Flying with a dog from the USA to Italy

Cabin and hold options for flying a dog from the USA to Italy, EU entry documents and the CDC rules for the trip home.

The route in one picture

Direct routes to Italy are served mainly by ITA Airways — 8 kg in the cabin on international flights, hold up to 75 kg, booking through its assistance office at least 48 hours ahead — alongside connections via Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Zurich, Madrid and Lisbon with the other European carriers.

Entering the EU, your dog needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days old and an EU animal health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival. For the return, the CDC requires the Dog Import Form and a minimum age of 6 months. One route-planning tip: with a hold connection through Paris CDG or Orly, you must collect and re-check your pet yourself.

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 fly dogs from the USA to Italy?
  ITA Airways on direct routes, and Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, SWISS, Iberia and TAP via their hubs. In the cabin the limit is 8 kg including the carrier with all of them.
• What documents does my dog need to enter Italy from the USA?
  Microchip, rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel, and an EU animal health certificate issued by a USDA-accredited vet within 10 days of arrival.
• Can my dog connect through Paris on the way to Italy?
  In the cabin yes, normally. In the hold, at CDG and Orly the pet does not transfer automatically: you collect it and check it in again, which needs a generous connection time.
• Do I need to book the pet space in advance from USA to Italy?
  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.