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Katie Genter is a digital nomad who has traveled full time since June 2017. She writes and edits stories about points and miles, and loyalty programs, often letting her personal experiences color these stories.
April 30, 2018 • 19 min read
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Quick summary
This guide details which airlines allow pets in the cabin on direct flights between the US and Europe, outlining fees, carrier size and weight limits, and animal restrictions.
Policies vary widely, with most airlines allowing pets up to 8kg (about 17.6lbs) in carriers of specific dimensions, though some airlines have stricter or more lenient rules.
Certain airlines do not permit pets in the cabin at all, and none allow pets in cabin on flights to the UK or Ireland due to import regulations.
Travelers must prepare paperwork and check both airline and country-specific pet entry requirements well in advance.
What to consider
Pet in cabin fees range significantly, with some airlines charging as little as 70-75 euros (about $86-92) and others up to $200 or more, depending on departure location and booking timing.
Carrier size and weight limits differ by airline, so verify requirements before booking; Alitalia allows the heaviest pets (up to 10kg), while Condor and OpenSkies have lower limits (6kg).
Advance reservations for pets are required, and there are restrictions on seating, animal breeds and business class access on many airlines.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed airline-by-airline comparison table and specific tips for preparing your pet and paperwork for international travel.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
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Cheap fares to Europe are relatively easy to find, and more and more hotels are becoming pet friendly. But if you're planning on taking your pet with you to Europe, you'll need to choose your airline selectively. Some airlines don't allow pets in the cabin — and among the airlines that do allow pets in cabin, some charge significantly higher fees than others or require much smaller carrier dimensions.
This guide covers the current options for flying with your pet in cabin between the US and Europe. Policies for pets traveling as checked baggage, pets traveling as cargo, service animals and emotional support animals are different and aren't considered in this guide. Plus, since it's best to minimize transit time when traveling with pets, only airlines offering direct flights between the US and Europe are included.
If you want to jump to a summary of the airlines that allow pets in cabin on at least some flights between the US and Europe, click on "Comparison Table" in the table of contents below. Otherwise, details are given for each airline in individual sections below.
Direct flights to/from Moscow (SVO): Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), Washington (IAD)
Pets allowed: Most types except "potentially dangerous" dog breeds, brachycephalic dog breeds (such as French bulldogs, because of potential respiratory trouble), rodents and reptiles
Maximum carrier dimensions: 125cm (about 49 inches) sum of length, width and height for hard-sided carriers, 135cm (about 53 inches) sum of length, width and height for soft-sided carriers
Direct flights to/from Paris (CDG): Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Detroit (DTW), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Minneapolis (MSP), New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), Seatle (SEA), Washington (IAD)
Direct flights to/from Paris (ORY): New York (JFK)
Air France's long-haul Premium Economy, which allows pets (Photo by Brendan Dorsey / The Points Guy)
Maximum carrier dimensions: 46cm by 28cm by 24cm (about 18 inches by 11 inches by 9 inches), must be soft-sided. Air France sells carriers on their website, although use of these carriers isn't required.
Maximum carrier weight: 8kg (about 17.6lbs)
Fee: 125 euros (about $154)
Restrictions: Pets can't fly in the business class cabin.
Direct flights to/from Rome (FCO): Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK)
Direct flights to/from Milan (MXP): New York (JFK)
Alitalia's US flights are mostly on the Airbus A330-200, whose coach class, with armrest that cannot be fully lifted, is seen here. (Photo by Alberto Riva / The Points Guy)
Pets allowed: Dogs, cats, ferrets and canaries
Maximum carrier dimensions: Varies by aircraft, but generally 40cm long by 20cm wide by 24cm high (about 15 inches by 9 inches by 7 inches). Soft-sided carriers can be slightly taller.
Maximum carrier weight: 10kg (about 22lbs)
Fee: $200 when departing the US, 125 euros (about $154) when departing Europe
Direct flights to/from Brussels (BRU): New York (JFK) and Washington (IAD)
Pets allowed: Dogs and cats
Maximum carrier dimensions: 118cm (about 46 inches) sum of length, width and height, must be soft-sided. Brussels Airlines sells approved carriers at BRU for 45 euros (about $55), but passengers may provide their own if it meets the requirements.
Maximum carrier weight: 8kg (about 17.6lbs)
Fee: 70 euros (about $86) when departing Europe, $90 when departing the US
Direct flights to/from Frankfurt (FRA): Anchorage (ANC), Las Vegas (LAS), Minneapolis (MSP), New Orleans (MSY), Phoenix (PHX), Pittsburgh (PIT), Portland (PDX), Washington (BWI)
Condor has a fairly extensive US network
Pets allowed: Dogs (except fighting breeds and snub-nosed breeds) and cats (except snub-nosed breeds)
Maximum carrier dimensions: 55cm by 40cm by 20cm (about 21 inches by 15 inches by 7 inches)
Maximum carrier weight: 6kg (about 13.2lbs)
Fee: 99.99 euros (about $123) — or 94.99 euros (about $117) if booked more than 30 days before departure. Pets can be easily added while purchasing a flight on the Condor website.
Restrictions: Condor requires a pet passport when departing Germany, so arrange that in Europe before your return flight.
Direct flights to/from New York (JFK): Amsterdam (AMS), Athens (ATH), Barcelona (BCN), Berlin (TXL), Brussels (BRU), Frankfurt (FRA), Lisbon (LIS), Madrid (MAD), Milan (MXP), Nice (NCE), Paris (CDG), Prague (PRG), Rome (FCO), Reykjavik (KEF), Venice (VCE), Zurich (ZRH)
Delta's Economy class on the new Airbus A350, now flying to Amsterdam (Photo by Zach Honig / The Points Guy)
Direct flights to/from Atlanta (ATL): Amsterdam (AMS), Barcelona (BCN), Brussels (BRU), Düsseldorf (DUS), Frankfurt (FRA), Madrid (MAD), Milan (MXP), Munich (MUC), Paris (CDG), Rome (FCO), Stuttgart (STR)
Direct flights to/from Detroit (DTW): Amsterdam (AMS), Frankfurt (FRA), Munich (MUC), Paris (CDG), Rome (FCO)
Direct flights to/from Boston (BOS), Minneapolis (MSP), Salt Lake City (SLC), Seattle (SEA): Amsterdam (AMS), Paris (CDG)
Direct flights to/from Cincinnati (CVG), New York (EWR), Raleigh (RDU): Paris (CDG)
Direct flights to/from Orlando (MCO), Portland (PDX): Amsterdam (AMS)
No UK or Ireland destinations are included on the above lists since Delta doesn't transport any live animals in the cabin on these flights.
Pets allowed: Dogs and cats
Maximum carrier dimensions and weight: Varies based on itinerary, but animals must fit into their carrier "without touching or protruding from the sides"
Fee: $200 when departing the US, 200 euros (about $246) when departing Europe
Restrictions: Pets can't be carried in International Business, International First and International Delta One cabins.
Direct flights to/from Helsinki (HEL): Chicago (ORD), New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO)
Pets allowed: Dogs, cats, rabbits and rodents
Maximum carrier dimensions: 35cm by 30cm by 20cm (about 13 inches by 11 inches by 7 inches) for hard-sided, 56cm by 45cm by 25cm (about 22 inches by 17 inches by 9 inches) for soft-sided
Maximum carrier weight: 8kg (about 17.6lbs)
Fee: $100 from the US to Europe, 75 euros (about $92) from Europe to the US
Restrictions: Pets can't be carried in the business class cabin on international flights.
Notes: The request to carry a pet in cabin can be completed online.
Direct flights to/from Madrid (MAD): Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO)
Pets allowed: Various, must be approved by Iberia booking office. The only type of animal explicitly prohibited is weasels.
Maximum carrier dimensions: 45cm by 35cm by 25cm (about 17 inches by 13 inches by 9 inches)
Maximum carrier weight: 8kg (about 17.6lbs)
Fees: $150 when departing the US, 150 euros (about $184) when departing Europe
Restrictions: Dogs that belong to a list of dangerous breeds or have a particular "build, muscle, height and weight" must wear a muzzle when out of their carrier for security check.
Direct flights to/from Amsterdam (AMS): Atlanta (ATL), Chicago (ORD), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Minneapolis (MSP), New York (JFK), Salt Lake City (SLC), San Francisco (SFO), Washington (IAD)
Pets allowed: Dogs and cats
With KLM, you can fly your pet to Europe on a 747 like this one (Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Maximum carrier dimensions: 46cm by 28cm by 24cm (about 18 inches by 11 inches by 9 inches)
Maximum carrier weight: 8kg (about 17.6lbs)
Fee: $125 for flights departing the US, 125 euros (about $154) for flights departing Europe
Restrictions: Pets can't be carried in the business class cabin on transatlantic flights.
Direct flights to/from Warsaw (WAW): Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK)
Pets allowed: Dogs and cats
Maximum carrier dimensions: 55cm by 40cm by 20cm (about 21 inches by 15 inches by 7 inches) on longhaul aircraft, 45cm by 30cm by 20cm (17 inches by 11 inches by 7 inches) on other aircraft
Maximum carrier weight: 8kg (about 17.6lbs)
Fee: 280 Polish Zloty (about $83) when departing Poland, 70 euros (about $86) when departing from other European countries, $100 when departing the US
Direct flights to/from Frankfurt (FRA): Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Denver (DEN), Detroit (DTW), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (EWR, JFK), Orlando (MCO), Philadelphia (PHL), San Diego (SAN), San Francisco (SFO), San Jose (SJC), Seattle (SEA), Tampa (TPA), Washington (IAD)
Direct flights to/from Munich (MUC): Boston (BOS), Charlotte (CLT), Chicago (ORD), Denver (DEN), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (EWR, JFK), San Francisco (SFO), Washington (IAD)
The many US cities served directly by Lufthansa
Pets allowed: Dogs (non-dangerous breeds or dangerous breeds aged between four and six months) and cats
Maximum carrier dimensions: 55cm by 40cm by 23cm (about 21 inches by 15 inches by 9 inches)
Maximum carrier weight: 8kg (about 17.6lbs)
Fee: $115-126 for flights departing the US, 100-110 euros (about $115-126) for flights departing Europe
Direct flights to/from Zurich (ZRH): Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (EWR, JFK), San Francisco (SFO)
Direct flights to/from Geneva (GVA): New York (JFK)
The economy cabin of a Swiss 777 (Photo by J Keith van Straaten / The Points Guy)
Pets allowed: Dogs and cats
Maximum carrier dimensions: 55cm by 23cm by 40cm (about 21 inches by 9 inches by 15 inches), must be soft-sided
Maximum carrier weight: 8kg (about 17.6lbs)
Fee: 103-126 Swiss Franc ($106-129), 90-110 euros ($111-135) or $103-126 — the exact price depends on route
Notes: Swiss' Airbus 330/340 doesn't have underseat storage in the First class cabin and only has underseat storage in the last row of the Business class cabin. For business and first class passengers with pets in seats without underseat storage, the "crew will stow the transport container in the cloakroom, in one of the overhead luggage compartments or under another passenger seat during take-off and landing." After a dog died in an overhead bin on United, I hope Swiss reconsiders their policy to store pets in the overhead bin.
Direct flights to/from Lisbon (LIS): Boston (BOS), Miami (MIA), New York (EWR, JFK)
Direct flights to/from Porto (OPO): New York (EWR)
Pets allowed: Dogs and cats
Maximum carrier dimensions: 40cm by 33cm by 17cm (about 15 inches by 13 inches by 6 inches), must be soft-sided
Maximum carrier weight: 8kg (about 17.6lbs)
Fee: 150 euros (about $184)
Restrictions: No pets can travel in the executive cabin on long-haul flights.
Notes: The pet's documents may need to be emailed ahead of time to Portugal's Veterinary Directorate-General and a 40 euro (about $49) veterinary examination fee may be required at the port of entry.
Direct flights to/from Istanbul (IST): Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), Washington (IAD)
Turkish Airlines has a relatively big network in the US
Pets allowed: Dogs (no dangerous breeds), cats and some caged birds
Maximum carrier dimensions: 55cm by 40cm by 23cm (21 inches by 15 inches by 9 inches)
Maximum carrier weight: 8kg (about 17.6lbs)
Fee: Depends on the route, should be between $160 and $205
Restrictions: Dogs and cats as well as cats and birds can't be carried on the same flight. Dogs and birds can travel on the same flight as long as they're seated as far from each other as possible.
Pets allowed: Dogs (except French / English bulldogs and dogs younger than six months on flights to the US) and cats
Maximum carrier dimensions: 55cm by 40cm by 20cm (about 21 inches by 15 inches by 7 inches), must be soft-sided
Maximum carrier weight: 8kg (about 17.6lbs)
Fee: 100 euros (about $123) if paid more than 24 hours before departure, 200 euros (about $246) within 24 hours of departure or at check-in, 240 euros (about $295) at the gate
Direct flights: to various European cities from United hubs in Chicago (ORD), Denver (DEN), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (EWR), San Francisco (SFO) and Washington (IAD)
The Economy cabin on a United Boeing 777-300ER (Photo by The Points Guy)
Pets allowed: Varies based on route
Maximum carrier dimensions and weight: Varies based on itinerary
Fee: $125
Restrictions: Pets aren't permitted in premium cabins on Boeing 747, 757, 767, 777 and 787 aircraft. Customers with pets in cabin must sit in a window seat when traveling in economy on Boeing 757-200 aircraft.
Comparison Table
Here's a table summarizing the fees, maximum carrier weight and maximum carrier size for the airlines in this guide that allow pets in cabin on at least some routes between the US and Europe.
Airline
Fee
Max Weight
Max Carrier Size
Aeroflot
75 EUR
8kg
125cm (hard), 135cm (soft)
Air Europa
150 EUR / $165
8kg
55x35x25cm
Air France
125 EUR
8kg
46x28x24 cm
Air Serbia
85 EUR
8kg
40x30x24 cm
Air Tahiti Nui
150 EUR / $150
5kg pet, 8kg total
40x35x20cm
Alitalia
125 EUR / $200
10kg
40x20x24cm
Austrian Airlines
70 EUR
8kg
118cm
Brussels Airlines
70 EUR / $90
8kg
118cm
Condor
99.99 EUR
6kg
55x40x20cm
Delta
200 EUR / $200
Varies
Varies
Edelweiss
90 CHF / 70 EUR
8kg
55x40x23cm
Finnair
75 EUR / $100
8kg
35x30x20cm (hard), 56x45x25cm (soft)
Iberia
150 EUR / $150
8kg
45x35x25cm
KLM
125 EUR / $125
8kg
46x28x24cm
LOT
280 PLN / 70 EUR / $100
8kg
55x40x20cm (long-haul), 45cmx30cmx20cm (regional)
Lufthansa
70 EUR / $100
8kg
55x40x23cm
OpenSkies
125 EUR / $196
6kg
45x30x24cm
SAS
95 EUR / $115
8kg
40x25x23cm
Swiss Airlines
103-126 CHF / 90-110 EUR / $103-126
8kg
55x23x40cm
TAP Portugal
150 EUR
8kg
40x33x17cm
Turkish Airlines
$160-205
8kg
55x40x23cm
Ukraine International
100-240 EUR
8kg
55x40x20cm
United
$125
Varies
Varies
Aeroflot, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Edelweiss, Finnair, LOT and Lufthansa have the lowest fees for a pet in cabin at around 70-75 euros (about $86-92) or $90-100. Delta has one of the highest pet in cabin fees at 200 euros (about $246) or $200.
Pet in cabin fees are typically assessed at check-in, although some airlines require advanced purchase. Either way, make sure to use a card that provides bonus spending for airline travel. Top choices are the The Platinum Card® from American Express (5x on airfare), Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2x on travel).
Most airlines require that the carrier with the pet inside weighs no more than 8kg (about 17.6lbs). Alitalia is the only airline to allow slightly heavier pets in cabin on flights between the US and Europe with a maximum weight of 10kg (about 22lbs). Condor and OpenSkies limit the weight to 6kg (about 13.2lbs).
The maximum allowable carrier dimensions vary greatly across airlines. Aeroflot and Finnair allow the largest soft-sided carriers while Alitalia, SAS and TAP Portugal have the smallest allowable dimensions. Make sure that your carrier fits within the allowable dimensions for each airline you choose.
Airlines that Don't Accept Pets in Cabin
Lest you think that your favorite airline was forgotten, here's a list of airlines that don't accept pets in cabin on flights between the US and Europe: Air India, Air Lingus, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, British Airways, Emirates, Eurowings, Icelandair, La Compagnie, LEVEL, Norwegian, Primera Air, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and WOW.
If some of these airlines seem out of place in this guide, it's because they operate at least one fifth-freedom route between the US and Europe. Note that due to importation regulations, no airlines accept pets in cabin on flights to the UK and Ireland.
TUI Fly — which flies directly between Miami (MIA) and Brussels (BRU) — deserves a special mention. Although the booking process offers an option to book an in-cabin pet on the MIA-BRU route for just 30 euros (about $37), I was unable to find any dates that showed availability for a pet in cabin.
Bottom Line
Some airlines don't accept pets in cabin on flights between the US and Europe and others have restrictions on animal types and breeds, but there are still plenty of options for traveling to or from Europe with small pets.
Before leaving the US with your pet, be sure to get your pet's paperwork together. Depending on what paperwork you already have, your pet's current vaccinations and where you're traveling and transiting, you may need to start this process months ahead of your trip. Double check the regulations and entry requirements for pets for each country you'll be visiting or transiting — as well as the requirements for bringing your pet back home.
Remember that airlines may have special requirements regarding paperwork, health certificates and arrival time at the airport. Most, if not all, airlines require passengers to reserve their pet's space on board ahead of time and have limits on how many pets can be carried on board. And you'll almost certainly not be allowed to sit in bulkhead or exit row seats. Before booking your ticket, be sure to read the airline's website and call if you have any questions.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
