Korean Air carries dogs and cats in the cabin up to 7 kg and in the hold up to 45 kg. The pet's place is booked in advance — at least 48 h before departure.
Snub-nosed breeds are not accepted in the hold. A separate breed ban applies to 12 breeds. Direct flights reach 37 countries, but flying there and taking a pet are different questions: the destination country has its own entry rules.
A personal plan combines the airline's rules with the destination's
The conditions that send people back to the ticket desk: closed destinations, breeds, heat limits and how early the pet must be booked.
Korean Air does not carry ferocious dogs or their mixes: Tosa, pit bull terriers (including American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier), Rottweiler, Mastiff, Laika, Ovcharka, Kangal, Wolfdog. Snub-nosed breeds and their mixes cannot travel in the cargo hold; in the cabin they travel under the general rules: dogs — Newfoundland, Dogo Argentino, Dogue de Bordeaux, Lhasa Apso, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Bulldog, Brussels Griffon, Shar Pei, English Toy Spaniel, Shih Tzu, American Bully, Affenpinscher, Chihuahua, Japanese Chin, Chow Chow, Cane Corso, King Charles and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Pug, Pekingese, Tibetan Spaniel; cats — Burmese, British Shorthair, Scottish Fold, Exotic, Persian, Himalayan.
Korean Air flies direct to 37 countries according to the schedules. Flying there is not the same as taking a pet: the destination country has its own entry rules, and the carrier itself closes some routes to animals.
| Country | Cities | Cabin | Hold |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳 China | 21 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 16 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇺🇸 United States | 15 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | 10 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | 5 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 3 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 2 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | 2 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 2 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇵🇭 Philippines | 2 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 2 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 2 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | 2 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 2 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 1 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 1 | ✓ | ✓ |
The destinations with the most cities are shown; countries where pets are not carried are always shown. A country's entry requirements are on its own guide.
Every number above comes from the carrier's official page. Check it before buying: airlines change the rules without notice.
Ferocious dogs as stated in the Enforcement Rule of the Animal Protection Act or pets with violent tendencies
Banned breeds
Snub-nosed breeds (including mixed breeds between a snub-nosed breed and a non-snub-nosed breed), which have the risk of respiratory problems or death during a flight, cannot travel in the cargo hold (in-flight travel allowed only when boarding conditions are met)
breed restrictions.cabin only breeds
Pet conditions 16 weeks or older Total weight of the pet and pet carrier must be 45 kg (99 lb) or less Pet carrier Sum of length x width x height 291 cm (114 in) or less (up to 84 cm (33 in) high)
cargo.notes
checked pet transport is restricted on Boeing 737 and Airbus A321 aircraft for all international flights and during the warm season (June through September) for domestic flights.
cargo.aircraft types
Cabin (7 kg (15 lb) or less) … Pet conditions 8 weeks or older
cabin.min age
Cargo hold (45 kg (99 lb) or less) Pet conditions 16 weeks or older
cargo.min age
checked pet transport is restricted on Boeing 737 and Airbus A321 aircraft for all international flights and during the warm season (June through September) for domestic flights.
aircraft restrictions
Yes, up to 7 kg including the carrier.
Not in the hold.
At least 48 hours before departure.