Can you take dogs on a plane?

I flew with my dachshund when we moved house. It’s important to make sure your dog is properly secured; for example, you can also put an ID tag on them.

Yes, plenty of airlines allow you to take dogs on planes, although the rules vary depending on the airline and the destination. Factors like size, weight, the travel crate, and whether the dog is allowed in the cabin or the hold all play a major role. I came across this topic on a travel site and I’d love to know what experiences others have had when flying with their dogs.

Get your chequebook out. It’s very expensive and quite risky. Personally, there is no way I’d put my pet in the hold. Would you do that to a baby?

My sister tried it and her Australian Shepherd came back traumatised. He can’t sleep on his own anymore. Worse still, he trashes the place. Proper behavioural issues that are making the family’s life a misery.

For the rest, Google is your friend. There’s no shortage of information out there.

Hi there,

It mostly depends on the size of your dog and the airline.

Small dogs can sometimes travel in the cabin in an approved carrier, but larger dogs usually travel in the hold in a suitable crate that meets specific standards.

Your destination and your point of departure will also affect the requirements, but generally, you will need:

• microchip identification;

• an EU pet passport;

• up-to-date vaccinations, particularly for rabies depending on the destination;

Specialist pet travel websites can give you more information on the regulations for different destinations.

To get precise details on transport conditions, I’d recommend contacting the airline directly.

Have a nice day,

Maëlla