Flying with a dog from Madrid: airlines and rules

From Madrid, 19 airlines in our database accept dogs and cats in the cabin, out of 26 flying the city. Their networks reach roughly 1003 destinations with your pet on board with you. Limits differ enough to decide whether your dog flies at all.

What to know before anything else

Madrid is Iberia's hub, and Iberia is one of the few airlines where the pet can be added online during the ticket purchase, with the fee shown before you confirm: from €40 within Spain, €60 in Europe, €180 long haul, per carrier rather than per animal. Air Europa adds an unusual rule: the pet may weigh up to 8 kg and the total with the carrier up to 10 kg — the only airline with two separate limits.

Airlines accepting pets in the cabin from Madrid

Ranked by permitted weight, carrier included. The highest limit is not automatically the best choice: carrier dimensions and pet-space availability matter just as much.

• Air Canada — up to 10 kg with the carrier, solo trasportino morbido, sotto il sedile, hold up to 45 kg
• Vueling — up to 10 kg with the carrier, 45 x 39 x 21 cm, no hold option
• WestJet — up to 10 kg with the carrier, sotto il sedile, razze brachicefale ammesse, hold up to 75 kg
• American Airlines — up to 9 kg with the carrier, 46 x 28 x 28 cm (morbido), no hold option
• JetBlue — up to 9 kg with the carrier, sotto il sedile, programma JetPaws, no hold option
• United Airlines — up to 9 kg with the carrier, sotto il sedile, chiuso, no hold option
• Air France — up to 8 kg with the carrier, 46 x 28 x 24 cm (morbido), hold up to 75 kg
• Delta — up to 8 kg with the carrier, 46 x 28 x 28 cm (morbido, consigliato), no hold option
• Etihad Airways — up to 8 kg with the carrier, 40 x 40 x 22 cm sotto il sedile (50 x 43 x 50 con posto extra), hold up to 75 kg
• Finnair — up to 8 kg with the carrier, sotto il sedile, hold up to 75 kg
• ITA Airways — up to 8 kg with the carrier, 55 x 40 x 23 cm (morbido), hold up to 75 kg
• Iberia — up to 8 kg with the carrier, 45 x 35 x 25 cm (somma 105 cm), hold up to 45 kg
• KLM — up to 8 kg with the carrier, 46 x 28 x 24 cm (morbido), hold up to 75 kg
• LATAM — up to 8 kg with the carrier, solo su voli operati LATAM, hold up to 75 kg
• Lufthansa — up to 8 kg with the carrier, 55 x 40 x 23 cm, hold up to 75 kg
• SAS Scandinavian Airlines — up to 8 kg with the carrier, 40 x 25 x 23 cm, hold up to 50 kg
• SWISS — up to 8 kg with the carrier, 55 x 40 x 23 cm, hold up to 75 kg
• TAP Air Portugal — up to 8 kg with the carrier, 45 x 30 x 23 cm (morbido), hold up to 45 kg
• Turkish Airlines — up to 8 kg with the carrier, 40 x 30 x 23 cm, hold up to 50 kg

They fly these routes but carry no pets on board: British Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Ryanair, easyJet, Cathay Pacific, Aer Lingus.

Figures come from the Puppyonair database, updated against the airlines' official pages. Destination estimates are based on each airline's network and do not replace a search on your exact route.

At the airport: what actually happens

• Desk check-in. With a pet, online check-in is usually not enough: documents and carrier are checked at the desk. Allow at least an extra half hour.
• Security. The carrier goes through the X-ray empty: you take the animal out and carry it or walk it through. Have a well-fitted collar or harness ready.
• At the gate and on board. The pet stays in the carrier, which goes under the seat in front of you and cannot be opened for the whole flight.

Frequently asked questions

• How much does a dog cost on a flight from Madrid?
  With Iberia, booking online: €40 within Spain, €60 in Europe and €180 long haul, per carrier. Air Europa publishes no price list; other carriers vary by route.
• Which airlines take dogs in the cabin from Madrid?
  In our verified database, 19 airlines: Air Canada, Vueling, WestJet, American Airlines, JetBlue, United Airlines, Air France, Delta. Weight and carrier limits differ between them.
• Do I need to book the pet space in advance from Madrid?
  Yes, always. Pet spaces are limited per flight and separate from your ticket: add the pet as early as possible and confirm it before paying. A purchased ticket does not guarantee your pet boards.
• Does the weight limit include the carrier?
  Yes, with every airline verified except Air Europa, which sets two separate limits. Weigh pet and carrier together at home: a bag adds 800 g to 1.5 kg.