Steps to Flying with a Pet in the Cabin in Europe

If you have a small pet, either a dog or cat, one of the easiest ways to get around Europe with them is by flying, together with them in the cabin, in a carrier bag underneath the seat in front of you. While this may seem daunting if you’ve never flown with your pet before, the process is actually quite simple.

I’ve flown multiple times with my dog in the cabin on various airlines throughout Europe. So if you’re planning on flying with your pet soon, here’s my guide to flying with a pet in the cabin in Europe, taking you through all the steps.

#1 Review Where Pets are Allowed in the Cabin

Before flying with a pet in the cabin in Europe, be warned that there are some places where pets are not allowed to fly in the cabin. This applies on flights to and within one main country: the United Kingdom.

Restrictions on Pets in the Cabin in the UK

On flights within and to the UK, the only animals that are allowed in the cabin are service dogs, generally “recognised guide and assistance dogs”. (Check the individual airlines for further specifics.) Regular “pets” are not allowed.

This also usually extends to pets not being allowed to travel as check-in baggage. Instead, pets flying within the UK usually need to travel as cargo. Only some airlines offer this option, that generally needs to be booked through an animal transport company or the airline’s cargo division.

However, this restriction doesn’t extend to flights leaving the UK. Some airlines allow pets to fly in the cabin or as checked baggage on flights leaving the UK, although always double check the latest rules before booking.

Restrictions on Pets in the Cabin in Ireland

Many airlines also have restrictions on flying pets to and from Ireland, but this is up to the individual airline, it’s not a government regulation. There are multiple airlines that fly pets to and from Ireland now. However, this doesn’t extend to Aer Lingus or Ryanair.

#2 Find Pet-Friendly Airlines in Europe

The first proper step is flying with your pet in Europe is to find a pet-friendly airline that flies your route. Thankfully many European airlines allow pets to fly on board, including small pets in the cabin. However, there are some airlines that don’t allow pets, plus the rules differ from airline to airline.

Not surprisingly, many (but not all) of the budget airlines don’t allow pets. This includes the popular budget airlines Ryanair, Easyjet and Wizzair.

To help you out, I’ve put together this list with the pet policy of all European airlines, listing whether they allow pets in the cabin.

Pet Policy Details to Check

Just as important as finding an airline that allows pets in the cabin, is to also check the rest of their pet policy. This should include details on:

1. Maximum weight of pet (most commonly 8kg, including carrier bag – see my listing of airlines with different weight limits for dogs)
2. Maximum dimensions of carrier bag
3. Excluded breeds (including dangerous breeds or snub-nosed breeds)
4. Any other restrictions (e.g. pets may not be permitted on flights to certain countries)
5. Applicable charges (generally around €70-100 on international flights within Europe, with many fees increasing in recent years)

When flying with my dog, usually I first research the route and date that I’m flying, using a website such as Google Flights or Skyscanner. I identify possible airlines, taking note of the time of flights and prices, then check the pet policy for each individual airline, if I’m not already familiar with it.

Need to buy a carrier bag to fly with your dog in the cabin? Check out my guide to buying the best carrier bag

#3 Book Your Pet on the Flight

Now that you’ve selected the flight, it’s time to make a booking. The easiest way to book your pet on a flight is when you can do it as part of your own booking. An increasing number of airlines allow you to add your pet when you are booking online, just like adding a piece of luggage.

In this case you can expect your pet is allowed on the flight (as sometimes airlines only allow pets on specific flights, plus often there’s a limit of around 2-3 pets in the cabin per flight) and you pay for your own flight and your pet’s airline ticket in one payment.

Booking Pets Over the Phone

However, for many airlines you need to both check your pet is okay to travel on the flight and make their booking separately, over the phone. Usually my process has been:

1. Investigate and select my preferred flight online
2. Call up the airline’s call centre and check there’s availability for booking your pet on the flight
3. Complete my booking on the airline’s website
4. Call up the airline’s call centre again, provide them with my booking number and add my pet to the booking
5. Pay for my pet’s airline ticket, either over the phone or more often by clicking on the email I receive

This process can be shortened if you virtually complete booking your own flights in step #1, except for clicking on the final “Pay” button, and if the call centre staff member is happy to wait a moment for you to click and finalise the booking while on the phone. (Although some airline websites are a bit too slow for this, or your booking times out if you end up on hold.)

Additionally, when booking over the phone, it’s common for the call centre staff member to enquire after the weight of your pet and carrier, plus the dimensions of the carrier, to ensure it meets their guidelines. Make sure you have this information handy.

Should You Book at the Airport?

Some airlines allow you to book pets at the airport, but considering they may not have room on board and often this is more expensive, I’ve always booked in advance on the phone.

The other advantage of booking for your pet in advance is you know for certain the airline allows pets to fly in the cabin. One time I started booking my flight for an airline, then realised part way through the booking my pet wouldn’t be allowed on the flight, as I had misread the airline’s pet policy.

#4 Arriving at the Airport with a Pet

If you’re flying with a pet, it’s a good idea that you arrive in plenty of time at the airport. For starters, many airlines don’t allow bookings including a pet to be checked-in online. Even if you don’t have any other baggage, you are still required to line up at the check-in counter and check-in.

The one case when I was flying with my dog and I checked in online, the airline didn’t issue my boarding pass (only my husband’s boarding pass), so I had to still go to the check-in counter. So it’s a must to allow time for this.

At the Check-In Counter

At the check-in counter, your pet will often be virtually ignored. About half the time my pet has been weighed. Discussing this with other people online, other people have also sometimes (but not always) had their pet weighed. This is why it’s important that your pet and its carrier doesn’t exceed the maximum weight stipulated by the airline (although maybe a slight allowance is made for pets only 100g or 200g over the maximum!)

Additionally, one time the staff asked whether my pet was comfortable in the carrier. However, I’ve never had airline staff check the dimensions of the carrier, although this may be a possibility if your carrier looks too big.

In January 2023, IATA (the International Air Transport Association), introduced a new In-Cabin Live Animal Acceptance Checklist, that may be reviewed and completed by the airline agent at the check-in counter. I recommend reviewing this and ensuring everything can be checked off ahead of time, although it still doesn’t seem to be commonly used.

Pet Passports and Health Certificates

At the check-in counter, be prepared to show your pet’s EU Pet Passport. Alternatively, if you don’t have an EU Pet Passport for your pet, show the health certificate you used to enter the EU. (Remember, it’s valid for up to 4 months, as long as the rabies vaccination doesn’t expire and ideally if it was stamped on arrival, although staff may not be as familiar with this paperwork and rules.)

I believe I’ve only once had to show my pet’s EU Pet Passport, perhaps when we were travelling to the Canary Islands.

Some airlines require certain forms to be completed or a recent health certificate from a vet, but I’ve only experienced this with one airline that I’ve flown in Europe.

#5 Heading Through Security and Passport Control

Another reason for arriving at the airport in plenty of time is to allow enough time to pass through security with your dog. When you’re also juggling removing liquids and laptops from your bag, having a dog as well means that it’s good to not be in a rush.

Pet Relief Areas at European Airports

It’s also ideal to firstly head outside to allow your dog to relieve themselves before going through security, as not many airports in Europe have pet relief areas inside. (To find out which airports do, check out my guide to pet relief areas at European airports.)

Taking Pets Through Security

When passing through security with your dog, take your dog out of its carrier bag and carry your dog through the metal detector. (Put the carrier bag on the conveyer belt to go through the x-ray machine.) In one case, the staff also requested that my dog’s harness and collar was removed, although usually this hasn’t been requested.

Taking Pets Through Passport Control

If you need to pass through passport control before your flight, there’s no need to show your dog’s passport. The same also applies with passport control if applicable after your flight.

If there’s regulations for the entry of dogs to your destination country (if you’re not simply travelling within the EU and related countries), the relevant check-points are the check-in counter at your departure airport then customs at the destination airport.

Are Pets Allowed to Walk Around?

While at the airport, I’ve generally always kept my dog in his carrier bag, except perhaps while he sits on my lap while waiting. That’s mainly because he’s calmer inside the bag in the noisy environment of an airport.

Some airports allow dogs to walk around inside of them. However, some European airports (Riga Airport in Latvia is one example) stipulate dogs need to remain inside their carrier at all times – look for signs or see what other dog owners are doing.

#6 Boarding Your Flight

It’s a good idea to board your flight as early as possible. This is in case the flight is particularly full and the overhead lockers fill up.

Most other people can stow their cabin bag at their feet in this case, but when travelling with a pet, this spot is already occupied by your pet in their carrier bag. So you’ll likely need to stow your cabin bag in an overhead locker elsewhere on the plane, which is annoying. (Double check whether you’re allowed both a pet and a cabin bag with your airline.)

Before you board the plane, and also before you board a bus if needed to take you to the plane, put your pet into their carrier bag. Once you’ve arrived at your seat, I try to move out of the aisle with my dog as quickly as possible, to stop blocking other people.

Most airlines will book someone flying with a pet on the window seat (or someone in the party on the window seat), but this also depends on the aircraft – sometimes the aisle seats have more room underneath seats.

As soon as I’m at my seat, I put my dog’s carrier bag underneath the seat in front of me. Most airlines recommend or only allow soft carrier bags these days, as these have a little more wiggle room to fit underneath low seats.

#7 On Board the Flight with a Pet

On the flight, say goodbye to having much legroom, particularly if you have long legs or you’re flying with a budget carrier. Usually I cross my fingers that my row ends up having an empty seat, so that myself and my husband can spread out and both have a decent amount of legroom, with our dog in front of the free seat.

Keeping Pets in Carrier Bags

While on flights in Europe, it’s generally the rule that you keep your dog’s carrier bag zipped up the entire time, and don’t allow them out, including on to your lap. It’s tempting to unzip the bag a little, but I know my dog can then be very stubborn at pushing his way further out!

Usually most flights within Europe aren’t too long – no more than 3-4 hours. Even our flight to the Canary Islands from Barcelona was only around 3 hours. This means your pet should be okay with staying inside their carrier bag for the whole time, with no rest breaks required.

Handling Onboard Dramas

It’s always good to take them outside the airport terminal before or after checking in, to be certain. If an emergency situation does come up, I would recommend taking them to the onboard toilet.

If your dog is comfortable and familiar with their bag, hopefully they’ll travel on the flight without making a peep. My dog sometimes barks while travelling on trains with us, probably because he knows we’ll let him sit on our lap, but after flying over 10 times in the cabin, he’s only let out a bark a couple of times.

You May Also Like

• Which European Airlines Allow Dogs in the Cabin?
• Flying To and From Ireland with a Dog
• Flying Out of the UK with a Dog
• How to Choose the Best Dog Carrier for Plane Travel
• How Dog-Friendly Are Airports in Europe?

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