British Airways
These are the general requirements for British Airways, but please refer to the pets section of their website when you are planning your trip for the latest information. They can change at any time.
It is possible to travel with your cat or dog on our OpenSkies flights in the Prem Plus and Eco cabin if they weigh less than 6kg/13.2lb. If they weigh more than 6kg/13.2lb they will need to travel in the cargo hold.
Pets travelling in the cabin:
- Your cat or dog must be under 6kg/13.2lbs (including the travel kennel).
- Your pet carrier must be well ventilated and large enough for your cat and dog to be able to get up and turn around.
- If your pet carrier exceeds maximum sizes: length 45 cm x width 30 cm x height 24 cm, it will need to go in the aircraft hold.
- Your pet is not allowed to leave the transport kennel during the entire flight.
- You can only take one (1) pet with you in the cabin. We can only accept up to six (6) pets in the cabin per flight.
- You need to provide medical and travel certificates for your pet.
- We will charge you $196 or 125€ for each pet travelling in the cabin (PETC).
Pets travelling in the cargo hold
- If your cat or dog weighs more than 6kg/13.2lbs they must travel in the cargo hold.
- Your pet carrier must be airworthy, well ventilated and large enough for your cat or dog to be able to get up and turn around.
- Your pet is not allowed to leave the transport kennel during the entire flight.
- You can only book one (1) pet to travel in the cargo hold. We can only accept up to 3 pets in the cargo hold per flight. You need to provide medical and travel certificates for your pet.
- We will charge $196 or 125€ for each pet travelling in the cargo hold (AVIH).
Guide or Assistance Dogs
A Guide or Assistance dog trained to provide mobility assistance if you are visually impaired, hearing impaired or disabled is permitted to travel in all cabin but conditions apply. Guide or Assistance dogs may travel in the cabin free of charge. They must be registered and have the correct travel documentation approved and accredited by a recognized organization.
Emotional Support Animals
You need to produce valid documentation which is dated within one year of your scheduled flight.
You will need to provide a letter on headed paper from a licensed mental health professional or a medical doctor specifying your mental or emotional disability. The letter must state the following:
- You have a mental health related disability, recognized in the diagnostic and statistical manual of Mental Disorders – Fourth Edition (DSMIV).
- You need emotional support or psychiatric service from an accompanying animal during air travel and/or for activity at your destination.
- That the individual providing the assessment is a licensed mental health professional and you are registered under his or her professional care.
- The date and type of the mental health professionals license and the state or other jurisdiction in which it was issued.
- If you are travelling with an Emotional Support Animal, you should plan to check in for your flight at the airport one hour before the advertised check-in time, so that your documentation can be verified.
All of the criteria above must be met before we can accept your emotional support or psychiatric service animal for travel, free of charge, in the cabin. If you do not meet the criteria, the animal will travel as a pet in the cabin or cargo hold at the applicable rates.
KLM
These are the current requirements for KLM, but they often change so be sure to stay updated on the latest here. They offer a service called Variation Live to handle all of the transportation needs of your pets on their flights. Their well-trained staff members take care of all the animals, ensuring optimal safety, comfort and hygiene. Your pet will be transported in a climate-controlled, pressurized cabin, and they’re kept comfortable on the ground too.
Animals travelling via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Variation Live guarantees that all live animals are transported in optimal conditions of safety, comfort and hygiene. All animals travelling through Schiphol stay at the KLM Cargo Animal Hotel during transit and on arrival.
Animals travelling via Paris-Charles de Gaulle
The animal terminal is especially equipped to take care of all live animals during transit and on arrival and attendants and/or grooms are permitted on board.
Live Pets
Dogs and cats deserve the same level of comfort and attention as a passenger. KLM transport your companions in climate-controlled, pressurized compartments, ensuring the health and well-being of your pet. In transit, cats and dogs are temporarily housed in larger kennels and given food and water. In short, your pet receives royal treatment at our Animal Hotel. With IATA standard sky kennels available in various sizes worldwide, kennels cleaned in transit and a unique dog-walking service while cats get their own litter box.
KLM do not accept pets directly from private individuals; only from specialized freight agents.