Flying Austrian Airlines With Your Dog: Cabin, Hold, Fees and How to Book
Austrian Airlines follows the Lufthansa Group rules, so if you have flown Lufthansa or SWISS with your dog, this will look familiar: 8 kg in the cabin, in a soft bag of 55 × 40 × 23 cm. Here's the short version, checked September 2026. Rules change, so confirm on Austrian's pet page before you fly.
In the cabin: up to 8 kg, dog and bag together
Weight: max 8 kg for dog and carrier together.
Bag: max 55 × 40 × 23 cm, so the three sides add up to 118 cm. It must be soft, bite-proof, leak-proof, sealed against odours and ventilated even when closed, and big enough for your dog to stand, turn and lie down.
Not allowed: a rigid frame, wheels or a telescopic handle, because the bag has to slide under the seat in front of you.
Paperwork: bring two printed, signed copies of Austrian's pet form to the check-in desk.
Age and health rules
Your dog must be at least twelve weeks old and weaned. Pregnant animals are not accepted. You may bring up to two pets in an approved carrier.
In the hold: for the bigger dog
A dog that is too big or too heavy for the cabin travels in the hold. Snub-nosed breeds are not accepted there, because heat and stress hit them harder. Austrian also notes that large animals cannot go in the hold to certain destinations. The Dog Flight Checker gives the crate size your dog needs under the IATA rules.
Where your dog must travel as freight
For some countries, including the United Kingdom and South Africa, animals must be shipped as freight whatever their size. For the UK, see our guide on taking your dog to the UK.
What it costs and how to book
Austrian does not publish one flat fee: the price depends on the route and is confirmed when your booking is checked. Add a cabin pet yourself through My Bookings, except on flights to the USA. For a bigger dog, or for the hold, call the Service Centre. Austrian then checks availability and whether your dog meets the conditions, so do this well before departure.
Bring an EU pet passport, a microchip and a rabies shot that is at least 21 days old. See our EU pet passport guide.
Not sure if your dog fits the rules?
Our free Dog Flight Checker takes your dog's weight and tells you whether Austrian, and 26 other airlines, take it in the cabin or the hold, with a checklist for the vet dates.
Also flying with: Lufthansa · SWISS · Brussels Airlines. Need a bag? Which Dog Carrier Bag Is Really Airline-Approved?
Source: Austrian Airlines travelling with animals page, checked September 2026. Always confirm with the airline before you book.