KLM Airlines Pet Policy

Pets are welcome to travel with you on a KLM flight. Here is everything you need to know about making a reservation and preparing for your pet’s trip. 

Reserving Your Pet’s Flight 

Pets can travel both in-cabin with you or in the pressure and temperature-controlled cargo hold. Here’s everything you need to know about preparing for your journey. 

KLM only transports cats and dogs in their cabin and hold. This is to safeguard the health, safety, and comfort of all passengers – including animals by following animal welfare guidelines and the regulations of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

There’s limited space for pets in an aircraft; the number of pets that can be flown depends on the type of aircraft, destination, and operating airline. Please make a reservation for your pet as soon as possible after booking your flight. Try to make the reservation no later than 48 hours before the departure of your flight. Please note that your pet should travel on the same flight as you, should be at least 15 weeks old, and must travel in accordance with the regulations of international pet travel to or from the UAE. 

Pets Travelling in the Cabin 

• You can bring 1 cat or dog with you in the cabin when travelling in Economy Class, or when travelling in Business Class within Europe. 
• Your pet should fit in a closed pet travel bag or kennel with a maximum of 46 x 28 x 24 cm because they’ll need to travel underneath the seat in front of you.
• Together with your pet, the travel bag or kennel can weigh no more than 8 kg. You’re not allowed to take your pet out of the kennel during the flight, so please make sure they’re small enough to move comfortably.
• You cannot bring a pet in the cabin if you fly Premium Comfort Class or Business Class on an intercontinental route. In these travel classes, it’s not possible to put a kennel underneath the seat in front of you.

Pets Travelling in the Hold

• If your pet is too big to travel in the cabin, you can bring up to 3 pets in the hold. They can share the same kennel if they weigh no more than 14 kg each, and they’re 2 adult animals of comparable size, or 3 animals up to 6 months old from the same litter.
• Make sure the combined weight of your pet and kennel is no more than 75 kg. The kennel itself can be maximum 122 x 81 x 89 cm on KLM flights, or maximum 102 x 69 x 76 cm on KLM Cityhopper flights (operated with Embraer aircraft).
• Make a reservation for your pet travelling in the hold as soon as possible after booking your flight. To make a reservation reach out to the KLM Customer Contact Centre.

Exceptions

It’s not possible to bring your pet in the hold if you have a transfer time of more than 3 hours, or if your flight is operated with a Boeing 787-9 or 787-10 aircraft.

Do you have a connecting flight in Paris? Please note that you need a transfer time of at least 4.5 hours in order for your pet to be allowed onto the next flight. Unfortunately, it’s currently not possible to travel through Paris with your pet in the hold if you’ve got a shorter connection. Please check your flight plan if you’re travelling from the UAE. 

Snub-Nosed Animals 

Your snub-nosed pet may have trouble breathing during the flight due to high temperatures and stress. Because your furry friend should travel safely and comfortably, KLM cannot transport most of these pets in the hold. However, you can take them with you in the cabin or transport them as cargo. Please check the breed of your cat or dog before making a reservation.

• Snub Nosed Cat Breeds: Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan, and Persian cats are not allowed in the hold.
• Snub Nosed Dog Breeds: Affenpinscher, American Bully, Boston Terrier, Boxers (all breeds), Bulldogs (all breeds), Bull Mastiff, Cane Corso, Pugs (all breeds), Chow-Chow, Great Dane (all breeds), Certain breeds of Spaniel (Tibetan, Japanese, English, King Charles), Brussels Griffon, Lhasa Apso, Mastiffs (all breeds), Neapolitan Mastiff, Pekingese, Small Brabant, Shih Tzu, Shar Pei, Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Pets KLM Cannot Transport 

KLM cannot transport your pet if: 

• You want to bring an animal other than a dog or a cat.
• Your pet and kennel combined weigh more than 75 kg.
• The kennel is larger than 122 x 81 x 89 cm on KLM flights, or larger than 102 x 69 x 76 cm on KLM Cityhopper flights.
• Your dog or cat is travelling on a different flight from yours.
• Your dog or cat is travelling to a country whose authorities only allow the transportation of pets as cargo.

In such cases, it is recommended you contact a specialised shipping agent.

Preparing For Your Pet’s Trip 

Check which travel documents you need to bring, the kennel requirements for a pet in the hold, and how to prepare your pet for their trip. 

Travel Documentation

Make sure to arrange your pet’s vaccinations, health certificates, and travel documents well in advance. If you are travelling to or from the UAE, please make sure to check for the nation-specific documentation, certification, and testing requirements for your destination.

• Within the EU: Dogs and cats travelling within the European Union must be identified by an electronic chip. They must also have a European passport, confirming they’re properly vaccinated.
• Outside the EU: If you travel to or from outside the European Union, other rules might apply. KLM recommends consulting the embassies of your departure, transfer, and arrival countries to find out which documents are required. To avoid having to quarantine your pet, check the import rules of your destination. These rules depend on the rabies risk in the country you’re travelling from.

Pet Crate/Kennel Requirements 

Please make sure your kennel meets the following requirements:

• Your pet should be able to stand without their head touching the roof, turn around, and lie down comfortably.
• The kennel should have a fiberglass or rigid plastic shell.
• Wheels on the kennel should be removed or blocked with duct tape.
• The door should have a centralized locking system that fastens both locks on top and at the bottom of the door. The hinge and locking pins should extend beyond the horizontal extrusions above and below the door opening by at least 1.6 cm.
• The kennel needs to be rigid enough to prevent your pet from escaping through gaps at the seams or joints. Does the kennel consist of 2 parts? Make sure they’re joined by bolts. Other lateral closing systems are not allowed.
• The kennel should have either 2 empty containers or 1 food bowl with 2 empty compartments for food and water. These have to be sealed or attached to the kennel and need to be fillable from the outside.
• There should be a blanket, newspaper, or other absorbent material on the bottom inside the kennel. Note that straw is not allowed.

Crate-Training Your Pet 

Going from their comfortable bed to a crate can take some getting used to. We recommend allowing your pet to get used to their crate for 5 days before departure. Note that your pet is not allowed to eat or drink 2 hours before departure. If you travelling with your dog, make sure to walk them shortly before departure. 

Please Note: It is strongly advised you do not tranquillize your pet. It will take longer for them to get accustomed to their new surroundings, and their temperature may drop during the flight. If you really want to use a tranquillizer, only do so in consultation with your veterinarian.