Air France Pet Policy

Air France allows some pets to travel in the cabin, as checked baggage in the hold, or as air cargo. 

To travel with your pet, you must: 

• Book your pet at least 48 hours before departure.
  (online booking is not accepted)
• Ensure that all the required health documents and certificates are in order.

Air France Pet Policy—In-Cabin Pets 

The Air France in-cabin pet policy allows small dogs and cats to travel with adult passengers in the passenger cabin. 

• Pets Allowed. Only dogs and cats are allowed in the passenger cabin. 
• Pet Age
  • At least 8 weeks old on flights within France (incl. Corsica), and between metropolitan France and Guadeloupe, Reunion Island, and Martinique. 
  • At least 15 weeks old on flights between metropolitan France and French Guiana. 
  • At least 10 weeks old on remaining flights.
• Pet Reservations
  • You must inform Air France () that you are travelling with a pet.
  • Pet reservations cannot be made online. 
• Air France Check-in
  • You must check in at the passenger counter.
  • The fee is payable at the time of check-in.
  • Pets cannot be checked in at the curbside or kiosk.
• Pet Cost. Refer to the section titled Pet Ticket Fares.
• Pet Carrier Requirements
  • Maximum combined weight (incl. pet): 17lb/8kg. 
  • Maximum dimensions: 46 x 28 x 24cm (18 x 11 x 9in) 
  • Air France recommends flexible bags.
  • Must be properly ventilated and spacious enough for your pet to stand up and turn around.
  • Must have a waterproof bottom.
  • Must fit under your front seat.
  • Only 1 pet/container is permitted.
  • Only 1 pet/passenger is permitted. 
  • Treated as an additional carry-on baggage item and will incur a fee at check-in.
  • Animal crates are not permitted in the cabin.
• Restrictions and Additional Requirements
  • Dogs and cats will not be accepted in the Business Class cabin on intercontinental flights but will be accepted as checked baggage in the hold.
  • If traveling within the European Union, your pet:
    • Must be vaccinated and microchipped. 
    • Must have an EU pet passport or its equivalent.
  • The following snub-nosed breeds require approval from the vet before travelling:
    • Cats. Exotic Shorthair, Burmese, Persian, and Himalayan.
    • Dogs. Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Boston Terrier, Shar Pei, Shih Tzu, Small Brabant, Lhasa Apso, Mastiffs (all breeds), Brussels Griffon, certain breeds of Spaniel (Tibetan, Japanese, English, King Charles), Pekingese, Pugs (all breeds), Cane Corso, Bull Mastiff, Chow-Chow, Great Dane (all breeds), Neapolitan Mastiff, Affenpinscher, Boxers (all breeds), Bulldogs (all breeds). 
• Assistance Dogs/Service Dogs
  • Can travel for free in the passenger cabin. 
  • There is no weight limit for assistance dogs traveling the passenger cabin. 
  • A minimum notice of 48 hours is required for both types of dogs.
  • Pet owners must handle their pets’ hygienic needs on flights longer than 8 hours. 
  • Emotional support dogs are accepted only on flights from or to the United States.
  • For complete details, refer to the section titled Air France Pet Policy for Assistance Dogs.

Air France Pet Policy—Pets as Checked Baggage 

The Air France pet policy allows larger dogs and cats weighing between 17–165lb to be transported in the aircraft hold, where the temperature and pressure conditions are the same as those in the passenger cabin.

• Pets Allowed. Only dogs and cats will be accepted in the aircraft hold as checked baggage. 
• Pet Age
  • Minimum 8 weeks old if your flight is within France (incl. Corsica), or between metropolitan France and Guadeloupe, Reunion Island, and Martinique. 
  • Minimum 15 weeks old if your flight is between metropolitan France and French Guiana. 
  • Minimum 10 weeks old on remaining flights. 
• Pet Reservations
  • Inform Air France () in advance.
  • You cannot book your pet online.
• Pet Forms
  • A health certificate signed by a licensed vet within 10 days of your travel date.
  • You will have to fill out this form at the airport. 
  • Passengers traveling with dogs that may be mistaken for Category 1 or 2 dogs (see table below) must be supported by a veterinary certificate.
  • If traveling within the European Union, your pet:
    • Must be vaccinated and microchipped. 
    • Must have an EU pet passport or its equivalent.
• Check-in
  • Reach the check-in counter
    • At least 3 hours before departure for intercontinental flights.
    • At least 2.5 hours before departure for flights within France or Europe, incl. between Europe and Israel or North Africa. 
• Connecting Flights
  • Keep at least 2 hours between connecting flights so that you have enough time to collect your pet and your bags and check them in for the connecting flight.
  • You can check in your pet only for the first leg of the trip. 
  • Keep all the documents required by the country in which you have a connecting flight, as you will have to go through security and immigration procedures before you can board your next flight.
  • During the flight, the aircraft’s captain will ensure that your pet is comfortable by making sure that the lighting, heating, etc., in the hold are in order. 
• Pet Cost. Refer to the section below titled Pet Ticket Fares.
• Restrictions and Requirements
  • Pets per Passenger
    Each passenger can transport up to 3 animals in the hold, but this number could be lower on certain aircraft.
  • Temperature Restrictions. Pets will not be accepted as checked baggage if the temperature in any city on the itinerary is less than 10°F (-12°C) or more than 85°F (29°C).
  • Breed Restrictions 
    • The following snub-nosed animals are not permitted to travel in the hold for health reasons:
      • Cats. Burmese and Persian cats. 
      • Dogs. Boxers, pugs, bulldogs, and Shih Tzu dogs.
    • Category 1 and 2 breeds of cats and dogs will not be accepted as checked baggage in the aircraft hold.

Category 1 Breeds—Not Permitted	Category 2 Breeds—Permitted as Cargo
So-called attack dogs that are similar in morphology to the following breeds are not permitted in the cabin, as checked baggage, or as cargo:American Staffordshire Terriers (pit bulls)Mastiffs Staffordshire TerriersTosas	The following dog breeds are permitted to travel on cargo flights only:Pedigree Staffordshire TerriersPedigree American Staffordshire TerriersPedigree Tosas Similar in morphology to Rottweilers (with/without pedigree)

• Pet Carrier Requirements
  • Must be IATA-approved and made of fiberglass or hard plastic.
  • Wheels must be retracted, securely taped, or removed. 
  • A centralized door locking mechanism must lock from the top and the bottom of the door (a). 
  • The door hinges must extend (by 1.6cm/5/8in) beyond the horizontal extrusions located above and below the door (b).
  • The container’s 2 halves must be bolted together. Other types of lateral closing mechanisms are not permitted. Some other locking mechanisms can also be used with the bolts (c). 
  • Your pet must be able to:
    • Stand up with its head straight without touching the roof. 
    • Turn around and lie down comfortably. 

An illustration of pet carrier size should be in relation to pet size

• The container must have separate dishes for water and food. Both dishes must be empty, fixed to the floor, and capable of being filled without opening the container. 
• To ensure the safety of your pet:
  • Cover the container’s bottom with an absorbent material such as a newspaper or blanket, but not straw.
  • Do not leash or muzzle your pet inside the container, and do not leave the leash or container in the cage. 
  • Do not tranquilize your pet and make sure your pet does not show any signs of injury or physical weakness before travel.

If you have any questions or require any more information, contact Air France at . 

Air France Pet Policy—Pets as Cargo 

If your pet is too large or it’s not a dog or cat, you can transport it as air cargo. Air France provides pet cargo services in partnership with KLM and Martinair (Air France KLM Martinair Cargo). The cargo section’s pressurized and climate-controlled compartments are constantly monitored from the cockpit to ensure your pet remains comfortable throughout the flight.

• Pets Allowed. The following animals can be transported by cargo:
  • Cats 
  • Dogs
  • Ornamental fish
  • Horses
  • Day-old chickens
  • Zoo animals
  • Cattle
  • Hatching eggs 
  • Insects 
• Pet Age
  • Pets must be at least 10 weeks old. 
  • They must be weaned for travel—domestic or international.
• Pet Reservations
  You must make pet reservations through an Air France-KLM Cargo freight forwarding agent.
  • All live animals traveling to the United States and Canada must be cleared by one of the brokers listed in the links below:
    • USA
    • Canada
  • Other freight-forwarding specialists:
    • Netherlands
    • France  
• Pet Forms
  • Health certificate (not more than 10 days old).
  • Vaccination proof (dogs, cats, ferrets).
  • Pet passport (destination country).
  • Your shipper or shipper’s authorized agent must fill out and sign the Shipper´s Certification for Live Animals
• Pet Check-in. Air France Cargo Office in your departure city.
• Pet Weight. Animals weighing more than 165lb/75kg can travel as cargo. 

• Restrictions
  • Breed Restrictions
    • The following snub-nosed dog breeds (plus their cross breeds) will not be accepted unless Air France Cargo’s Live Animals Department grants an exception:
      • French Bulldog
      • English Bulldog
      • Pugs
      • Boston Terrier
    • Other snub-nosed dog breeds can be accepted—provided the container is one size larger.
  • Temperature Restrictions. If the temperature in any of the cities on your pet’s itinerary exceeds 85°F (29°C) or is below 10°F (-12°C), your pet may be refused permission to be transported. 
  • Country Restrictions. 
    • Pets (cats and dogs) travelling within the EU:
      • Must be electronically chipped for identification. 
      • Must possess a European passport. 
      • Must be properly vaccinated. 
      • Additional sanitary conditions apply when travelling to Sweden, UK, Ireland, or Malta. 
• Pet Carrier Requirements. See under Air France Pet Policy—Pets as Checked Baggage. 
• Useful to Know. Some airports (Amsterdam and Paris) also provide short-term kenneling care.

For more information or assistance: 

• Contact Air France KLM Martinair Cargo
• Send an email to mail.servicedeskus@airfrance.fr. 

Pet Ticket Fares 

Below are the ticket fares for transporting pets in the cabin or the hold. 

• They do not include the transportation fee you will be charged at the airport (depending on your destination). 
• If your itinerary contains a connecting flight(s), the fee will be higher.

Region	In-cabin Pets	Pets in the hold as Checked Baggage
Flights in metropolitan France	€40	€80
Flights within the Caribbean (Between Fort-de-France, Cayenne, Miami, Port-au-Prince, Pointe-à-Pitre, and Santo Domingo)	€30(to/from Miami: €55)	€75
Flights within EuropeFlights between Europe and Israel or North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia)	€55	€100
Flights between metropolitan France and Fort-de-France, Saint-Denis de la Réunion Cayenne, and Pointe-à-Pitre	€55	€75
Other flights	€125—Europe departing flightsCAD 125—Canada departing flightsUSD 125—the US + all other departing flights	€ 200—Europe departing flightsCAD 200—Canada departing flightsUSD 200—US/other departing flights

Air France Pet Policy for Assistance Dogs/Service Dogs (SVANs)

Guide Dogs and Psychiatric Assistance Dogs 

Assistance dogs or service dogs such as guide dogs and psychiatric assistance dogs are dogs that have been trained to help people with disabilities (physical, sensory, intellectual, mental, or psychiatric) so that they can act with greater independence. Assistance dogs (guide dogs and psychiatric assistance dogs) are allowed to travel free of cost in the aircraft cabin with their owners, as explained below. 

Guide Dogs 

Guide dogs are a sub-category of assistance dogs that have been trained to lead visually impaired or blind people. Under the Air France pet policy, passengers travelling with guide dogs must keep the following points in mind:

• Guide dogs are allowed to travel free of charge in the cabin.
• Passengers must notify at least 48 hours in advance.
• The guide dog must meet all hygiene and sanitary requirements in the countries of departure, arrival, and connection.
• Its role as a guide dog must be evident from its harness or dog tag.
• The guide dog must be properly harnessed and leashed at all times but may travel without a muzzle. 
• The guide dog must not obstruct access inside the aircraft.
• The guide dog must be well-behaved at all times.  
• Guide dogs must not occupy a seat or any space near the emergency exits. 
• On flights exceeding 8 hours, you may be required to demonstrate that you can handle the guide dog’s hygienic needs, especially that of relieving itself. 
• An under-training guide receiving in-cabin training will be allowed to travel in the cabin if it is at least 12 months old and is travelling with its trainer.

Assistance Dogs/Service Dogs (other than guide dogs) 

The Air France pet policy for assistance dogs/service dogs other than guide dogs is the same as that for guide dogs (see above). 

Reservations: How to Request the Transportation of an Assistance Dog/Service Dog

You must request Air France by email at least 48 hours before your travel date that you will be travelling with an assistance dog/service animal (SVAN) in the passenger cabin. 

Email your request for transporting Service animals, along with the following documents:

• A completed and signed application form.
• A copy of your dog’s passport page stating breed, height, and weight.
• A document from the vet stating that your dog can refrain from relieving itself for 8 hours or more, or list out the methods (nappies, medication, etc.) proposed to be undertaken to avoid such sanitary issues during the trip. 

You must send your request by email to:

• If your flight departs from the United States: mail.saphir.medicaldesk@airfrance.fr
• If your flight departs from any other country: mail.saphir@airfrance.fr

Psychiatric Assistance Dogs (PADs)

A psychiatric assistance dog (PAD) or psychiatric service dog is a sub-category of an assistance dog that has been trained to assist people with a psychiatric or mental disability, such as any of these: 

• PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) 
• Severe depression 
• Bipolar disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Severe anxiety

Air France allows psychiatric assistance dogs to travel free of charge in the cabin on direct and connecting Air France flights to/from the United States, subject to visual inspection. 

The Air France pet policy for psychiatric support dogs (PADs) only is the same as that for guide dogs (copied below).

• Psychiatric assistance dogs can travel free of charge in the cabin.
• You must:
  • Reserve at least 48 hours in advance. 
  • Comply with all the hygiene and sanitary requirements of the country you’re departing from, arriving at, and transiting from.
  • Carry the dog’s certification and back it up with credible verbal proof.
  • Be able to demonstrate (if required) that you can handle the dog’s need to relieve itself on flights exceeding 8 hours. 
• The psychiatric assistance dog must:
  • Be properly harnessed and leashed at all times, but may travel without a muzzle. 
  • Wear a tag stating that it is a psychiatric assistance dog. 
  • Behave properly at all times. 
• The psychiatric assistance must not:
  • Obstruct access inside the aircraft.
  • Occupy a seat or any space near the emergency exits. 

Documentation for Psychiatric Assistance Dogs

The passenger travelling with the psychiatric assistance dog must email the 5 documents below to mail.servicedeskus@airfrance.fr if living in the United States, or to esan.fr@websupportairfrance.com if living outside of the United States:

1. This application form, signed and completed. 
2. A medical certificate stating your need for traveling with the dog, issued by a specialist in mental health.
3. A copy of your dog’s breed, weight, and height, taken from your dog’s passport. 
4. An LOF certificate or its equivalent if traveling with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
5. A document from the vet stating that the dog can refrain from relieving itself for 8 hours or more, or list out the methods (nappies, medication, etc.) proposed to be undertaken to avoid such sanitary issues during the trip. 

Other Requirements 

• On the day of travel

• Reach the airport at least 1 hour before the standard check-in time. 
• Bring original copies of the required documentation because you will need to present them when you check in and when you arrive at your destination. 
• Your service dog must be properly harnessed or leashed throughout the journey. 
• During the flight
  • Smaller dogs can sit on your lap but must remain properly harnessed or leashed at all times. 
  • Larger dogs must remain properly harnessed or leashed at all times and must be seated by your feet. 
  • You must comply with the health and sanitation requirements of the airline, especially if your dog needs to relieve itself.
  • Your dog must not obstruct the aisle section or any other area.

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Frequently Asked Questions on Air France Pet Policy