Airline Pet Policy – KLM
Can my pet fly with me in the cabin? Yes (Certain Flights)
Can my pet fly with me as checked baggage? Yes (Certain Flights)
Can my pet fly with me as air cargo? Yes
In-Cabin Pet Policy
If your dog or cat meets the requirements listed in KLM pet policy to travel in-cabin, you will need an approved airline pet carrier. The carrier must have a waterproof bottom, have room for your pet to stand up and turn around, must fasten securly and have adequate ventilation.
Pets Allowed
KLM will permit the carriage of small dogs and cats in the Economy section of the cabin on all flights and in the Business Class of the cabin on EU flights.
Age Requirements
The minimum age of dogs and cats traveling on KLM flights depends on the destination country requirements.
Reservations
You must notify KLM that you are traveling with a pet. Reservations cannot be made online.
Carrier Requirements
The total weight of the pet including the carrier must not exceed 13 lbs (6 kg). The carrier should be able to compress to a height of 7.9 inches (20 cm).
Service and Emotional Support Dogs
Well-trained service and emotional support dogs may travel with their handlers in the cabin. KLM is not required to accept assistance animals other than dogs. KLM may choose to accept other animals when your flight involves codesharing flights with USA airlines, but animals such as snakes, reptiles, ferrets, rodents and spiders that pose unavoidable safety and/or public health concerns do not have to be accepted.
If a flight segment is scheduled to take 8 hours or more, KLM may require documentation that your dog will not need to relieve itself or can do so in a way that will not create a health or sanitation issue onboard.
Advance notice of at least 48 hours prior to departure is required for emotional support animals. Forms will need to be submitted to KLM Cares prior to travel. See more information about KLM policies on service and emotional support animals.
Route Restrictions
KLM will not permit pets to fly in the cabin on flights to the UK, Hong Kong, Dubai or Australia.
Reservations
Reservations must be made by phone at least 48 hours in advance of travel.
Checked Baggage Pet Policy
Due to extremely cold temperatures in the United States and Canada currently, KLM will not fly pets in the cargo hold from or to Chicago, Minneapolis-St Paul, Toronto, Edmunton, Calgary or Montreal until January 22, 2018.
If your pet is too large to fit under the seat, it is an animal other than a dog or cat, or if it is a very long flight, KLM may transport your pet in the cargo section of the aircraft according to its regulations. This section of the cargo department has the same temperature and pressure as the passenger cabin.
Pets Allowed:
Dogs or cats are permitted to travel as checked baggage on KLM flights. Any pets laying over at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for over 2 hours will be cared for at KLM’s facility. There will be a charge for this service.
Age
Pets must be at least 10 weeks of age to travel as checked baggage.
Route Restrictions
Between November 1 and March 31, pets cannot be transported in the hold of Hokker aircraft because the hold cannot be heated.
Reservations
Reservations for your pet to fly on KLM must be made at least 48 hours ahead of travel.
Weather Conditions
The summer heat embargo is enforced. The airlines will reevaluate the carriage of pets from or through any city along the route whose temperature exceeds 85°F.
Breed Restrictions
See banned breeds below.
Check-In:
Check-in at reservation desk where you will pay excess baggage charge. Three passengers with a dog or cat are permitted on each flight.
Tranquilizers
KLM strongly discourages the use of tranquilizers.
Crate Requirements
Total weight of pet and carrier cannot exceed 165 lbs. (75 kg). The dimension (l + w + h) of the crate cannot exceed 115 in. (292 cm) on larger planes and 97 in. (247 cm) on other types of aircraft. Three pets are permitted per traveling passenger. Each pet must travel in its own kennel. However, if 2 cats or 2 dogs of the same size each weighing not more than 14 kg (30 lbs), then these 2 pets may travel in 1 kennel. This also applies to 3 animals that are up to 6 months old, each weighing a maximum of 14 kg (30 lbs) and originating from the same litter.
KLM does not allow wooden crates. They must be made of hard plastic with built in metal door and adequate ventilation. There must be a pet pad, blanket or shredded newspaper on the floor of the crate. Door locks are not permitted.
Metal hardware must be used to fasten the top and bottom halves of your pet’s crate together, and cable ties must be provided for the crate doors (these are available in our accessory kits). Click here for crate requirements.
Need an IATA compliant pet crate? Have a crate already? Need accessories for your crate?
Air Cargo Pet Policies
When you cannot fly with your pet or you are flying to a country that requires that your pet arrive as manifest air cargo such as United Kingdom or South Africa. Note that KLM advises you contact a pet transporter when shipping your pet as air cargo. KLM and Air France have a partnership for cargo freight service.
Pets Allowed
Domestic pets and other animals will be transported via Air KLM Air Cargo. Both KLM and Martinair will no longer accept reptiles or amphibians as cargo to/from or via Amsterdam.
Age:
Pets must be at least 10 weeks old and weaned for domestic or international travel.
Forms Required
A health certificate issued within 10 days of travel, proof of rabies vaccination and all forms required for your destination country should be attached to your pet’s crate. Airline employees will assist you in filling out the airway bill associated with your pet’s transport.
NOTE: effective immediately, all pets arriving as air cargo from a non-EU country that will be clearing customs in Amsterdam must get their health certificate pre-approved within 48 hours of arrival. Completed certificates can be emailed to animals.inspection@klmcargo.com. Without the approval of your pet’s health certificate, it will not be accepted for transport or will be subject to quarantine upon arrival. This requirement does not include pets that are transiting through Amsterdam.
Check-In
Locations will vary by airport depending on the location of the KLM Cargo office.
Breed Restrictions
See banned breeds below.
Temperature Restrictions
See checked baggage policies above.
Crate Requirements
See checked baggage policies above. More info on crate requirements.
Have a crate already? Need accessories for your crate?
More Information
AIRLINE PET TRAVEL TIPS
TIPS FOR AIRLINE PET CARGO TRAVEL
PREPARING A PET CARGO CRATE FOR AIR TRAVEL
Airports Served
KLM has destinations in 133 cities in 66 countries worldwide including Europe, Indonesia, the Caribbean, North, Central and South America, Africa, Japan and the Middle East. Its cargo services are provided in cooperation with Air France.
Puppies and Kittens
KLM will transport puppies and kittens over 8 weeks of age (domestic in-cabin flights)10 weeks of age (checked baggage or cargo). For flights between France and French Guiana, your pet must be at least 15 weeks old.
- Traveling with a puppy
Banned Breeds
Snub-nosed animals may only be transported as air cargo. Four breeds of snub nosed dogs will no longer be allowed in the cabin or cargo hold as checked baggage or air cargo on KLM aircraft: English Bulldog, French Bulldog, Boston Terrier, and Dutch Pug. Other snub nosed breeds should travel in a crate that is sized larger than required.
KLM will transport American Staffordshire Terriers or Pit Bulls as checked baggage should they do not display snub-nosed characteristics. If this is the case, then they will carry this breed as air cargo.
Other Animals
Ornamental fish, horses, day-old chickens, zoo animals, cattle, hatching eggs and insects can be transported by KLM Cargo. Both KLM and Martinair will no longer accept reptiles or amphibians as cargo to/from or via Amsterdam.
