Is carrying a pet on a plane a concern for you? It’s natural for you to feel guilty and uncomfortable when traveling because you have to leave your furry friend alone or entrust his care to someone else. maybe Transporting animals by plane At first, it may seem very costly, stressful and difficult. But as long as your airline offers pet-friendly services, taking your adorable little one on a trip is easier than you might think. But to learn about the conditions of transporting pets by plane and the best airline for transporting pets, stay with Fly Today tourism magazine until the end of this article.
Know the best airlines to carry a pet by plane!
If you are planning a trip and want to take your pet with you, first of all you should know which airlines accept your pet or Rules for transporting pets by plane What is in each airline? In the following, we have introduced Iranian and foreign airlines that have the possibility of sending animals by plane.
Foreign airlines and transporting pets by plane
In general, you are not allowed to take your pets with you on regular flights. Unless the relevant airline has conditions for transporting pets. Foreign airlines that accept passengers’ pets include:
Carrying a pet with Turkey
The simplest and most convenient Conditions for transporting a pet by plane It belongs to Turkish Air. If you go to your desired destination with Turkish planes, you can register your request to send animals by plane when buying a ticket. In this case, if your request is rejected, you will know exactly why. Also, the possibility of agreeing to the request to carry an animal in Turkish Airlines will be more.
There are 3 ways you can choose to transport a pet by plane through Turkish Airlines:
- Taking a pet in the cabin with the passenger
- Carrying a live animal as an excess baggage on the passenger’s own flight
- Sending a pet by cargo or air freight
But before buying a ticket and choosing any of these methods, it is necessary to be familiar with the regulations of bringing pets on Turkish planes. Rules for taking a pet in the cabin with a passenger as follows:
| Important items | Conditions |
| Pets allowed | Birds, hamsters, dogs and small domestic cats |
| Maximum pet weight | The weight of the animal + box should not exceed 8 kg. |
| The dimensions of the animal carrying box | Maximum dimensions: (height) x (width) x (length) centimeters. The box should be made of soft fabric and placed under the front seat. |
| The cost of transporting an animal by Turkish Airlines | The cost is determined based on the flight route and is calculated as an additional piece of luggage. |
| Age limit | The animal must be at least 10 weeks old. |
At present, it is possible to bring dogs and cats with a soft box to the cabin of the Turkish plane under certain conditions. These conditions include:
– The weight of the pet plus the box should be at least 8 kg.
– The maximum size of the box is 40 cm x 30 cm x 23 cm (length 40 x width 30 x height 23).
– The age of the pet is more than 10 weeks.

Carrying a pet with Emirates and Qatar Airways
Emirates and Qatar are other airlines that offer the ability to carry animals, but considering that they are located in Islamic countries, it is rare that the applicant’s request is approved. If the request is accepted, the animals are usually transported by cabin.
Carrying a pet with Lufthansa
Lufthansa is another airline that services Transporting pets by plane provides You can contact the office of Lufthansa Airlines or reputable pet carriers a few weeks before your trip to check the possibility of carrying an animal and the capacity of the cabin or cargo area. Keep in mind that getting confirmation from the airline is mandatory. But in general, there is no guarantee that your request will be approved. The best way is to transport your pet through Turkey.
Carrying a pet on domestic flights
In domestic companies, it is not possible to take pets inside the plane cabin. However, you can apply to carry your pet. Domestic airlines carry pets in the cargo area. Of course, you should pay attention to the fact that not all planes can carry a pet in the cargo hold.
Therefore, be sure to make the necessary arrangements with the relevant airline before booking the ticket. Accepting or rejecting the request to carry an animal by plane depends on the conditions of the airport and there is no guarantee that your request will be approved. In the following, we will talk about the conditions and costs of transporting dogs or other pets by plane.
The most important conditions for transporting a pet by plane
After getting acquainted with the airlines that have the possibility of transporting pets by plane, you should also familiarize yourself with the conditions of transporting animals. Note that each airline has its own regulations for sending animals, and it is better to research these regulations before traveling. Also, you should check the conditions and laws of the destination country. Some countries require you to undergo certain tests or some countries do not allow pets at all; This has nothing to do with the airline. In the following, we will review the general conditions for transporting pets together.

Methods of transporting a pet by plane
If you imagine that you can sit in the airplane seat with your pet until you reach your destination, we have to say that no, in most cases, this is not possible. But in general, there are two ways to transport animals by plane:
1. Carrying a pet on the plane as a companion Through passenger terminals
None of the domestic airlines provide these services. In foreign flights, the rules are different depending on the route, airline and type of pet.
2. Carrying a pet on the plane unaccompanied through freight and cargo terminals
Departure of animals and birds without a passenger by mail or cargo. In this case, the passenger cannot accompany his pet, and for this reason, he must send his pet to the cargo of the airline from which he came. plane ticket Booked and delivered. As a result, your pet, domestic or wild, will be accepted at the airport’s cargo terminal, and at the destination airport, the person whose name is included in the bill of lading can pick up the animal at the clearance point.
Before anything else, this method requires coordination with the destination country, and the owner of the animal is responsible for any consequences and damages caused by the lack of coordination. Before any planning, it is necessary to read the article Guide to permitted and unauthorized items on the plane Also read
Necessary documents for transporting a pet by plane
Just as you need documents to enter the plane yourself, you must also prepare documents to carry a pet on the plane, and if you do not present these documents to the airline, your pet will not be allowed to enter the plane.
In general, the documents required for an animal to enter the plane at the airport include the following:
- Animal birth certificate or passport
- Copy of the first page of the passenger’s passport
- The original valid international health certificate (in English) issued by the government veterinarian of the country of origin or destination with the name of the traveler, number of the animal’s chip and the date of issuance (not more than 7 days have passed since the date of issuance of the certificate).
- Providing the original and copy of the animal’s health certificate with the name of the animal’s owner (which matches the name of the passenger), the animal’s microchit number and the details of the rabies and multiple inoculated vaccines (more than one year has not passed since the inoculation date of the mentioned vaccines).
- Written confirmation of airport veterinary quarantine (for international flights only)
- Pet vaccination documents that must be valid.
- Completing the special form for the request to carry out errands and carry a pet
- Presenting the original payment slip for pet transportation
Note that in order to take a pet to some countries, pet health tests must be issued through laboratories approved by the destination country. To get this license, you need to find the list of laboratories approved by the destination country. If your travel destination is some European or American countries, you must send the sample to a laboratory in a foreign country such as England or Türkiye. Many reputable veterinary clinics in Iran offer these services.
Important point: Animals that have already left the country after receiving a health certificate from the government veterinary offices of Iran, in order to return to the country, they must also obtain an international health certificate from the government veterinary office of the country of origin (foreign country).

Conditions for accepting pets by plane
Rules for carrying pets It varies by plane, so be sure to contact the airport of origin before you take any action to transport your pet by plane. It is recommended to avoid sending animals that are small in size, because during transportation by air, The danger of death threatens such animals.
Contacting the airport at least 24 hours before traveling with a pet is necessary, because you will be informed of possible issues and problems for accepting the pet, and you will be familiar with the steps you must go through to deliver the pet. Remember to be at the airport at least 3 hours before international trips and 2 hours before domestic trips to accept the animal.
- For the travel of puppies and kittens, at least 10 weeks must have passed since their birth. (In some countries, the minimum age of the animal is 12 weeks).
- According to the rules of the Iranian Veterinary Organization, you can carry a maximum of 2 dog or cat collars and 10 pieces of decorative birds with you.
- Give your pet light food a few hours before the trip, and if your trip lasts more than 2 hours, put enough water in the pet’s cage.
- Some airlines may not accept animals that are aggressive, sick, restless, very old, smelly, or have any other incompatible conditions.
- Some airlines may not accept expensive animals or animals that are of special value to their owners.
- If the passenger does not declare this at the airport, the airlines will not take any responsibility.

- Some airlines do not allow the entry of animals such as aquatic animals, wild animals, single bird chicks, insect cocoons and non-domestic animals as companions, and you must hand these animals over to the bill of lading and cargo department for transfer. Of course, in such cases, the destination country must accept the animal.
- Try to use night or early morning flights in summer and hot days when the weather gets a little cooler, and use daytime flights in winter and cold days. Some airlines may refuse to accept animals outside of the listed hours.
- Your pet may not be allowed on some planes. For example, some small airliners such as BAE do not accept pets.
- Some airlines, such as Qatar Airways, do not accept certain types of dogs and cats, because these animals are prone to heatstroke in stressful situations or at temperatures above 21 degrees Celsius.
- It is obvious that in case of any defect in the above required documents or if there are any symptoms of illness, it is not possible to release the animal accompanying the traveler and the animal must be quarantined for 21 days.
Remember, passengers who bring their pet four hours before the flight by preparing the following documents, go to the veterinary quarantine office located in Hall A of the passenger entrance of Imam Airport. In case of not going to the veterinary quarantine office of Imam Khomeini (RA) airport when leaving the country, the passenger will be responsible for any consequences and damages. In addition, it is necessary to check the latest regulations before going to the airport Traveling with animals at Imam Khomeini Airport read the
A suitable cage for carrying a pet by plane
There are also restrictions on the number of pets that can be carried on the plane. For example, if you want a mother animal with her children in the same cage, the number of children should not be more than 3, their age should not be more than six months, and the weight of each child should not be more than 2 kg. If you want to put several animals together in a cage, their number should be at most 3, their age should be at most 12 weeks and their weight should be at most 2 kilos.

Be very careful in choosing the type of animal cage, because the airport will not allow you to carry an animal with any cage. You can buy special boxes for carrying animals on the plane from pet shops. Usually these boxes do not have wheels and are locked. When buying a box, pay attention to its strength, height and dimensions.
The box should be in such a way that the animal can easily stand and move in it, and the cage should be well ventilated. Therefore, spend a little generosity in buying an animal cage so that your animal is not disturbed during the flight and the animal is prevented from entering the plane. Before you put the animal in the cage, be sure to open its collar and muzzle, you can guide Buying a dog box for international flights Or read the cat box to make a better choice.
Specific conditions of some countries for transporting pets by plane
Some countries have their own conditions for accepting animals. For example, countries such as the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman do not allow pets to be carried on the plane as a companion, and they can only be transported by cargo. For the animal to enter some countries such as England and Australia, quarantine time must be passed. In such cases, you must provide additional documents such as microchip, microchip number and exact date of its injection, rabies vaccine with full details and exact date, and a blood test sample approved by the European Union. If these documents are presented, the animal can enter England after three months.

In addition to the above-mentioned documents, you must also prepare the approval of the European Union form by the Veterinary Organization and the health certificate of the Veterinary Organization for the entry of the animal into the North American countries. For the animal to enter countries such as Malaysia or the United Arab Emirates, a health certificate from the veterinary organization and a rabies test are required.
The cost of transporting a pet by plane
How to calculate the cost of transporting pets by plane is different according to the rules of each airline, for example, how to calculate the AVIH fare in Mahan Airlines is as follows:
Rules for transporting pet birds
The total weight of the bird including the cage is multiplied by 4 to determine the extra charge.
Rules for transporting domestic animals
The total weight of the animal including the cage is multiplied by 2 to determine the extra charge. Of course, this cost is calculated separately from the amount of free baggage allowance of the passenger in each route and flight class, and the passenger must pay this amount if he does not have baggage with him.

Carrying pets on transit flights
Pets are usually checked during stops that occur on transit flights in the following ways:
- Pets are checked for signs of illness or stress.
- Animals are taken out of their enclosure for a walk or rest.
- The place where the animals are kept is cleaned.
- During transit, they consider a bigger and more comfortable place for the animal.
An important point in carrying a pet by plane
If the distance from the origin to the destination is long and you have to change your plane on the way, be sure to buy all your tickets from the same airline. Otherwise, there’s no guarantee that the new airline will accept your pet, and you may face unpleasant challenges in shipping animals.

Buy tickets for pets on FlyToday
To carry a pet with Buy Turkish Airlines tickets or any other airline, you can easily apply for your flight ticket and obtain permission to carry your pet through the website or Fly Today application.
First, you need to register on the Fly Today website (if you haven’t done it before), then provide the desired information and documents, which include a photo of the first page of the passenger’s passport, as well as the route, date and time of the intended flight. Flight sales experts send Next, you must declare the breed of the pet as well as the dimensions of the box carrying it and its total weight with the animal.
After confirming the transportation request from the desired airline, charge your user account with the amount of the ticket in the financial section of the Fly Today site. After sending the reservation on the site and confirming and charging the user account, the ticket will be issued. (It should be noted that the reservation will be confirmed for a few hours and any possible changes are the responsibility of the passenger). Also, according to the rules of carrying a pet with Turkish Airlines, the seat selected by the passenger must be the seat next to the window if the pet is carried in the passenger cabin, and the seat next to the window is considered for the passenger in the airport as well.
Conditions for carrying a pet with the purchase of a plane ticket
If you plan to take your pet on a trip with you, you should ask the airline about the rules for transporting pets by plane before booking a plane ticket. If you do not agree with the request, it is possible to change the time and day of your departure and re-send your request to the relevant airline to carry a pet. Services such as online visa, travel tour and Hotel reservation are also available online.
If you have had the experience of transporting pets by plane or other tips about Rules for transporting animals by plane You know, share your recommendations and suggestions with us.
Frequently asked questions about taking a pet by plane
What is the allowed age of the animal to be transported by plane?
The animal must be at least 10 weeks old and in some countries at least 12 weeks old.
How many hours before the flight do we have to be at the airport to hand over the animal to the plane?
Be at the airport at least four hours before international flights and two hours before domestic flights.
What are the characteristics of a suitable cage for transporting a pet by plane?
The cage you choose for your pet should have a lock, no wheels, holes for air flow, and not too big or small.
Is it possible to take a cat into the airplane cabin?
Some airlines, such as Turkish, have provided this possibility under certain conditions. Turkish Airlines allows the possibility of bringing a pet inside the cabin only if strict conditions are met (weighing under 8 kilos and using a soft box). Otherwise, it must fly in the cargo area.
What is it like to transport a bird by plane?
The conditions and rules for transporting any animal by plane depend on the rules of the airline company and can be different.
What are the necessary documents to buy plane tickets for animals?
Valid vaccination documents, birth certificate and passport of the animal (for animals that have a passport), provision of a suitable cage for the animal, etc.
How much does it cost to carry pets with foreign airlines?
The costs are not fixed and are determined according to the flight route and the type of transportation method. For exact amount, please contact us.
What are the most important restrictions of carrying a pet by plane?
Except for the cases mentioned in this article, animals that are physically weak or sick are not allowed to travel by plane.
Is it possible to use one box to carry several pets?
Yes, in some situations it is possible to use a shared box. Small animals under 24 weeks from the same mother can fit up to 3 animals in one box. Adult animals can also be transported in a common box only if they weigh less than 14 kg and are used to living together.
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