Booking a Flaght wigh a Dog or Cat? A Complete Walktrimagh of KLM 's 2025 Pet Rules

If you 're planning to fly with a dog, cat, or service animal in 2025, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines offers searl clear paths - from undeper-seat carrivers to dedicated cargo fills. Knowing exactly which option your pet qualifies for, how to o preparate thee paperwork, and what feets to expect can prevent latt-minute boarding denials andd reduce stress for both you and your animal. Thii specied guidee covess every element of KLM 's pet policy, includincluding weight limits, breed bans, heath documentation, and transit facilities, souk book book with confidence.

A small dog inside an airline-approved carrier placed under an aircraft seat
A pet traveling in an approved soft-side carrier under the seat, as allowed on KLM flyghts where in-cabin pets are permitted.

Which Travel Method Your Pet Need

KLM sorts animal transport into three considerations, and your choice is determinate entirely by weigt, breed, and destination regulations:

  • In-cabin (hand baggage). For small cats andd dogs who combined wag wigh their ir carrier does nott contact 8 kg (17.6 lb). The animal stays with you under thee seat.
  • Checked baggage (aircraft hold). For pets over 8 kg but no more than 75 kg (165 lb) when n weiged with their ir travel kennel. The hold is pressurized andd temperatur-controlled.
  • KLM Cargo. Mandatorium for any animal-and-kennel combination heavier than 75 kg, for all snub-nosed breeds, and for countries that legally require cargo-only pet import (np., the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and searat bear islands). Cargo-handle pets fly on thee same aircraft or on freighters, and they have actes to KLM 's on-airport animal facilities.

Service dogs are an exception: they travel in thee cabin free of charge regardles of wag, as long as valid documentation is provided.

In-Cabin Pets: Rules, Carriers, andReservations

Waga i Species Limitations

Onyl domestic cats andd dogs are accepted in thee passenger cabin. KLM ground staff will weigh the pet inside it s carrier at check-in; the total mutt be 8 kg or less. Most soft-sides carriers weigh about 1 kg, meaning the animal itself typically neds to be undeid 7 kg. Puppies and kittens may meet this limit, but diult dogs of many breeds will be too hevy.

Carrier Size andd Construction

Thee closed carrier must slide fully under thee seat in front of you and cannot t end 46 cm long × 28 cm wide × 24 cm high (18 in × 11 in × 9 in)KLM preferuje soft-side bags because they offer a bit of flexibility, but rigid carriers that fit those exact dimensions are also accorted. Inside, your pet must be able to stand, turn around, and lie down naturaly. Any carrier with wheels mutt have them removed or firmly locked.

How to Reserve andPay

You mutt add the in-cabin pet to your booking at least 48 godzin przed odlotemCall KLM 's customer services or, when e acvailable, use thee metriquente; Manage My Booking quenquentile; tool online. Each passenger may bring only on e carrier; on most flights, thee airline caps the number of cabin pets at three te to four in Economy and often prohibits them entirely in Business Class on intercontinentail routes. Fees for cabin pets range from 75 do 200 EUR each way, wigh short European trips at thee lower end and long-haul flyghts at the upper end.

Route-Specific Cabin Bans

Several destinations ban in-cabin pet travel entirely on inbound filghs. This applies te United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, and a number of text countries. In such cases, even a 2 kg cat mutt travel as cargo. Always verify your destination 's rules on KLM 's country-specific pet information page Well before booking.

Checked Baggage: Pets in the Hold

Kennel Requirements

Pets exceeding 8 kg (wigh carrier) but undedr 75 kg are checked as excess baggage and loaded into the forward or aft cargo hold, which keetains the e same temperatur and pressure as the passenger cabin. You must use a hard-side, IATA-compleant travel crate made of rigid plastic, metal, or wood. thee kennel mutt have secre metal fasteners (no plastic snaps), ventilation on at leaste three side, a leak-proof loor covered witch absorbent bedding, andd doors that lock. Wheels mutt be removed or rendered inoperable.

KLM nie akceptuje checked pet if thee ground temperatur at any point alongte thee journey - origin, transfer, or destination - is outside a safe window, usually below 10 ° C (50 ° F) or above 29 ° C (85 ° F). During hot summer spells or deep cold snaps, only early-morning or late-evening flyghts may be approved. If you are connecting through a hub wigh extreme weathere, thee airline may re-route your pet or postpone travel.

Reservation Timing and Airport Proceres

Checked pets mutt also be booked at leaast 48 hour ahead. On the day of travel, plan to arrive Trzy godziny przed odlotemYou 'll complete a live-animal accepte checklist and present health documents at thee oversized baggage counter. The fee for checked pets ranges frem 100 EUR do 400 EUR per direction, depending one route andd combined weight.

Cargo Transport: When Your Pet Needs KLM Cargo

Why Cargo Is Requid

Any dog or cat who total traveling weight (wigh kennel) exceptions 75 kg automatically moves through KLM CargoCargo is also mandatory for all brachycephalic breeds, for any powerful breed that mutt travel in a dimened crate, and for countries that legally reserbe cargo-only import (the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Singhare, Hong Kong, and certain beaun nations). KLM Cargo operates a dedisated Animal Hotel at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, wigh climate-controlled rooms, outdoor exercise areas, and stationd animal attendants to o care for pets during layover.

Normy Kennel i Paperwork

Cargo-bound pets still l need an IATA-compleant rigid crate, but additional diment (steel door locks, extra quential quenticate; Live Animal quenticates; labeling, and a fediing schedule schedule sheet taped two thee container) is usually mandatory. You mutt supply original health certificates, import permits if exedicoded, and full vaccination presso. For many high-compleance countries, you will also need a certifiight forder, though KM Cargo 's team cay condirecuttlancy clearance clerance.

Booking a Cargo Shipment

Cargo bookings should be made / At leaset seven days befor e departure Due to extensive regulatory checks. Charges are based on the dimensional wag of thee kennel, thee route distance, and any additional services such as extended holding. Contact KLM Cargo for a personalized quite; oczekuj na początek pointa around €250 and increasing with size and destination.

Ograniczenia dotyczące hodowli i produkcji

Brachycephalic (Short-nosed) Breeds

Dogs andcats with flattened faces face a dangerousy high risk of respiratory distress in the aircraft hold due to heat and stress. As a result, KLM completely bans the following breeds frem traveling as checked baggage or cargo:

  • Dogs: English Bulldog, French ch Bulldog, American Bulldog, Pug, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Shih Tzu, Pekingese, Japanese Chin, King Charles Spaniel, and any mix exhibiting those traits.
  • Koty: Persian, Himalayan, Exotic Shorthair.

These animals may fly only in the cabin If a snub-nosed pet is too hevy, it cannot travel with KLM at all. Ground staff and veterinary consultants may deny boarding to mixed animals with visibliy brachycephalic efficures, even if thee breed is nota explicitly listed.

Powerful andGuard-Class Breeds

Certain breeds, including Pit Bull Terrirs, American Staffordshire Terrirs, Rottweilers, Mastiffs, Dogo Argentinos, andd Fila Brasileiros, are nott banned but mutt travel as KLM Cargo Nie ma to jak w przypadku niektórych innych rodzajów broni, które mogą być wykorzystywane w celu ochrony przed zagrożeniami, które mogą być spowodowane przez działanie tych substancji.

Service Animals vs. Emotional Support Animals

Only dogi serwisowe stażysta ten ten cabin at no cost on all KLM routes. You mutt present a valid training certificate and hearth documentation, including proof of rabie vaccination, at leaast 48 hours before departure. The dog mutt be harnessed and revident on thee load at your feet; it is not allowed on a seat. As of 2021, KLM no longer reviceacez emotional support animals (ESAs) a a separate category - they ay are treatied a s regular pets, subett to o normal fees andd travel rules.

International Health and Import Documentation

European Union Travel

For travel with the EU or returning to thee EU from a non-EU country, you r pet mutt have a European Pet Passport (or an equilent EU animal health certificate). The passport neds to show a microchip number (implanted before thee rabie vaccination), a valid rabies vaccination administrad at least ast 21 days before departure, and, when entering certain countries like Finland, Ireland, or Malta, a record of tapeworm treatment given between 120 and24 hour before entry. Verify updates on thee Europeun Commissione 's pet travel page.

United States, Canada, and Mexico

For dogs entering the United States, the USDA APHIS W przypadku gdy nie ma możliwości, aby w przypadku gdy w danym państwie członkowskim nie ma miejsca żadne badanie, należy podać dane dotyczące wszystkich zwierząt, które zostały poddane badaniu.

United Kingdom, Ireland, and Other Island Nations

Pets flying into the UK or Ireland mutt arrive as manifested cargo on an approved route. You will need to engage an authorized pet shipper, provide a health certificate signed by an official government veterinaine, and show proof of microchip, rabie vaccination, and (for dogs) tapeworm treatment. Avolaar cargo-only and document-intensive procedures approof to Singhaste, Hong Kong, and many beahn island. Start planning att att leaste tree months ahead.

Australia, New Zealand, and High-Quarantine Destinations

Tese countries enforcee a minimum 10-day quarantine period, and pre-travel processes - including rabies titer tests, import permits, and parasite treatments - can take up to six months. KLM transports pets to these destinations exclusively thrugh its cargo division, and you mutt work with an activited pet relocation specialiste. Refer to the Australian Department of Agriculture or te New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries for te moszt current entry standards.

Health Certificate andVeterinary Checks

Regardless of travel methood, KLM wymaga valid health certificate issued with the your pet is free of infectious diseases, is fit to fly, and has curitt vaccinations. A separate rabie vaccination certificate is mandatory for all international journeys. If the animal appears ill, accusions y anxious, or aggressive at the airport, KLM staff are authorized trefuse arding for safety reaps.

Your Pet Travel Przygotowanie Timeline

Four to Six Weeks Before the Flight

  • Masz weterynarz perfom general wellnes exam, update thee rabie vaccination if needed, andd scan thee microchip to ensure it reads correctly.
  • Badania naukowe destination import requirements. Order any necessary blood tests (np., rabies titer for Japan or Australia).
  • Purchase an IATA-compleant kennel andbegin crate traing: leafe thee door open at home, place meals and treats inside, and gradually close thee door for short period so thee pet associates thee crate with court.
  • Start collecting documents: microchip implantation record, vaccination certificates, and any pre-approvaal letters frem destination authorities.

One Week Before Departure

  • Finalize thee pet 's booking by calling KLM (make sure you receive a booking reference specially for thee animal).
  • Obtain the health certificate from your vet. If thee destination requires a government endorsement (np., USDA stamp for the U.S.), schedule that destimentat early in the week.
  • Label thee crate with your name, phone number, fightt details, and quentiquette; Live Animal quentiquettes; decals. Secure an absorbent pad inside and pack an extra mat for long flyghts.
  • Allow you at to explore thee finished kennel for a few minutes each day, and consider using a calming pheromone spray (such as Adaptil or Feliway) inside the carrier.

The Day of the Flight

  • Give your pet a light meol three te four hours before check-in, and limit water to small sips two reduce motion choreses.
  • Zapewnij mi torough walk or play session early in thee day so your pet is tired and more relaxed.
  • Arrive at the airport at least Two hour before for e departure for in-cabin pets andCity in South African Republic Trzy godziny For checked pets.
  • Present all documents - hearth certificate, vaccination records, import permits - at te check-in counter. Pay the te pet fee by by contribut card or, where offered, pre-pay online te save time.

Layovers, Transit, andOn-Board Care

In-Cabin Pets During Flights

Te carrier must stay closed and stowed under thee seat for thee entire flight, including during turbulence. You cannot remove thee animal inside thee airport terminal or on thee aircraft. If you have a layover longer than two hours, KLM ground staff may direct you to a pet-relief area. At. At Amsterdam Schiphol, indoor pet-relief zone wigh artificial graps andwaste bags are located near several piers, and you can recharge witch your animal between flyghts undeport guidance.

Checked andCargo Pets

KLM continuously monitors hold temperatur i in real time. During extended ground delays in hot weathers, loaded kennels are placed in temperature-controlled holding areas until boarding. If an overnight connection is required, KLM will retrivee the checked pet the house it e airport 's animal facility; you may need to recoverit and re-check the next day, depended on on local regulations.

Summary of KLM Pet Fees (2025)

  • In-cabin z in Europe: 75- 125 EUR
  • In-cabin intercontinental: 125 - 200 EUR
  • Checked baggage with in Europe: 100 - 200 EUR
  • Checked Baggage intercontinuental: 200- 400 EUR
  • KLM Cargo: Variable, typically from €250 upward dependering on size and distance
  • Service dog in cabin: Free

All fees are charged per one-way segment; a round trip incors two separate charges. Payment is taken at the airport or via the call center at the time of booking.

Kwestionariusze do czeskich Asked

Czy ja mam ochotę na coś takiego? Nie zawsze. While some bookings allow you tu add a pet through quenquention; Manage My Booking, quentiquent; you usually mutt phone KLM to confirm acvasability andd complete the reservation. Always call to be sure.

Co się stanie, jeśli mnie nie będzie? KLM will transfer checked and cargo pets to thee airport animal holding facility. You will likely need to claim your pet ande re-check it e following day. Cargo-handled pets will stay at the KLM Animal Hotel during thee delay.

Are there age limitions for pets? Puppie and kittens mutt be at leaast 15 weeks s old for international travel ande have completed their ir primary vaccination serie. Some countries, such as Australia, set a minimum age of 8 months for entry.

Czy ja travel with more than one one pet it e cabin? Onyoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooin-in agent.

Sedation zaleca mi for anxious pets? KLM and most veterinarians strongly advise against sedation because it can interfere wigh temperature regulation and respiratory function at alcontribudde. Instad, focus on crate training and use veterinarian-approved calming sprays.

Co się dzieje z tymi zwierzętami? On passenger filghts, only domesticated dogs ande cats are accepted. Birds, rabbits, reptiles, and rodents are nott permitted in the cabin or hold. Special live-animal shipping contracts thrugh KLM Cargo may acquades species on a case-by-case basis.

Final Przygotowanie Checklist

A smooth journey wigh your pet on KLM depends on early, meticulous planning. Potwierdź yourr pet 's documentation for cabin or hold travel, buy the right crat crate and train your pet to use it, and collect every piece of documentation - rabie certificates, hearth papermits, import permits - well ahead of schedule. Double-check destination requiments with offical sources, not just third-part stremiessels, and keep KLM' s contact nect nember handy oy oy oy daof travel. With these stes, your dog, car sog, cat, eil service, eil favitol, af reseil rese@@