Updated: 3/17/2022 | Most Pet Friendly Airlines from Around the World
Finding pet-friendly airlines is a must for pet owners, especially when soaring in the skies with their animal family members.
Before going through the hassle of looking for airlines with excellent pet policies and knowing which airline is the most pet-friendly? The first thing you should be doing is to answer the question, what airlines allow dogs on the plane? Once you have the list, you can check the reviews and flying guidelines related to pets.
Here are eleven pet-friendly airlines, international and local, that you can consider.
Most Pet Friendly Airlines from Around the World
American Airlines
Pet fee: $125 USD
Pets allowed: cats and dogs
Maximum weight: up to 20-lbs
This airline’s pet policy allows you to check in with you a maximum of two pets at least two months old. Before flying with this carrier, you must ensure your pets meet the destination country’s minimum health and age requirements.
In the main cabin, American Airlines allows you to bring along a single kennel that should fit under the person’s seat in your front. This will be in place of the standard carry-on bag that passengers are allowed on a flight.
For those that belong to the most popular large dog breeds, the recommended option is to travel via the American Airlines Cargo.
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Delta
Pet fee: $95 USD for Domestic flights, $200 for International, and $75 to Brazil.
Pets allowed: cats, dogs, and household birds; up to 4 pets per passenger
Maximum weight: 8 kgs
Delta is another pet-friendly airline. They require all pets to be carried in a kennel unless you are traveling with a trained service animal.
Delta requires that your pet be at least 10 weeks old for domestic travel or 16 weeks old if traveling to the U.S. from another country, and must be at least 15 weeks old when traveling to the European Union.
One pet is permitted per kennel with the following exceptions:
- One female cat/dog may travel with her un-weaned litter if the litter is between 10 weeks to 6 months of age
- No limit on the number of animals in the litter
- 2 pets of the same breed and size between the age of 10 weeks and 6 months may be allowed to travel in 1 kennel as long as they are small enough to fit into a single kennel and are compatible – they will be charged as 1 pet
- Pets in cabin kennels will count as your one carry-on item. In addition to the kennel, you are permitted to bring one personal item onboard the aircraft.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Pet fee: €75 to €400 per one-way
Pets allowed: cats and dogs
Maximum weight: 8 kgs
KLM is another pet-friendly airline. While they accept most cat and dog breeds, they recommend snub-nosed animals be in the cabin or cargo for safety purposes. Passengers can only bring one inside the main cabin and must comfortably fit a kennel with a size dimension of 46 x 28 x 24 cm.
If your pet is too big for the main cabin, you can arrange for a maximum of three pets to be in the hold or checked baggage. All three pets can share the same kennel if each is not more than 14 kg in weight.
And how much does pet airways cost? For KLM, it can range from €75 to €400 per one-way, depending on the route and weight of the animal.
Turkish Airlines
Pet fee: ₺80 to ₺150
Pets allowed: cats, dogs, and birds
Maximum weight: 8 kgs
This carrier accepts dogs, cats, and birds in the cabin so long as the animal and their crate/kennel are within the 8 kg weight limit. Else, the animals have to be in the hold.
A maximum of three animals (either cat/dog) aged between 10-24 weeks old and sharing the same mother can share the same kennel. Animals of similar species weighing less than 14 kgs each can also share a single crate. Pet fee varies depending on the animal weight.
Lufthansa
Pet fee: depends on the route
Pets allowed: cats and dogs
Maximum weight: 8 kgs
One of the pet-friendly airlines, Lufthansa, allows small cats and dogs in their main cabin, given that they don’t exceed the 8 kg weight limit, including the pet carriers.
Larger pets and other animal species can stay inside the aircraft’s air-conditioned cargo hold, irrespective of their size and weight. Regardless of whether your pets will remain in the main cabin or not, you are only allowed to bring two animals with an airline-approved transport carrier.
Air Canada
Pet fee: US/CAD$50 to US/CAD$59 within Canada and US (except Hawaii); US/CAD$100 to US/CAD$118 for international
Pets allowed: cats and dogs
Maximum weight: 8 kgs
Air Canada allows each passenger to bring one pet – either a dog or cat on board the main cabin. If you plan, however, to have them stay in the baggage compartment, you can have a maximum of two pets in the same kennel so long as they don’t exceed 45 kgs. Take note that this particular arrangement will have a different cost.
Swiss International Airlines
Pet fee: starts at US$57
Pets allowed: cats and dogs
Maximum weight: 8 kgs
Swiss International Airlines allows their passengers to bring up to two pets into the flight. Both cats and dogs are welcome even on international flights so long as their combined weight with their carrier is within the 8 kg limit.
The destination dictates the costs for your pets’ flights. Flights from Switzerland to Europe cost 60 CHF, and Switzerland to intercontinental is 90 CHF. Flights within Europe are €50 while intercontinental flights cost €70.
Air France
Pet fee: depends on the destination
Pets allowed: cats and dogs
Maximum weight: 8 kgs
Every passenger is allowed to transport up to three pets per flight. These animals can travel in the main cabin for as long as their carrier; they meet the maximum allowable weight of 8 kgs.
Pets that exceeded this weight and reached 165lbs would need to travel in the hold of Air France. The pet fee depends on the destination. Flights within metropolitan France start at €40 in the main cabin and €80 in the hold.
Japan Airways
Pet fee: depends on weight and container size
Pets allowed: cats, dogs, hamsters, small birds, and rabbits
Maximum weight: up to 32 kgs for pet and crate
If you are asking which airline is the most pet-friendly, JAL is worth mentioning because aside from cats and dogs, it also allows hamsters, small birds, rabbits, and other small animals.
This airline has set an allowable weight limit of 100 kgs per passenger, including animals, checked baggage, and pet carriers. The airline’s general rule with the number of pets allowed is one kind of pet per crate.
This carrier doesn’t allow animals in their main cabin but will stay comfortably in the aircraft’s cargo. JAL charges ¥3,000 – ¥6,000 per pet crate and flight sector.
JetBlue
Pet fee: US$125
Pets allowed: cats and dogs
Maximum weight: up to 20 lbs
JetBlue allows you to bring a maximum of two pets, but you have to let the airline know and complete the necessary documents since the carrier only accepts a maximum of six pets per flight.
Additionally, your pet and its carrier should not exceed the set weight limit of 20 lbs.
Virgin Australia
Pet fee: AU$95 to AU$180
Pets allowed: cats and dogs
Maximum weight: up to 65 kgs, including carrier
Only cats and dogs are allowed in VA domestic flights, with every passenger permitted to bring a maximum of two pets per flight.
Unless your pet is a service or authorized guide dog, then that’s the only time it will be allowed in the main cabin. Otherwise, pets must travel via an animal transportation carrier.
ALSO READ: Weekend Travel Guide to Vienna, Austria
Importance of Booking Your Pet on a Pet-Friendly Airline
Two main reasons why you need to book with pet-friendly airlines come into mind.
First is your pet’s overall safety and experience. During the flight, you want your pet to be near you to check on their welfare. If traveling on hold, you want your pets to be in a well-ventilated environment with people handling them with care and respect.
Second, once you are confident that your pet is treated right, you can get that invaluable peace of mind and enjoy the flight with the very least worries possible.
Final Thoughts
Not all airlines have the same standard and flying policies for pets, so you must look for one that will give you a superb experience and ensure that your pet is well taken care of. For larger breeds, check for pet-friendly airlines for large dogs or cat breeds so you can have a hassle-free flight.
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