Not always easy to fly with your four-legged best friend. Yet some airlines are more welcoming than others.
Only Five Pet-Friendly Airlines
Ultimately, there are only five airlines that meet all the so-called “pet-friendly” criteria for traveling with dogs and cats. Aegean, KLM, Lufthansa, SAS, Finnair offer a true travel experience tailored to dogs and cats.
AirAdvisor, an international platform defending air passenger rights, publishes this ranking of the most animal-friendly airlines in Europe based on three key criteria: Are pets allowed in the cabin? Can they travel in cargo or as checked baggage? Are they accepted in the Lounges? However, only five European airlines allow animals to travel in the cabin, in cargo, and in the Lounges.
Harmonizing the European Framework
On this front, Air France does not allow animals in its Lounges. Note that the low-cost carriers Ryanair, Wizz Air, and EasyJet ban animals entirely, except for assistance dogs. KLM accepts up to 75 kg in cargo, a perfect option for larger dogs. Lufthansa allows two small animals to travel together in a cabin crate. SAS Scandinavian Airlines accepts up to 150 kg in the hold, one of the highest limits in Europe. Finally, Finnair transports certain small animals (rabbits, hedgehogs, turtles) on certain routes.
Nevertheless, the costs of traveling with a cat or dog remain highly variable: from about €35 on a domestic flight with Aegean to about €725 with SAS. A pricing policy that is distinctly inconsistent. “Europe urgently needs a clear and harmonized framework that recognizes animals as family members and protects their welfare when travel is disrupted,” says Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor.
