Whether you’re taking your pet on vacation or moving house with your pet, it’s important to know the policy, the procedures and regulations for transporting animals on Air France flights. Milesopedia will guide you through the steps required to travel with dogs and cats on Air France flights. From booking to fares and kennels, find out how you can make traveling easier for your beloved pet (and for you).
Air France only accepts cats and dogs under 75 kg. If your pet weighs more than the maximum weight, it must travel as cargo on Air France KLM Martinair Cargo.
To be allowed on an Air France aircraft, pets must be up-to-date on all required vaccinations and have a European passport issued by an authorized veterinarian. This certificate is your pet’s identification and proof that your pet has had all the necessary vaccinations and shots.
Terms and conditions vary by destination, even within the European Union.
Additional sanitary requirements are required when traveling to Ireland, Sweden or Malta. For example, Malta requires animals to be vaccinated against rabies and to have undergone serum rabies antibody titration and tick treatment.
When traveling outside the European Union, please note that not all pets are accepted. To Dubai, for example, animals can only be transported by cargo.
A dog or cat weighing no more than 8 kg (including bag) and aged at least 15 weeks old may be carried in the cabin, subject to prior approval by Customer Service. For flights within mainland France (including Corsica) and between mainland France and Guadeloupe, Martinique and Reunion, the minimum age requirement is 8 weeks. All vaccinations must be up to date, and a passport is required.
Air France does not accept pets in the Business cabin on intercontinental flights.
It goes without saying that assistance dogs for disabled passengers are accepted on Air France flights free of charge. This is in accordance with international regulations. They must be trained, meet all health requirements of the country of departure, arrival and/or correspondence, and be equipped with a harness.
Cats and dogs between 8 kg and 75 kg must travel in the hold. Although the Air France website states that the number of animals allowed in the hold is limited to 3 per passenger, this number may be restricted depending on the type of aircraft. It is therefore advisable to inform Air France that you are travelling with an animal in the hold when you book your ticket.
Snub-nosed animals may not be transported in the hold on Air France flights.
Category 1 and 2 dogs are also not allowed in the hold on Air France flights. According to French regulations, these are American Staffordshire Terriers, also known as Pit Bulls, Mastiffs, Tosa Dogs and Rottweillers.
To travel in the hold, pets must also have up-to-date vaccinations and be at least 15 weeks old, unless you’re traveling domestically or between mainland France and Guadeloupe, Martinique or Réunion. They can then be up to 8 weeks old.
Air France KLM Martinair Cargo provides air transportation for all dogs and cats that cannot be transported in the hold or in the cabin, with the exception of snub-nosed dogs and cats such as English and French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers and Carlins. The company can also transport any other type of animals, such as horses, chicks, ornamental fish, pigs, cows and hatching eggs. It can even handle the transportation of zoo animals.
There are a number of conditions that must be met when transporting pets on Air France flights, whether it’s in the cabin or in the hold. If you want to be sure you’ve chosen the right model, you can always buy a carrier on Air France Shopping and earn additional Flying Blue Miles.
When you pay with an Air France KLM American Express card, you can double the amount of Flying Blue Miles you earn. For every euro spent with one of our co-branded cards, you can earn up to 2 Flying Blue miles.
To transport a pet in the cabin, it must be placed in a soft, closed bag. The bag must be no larger than 46 x 28 x 24 cm. For safety reasons, rigid pet carriers of any size are not permitted in the cabin. The bag must fit in the space under the seat in front of you and have enough ventilation to allow your pet to stand up and turn around.
You may not carry a pet in your carry-on bag, as the bag in which the pet travels must be checked as additional baggage. And you can’t carry more than one animal in the cabin.
To transport an animal in the hold, you must print out and present the Conditions for Transporting a Dog or Cat in the Hold form at the airport, and comply with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) kennel requirements. The animal must not show signs of physical weakness or be sedated.
Failure to comply will result in your pet being denied boarding.
The kennel must be constructed with a fiberglass or rigid plastic outer shell. The door must be equipped with a central locking system that simultaneously locks the two locking points at the top and bottom of the door. The door hinges must extend at least 1.6 cm (0.5 in.) beyond the horizontal edge above and below the door, and both parts of the enclosure must be bolted together.
The crate must also have an open-topped empty tray attached to the mesh door and accessible from the outside without opening the crate. Water bottles and water dispensers are not allowed. Finally, if the body has wheels, they must be removed, unless they are retractable, in which case they must be secured with tape.
The dog or cat must be able to stand with its head fully erect, without touching the top of the crate. The height of the kennel must be 5 cm (2 inches) higher than the standing height of the animal to the top of the ears or head. It must also be able to turn around and lie down comfortably. The bottom of the kennel must be covered with a blanket, newspaper or other absorbent material. The animal shall not be leashed or muzzled. These accessories should not be left in the kennel either.
Can your dog or cat travel on an Air France plane? Be sure to book an airline ticket for your pet. It is necessary to let the airline know of the presence of your pet at the time of booking, as the number of animals allowed on board is limited.
If you wish to travel with a pet, you may make a request after you have paid for your reservation and up to 48 hours prior to departure. You can do this online in your account, under the My bookings tab, or by phone.
The transportation of animals, whether in the cabin or the baggage compartment, is never included in the price of an airline ticket. The transportation of pets is not covered by the excess baggage allowance. You’ll need to pay a flat fee, which varies depending on your destination.
For flights within metropolitan France, whether in the hold or in the cabin, the rates are 100 euros and 70 euros respectively. For flights within metropolitan France, whether in the hold or in the cabin, the rates are 100 euros and 70 euros respectively. For flights within Europe, between Europe and North Africa or between mainland France and Cayenne, Fort-de-France, Pointe-à-Pitre and Saint-Denis de La Réunion, the fare is set at 200 euros for the hold and 125 euros for cabin.
For other destinations, the cost is 400 euros for carriage in the hold and 200 euros for carriage in the cabin. It is important to note that these rates are based on a one-way trip and for a single bag or kennel. If you make one or more connections during your trip, the fare will be calculated based on the country of origin and destination.
As a renowned airline, Air France is aware of the importance of the safety, comfort and well-being of animals during their travels, and therefore insists on certain conditions. It’s important to keep this information in mind and plan accordingly to ensure a comfortable, hassle-free trip for you and your pet.
Yes, it is possible to bring a dog or cat on an Air France aircraft. Air France KLM Martinair Cargo can also carry any other type of animals, such as horses, chicks, ornamental fish, pigs, cows and hatching eggs.
If you are traveling with a pet in the hold, you must present yourself at the check-in counter approximately 3 hours prior to departure. If your flight has one or more connections, online check-in is not permitted. You, your baggage and your pet must check in at the airport counter at the beginning of each leg of your trip. Make sure you have all the documents required by the local authorities for each country of correspondence. You will need to go through police formalities before boarding your onward flight.
The best airlines’ pet policy, besides Air France, are British Airways, Lufthansa, Air Canada, TUI, Austrian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Aegean Airlines, Aeroflot, Air Europa and Vueling. Low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet do not accept pets on board.
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