Almost every airline which are subject to the IATA regulations are transporting animals. However the following has to / should be checked in advance: breed, loading possibilities, country requirements as well as airline requirements. The airlines differentiate between the following categories: either if your animal flies alone as so-called “manifested cargo” in the heated / climate controlled cargo compartments or on the passenger’s side as excess baggage.
International Air Transport Association. The worldwide aviation association which regulates and determines everything around flying.
In planes there are heated “rooms”. Those are called “Cargo Compartment” / “Cargo hold”. The animals in their transport boxes are safely loaded and securely leashed down. If you have several animals we can talk to the airline that the transport boxes are placed next to each other so that your animals have the possibility to see each other.
Oversized dogs, short headed / flat-nosed (brachycephaly) so-called “snub-nosed dog” breeds (such as Pug, French bulldog, Shar-Pei and others) and so-called “listed / fighting dog” breeds are not allowed to travel on passengers side. Exotic animals and rodents are also not allowed on the passenger’s side as excess baggage or pet in cabin.
Some airlines have an embargo on breeds such as snub-nosed breeds and they do not transport them as excess baggage or pet in cabin. Most snub nosed dogs are only transported on cargo side.
On the passenger’s side animals fly as so-called “excess baggage” or “bulky luggage”. The compartment in the plane is heated and has adequate air circulation.
Depending on the country and airline requirements the carriage of excess baggage can be done. Many airlines do not transport snub-nosed cats as excess baggage or pet in cabin. Those have to fly as “manifested cargo”.
Depending on the country and airline requirements the carriage of excess baggage can be done. Many airlines do not transport snub-nosed dogs as excess baggage or pet in cabin. Those have to fly as “manifested cargo”.
If you transport as excess baggage an excess baggage tag will be issued for your pet in addition to your personal ticket. In fact, transport on cargo side is safer, because the IATA and the authorities regulate the animal transport. A seamless transport chain is guaranteed and documented by the Air Way Bill.
On the passenger’s side animals fly as so-called bulkbaggage or “excess baggage”. The compartment in the plane is heated and has adequate air circulation.
The cargo hold on the aircraft is heated to 21°C because there is a special compartment. There is also an adequate air supply / air circulation.
The total weight (animal and cage) must not exceed 8,0 kilos.
With Lufthansa, the size of the required transport box for the cabin must not be larger than 55 x 40 x 23cm
No, an accompanying person must always fly with your dog. Here, however, the country and airline requirements have to be followed.
The dimensions of a "soft bag" must not be larger than 55 x 40 x 23cm. However, it also applies that your pet must be able to stand upright in the "bag" without any problem.
Rodents are not allowed in the cabin. Exotic animals are not allowed in the cabin. A limited number of small dogs and cats (up to 6 Kg) may be allowed.
Always discuss this with the airline you want to fly with. There are the only ones who can agree this with you.
Which breed do you have?
When travelling with short-nosed breeds of cats and dogs you should pay careful attention to the temperature. If the temperature should rise beyond 27 C at the receiving airport, it is likely that a flight ban will be pronounced.
The endangered breeds include:Pug, Boxer, Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Japanese Chin, English Toy Spaniel, Chow Chow, Shi Tzu, Pekinese and Persian Cat.
Animals need our help and protection, because if conditions are too hot for them they will be unable to breathe properly because of their anatomy and may suffocate.
Some airlines may offer to do this. Your pet must then be checked in as excess baggage in the luggage area. We would like to point out that there is no secure supply chain if you do this, so in the case of any emergency you will have to seek help from the "Baggage Lost and Found Service" call centre of the respective airline.
Likewise, no airline will check the accuracy of your documents in advance, and neither will they check the entry requirements for your planned destination in advance. You are solely responsible for your own pet.
Yes, it is considered important that trained zookeepers are involved in the process.
Yes, it can sometimes be too hot or too cold. Then, for the sake of the animals, an embargo is pronounced and your animal will be unable to fly. Before departure, we check whether an embargo has been issued or whether a pick-up at the aircraft can be guaranteed by employing special handling methods.
Yes, depending on the breed, we have to evaluate which animals will be allowed to fly, and which ones will not.
We always act in the interests of animal welfare. If the temperature at your destination airport will be more than 27C, we recommend that you should not transport your animal.
Yes, it will be let out of the animal transport box before departure, and will receive some water. Shortly before departure, your animal will be put back in the transport container and taken directly aboard the aeroplane.
Most animal lounges at airports are staffed by trained animal keepers who are responsible for the welfare of animals. An animal lounge looks rather like a quarantine facility, which means high standards of hygiene are expected and must be complied with. Most establishments are monitored by state authorities.
Yes, because it is a requirement to provide immediate care for an animal upon landing.
Yes, the transport box will be cleaned if your animal should happen to soil it before departure. The aim is to make the animal as comfortable as possible during his long journey
Yes, because animal lounges at international airports must protect the respective country from the risks of disease and epidemics. A state-run monitoring system ensures compliance with all necessary quarantine regulations.
In most instances, this supervision is exclusively carried out by state-appointed vets.
Animals are housed in a separate air-conditioned cargo hold. This area is properly heated and ventilated. There is no difference between the aeroplane’s freight and excess baggage areas.
No, because there is no way to access the cargo hold.
This will vary according to the type of aircraft used. The cargo space is located underneath the passenger deck. All cargo spaces are heated and ventilated in the same way as the passenger compartment.
Yes, the special cargo space for animals is climate-controlled. The flight declaration informs the captain that he has an animal aboard, and he will then set the environment to suit the species involved.
Yes, dim lighting is used in this area of the cargo hold.
Excess baggage:
Here your animal is booked in like a suitcase and treated like one for administrative purposes. You must also observe the entry requirements for the respective country, because that remains your responsibility. In you are unsure about what is required, then you should ask the respective airline where you have booked in your pet. On the day of departure, you deliver your pet to the check in/ bulky baggage counter and it will then be placed in the respective suitcase hall in the right position for the runway. This is not an air-conditioned animal lounge but an open, noisy area where all suitcases are stored for departure before everything is brought out to the plane. The same procedure then happens at the receiving end. There is no initial care in an animal lounge. A tip from us, please remember to take enough water with you at the pickup – you will need at least one litre of water, which should not be chilled. After you have cared for your pet please go through the red customs declaration area, because your animal must be examined by a vet and the customs officials.
Conclusion: This option is very reasonably priced, but if anything should happen you are then on your own and will have to deal with lost and found baggage.
Freight:
Also used to transport diamonds which can never be lost, this secure supply chain procedure is also used in animal shipping. Here, your pet is booked in at the respective airline and handled professionally by an experienced accredited animal carrier. This freight carrier also handles the export customs declaration. In most cases, the correct type of transport box will have been selected before booking and will then be available for the flight. The animal carrier collects your pet on the day of departure and brings it to the animal lounge where it is free to leave the box again. Then your pet goes on to board the aircraft in a KTT special vehicle and is loaded last. From here, the airline takes over, the captain will set the correct heating and ventilation, and the journey is under way. Incidentally, the animal is stowed in the same location as the aircraft’s excess baggage. After the long journey and the landing, the animal is brought to the animal lounge where it will be cared for. After the vet and customs officials have confirmed import clearance, the animal can then be collected. Again, you are recommended to bring at least one litre of water.
Conclusion: This is an expensive but justified option, because using well-trained operatives and a secure supply chain means you will always know where your pet is.
No, we cannot do that. You will also have to ask the airline for the country code which applies.
You should check this via the airline you want to fly with. For oversized animals, e.g. housed in this animal transport box 122 x 81 x 88cm, the airline may only be able to offer carriage in the cargo hold.
This has something to do with the handling of the box and loading it on to the plane. Large boxes often need to be lashed to an aircraft pallet. This takes place in an animal lounge and cannot be undertaken elsewhere.
Yes, there are countries which only allow entry with an "Import Permit". This permit will also stipulate the import regulations and indicate the vaccinations which your pet needs for entry.
Australia, for instance, has no rabies cases. Thus, animals can only enter as manifest cargo, because all imports are very strictly monitored.
South Africa, as well as the Emirates and some other countries, also follow this example.
You must ask the respective airline where you have registered your pet.
You hand over your pet at the check in counter. From there, he will be brought into the luggage hall where he will wait along with the suitcases prior to loading. This area is not an animal lounge, it is a cargo hall where suitcases arrive on a conveyor belt to be collected.
If you register the animal with the customs authorities as an export, then no.
To the excess baggage counter.
Yes, you will have to visit the vets and customs officials, otherwise your pet will be illegally residing in that particular country.
