Flying with a dog from the USA to Europe

Which airlines take dogs in the cabin from the USA to Europe, the 8 kg problem on transatlantic flights, and the CDC rules for the return.

The route in one picture

The transatlantic problem is simple to state: European carriers cap the cabin at 8 kg including the carrier, and that limit does not grow with the length of the flight. A dog that fits in the cabin Rome-Paris fits New York-Rome too; anything bigger flies in the hold — up to 75 kg with Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, SWISS, ITA and Iberia — or as cargo.

The return to the USA has its own rules, set by the CDC: the dog must be at least 6 months old, microchipped, and you must complete the CDC Dog Import Form. If the dog has been in a high-risk rabies country in the previous six months, entry is restricted to specific airports. SWISS additionally accepts dogs to the USA only via Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, New York JFK, Newark, Philadelphia and Washington DC.

Verified airlines on these routes

Airlines from our database flying the relevant airports and accepting pets in the cabin, ranked by permitted weight, carrier included.

• Air Canada — up to 10 kg with the carrier, solo trasportino morbido, sotto il sedile, hold up to 45 kg
• WestJet — up to 10 kg with the carrier, sotto il sedile, razze brachicefale ammesse, hold up to 75 kg
• Alaska Airlines — up to 9 kg with the carrier, 43 x 28 x 19/24 cm sotto il sedile, hold up to 45 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
• Southwest — up to 9 kg with the carrier, sotto il sedile, solo voli domestici USA, 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
• Austrian Airlines — up to 8 kg with the carrier, 55 x 40 x 23 cm, 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, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines, ANA, Icelandair, Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand, Aer Lingus.

Frequently asked questions

• Which airlines take dogs in the cabin from the USA to Europe?
  Among European carriers: Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, SWISS, ITA Airways, Iberia and TAP, all capped at 8 kg including the carrier. Above that weight the dog travels in the hold, up to 75 kg with most of them.
• What are the CDC rules for bringing my dog back to the USA?
  The dog must be at least 6 months old and microchipped, and you must complete the CDC Dog Import Form before travel. Dogs arriving from high-risk rabies countries face extra restrictions and limited entry airports.
• Can a large dog fly from New York to Europe?
  Yes, in the hold as excess baggage up to 75 kg including the crate with Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, SWISS, ITA and Iberia — but not with snub-nosed breeds, which are barred from the hold, and not on aircraft types that exclude hold transport.
• Do US airlines fly pets to Europe in the cabin?
  Several do, with their own rules. This site verifies European carriers at source; for American, Delta or United check their official pet pages directly and compare the total price, ticket plus pet fee.
• Do I need to book the pet space in advance from USA to Europe?
  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.