Air France Airline Pet Policy
Note: Air France requires that pet owners claim their pets traveling in the cabin and as checked baggage during layovers and recheck their pets on the next leg of their trip at an additional fee on many of their flights. Besides the cost, claiming your pet can be very problematic for pet owners attempting to transit the European Union from high-rabies countries. Be sure and verify that this is not the case on your route prior to booking your ticket.
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 Air France 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. The carrier should not exceHed 46L x 28W x 24 cm or 18 x 11 x 9 in. If your carrier is flexible and will push down, the height can be a little bit higher. The combined weight of your pet and their carrier should not be more than 17 pounds (7.7 kg).
Pets Allowed
Small dogs and cats traveling with adult passengers.
Age Requirements
Dogs and cats must be at least 10 weeks old to travel in the cabin. For flights domestic flights (including Corsica) and flights between metropolitan France and Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Reunion, your pet must be at least 8 weeks old. For flights between metropolitan France and French Guiana, your pet must be at least 15 weeks old.
Reservations
You must notify Air France that you are traveling with a pet. Reservations cannot be made online.
Carrier Requirements
Maximum combined weight – pet + carrier cannot exceed 17 lbs. (8kg) Only one carrier is accepted per adult passenger and only one pet is accepted per carrier.
Service and Emotional Support Dogs
Guide dogs do not have a weight limit when traveling in the cabin Comfort dogs may travel with their owners in the cabin. Advance notice of 48 hours is required for both service and comfort dogs.
All service and comfort dogs must be remained well behaved and leashed at all times. On flights lasting longer than 8 hours, pet owners must be prepared to handle hygienic needs.
Emotional dogs may only fly on flights to or from the United States. More information about airline regulatios for emotional support animals here.
Other Requirements
Air France does not accept pets in the Business cabin on intercontinental flights.
Your pet must have all required vaccinations and forms. Your pet must be microchipped, vaccinated and have an EU pet passport or equivalent to travel within the European Union.
Check-In
You will check in at the passenger counter as animals are not checked in at curbside. A fee will be collected at the time of check in. Your pet airline carrier will count as a excess piece of carry-on luggage.
Checked Baggage Pet Policy
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, Air France 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 weighing more than 17 lbs. (8kg) up to a maximum weight of 165.3 lbs. (75 kg) are permitted to travel as checked baggage on Air France flights.
Age
Pets must be at least 10 weeks of age to travel as checked baggage. A maximum of 3 pets can travel with each passenger as long as the aircraft cargo space allows it.
Layovers
As stated above, be aware that, if you are flying Air France, you must allow 2 hours for layovers to claim and recheck your pet on the next leg of your flight. This can be a problem for travelers who are transiting the EU from a high-rabies country because a specific process is required to enter the EU from a high-rabies country including microchip, rabies vaccination and a titer test a mnimum of 3 calendar months ahead of time.
Check-In
Dogs and cats flying as checked baggage must be checked in 2 hours in advance for domestic flights and 3 hours in advance for international flights.
Breed Restrictions
See banned breeds below.
Temperature Restrictions
If, at any point (origination/transit/destination) during your pet’s route, the temperature is forecast to be less than 10 degrees F (-12°C) or greater than 85°F (29°C), your pet will be refused transport as checked baggage. There are no exceptions to these temperature restrictions.
Forms Required
Your pet will need a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of travel. You will be asked to sign this airline form when flying with a pet as checked baggage on Air France.
Crate Requirements
Crates must be IATA compliant hard plastic crates (wooden crates are not permitted) with adequate ventilation. 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
Due to extremely cold temperatures in the United States and Canada currently, Air France will not fly pets in the cargo hold from or to Chicago, Minneapolis-St Paul, Toronto, Edmunton, Calgary or Montreal until January 22, 2018.
Air France has partnered with KLM and Martinair to provide cargo services to traveling pet owners.
Pets Allowed
Unaccompanied cats and dogs, as well as ornamental fish, horses, day-old chickens, zoo animals, cattle, hatching eggs and insects can be transported by Air France Cargo. Facilities are provided at both Amsterdam and Paris airports for short term kenneling and care.
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.
Check-In
Locations will vary by airport depending on the location of the Air France Cargo office.
Breed Restrictions
See banned breeds below.
Temperature Restrictions
See checked baggage policies above
Form Requirements
Air France Cargo will require an health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival. Also required are proof of vaccinations (dog, cat and ferret) and pet passport documents for the country your pet is traveling to (international travel only).
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
Air France serves locations worldwide in Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, the Caribbean, North, Central and South America.
Air France/KLM Cargo is also approved to fly into Edinburgh which is an approved Border Inspection Post for the United Kingdom.
Puppies and Kittens
Air France 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
Air France will no longer transport these snub-nosed breeds as checked baggge: Affenpinscher, Boxer (all breeds), Brussels Griffon, Cane Corso, English Toy Spaniel, French Mastiff, Japanese Spaniel, Lhassa Apso, Mastiff (all breeds), Pekingese, Presa Canario, Shih Tzu, Shar Pei, or Tibetan Spaniel.
Snub-nosed cats include: Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan and Persian. Breeds listed above can fly as air cargo.
Pug, Bulldog and Boston Terrier breeds are not permitted for transport in the cargo hold.
These breeds can only be transported as air cargo: pedigree Staffordshire Terriers, pedigree American Staffordshire Terriers, pedigree Tosas and dogs that are similar in morphology to the Rottweiler breed (with or without pedigree).
The following mixes of these breeds will not be transported in the cabin, as checked baggage or as air cargo: Staffordshire Terrier or American Staffordshire Terriers (pit bulls), Mastiffs and Tosas.
Other Animals
Ornamental fish, horses, day-old chickens, zoo animals, cattle, hatching eggs and insects can be transported by Air France/KLM Cargo.
