Lufthansa carries dogs and cats in the cabin up to 8 kg and in the hold. The pet's place is booked in advance — at least 72 h before departure.
Snub-nosed breeds are not accepted in the hold. Direct flights reach 65 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.
SNUB-NOSED (brachycephalic) dogs and cats: transport in the cargo hold has been BARRED since 1 January 2020. The reason is anatomically restricted airways: the stress of carriage and high temperatures at the departure, transfer or destination airport may lead to circulatory problems and shortness of breath. They are accepted in the cabin provided the pet meets the general conditions for carriage in the cabin. As air freight they can be carried by Lufthansa Cargo.
FIGHTING AND DANGEROUS BREEDS — the mirror rule: they may be transported ONLY in the cargo hold and only in special crates; the cabin is closed to them. Exception — fighting-breed puppies between three and six months of age travel in standard containers, and cabin acceptance follows the general rules for dogs. The carrier publishes no list of breeds by name; it refers to how a breed is classified.
Lufthansa also reserves the right to refuse to transport animals in the cargo hold if there are extreme weather conditions at the destination. This can happen at short notice or seasonally.
Lufthansa flies direct to 65 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | 20 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | 16 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 14 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 11 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇫🇷 France | 11 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | 7 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇨🇴 Colombia | 7 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇭🇷 Croatia | 6 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇮🇳 India | 5 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | 5 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | 4 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 4 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | 4 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 3 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | 3 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇷🇴 Romania | 3 | ✓ | ✓ |
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.
transport is possible at an extra cost either as additional carry-on baggage in the passenger cabin or as excess baggage in the passenger aircraft’s air-conditioned cargo hold
cabin.notes
Please note that because of local circumstances and restrictions, the transport of large animals in the cargo hold to certain destinations is not possible.
cargo.notes
Yes, up to 8 kg including the carrier.
Not in the hold.
At least 72 hours before departure.