For pet parents, it can be heartbreaking to leave your furry friend at home while you travel.
We've looked into the most animal-friendly airline policies; including weight limit, size of the carrier, and any additional charges.
Unlike some countries, in the UK our options are a bit more limited, as pets cannot be in the cabin. They must go into the hold. Only a select few airlines have such cargo holds, so we've rounded up those for you. We've also found some pet-friendly airlines that allow for inter-European travel with your furry friends.
One thing we have noticed is that the weight allowance can be quite low for all airlines, so if you're like me and have a chunky slab of a labrador for a dog, you might be a bit stuck. But if your pet is 8kg or less, you're good to go.
1. Lufthansa
1 pet per passenger
Pets allowed: dogs and cats
Maximum weight: 8kg including carrier
Additional Fee: €50 for domestic flights (Europe only), £50 for within Europe and up to £100 for long-haul flights
2. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
1 pet per passenger
Pets allowed: dogs and cats
Maximum weight: 8kg including carrier
Additional Fee: £60 - £400 each way
3. Air France
1 pet per passenger
Pets allowed: dogs and cats
Maximum weight: 8kg including carrier
Additional fees: Varies between travel locations but usually upwards of £50
With a lot of these options, your pet can fly right beside you in the cabin!
1. Aegean Airways
1 pet per passenger
Pets allowed: dogs and cats
Maximum weight: 8kg including carrier
Additional Fee: €35 for domestic, €65 for international flights
2. Air Baltic
2 pets per passenger (must be the same kind)
Pets allowed: dogs and cats
Maximum weight: 12kg including carrier
Additional fee: €70
3. Air Belgium
1 pet per passenger
Pets allowed: dogs and cats
Maximum weight: 8kg including carrier
Additional Fee: €100 fee per pet
4. Air Malta
1 pet per passenger
Pets allowed: dogs and cats
Maximum weight: 10kg including carrier
Additional Fee: €70 (pet stroller is free of charge)
5. Alitalia
5 pets per passenger (animals of the same species in the same carrier)
Pets allowed: cats, dogs, ferrets, rabbits, and hamsters
Maximum weight: 8kg, 10kg including food and carrier.
Additional Fee: €60 for domestic flights within Italy, €90 for flights across Europe, and €210 for other global destinations
6. Austrian Airlines
2 pets per passenger
Pets allowed: dogs and cats
Maximum weight: 8 kg including carrier
Additional Fee: €50
7. Condor
1 pet per passenger
Pets allowed: dogs and cats
Maximum weight: 8 kg including carrier
Additional Fee: €59.99 - €99.99
8. Eurowings
1 pet per passenger
Pets allowed: dogs and cats
Maximum weight: 8kg including carrier
Additional Fee: from 60€
9. Finnair
1 pet per passenger
Pets allowed: cats, dogs, pet rabbits, tortoises, and hedgehogs
Maximum weight: 8kg including carrier
Additional Fee: €60 for flights within Europe or €120 for intercontinental flights
10. Iberia
2 pets per passenger
Pets allowed: dogs, cats, fish, tortoises, and birds (except birds of prey)
Maximum weight: 8kg including carrier
Additional Fee: €40 for pets within Spain, €60 for flights within Europe, and €180 for flights to America and Asia
11. LOT
1 pet per passenger
Pets allowed: dogs, cats and ferrets
Maximum weight: 8kg including carrier
Additional Fee: €40 for domestic flights, €60 for flights within Europe, to €120 for flights to North America or Asia.
12. Norwegian
1 pet per passenger
Pets allowed: dogs and cats
Maximum weight: 8kg including carrier
Additional Fee: €55-75 if paid online or €60-85 at the airport
13. SWISS
2 pets per passenger (1 in cabin, 1 in hold)
Pets allowed: dogs and cats
Maximum weight: 8kg (in cabin)
Additional Fee: from €50 for domestic travel within Switzerland to €110 for long-haul intercontinental flights
14. TAP Air Portugal
2 pets per passenger
Pets allowed: dogs and cats
Maximum weight: 8kg including carrier
Additional Fee: from €40 for domestic flights in Portugal, €70 for European flights, to €160 for intercontinental flights
15. TUIfly
1 pet per passenger
Pets allowed: dogs and cats
Maximum weight: 8kg including carrier
Additional Fee: €50
16. Turkish Airlines
2 pets per passenger
Pets allowed: dogs, cats, and small singing birds (e.g., parakeets, canaries)
Maximum weight: 8kg including carrier
Additional Fee: Depends on route
17. Vueling
2 pets per passenger
Pets allowed: dogs, cats, birds (excluding brids of prey) and tortoises
Maximum weight: 8kg including carrier
Additional Fee: €50 for domestic flights and €60 for Canary and international flights
For more information, please visit the website of the airline you are interested in.
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