Dog in Cabin Weight Limit: 27 Airlines Compared, With Fees
The short answer: almost every European airline lets your dog fly in the cabin if dog and bag together weigh 8 kg or less. Vueling allows 10 kg. The big US airlines set no weight limit at all, as long as the bag fits under the seat. Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air take no pets, and British Airways doesn't carry them in the cabin.
Below: the cabin limit, the hold option and the price for 27 airlines, each checked on the airline's own website in September 2026. Prices are per one-way flight. Rules change, so always confirm with your airline before you book.
European airlines: weight limits and fees
"Hold" means the heated luggage space under the floor of your own plane. You hand your dog over in a hard kennel at check-in and pick it up after landing.
| Airline | Cabin max (dog + bag) | Cabin fee in Europe | Hold | Hold fee in Europe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KLM | 8 kg | €70–500, shown when you book | Yes, up to 75 kg | €70–500 |
| Air France | 8 kg | €125 | Yes, up to 75 kg | €200 |
| Transavia | 8 kg | €50 (HV flights) · €60–180 (TO flights) | Yes, up to 75 kg | €77 (HV) · from €100 (TO) |
| TUI | 8 kg | €60 | Yes, kennel up to 121 × 81 × 86 cm | €90 |
| Eurowings | 8 kg | From €60 | No | – |
| Lufthansa | 8 kg | Set per route, see airline | Yes | Set per route, see airline |
| SWISS | 8 kg | €80 | Yes | €100 small kennel · €200 larger |
| Austrian | 8 kg | €80 per flight | Yes | €100 small kennel · €200 larger |
| Brussels Airlines | 8 kg | €80 | Yes | €100 small kennel · €200 larger |
| Aegean | 8 kg | €65 | Yes | €110 (8–25 kg) · €180 (over 25 kg) |
| Iberia | 8 kg | €60 online | Yes, up to 45 kg | €135–155, by weight |
| Vueling | 10 kg | From €60 | No | – |
| TAP Air Portugal | 8 kg | From €70 (€80 in high season) | Yes, up to 32 kg to/from the Netherlands (45 kg elsewhere) | €118–128 up to 32 kg |
| SAS | 8 kg | €75 | Yes, up to 50 kg | €169 |
| Finnair | 8 kg | €60 (€65 if booked within 6 days) | Yes, up to 75 kg | €140 |
| Turkish Airlines | 8 kg | Fee calculator only, see airline | Yes, up to 50 kg | Fee calculator only |
| British Airways | No pets in the cabin | – | Cargo only (IAG Cargo / PetAir UK) | Quote on request |
| Ryanair | No pets | – | No | – |
| easyJet | No pets | – | No | – |
| Wizz Air | No pets | – | No | – |
Transavia: HV flight numbers are Transavia Netherlands, TO flight numbers are Transavia France. TUI prices are for TUI Netherlands and TUI fly Belgium. Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air only carry recognised assistance dogs.
US airlines: no weight limit, but the bag must fit
American, Delta, United, JetBlue, Alaska, Southwest and Frontier don't publish a weight limit for a dog in the cabin. The rule is simply that your dog must fit in a carrier under the seat in front of you and be able to turn around in it. In practice that means a small dog.
| Airline | Cabin fee (US flights) | Hold |
|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | $150 | Only for military or State Department staff on orders |
| Delta | $150 ($200 international) | Only as cargo via Delta Cargo |
| United | $150 | No (military/State Department only) |
| JetBlue | $150 | No |
| Alaska Airlines | $100 | Yes, up to 68 kg with kennel, $200 |
| Southwest | $125 | No |
| Frontier | $149 | No |
Flying from Europe to the US? American doesn't take pets in the cabin on transatlantic flights, Alaska doesn't fly pets to or from Europe, and Delta and United refuse pets to the UK and Iceland. A European airline is usually the easier route.
What counts toward the 8 kg
- Dog and bag together. A 6 kg dog in a 2 kg bag is already at the limit, so a light soft bag leaves more room for your dog.
- The bag size matters as much as the weight. It goes under the seat in front of you, and every airline sets its own maximum, from 40 × 25 × 23 cm (SAS) to 55 × 40 × 23 cm (Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels). Read which dog carrier bag is really airline-approved.
- Too heavy for the cabin? Then your dog flies in the hold in a hard IATA kennel. See what a hold kennel must have.
Flying further than Europe
- Air France: €200 in the cabin, €600 in the hold between Europe and the US or Canada.
- SWISS: €125 in the cabin on intercontinental flights, €190–380 in the hold.
- Finnair: €120 in the cabin, €650 in the hold.
- SAS: €99 in the cabin, €340 in the hold (Asia, Canada, US).
- Iberia: €180 in the cabin, €290–330 in the hold.
- TAP: from €150 in the cabin, €227–317 in the hold.
On many airlines these destinations are cargo only: the United Kingdom, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Australia and South Africa. Going to England? Read how to take your dog to the UK by ferry or train.
Three things to know before you book
- Book your own ticket first, then add the dog straight away. Every airline has a limited number of pet spots per flight.
- Snub-nosed breeds (pugs, bulldogs, boxers and similar) are refused in the hold by most airlines. The cabin is usually fine if they're under the weight limit.
- Papers: an EU pet passport, a microchip and a rabies shot at least 21 days old. Puppies can't fly abroad before about 15 weeks.
Check your own dog in one minute
Our free Dog Flight Checker takes your dog's weight and tells you which of these 27 airlines take it in the cabin, in the hold, or not at all, with links to book the spot.
Sources: the pet pages of each airline listed, checked September 2026. Fees can differ by route, season and booking channel. Always confirm with your airline before you book.