Swiss International Air Lines Pet Policy

Swiss international is a pet-friendly airline that allows pets to travel in-cabin as well as in-cargo. They allow you to carry your pet with you on any part of their route network. Offering pet travel in-cabin and in-cargo, pets travel safely and comfortably on Swiss International flights. All you need to do is book your pet’s carriage in advance and make sure you have all the travel documents required.Here is everything you’ll need for pet travel on a Swiss International flight. 

Travel documents and regulations

There are various legal regulations for travelling by air with animals depending on your destination. So, book your pet’s carriage in advance and present the original versions of your pet’s documents, including: 

• Import Documentation 
• Export Documentation 
• Transit Documentation 
• Health certificates 
• Vaccination Certificates 

The owner must pay for the return flights if an animal is not permitted to enter a country because it has not had the required vaccinations. Our Service Centre will be pleased to help you with bookings and answer any questions.

Restrictions

SWISS carries dogs and cats in the cabin or in the hold. Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds are only accepted in the cabin as they are particularly susceptible to temperature and stress. These animals are at risk of health problems and are therefore not approved for carriage in the hold.

They do not accept animals that are pregnant either.

Please note: each passenger is permitted to take a maximum of two animals with them (in an approved transport container).

Carriage can be in the cabin and/or in the hold:

• They have a limited number of pets per flight in the cabin and in the hold
• Maximum of two animals (dog or cat) for one passenger
• One animal (dog or cat) in the cabin and one animal in the hold
• A maximum of two animals in the hold (in one or two approved transport containers)

Dogs and cats are only permitted to travel from the age of 12 weeks and above.

Please also note that animals may only be imported as cargo in the following countries:

• Hong Kong
• Ireland
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• South Africa

Accommodation on the plane

Whether your animal travels in the cabin or in the hold depends on its weight and the size of its transport container. The regulations on the carriage of animals differ according to the country and airport (e.g. carriage only as freight or general prohibitions on carriage). 

Please note that it is not possible to carry large animals as cargo to certain destinations due to local conditions and restrictions. 

Carriage in the Cabin (Less than 8 Kg)

The following animals can travel in the cabin

• Dogs and cats weighing up to 8 kg (weight including travel carrier)
• Larger dogs if they are trained guide dogs (e.g. guide dogs for visually impaired passengers). They must fit in front of the seat.

Conditions

• Carry your pet in a soft travel carrier that is clean, leak-proof and scratch-resistant. The travel carrier must not exceed 118 cm (55 x 40 x 23 cm) so it can be stowed under the seat in front. It should therefore not have a solid frame.
• There must be enough space in it for the animal, which must remain fully in the transport container for the entire flight. It is not permitted to run around in the cabin.
• Your animal must be clean and healthy and should not bother any other passengers. It should not be dangerous, pregnant or smell.
• The transport container must be large enough for the animal to stand in its natural position, turn around and lie down.
• The transport container must be stowed under your seat for take-off, landing and during turbulence. Due to the design of the seats in the Airbus 330/340 and Boeing 777, this is not possible in SWISS Business (except in the last row) or SWISS First. Our crew will stow the transport container in the cloakroom, in one of the overhead baggage compartments or under another passenger seat during take-off and landing.
• There are no size and weight restrictions for dogs with protective or assistance functions. They can travel freely in the cabin and do not have to be in a transport container.

Please notify Swiss well in advance that you’d like to bring your animal. You can do this online yourself in “My bookings” (except for USA flights) or via the Service Center. 

In addition, to take a pet as hand baggage in the cabin, they require confirmation from you for all flights that your pet meets all the specified conditions. Please present two printed copies of the completed and signed form at the check-in desk.

Carriage in the Hold (Less than 8 Kg) 

The conditions in the hold are the same as those in the cabin. The temperature and air pressure are also pleasant on longer flights. You cannot visit your pet in the hold during the flight. Check in together with your pet. Bring your pet to the check-in desk in an appropriate transport container at least 2 hours but no more than 3 hours before departure.

Please note that you will be charged an additional fee of EUR 150/CHF 170/USD 170/CAD 220 per animal when travelling via FRA, MUC, VIE, ZRH or GVA (applies to tickets issued after 1 April 2021).

The following animals travel in the hold

• Dogs and cats that do not belong to snub-nosed breeds and weigh more than 8 kg (weight including transport containers) or are travelling in a transport container exceeding the permitted size (max. 118 cm; 55 x 40 x 23 cm).
• Animals other than dogs and cats are not permitted to travel in the hold. Certain species may be carried as freight. Find detailed information about which species this affects under “Extended regulations”.
• Information and special requirements for the carriage of fighting dog breeds, snub-nosed dogs and cats can be found under “Extended regulations”.

Conditions

• Your pet must be clean, healthy and not dangerous. It must not be pregnant and must not smell.
• It must travel in a suitable container or crate and must have enough food and water for the entire journey.

Regulations for Pet Travel Containers 

The international aviation authority IATA has laid down regulations for transport containers. SWISS strictly adheres to these rules for reasons of animal welfare. They define the conditions, appearance and minimum size for transport containers.

Please make sure that the container is equipped with some absorbent material and is adequate for the size of the animal. Also attach the IATA “Live Animals” label securely to your container. You must also provide food and water bowls and fix them to the crate.

You can find specifications for the container for the carriage of dogs and cats as cargo in the air-conditioned hold here:

• The container must be suitable for carrying the cat or dog.
• The size must be calculated to ensure the animal can stand up, move around and lie down in a natural position.
• The inside of the container must be smooth and free from any uneven sections which the animal could chew or scratch off. This will ensure the container remains intact.
• The top of the container must be watertight to prevent rain, snow or hail from getting in.
• Containers consisting of an upper and lower section must be securely screwed together.
• The container must be sturdy, lockable and clean, with a waterproof base lined with absorbent material.
• The door must be well secured.
• We recommend using cable ties to secure the door.
• Wheels are not permitted on the container. If wheels are fitted, they must be removed or disabled before the container can be accepted.
• Ventilation must be provided on all four sides of the container. The ventilation holes must be of a suitable size or covered with a grille, to ensure that no part of the animal’s body can protrude from the container. This will help minimize the risk of injury.
• The ventilation holes on the sides and the back must be positioned in the top two-thirds of the container.
• Spacers must be incorporated into the design (both on the sides and at the back) to act as handles for moving the container and to ensure the ventilation holes are not blocked by other freight or items of baggage.

1. Separate bowls for both water and food must be provided and attached securely to the carrying container.
2. Instructions for feeding and watering must be provided on the information sticker

• The container must be easy for our staff to handle and must provide protection against scratch and bite injuries by the animal.

Transport containers for dogs and cats

Please note: containers made of wire or wire mesh are not permitted for air carriage. The top of the container also must not be made of wire but must be made of solid material. Ventilation holes are permitted, providing they do not reduce the stability of the top of the container.

• Door hinges and latches must protrude above and below the door openings on the horizontal projections by at least 1.60 cm.
• Ventilation holes
• Rear view
• Attached food and water containers
• Door latch
• Spacers

Carriage as cargo

The following pets travel as cargo:

• Animals travelling without a human companion
• Animals travelling to countries where they are required by law to travel as cargo

Your animal will also be safe and comfortable if it travels as cargo. Whether it travels on the same flight as you depend on the capacity of the flight. For bookings and questions, please contact Swiss WorldCargo.

Bringing pets to SWISS Lounges

You are welcome to bring your four-legged friends with you to our Lounges. However, please note that out of consideration for our other guests, your dogs or cats must not be allowed to roam freely around in SWISS Lounges, and they should wait in their cargo crate or carrier for their onward journey. These rules do not apply to assistance dogs.

Travelling to Switzerland with dogs and cats

If you fly directly to Switzerland, your pet will be checked by customs at the airport. If the animal fails to meet the entry requirements, it will be confiscated by the Border Veterinary Service and must immediately return to its country of origin. This will be at the expense of the person who brought the animal into the country. Please refer to the website of the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office for further infomation.