Taking a cat or dog on holiday means checking far more than flight times, as every airline sets its own rules on where animals can travel, how much they may weigh and what owners will pay. A new comparison of 22 European airlines found that only three do not allow pets in the cabin, although conditions vary widely once animals exceed the standard size limit.
What the review examined
The ranking was compiled by AirAdvisor, a global service that handles compensation claims for flights and baggage. It looked at whether each airline accepts pets in the cabin, carries them as baggage or in the hold, and allows them into its branded lounges.
General restrictions to check before booking
Several rules apply across many carriers. Pets under 12 weeks old are usually not accepted, and certain breeds, including bulldogs and pugs, may be subject to additional restrictions.
Owners are likely to find premium and business class cabins less accommodating. Codeshare flights, where a partner airline operates the service, and connections involving more than one airline can also create complications.
AirAdvisor also advises caution when flying to the UK, the USA, Australia and Hong Kong, where some airlines accept pets only as separate freight.
The 8kg cabin limit
Most carriers in the review apply an 8kg limit for pets travelling in the cabin, usually including the weight of the carrier. Animals above this limit generally travel in the hold, where fees rise considerably.
Aegean Airlines
The Greek carrier accepts a dog or cat in the cabin, provided the animal and its carrier weigh no more than 8kg together. Fees range from €35 on domestic flights within Greece to €65 on long-haul intercontinental routes.
Larger pets can fly in the hold, with charges based on weight. These range from €50 to €90 on direct domestic flightsand from €110 to €180 on direct international flights, with a small supplement on connecting journeys.
Lufthansa
The Cologne-based airline allows passengers to travel with up to two pets, which can fly in the cabin, in the hold or separately as cargo. Cabin fees range from €50 to €110 one way, depending on the route and the animal's size, while cargo hold fees range from €80 to €380.
Austrian Airlines
Passengers may bring two cats or dogs into the cabin, within an 8kg weight limit. Charges range from €65 on domestic flights within Austria to €125 on long-haul intercontinental routes. Animals must remain in a soft, bite-proof carrier.
Brussels Airlines
Up to two small cats or dogs may travel in the cabin, within an 8kg limit that includes the carriers. Fees range from €80 to €115, depending on the route.
Owners of rabbits, fish, rodents or birds must send them as cargo in the hold. Charges depend on carrier size, ranging from €100 to €190 for medium carriers and €200 to €380 for large ones.
TAP Air Portugal
TAP accepts only cats and dogs. Each passenger may take up to two pets aged at least 10 weeks in the cabin, where the weight limit is 8kg. In the hold, the limit rises to 32kg.
Cabin fees start at €40 for domestic flights in Portugal booked online in the low season and reach €170 for intercontinental flights booked online in the high season. Hold fees range from €78 to €247.
SAS Scandinavian Airlines
SAS allows up to two pets per passenger, within an 8kg limit in the cabin. Animals must be at least eight weeks old, and those under 14 weeks need a veterinary certificate.
Cabin fees start at €55 on domestic flights within its inter-Scandinavian network and rise to €149 on routes to China. Hold fees range from €90 on domestic flights to €725 on China routes.
Finnair
Finnair accepts cats and dogs in the cabin or the hold on all its routes. It also carries hedgehogs, tortoises and rabbitsfrom any EU country, in the cabin or the hold, while ferrets may travel in the hold from any country. Two pets of the same species can share one carrier if the total weight stays within 8kg.
Cabin fees are €60 within Europe and €120 on intercontinental flights, while hold fees are €140 and €650respectively. Booking at least seven days before departure works out cheaper.
LOT Polish Airlines
LOT carries cats, dogs and ferrets in the cabin or the hold. Cabin travel is limited to two pets of the same species, within an 8kg limit. Fees are €44 on domestic flights within Poland, €70 on short-haul routes and €100 on long-haul routes.
Air France and KLM
Air France allows one dog or cat in the cabin, weighing no more than 8kg. Pets between 8kg and 75kg must fly in the hold, and heavier animals are not accepted.
For international travel, whether in the cabin or the hold, pets must be at least 15 weeks old. Animals from eight weeks may fly in the cabin within France and Corsica, or from France to Guadeloupe, Martinique or Réunion.
Fees range from €70 to €250 in the cabin and from €100 to €750 in the hold. The airline accepts only soft-sided carriers.
KLM applies many of the same policies, with additional charges ranging from €70 to €500 each way.
Pets in airline lounges
Several carriers welcome pets into their branded lounges. Aegean, Air France, Austrian Airlines, Finnair, Lufthansa and SAS allow them in provided they remain in their carriers.
LOT is the most relaxed, allowing pets to move around the lounge under their owner's constant supervision.
Source: Euronews
