The Thai Airways pet policy allows the transportation of pets as checked baggage in the aircraft hold or as unaccompanied cargo baggage, but not in the passenger cabin. They include cats, dogs, hamsters, rabbits, and ferrets. However, service dogs assisting blind or deaf passengers are allowed in the passenger cabin free of charge.
Pet acceptance rules vary by itinerary, depending on the departure and destination countries, so do check the destination county’s requirements in advance from Thai Airways (or the country’s embassy) before travelling.
Information related Thai Airlines pet policy can be found below.
- Thai Airways does not allow pets in the cabin (other than trained service dogs).
- Pets allowed include dogs, cats, hamsters, rabbits, and ferrets.
- Snub-nosed dog breeds are not accepted as checked baggage on any flight.
- Pets must travel with adult passengers—they cannot travel with Thai Airways unaccompanied minors.
- Pets weighing up to 70lb/32kg can travel as checked baggage and larger/heavier pets can travel as unaccompanied air cargo baggage.
- Pets travelling as checked baggage will be loaded in the temperature-controlled aircraft hold and pets travelling as cargo baggage must travel in crates that are large enough for them to sit, stand, and turn around in.
- Thai Airways limits the number of pets per flight, depending on the destination country’s rules.
- Pets are not allowed on A320 aircraft because the baggage hold section is not designed for live animals.
- Thai Airways does not accept pregnant, sick, and injured pets.
- The following countries allow the entry of pets as cargo baggage only. They include the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, UAE, and Hong Kong.
- Dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks old, though some countries don’t require them to be at least 6 months old.
- You can check-in and pick up your pet at the passenger terminal.
- When transporting your pet, you must provide adequate water and food for your pet because it may not be possible to feed your pet at regular intervals or during transfers.
Thai Airways Pet in Cabin Policy
The Thai Airways pet-in-cabin policy does not accept pets in the passenger cabin on any flight. However, deaf and blind passengers are allowed to travel with trained service animals (dogs only) without having to pay a pet fee.
Thai Airways Pet Policy for Pets as Checked Baggage (AVIH)
The Thai Airways pet policy allows the transportation of pets as checked baggage (on the same flight as yours) in the baggage hold section of the aircraft. The temperature and pressure in the hold section and the passenger cabin are the same.
- Pets Allowed Cats, dogs, hamsters, rabbits, and ferrets.
- Pet Age Must be at least 8 weeks old and fully weaned, depending on the regulations of the destination country.
- Pet Booking
- Ideally at the time of booking your ticket.
- Notify THAI at least 48 hours before departure that you’ll be travelling with a pet, so that the airline can apprise you of the regulations and provide the documents you’ll be required to submit at the airport.
- Pet Forms/Documents You will be required to present the following forms/documents when checking in your pet:
- Health certificate and rabies vaccination (current) from a certified veterinarian.
- Export and import permits.
- A microchip implant certificate for dogs and cats traveling to a country in the European Union.
- A No Objection Certificate issued by the AQCS (Animal Quarantine and Certification Services for pets traveling to India.
- Inform the Animal Quarantine Bureau of Japan at least 40 days before departure that your pet will be entering Japan, so that you’re issued the Approval of Inspection of Animal document.
- For more information, contact the embassy of the destination country.
- Pet Check-in You can check in your pet at the reservation desk of the departure airport.
- Pet Cost Pets travelling as checked baggage in the baggage hold section are treated as special baggage and are subject to a Special Unit price/flat rate based on the pet’s weight (incl. the weight of the pet carrier/container), as shown below.
| Thai Airways Pet Cost/Fee for Pets Travelling as Checked Baggage | |||||
| Special Unit Price | |||||
| Pet Weight | Pet Cost | To/from U.S./Canada | TC2 🡨🡪 TC3 | Within TC3 | TC3🡨🡪 Middle East |
| Up to 22lb/10kg | 2 x Special Unit Price | USD 150/Special Unit | USD 150/Special Unit | USD 100/Special Unit | USD 100/Special Unit |
| Up to 44lb/20kg | 3 x Special Unit Price | ||||
| Up to 66lb/30kg | 4 x Special Unit Price | ||||
| Up to 88lb/40kg | 5 x Special Unit Price | ||||
| TC2 includes Africa, the Middle East, and Europe TC3 includes Asia, New Zealand, and Australia | |||||
- Pet Fee Payment You can pay the pet fee at the check-in counter.
- Pet Carrier Size The maximum size of the pet carrier/container must not exceed:
- 54 in length
- 27in height
- 33in width
- Pet Carrier Requirements
- The pet carrier must be IATA compliant.
- Must be large enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down, and turn around in.
- All sides of the pet carrier must be ventilated.
- At least one side (such as the crate door) must be fully ventilated from top to bottom.
- The pet carrier/crate must contain absorbent bedding material for your pet.
- The pet carrier must be properly labeled.
- Maximum Pet Weight The maximum weight of the pet (incl. pet carrier/container) must not exceed 32kg/70lb.
- Pet Travel Restrictions
- Dog Breed Restrictions The following snub-nosed and other dog breeds are not allowed as checked baggage.
- Tibetan Spaniel
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Shih Tzu
- Shar Pei
- Pug
- Pit Bull
- Pekinese
- Mastiff (All Breeds)
- Lhasa Apso
- Japanese Spaniel (Chin)
- Japanese Pug
- Japanese Boxer
- French Bulldog
- English Toy Spaniel
- English Bulldog
- Dutch Pug
- Chow Chow
- Chinese Pug
- Bulldog
- Brussels Griffon
- Boxer
- Boston Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- American Bulldog / Bully
- Dog Breed Restrictions The following snub-nosed and other dog breeds are not allowed as checked baggage.
Note: Dog breeds such as the Pitbull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier are not allowed into Thailand.
- Route Restrictions
Pets are not accepted as checked baggage on Thai Airways:- Flights to London, Hong Kong, Dubai, Denpasar, and Auckland.
- Flights from/to Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
- A320 aircraft.
- Weather Restrictions Check with THAI for summer and winter temperature restrictions.
- Other Restrictions
- Sick, pregnant, and injured pets will not be accepted.
- Food and Water Be sure to provide enough water and food for your pet.
Thai Airways Pet Cargo Policy
The Thai Airways pet cargo policy allows the transportation of larger dogs and other animals as manifest cargo and must comply with both Thai Airways and IATA’s Live Animals Regulations.
- Pets Allowed. Dogs, cats, hamsters, ferrets, birds, and rabbits.
- Pet Age. Dogs and cats must be at least 12 weeks old and fully weaned.
- Health Condition: Pets and animals travelling as manifest cargo:
- Must be healthy and should not show any signs of illness.
- Must be properly fed and watered.
- Pet Crate Requirements
- Must comply with IATA’s requirements for pet crates.
- The pet crate must be clean, escape- and leak-proof to enable safe handling during the journey.
- The pet crate must bear a Live Animals label with handling instructions.
- Pet crates with standards lower than those described in IATA’s Live Animals Regulations will not be accepted.
- Water, food, and other items must be included and will count toward the chargeable weight. If the additional items are shipped separately, they must be marked as part of the pet shipment.
- Cargo Pet Reservations Must be confirmed in advance to enable booking, including on connecting flights, if any. For information and assistance, contact the Thai Cargo Sales Office in your country.
- Consolidation Pets cannot be consolidated with other items but can consist entirely of live animals.
- Cargo Pet Documents The following documents are generally required:
- Health Certificate issued by a licensed vet at least 10 days before departure.
- All documents/forms required by the countries of departure and destination country must be attached to the crate.
- For pets travelling to Japan, you must make quarantine arrangements in advance.
- Shipper’s Certification
- Cargo Pet Restrictions
- Pets in an advanced state of pregnancy will generally not be accepted.
- Pitbull and Staffordshire Terrier breeds will not be accepted as cargo baggage.
- For other breeds, more information, or assistance, contact the Thai Cargo Sales Office in your country.
Thai Airways Pet Travel Cost—Pets Travelling as Checked Baggage
If your pet is eligible to travel as checked baggage in the aircraft’s baggage hold, it will be subject to Thai Airways special baggage charges, also known as Special Unit prices (on a flat rate), depending on your pet’s weight. When calculating Thai Airways pet travel cost, the weight of the pet carrier/crate/container will be clubbed with your pet’s weight and multiplied by the special unit price depending on your route, as shown in the table below.
| Thai Airways Pet Travel Cost by Region | |||||
| Special Unit Price | |||||
| Pet Weight | Pet Travel Cost | To/from U.S./Canada | TC2 🡨🡪 TC3 | within TC3 | TC3🡨🡪 Middle East |
| Up to 22lb/10kg | Special Unit Price x 2 | USD 150/Special Unit | USD 100/Special Unit | ||
| 22–44lb (10 – 20kg) | Special Unit Price x 3 | ||||
| 44–66lb (20–30kg) | Special Unit Price x 4 | ||||
| 66–88lb (30–40kg) | Special Unit Price x 5 | ||||
| TC2 comprises Africa, the Middle East, and Europe TC3 comprises Asia, New Zealand, and Australia | |||||
Thai Airways Pet Travel Cost—Pets Travelling as Cargo Baggage
The Thai Airways pet travel cost for pets travelling as manifest cargo baggage will depend on your pet’s weight and route. To learn about the pet travel cost/fee, you must contact the Thai Airways Cargo Office in your country.
Thai Airways Pet Policy for Service Animals (Guide/Assistance Dogs)
The Thai Airways pet policy allows the carriage of service animals free of charge in the cabin to some destinations. Service animals include guide/assistance dogs for deaf and blind passengers, subject to the conditions below.
Passengers travelling with service dogs:
- Must comply with all quarantine regulations
- Must provide proper import/export documentation
- Are allowed to travel bring service dogs free of charge
- Must inform their local Thai Airways Office at least 48 hours before departure
- Are allowed to place the service dog at their feet but not occupy a seat
- Must not be seated in an emergency exit row
- Keep the service dog harnessed throughout the flight
Frequently Asked Questions on Thai Airways Pet Policy
If you could not find the information you were looking for, check out the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions on Thai Airways pet policy.
Yes, Thai Airways allows pets (cats, dogs, hamsters, rabbits, and ferrets) on most domestic and international flights as checked baggage or manifest cargo, but not in the passenger cabin. However, trained service dogs are allowed to travel in the cabin for free when accompanying blind or deaf passengers.
No, Thai Airways does not allow pets in the cabin other than trained service animals travelling with blind and deaf passengers.
The Thai Airways pets-in-cabin policy does not allow the carriage of pets in the aircraft cabin, except for trained service animals.
To fly your dog to Thailand:
1. Microchip your pet with a chip that’s ISO-compliant.
Get a health certificate issued within 10 days of departure stating that your dog is healthy and fit to travel. The health certificate must include your ownership details and the pet’s vaccination and identification details.
2. Get your dog vaccinated for rabies at least 21 days before and less than 1 year before the travel date if your dog is travelling from a country that is not free from rabies. However, no rabies vaccination is required if your dog has lived in a rabies-free country for the preceding 12 months or more.
3. Get your dog vaccinated for Leptospirosis no less than 21 days prior to departure, or get your dog tested negative for Leptospirosis within 30 days of departure.
4. Get your dog vaccinated for mandatory vaccinations such as Hepatitis, Distemper, and Parvovirus at least 21 days prior to departure.
5. Get your dog treated for external parasites (ticks and fleas) and internal parasites (heartworm, tapeworm, etc.) at least 7 days before departure.
6. Get an Import Permit from Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development before you travel. The import permit has a 60-day validity and you can download it from the official website of the department.
7. Get your dog an IATA-compliant crate and crate-train your dog.
8. Make sure your pet is healthy to avoid any chances of quarantine.
The Thai Airways pet policy for in-cabin pets does not allow the transportation of pets in the passenger cabin. However, trained service animals (only dogs) are allowed to travel for free with deaf and blind passengers.
Yes, the Thai Airways pet travel policy accepts pets on most flights, but only as checked baggage or unaccompanied air cargo baggage. Only trained service dogs are allowed to travel with deaf and blind passengers in the aircraft cabin.
Pets such as cats, dogs, hamsters, rabbits, and ferrets weighing up to 70lb/32kg are allowed to travel as checked baggage. Larger/heavier pets can travel as manifest cargo baggage with some restrictions.
Snub-nosed and other dog breeds are not accepted as checked baggage on any flight. Also, pets cannot fly as checked baggage:
1. To London, Hong Kong, Dubai, Denpasar, Auckland, and
2. On any flight to or from Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, and
3. On A320 aircraft
The Thai Airways international policy does not allow pets to travel as checked baggage on international flights:
1. To London, Hong Kong, Dubai, Denpasar, and Auckland.
2. To or from Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
3. On A320 aircraft
The Thai Airways pet price ranges from USD 200 – 750, depending on your pet’s weight and route. For details, refer to the table above.
Thai Airways pet travel rules are as follows:
1. Pets are not accepted in the passenger cabin, other than trained service dogs.
2. Pets are allowed as checked baggage in the baggage hold section. They include cats, dogs, hamsters, rabbits, and ferrets.
3. Pets can be checked in at the Thai Airways check-in counter where the pet fee must be paid.
Pet collection takes place at the arrival terminal.
4. Checked pets are loaded in the baggage hold section just below the passenger cabin in a temperature-controlled environment.
5. Pet carriers and crates must be IATA and TG compliant and large enough to accommodate the pet.
6. On international flights, pets are not allowed in the baggage hold section on flights:
a. To London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Auckland, and Denpasar.
b. From and to Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and Perth.
c. Operated on A320s.
Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) dog breeds are not allowed in the baggage hold section as they have breathing problems.
Thai Airways does not allow pets on board, i.e., in the aircraft cabin, except trained service dogs travelling with deaf and blind passengers. However, most dog breeds (except brachycephalic, i.e., snub-nosed), cats, hamsters, rabbits, and ferrets are allowed to travel in the baggage hold as checked baggage or as unaccompanied manifest cargo.