Many dog-owners refuse to travel to far places by air because they fear their dog would feel uneasy flying (and many don’t even know that flying with a dog is a possibility!).

In this article, we would like to give you some peace of mind and reassure you that traveling with a dog can be a smooth ride — if you understand how airlines actually handle pets behind the scenes! 🙂

It’s true, airlines’ policies change often, requirements differ between countries, and the ever-expanding selection of trustworthy pet-friendly dog hotels to leave our pawed-friends (check out DogHotelNearMe if you don’t believe me!) all make flying with a dog an anot-so-appetizing option: That said, with the right information, there is no reason to be afraid!

Owning a dog should not be a limiter to your wanderlust!! 😉

Here are the 7 essential things you must know before flying with your dog in 2025.

Let’s dive right in! 😀

7 Things to Know

if you want to fly with your dog!

1. Every airline sets its own weight limits,

cabin rules, and fees

Most people assume there is a global standard for flying with dogs which regulates how they should be transported, modality, prices…but plot twist, that standard does not exist!

Damn!

Every airline decides its own limits, its own cabin rules, and even its own definition of “small dog” (which we will learn soon, it is quite important to understand how your furry friend will be able to travel with you!).

For now, just remember: what is acceptable on Airline A might be impossible on Airline B.

That’s why you will always find differences in:

• Weight limits for cabin animals

• Carrier dimensions

• Fees, which can vary from €40 to €200+ (notice, per segment!).

Always check the airline’s Pet Travel Policy page before booking.

 2. “Cabin vs Hold” is not your choice—it’s determined by total weight and dimensions!

A lot of travelers think they can decide whether to keep their dog with them or send them to the hold — but it does not work like that…airlines decide for you!

It all comes down to numbers: total weight and size.

If your dog + carrier exceeds the limit, the cabin simply isn’t an option.

Here’s how the vast majority of airlines typically classify it:

• Cabin: 7–10 kg (dog + carrier)

• Hold: larger dogs using a certified kennel

If you give it a thought, it has a lot of sense: Can you picture an 80-kg St. Bernard or Newfoundland under the seat in front of you? Eheh exactly!

The cabin is mostly reserved for “toy-size” and “small-size” dogs, while medium-big always need to fly in the hold. That said, don’t be afraid when you hear the word “hold” (like most people do!).

The pet hold on airplanes is not the same as the luggage hold: it is pressurized, temperature-controlled, and ventilated 🙂

3. The carrier must be IATA-compliant

(and airlines do check!)

One big mistake that many dog owners still make is showing up with the wrong transport crate, convinced that “it should be fine”.

Unfortunately, airlines can (and often do!) reject carriers that don’t meet international standards.

And when a carrier is non-compliant, the dog does not fly — there is no negotiation.

The international standards have been put in place to ensure a safe flight for your dog without causing trouble to other passengers.

To give you an idea, according to IATA regulations, most airlines want a carrier that:

• It is big enough so the dog can:

  • Stand up without touching the top (important for its comfort!)

  • turn around,

  • lie down in a natural position (you should not “stuff” your dog into a small carrier xD)

• It is escape-proof (secure door, no broken latches).

• It is ventilated on multiple sides, usually at least 2 sides for the cabin, 3–4 for the hold.

• Has a waterproof bottom with an absorbent layer inside (pad, towel, etc.)… dogs after all cannot go to toilets on planes!

• Has no interior sharp edges that might hurt the animal.

• Guarantees the animal stays fully inside and cannot get its nose/paws out (always for its safety!)

To make it brief for you:

Cabin carrier

• Soft-sided / ventilated / leak-proof

• Must fit under the seat in front of you

Hold carrier (IATA-compliant):

• Hard-shell with secure metal door

• Food/water bowls attached inside

• Absorbent material on the bottom

4. You need specific documents (and some countries have extra requirements)

Paperwork is the part most travelers underestimate (but it is vital if you want to travel with your dog!).

Dog documents are treated like human documents: if anything is missing, outdated, or incomplete, boarding is denied — instantly.

Yes, you might be able to talk it out somehow on minor domestic flights (if errors are minor!), but for sure it will be impossible on international or intercontinental ones!

To give you an idea, even short flights inside Europe (where, due to the Schengen agreement, dogs can freely move by land!) have strict rules.

For EU flights, you need:

• EU Pet Passport

• Microchip (ISO standard)

• Valid rabies vaccination

Some destinations require even some extras, such as:

• Tapeworm treatment (Ireland, Finland, Malta)

• Health certificate issued within 10 days (for non-EU routes)

Here you can find the complete EU rules for flying with dogs 🙂

5. Not all routes accept pets

— even within the same airline!

6. You must notify the airline early—spots are extremely limited

Even if your dog meets all requirements, the carrier is IATA compliant, and the route you selected is pet-friendly, there’s still the issue of availability!

Airlines, in fact, limit the number of pets per flight for safety and logistics, and those spots are booked very fast — sometimes months ahead!

Most airlines allow only:

• 2–3 pets in the cabin (having 100 dogs in the cabin would create a brutal mess for everyone, imagine4-hoururs barking concert! 😉

• A limited number in the hold per flight, depending on the flight, between 10 and 25.

If you don’t notify them early, you risk losing your seat or changing flights, so always THINK IN ADVANCE (I know we said it already 8 times, but that’s all about it!!! eheh).

7. Passing the security check,

has a procedure of its own!

Security is the moment travelers always forget to plan for.

The process is not complicated, but it is specific — and if you’ve never done it before, it can catch you off guard.

On the other hand, knowing what happens here makes the entire journey smoother and stress-free.

What should you keep in mind?

For cabin travel:

Simply go through the security check like all other passengers.

• You remove the dog from the carrier

• Walk through the metal detector

• The carrier goes through the X-ray (don’t put your dog in the X-Ray machine!!!)

For hold travel:

Like with luggage, you need to check in your dog at the counter BEFORE the security check.

• The kennel receives labels and tracking tags

• Staff perform a safety inspection

• You may need to check in at a dedicated counter

Conclusions 🙂

Flying with your dog isn’t difficult — it’s procedural.

Many people choose to leave their pets at home with dog-sitters or at convenient dog hotels, because they are afraid that they simply “CANNOT” travel with dogs by air.

While leaving our friends in caring facilities for few days it surely is a great option to free up your travel potential, if you really want to bring them with you, now you now that there is an option! 🙂

Once you understand the weight limits, documents, equipment requirements, and route restrictions, everything becomes somewhat more predictable 🙂

And the more prepared you are, the more peaceful you and your dog will be!

Before going, as always, I want to ask you:

• Have you ever flown with your dog before?
• How was your experience?
• Do you have other tips you would like to leave for the other readers?

Let us know in the comments below! 😀

Hereafter, I will leave you a few articles that you might also be interested in checking out:

•  Italy in 10 Days – The Super-Fast Itinerary + Free Download

• Destinations of the World: Discover More Cool Destinations!

• Travel Italy: All You Need to Discover the Bel Paese!

Thank you for reading, and see you in the next article!