7 Best Airlines to Travel with Pets International in 2026

You've got a dozen flight options open, and each one seems to answer a different question. Will your cat fit in the cabin? Can your dog travel in the hold? And does the airline accept pets on every segment of the route? Choosing the best airlines to travel with pets internationally depends on your pet's size, your destination's entry rules, and the exact itinerary, not just the carrier's reputation.

This roundup compares seven airlines by the travel modes they offer, their weight limits, route and breed restrictions, and how far ahead you'll need to arrange a pet reservation. The key is to confirm the operating airline and pet capacity for every flight before you buy a ticket. A carrier may work well for one pet and route, yet be a poor fit for another.

1. Lufthansa

Lufthansa can suit travelers who need more than one way to move a pet. Eligible dogs and cats may travel in the cabin or aircraft hold, depending on the animal's size, weight, route, and destination requirements. Small cabin pets are generally limited to 8 kg (17.6 lb), including the carrier, while larger animals may need an approved hold or cargo arrangement. Lufthansa's animal-travel guidance explains the available options and registration process.

The airline's online pet registration is useful, but it isn't a substitute for a confirmed reservation. Pet space is limited, and some routes don't accept animals in the hold. If your journey includes a connection or a partner-operated flight, check each segment rather than assuming the rules carry over.

A fit for different pet sizes

Lufthansa Cargo may be an option when an animal can't travel with its owner or passenger-baggage transport doesn't suit the move. Freight arrangements are separate, and a specialist shipper may be needed. Lufthansa also publishes guidance on snub-nosed animals and assistance dogs, so check the relevant policy for your pet instead of relying on a general cabin or hold description.

Before ticketing: Ask Lufthansa to confirm pet acceptance on every flight, including connections, and whether the intended travel mode is available on your route.

The trade-off is flexibility with extra coordination. You'll need to align airline acceptance with the destination's permits, vaccination timing, and certificate rules. For document planning specific to Lufthansa, see this guide to Lufthansa pet travel documents.

2. Air France

Air France may work well when its network and pet options line up with the route, particularly for journeys through France and onward. Eligible cats and dogs can travel in the cabin or hold, and cargo may be available in some situations. Under the airline's U.S. guidance, pets weighing more than 8 kg and up to 75 kg (17.6 to 165.35 lb), including the carrier, must travel in the hold. Check the current Air France pet-travel requirements for the specific flight before choosing a fare.

Check the whole itinerary

Air France's different travel modes can help match the airline to a pet's size, but acceptance and fees depend on the itinerary and available space. Hold travel comes with crate and documentation requirements, and some destinations require pets to arrive as cargo rather than passenger baggage. A route that looks convenient for you may not support the transport mode your pet needs.

Before you book, confirm whether each flight is operated by Air France or another carrier, and ask about the pet reservation and any destination-specific limits. A pet-friendly policy on one segment doesn't guarantee acceptance on the next. For a closer look at airline-specific paperwork and booking details, use this guide to the Air France pet policy.

3. KLM

For a small pet headed through Amsterdam, KLM is worth checking early. Cats and dogs may travel in the cabin or hold on eligible flights. Cabin pets must weigh no more than 8 kg (17.6 lb) with the carrier, and the carrier needs to fit under the seat. KLM recommends reserving at least 48 hours before departure, but aircraft, destination, and operating airline can affect both eligibility and capacity. Review the KLM pet-travel guidance and confirm availability for your exact flights.

KLM gives travelers practical information on carrier dimensions, preparation, fees, and reservations. Hold travel may work for a pet too large for the cabin, but not every aircraft accepts pets in the hold. Pets also can't travel as passenger baggage to the UK, so check whether the destination changes the available transport mode.

Where KLM can be a mismatch

An Amsterdam connection may be convenient, but it doesn't remove the need to validate every segment. Check the operating carrier, the connection conditions, and the destination's entry rules. If your pet is close to the cabin weight or carrier limit, measure and weigh the complete setup before you ask the airline to confirm a place.

For more detail on booking and preparation, see the KLM Airlines pet policy. The practical advantage is clear guidance; the trade-off is that route and aircraft restrictions can narrow your options.

4. Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines may suit travelers whose route connects through Istanbul. The airline publishes guidance for pets in the cabin and aircraft cargo compartment, and its online fee calculator can help with early trip budgeting. However, permitted pet types, crate dimensions, route rules, and availability depend on the exact flight. Start with the Turkish Airlines pet-travel information and then confirm the reservation directly with the airline.

Confirm every carrier in the booking

Cabin and cargo-compartment options may suit different pet sizes, but limited cabin space means you shouldn't wait until departure is close to ask about a pet spot. A route with a partner-operated segment needs extra checking, since a different airline may apply different rules. Transit and destination requirements can also add paperwork or complicate a connection.

A connection that works for your ticket isn't automatically a connection that works for your pet.

Ask which airline operates each segment, whether the pet can be accepted throughout the journey, and what documents are needed for transit as well as entry. If the route is workable, Istanbul may be a useful connection point. For airline-specific booking details, consult the Turkish Airlines pet policy.

5. Air Canada

A small pet that meets Air Canada's cabin rules may fit a trip through a Canadian hub, but larger pets need a different arrangement. Air Canada accepts eligible pets in the checked baggage compartment on some flights, subject to aircraft, route, temperature, crate, and space restrictions. The airline also offers transport through Air Canada Cargo for shipments that cannot travel in the cabin or baggage compartment. Cargo bookings follow a separate process, so contact Air Canada Cargo to confirm eligibility and arrange transport before finalizing your itinerary. See the Air Canada pet-travel rules for current requirements.

For cabin and checked pets, request a spot through Air Canada Reservations after booking your own ticket. Pet space is limited, and the airline requires advance notice, so don't leave the request until check-in. Air Canada also warns that pets cannot travel on itineraries with a flight marketed by Air Canada but operated by a codeshare partner. Check the operating carrier for every segment and get acceptance confirmed for the full route.

Build in airport time

At the airport, allow time for the pet check-in process and any required inspection of the carrier or crate. Keep the airline's confirmation and destination paperwork handy. For Calgary departures, Calgary airport security advice may help with the airport portion of your plans, but it does not replace Air Canada's pet acceptance or documentation requirements.

Air Canada is a stronger fit when the operating flights, pet transport option, and route restrictions are confirmed before you buy. For hold or cargo travel, ask about the specific aircraft and destination early; a pet booking is subject to capacity and route eligibility.

6. Delta Air Lines

Delta may suit a small pet on an international route where cabin travel is accepted, but destination exceptions make route checking essential. Delta publishes an in-cabin fee of $200 USD, CAD, or EUR each way where pets are accepted. Its international pet-travel guidance also describes destination limits and documentation considerations.

Don't assume cargo is a backup

Delta Cargo has limited availability for pet shipments, and international customers must use an approved pet shipper. Delta's professional guidance reports a global embargo on pet-in-hold bookings and a cabin-pet embargo for flights originating in the Dominican Republic beginning in January 2025. These restrictions underline why you should check the current policy for your exact route, not rely on a general description of Delta's network.

Delta Cargo is limited to qualifying U.S. military or State Department relocations, so it won't be a general alternative for every traveler whose pet can't fly in the cabin. Partner-operated flights may have different eligibility rules, too.

Treat the fee as one part of the decision, not proof that a pet can board. Confirm the destination, route, operating airline, and cabin availability directly before you purchase tickets.

7. Iberia

Iberia may suit a journey centered on Spain, especially when its route network provides a direct or practical connection. The airline publishes cabin and hold conditions for eligible flights operated by Iberia, Iberia Express, and Air Nostrum. Acceptance and fees depend on the route and operating carrier, so check the Iberia pet-travel information for the specific itinerary.

A route-first choice for Spain

Iberia's cabin and hold options can accommodate different pet sizes on eligible routes, and its guidance also covers assistance dogs. But the travel mode available to you may change with the destination's import rules. Special breed and carrier restrictions can apply, so ask about your pet's profile and the exact flight before planning around a particular option.

Iberia is most useful when the airline's own network and the pet's required travel mode align. If a connection uses another carrier, verify that operator's rules as well. A health certificate prepared for destination entry won't resolve an airline restriction or a lack of pet capacity.

Top 7 International Airlines for Pet Travel: Comparison Matrix

Book Early, Paperwork First: Your Pre-Flight Checklist

Start with the route, not the airline's reputation. Shortlist two or three carriers that accept your pet's size and breed on the full itinerary, then contact them to confirm a pet place before buying tickets. Ask which airline operates every segment, whether the pet can travel in the cabin, hold, or cargo, and what carrier specifications apply. A route with fewer transfers may be easier to coordinate, but only if the airline accepts your pet on every flight.

Next, work backward from departure day on the paperwork. Airline requirements and destination entry rules are separate approval tracks: the destination may accept one set of documents while the airline asks for additional forms. Airlines typically require health certificates issued within 10 days of travel, even if the destination accepts an older certificate; some airlines or destinations require an even shorter window. Check the U.S. Department of State's guidance on pets and international travel and confirm the deadline with your operating airline.

Don't schedule the veterinary appointment until you've checked both timelines. Verify that microchip and vaccination records are accurate, destination permits are in order, and any airline-specific form is ready. For help choosing and preparing a suitable kennel, see this guide to choosing crates for overseas pet flights.

Veterinary practices can use Passpaw to organize destination requirements, health-certificate tasks, timelines, and document validation around the pet's travel details. That can help the practice and client keep paperwork moving before the airline's deadline, rather than discovering a missing record at check-in. The airline still makes its own acceptance decision, so keep written confirmation with your travel documents.

Passpaw helps veterinary practices manage international pet-travel requirements, timelines, and document validation in one workflow. If you're preparing a pet for an international flight, visit Passpaw to see how its tools can support your practice and clients.