Air France Pet Travel Guide: How to Fly with Your Dog or Cat

Flying with a pet can be a magical experience, but to avoid any hassles you’ll need to get acquainted with the airline’s pet carriage rules—because they vary from carrier to carrier if you’re travelling from France.

In this series we explain the ins and outs of each airline operating from French airports on domestic and international routes. Let’s start with France’s flagship carrier, Air France.

Air France allows passengers to fly with a pet—in-cabin or in the hold—but only cats and dogs are permitted. Every pet must have its own ticket, a booking that has to be made no later than 48 hours before departure, and the fee depends on the destination and whether your companion travels in the cabin or the hold (see further details below).

We strongly advise you to check your destination’s additional health and entry requirements. Many countries—even inside Europe—impose specific sanitary or veterinary rules; don’t forget to verify what applies in both your country of origin and your final stop, not to mention any transit stops.

Before you board

💡 Quick checklist:

• Your pet must be healthy and up to date on vaccinations.

• It must be micro-chipped; the chip’s built-in details have to be current.

• You must carry your pet’s pet passport and health record, both of which also need to be up to date.

• Depending on whether your pet travels in-cabin or in the hold, the travel crate has to meet IATA standards.

In-cabin travel: Furry passengers must ride in a soft, TSA-approved carrier with maximum dimensions 45 x 39 x 21 cm (up to 8 kg including animal).

In-the-hold travel: IATA regulations require the crate to let the animal stand upright without the head or ears touching the roof, turn around and lie down naturally. Additional crate requirements:

• Rigid, IATA-compliant crate made of sturdy plastic in two sections

• Two attached bowls

• Clear "top" and "bottom" labels and prominent "Live Animal" stickers

• Fixed roof with no wheels

• Leak-proof bottom lined with absorbent material

• Ventilation openings in all four sides

• A secure, internal locking latch that cannot be opened from inside

• Thoroughly cleaned yet damp-proof

For more detail head to our dedicated pet-travel article.

Air France-specific cabin & hold rules

Regardless of route, every pet must be transported in a secure soft bag whose total dimensions do not exceed 46 x 28 x 24 cm. Air France advises choosing a bag soft enough to slide under the seat in front of you; stiff-sided crates are not allowed in the cabin.

This mandatory bag counts as an additional paid baggage item.

Hold travel notes: Cats and dogs weighing more than 8 kg—up to a maximum of 75 kg—must travel in the hold. A single passenger may not check more than three pets in the hold.

Extra in-hold requirements:

• Print and sign the mandatory release-of-liability waiver plus the accompanying annex titled "Conditions for Acceptance of Cats and Dogs in the Hold."

• The crate, again, must meet IATA standards.

Air France Plus: passengers whose animals fly in the hold are notified to the commander; the crew adjusts in-cabin lighting, heating, and ventilation to keep the pet safe and comfortable throughout the journey.

Restrictions & exclusions

If any of the following apply, Air France reserves the right to refuse carriage:

• Any dog that falls under French Category 1 or 2 legislation (if the animal merely resembles one of these breeds, a veterinary certificate confirming breed status must be presented).

• Animals with a flat or squashed muzzle/face.

• Pets showing poor health, injury, or sedation on the day of travel.

• Any animal demonstrating aggressive behaviour that could jeopardise staff safety or disturb other pets in transit.

Air France pet fares across Europe & beyond

Pet fees vary by distance. Expect to pay around €70 for an intra-France or intra-Europe flight in-cabin, rising to about €200 for an intercontinental journey in the hold.

Air France’s dedicated pet-travel portal outlines every step you need to take.