus the airline's health-certificate rules, which often want the certificate issued shortly before travel.
- Recheck the airline's pet page a few days before departure — policies and fees change, and the version that applies is the one published at travel time.
Brachycephalic breeds: read this before you book
Flat-faced breeds — French Bulldogs, Pugs, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers and similar — face the toughest air-travel rules of any dog. Because of their airway anatomy, many airlines refuse them in the hold, where heat and stress raise the risk of breathing distress. Where cabin travel is not possible because of weight, ground options (train, ferry, car) or specialist pet shippers are often the safer route. Talk to your vet about your dog's fitness to fly before booking anything. See our breeds guide for breed-by-breed details, and the cabin eligibility quiz to check where your dog stands.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fly with a dog?
Fees are set per airline and charged per direction. The figures in the cards above come from each airline's published policy, and they change without notice — treat the amount the airline confirms when you add the pet to your booking as the number that counts. Cabin fees and hold fees usually differ, and specialist pet shippers price separately again.
Can my dog sit on my lap or in a regular seat?
No. On airlines that accept pets in the cabin, the dog must stay inside its closed carrier under the seat in front of you for the entire flight. A pet fee attaches to your reservation but does not buy a seat for the animal. Trained assistance dogs travelling with their handler follow a separate regime — register them with the airline directly.
Which airlines accept large dogs?
Large dogs cannot travel in the cabin; they need either space in the hold as checked baggage or manifest cargo. What is available depends on the airline, the aircraft and the route — check the hold availability in the cards above for your carriers, and see our best airlines for dogs comparison for the options that handle bigger dogs well.
Do airlines require a health certificate?
Most airlines require a health or fitness-to-fly certificate in addition to the destination's entry documents — especially on US carriers and for hold travel. Vets issue these close to departure, typically within 10 days where required, so schedule the vet visit near the end of your preparation, once the entry paperwork is done.
Where to go next
Good to know
Airline policies are subject to seasonal changes and route-specific variations. Please confirm current policies directly with your airline before booking.
New to pet air travel? Read our complete guide to the best airlines for dogs, or use our dog travel planner to get a personalized checklist.