Turkish Airlines Pet Policy
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 manifest cargo? Yes
Turkish Airlines continues to offer in-cabin and cargo services for live animals; however, no live animals may be imported to Turkey at this time due to the COVID pandemic.
In-Cabin Pet Policy
If your small dog or cat and birds (goldfinches, budgies and canaries) meets Turkish Airlines 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
Small cats and dogs and household birds (goldfinches, budgies and canaries).
Age Requirements
Pets must be at least 10 weeks old to travel in the cabin.
Documentation
All documentation for the destination country must be presented at check-in.
Cats and dogs are not permitted on the same flight. Cats and birds will not be permitted on the same flight. Policy is first come – first served.
Carrier Requirements
One carrier is permitted per passenger in the cabin. Maximum number of pets flying in the cabin is determined by the type of aircraft serving your route.
Maximum weight of your pet or combined weight of 2 pets of the same species traveling in the same carrier is 8kg.
Carriers must be secure, allow for your pet to stand up and turn around and must have a waterproof bottom. It must fit comfortably under the seat in front of you.
Maximum carrier size (softsided): 16″W x 22″L x 9″H. (30 cm W x 40 cm L x 23 cm H) Flexible carriers are suitable as long as they will compress down to 9″ and hard carriers are allso permitted as long as they meet the maximum measurements.
Reservations
You should contact Turkish Airlines before booking your ticket to make sure that your dog or cat will be permitted on your flight. Advance notification must be given.
Route Restrictions:
Pets cannot be flown in the cabin to destinations requiring pets to arrive as air cargo. (United Kingdom, UAE, Hong Kong, etc.)
Service and Emotional Support Animals
Service dogs are permitted to fly in the cabin at no charge. Turkish Airlines no longer accepts emotional support animals on their flights.
Service dogs must provide a training certificate, certificate of vaccination, identification card and all documents required by the destination country.
All service dogs must be harnessed and fly at passenger’s feet. Appropriate behavior is expected. Vests and/or harnesses are required. Passengers must also provide muzzles.
On flights longer than 8 hours, documentation must be provided that your service dog will not need to relieve itself or, if nees be, your dog can relieve itself in a way that does not create a health or sanitation issue during flight. (pad trained) Pet owners will be responsible for all damage done to the aircraft by their pet.
On flights to or from the United States, service dogs will be subject to US Department of Transportation regulations and their forms will be required to be submitted at least 48 hours in advance. On other flights, a licensed veterinarian must attest that the dog will not need to relieve itself during the flight or has the ability to relieve itself without posing any health risk to other passengers or crew. Pictures should be provided.
All documentation required for the destination country must be provided at check-in.
Checked Baggage Pet Policy
If your pet is too large to fit under the seat or if it is a very long flight, Turkish Airlines may transport your pet in the cargo section of the aircraft as checked baggage according to its regulations. This section of the cargo department has the same temperature and pressure as the passenger cabin.
TIP: Be sure to tell the Captain of the aircraft that your pet is flying in the cargo hold so that they can be sure to keep the temperature at the proper level.
Pets Allowed:
Cats, dogs and small household birds.
Age
All pets being flown as checked baggage must be at least 10 weeks of age.
Route Restrictions:
Pets cannot be flown as checked baggage to destinations requiring pets to arrive as air cargo. (United Kingdom, UAE, Hong Kong, etc.)
Check-In:
When flying as checked baggage, you will check in your pet at the passenger ticket counter in an IATA compliant pet crate at which time you will pay the fee for transport.
Breed Restrictions
See Breed Restrictions below.
Temperature Restrictions
If, at any point, (origination/transit/destination) during your pet’s transport, the temperature for the day is forecast to be less than 10 degrees F (-12°C) or greater than 85°F (29°C), your pet may be refused transport as checked baggage. In periods of cold, try to fly at mid-day. In periods of heat, try to fly at night.
Forms Required
Turkish Airlines will require all forms required for destination country be presented at check-in when traveling internationally.
Crate Requirements
A maximum of 3 puppies or kittens born of the same mother can be transported in one crate. Animals must be of the same species each weighing maximum 14 kg, similarly sized and familiar with each other. If animals each weigh more than 14 kg, they must travel in one crate.
A maximum of 2 adult animals of the same species each weighing no more than 14 kg, similarly sized and familiar with each other can be transported in a single crate. If animals weigh more than 14 kg each, they will be must fly in their own crate.
The crate must meet all IATA standards. Click here for IATA pet crate requirements.
Metal hardware should be used to fasten the top and bottom halves of your pet’ crate together. Click here for crate requirements.
Need an IATA compliant pet crate? Have a crate already? Need accessories for your crate?
Manifest Cargo Pet Policies
Larger pets and those who are traveling unaccompanied may be transported by Turkish Airlines as air cargo. This part of the cargo hold is pressure and temperature controlled like the cabin. An agent will be required to book the transport.
Pets Allowed
Cats, dogs and household birds
Age
Pets must be at least 10 weeks old and weaned. If traveling to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cypress, the minimum age is 3 months.
Forms Required
A health certificate issued within 10 days of travel, proof of rabies vaccination and all forms required for your destination country. Turkish Airlines will require all forms required for destination country be presented at check-in when traveling internationally.
Check-In
Locations will vary by airport depending on the location of the Turkish Airlines cargo office at the departing airport.
Breed Restrictions
See banned breeds below
Temperature Restrictions:
Owners should avoid routes where the groundtemperature for the day is forecast to be less than 10 degrees F (-12°C) or greater than 85°F (29°C).
Form Requirements:
Turkish Airlines Cargo will require an health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival. Also required is documentation required by the country your pet is traveling to (international travel only).
Crate Requirements:
See checked baggage category 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
Turkish Airlines has services to 308 destinations around the world, including North and South America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. It’s hub airport is located in Istanbul.
Turkish Airlines is also approved to fly into London Heathrow and Edinburgh which are approved Border Inspection Posts for the United Kingdom.
Puppies and Kittens
Turkish Airlines will transport puppies and kittens over 10 weeks of age.
- Traveling with a puppy
Banned Breeds
Snub-nosed pets are encouraged to fly in the cabin as long as their size meets the requirements for in-cabin travel. All snub-nosed breeds flying in the hold should fly in crates larger than normally required.
The following breeds will not be transported on Turkish Airlines: American Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Pitbull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro.
American Bulldog, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bandog Tosa Inu, Caucasian Ovcharka, Douge De Bordeux, Doberman (Pincher Doberman and all Doberman breeds), Presa Canario, Rottweiler; Mastiff (excluding Bull Mastiff), Wolf Dog Hybrid breeds are only accepted to flights provided that they are transported in the aircraft hold as air cargo.
African gray parrots will not be accepted on Turkish Airlines flights.
