Flying with your dog: a practical guide

Cabin or hold: what determines the weight

Each airline independently sets the combined weight limit for dog plus carrier for cabin access, and the most common threshold remains between 6 and 10 kg: beyond that value the dog travels in the pressurized and climate-controlled hold, inside a rigid carrier compliant with IATA Live Animals Regulations. Onboard animal spots are limited, often to two or three per flight, so it's advisable to book the animal's transport by phone right after ticket purchase, rather than leaving it for last minute.

Health documents for the flight

For international flights, you almost always need a microchip compliant with ISO 11784/11785 standards, a European pet passport (or equivalent health certificate outside the EU) and a valid rabies vaccination, which must have been administered at least 21 days before departure if it's the first dose. Anyone arriving from a country not included on the EU's low-rabies-risk lists must also have the dog undergo antibody-titer testing, a blood draw done at least 30 days after vaccination: the exact procedure changes from one country to another, so it's always worth checking with the embassy or veterinary authority of the destination before booking. As of 2026, the European Union has also updated the regulatory framework for non-commercial movements of dogs, cats and ferrets, introducing new health certificates: one more reason to check updated rules a few days before the flight, not months ahead. For the complete list of required documents see also our guide to health documents for animals.

Getting the dog used to the carrier

In the weeks before departure, leaving the carrier open at home, with a blanket the animal knows, reduces flight-day stress far more than any last-minute measure. Avoid sedation unless prescribed by a veterinarian: at altitude it can impair breathing and the animal's ability to regulate body temperature.

Book the dog's transport by phone at the same time you purchase the ticket: onboard cabin-carrier spots are very few per flight and run out quickly.