Ten of the 22 European airlines reviewed meet all three criteria in AirAdvisor's analysis of pet travel. SAS and Finnair are among the companies that allow pets in the cabin, in the cargo hold or as cargo, and in their own lounges. However, the rules vary between airlines, routes and destinations.
Flight compensation company AirAdvisor has reviewed the published rules of 22 of the largest airlines in terms of passengers within the EU/EEA, excluding the UK.
The companies were assessed based on three questions: whether pets are allowed in the cabin, whether they can be transported in the cargo hold as checked baggage or cargo, and whether pets are allowed into the airline's own lounges.
According to AirAdvisor, ten airlines meet all three criteria: Aegean Airlines, Air France, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Finnair, KLM, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS and TAP Air Portugal.
The companies are not ranked among themselves. AirAdvisor uses binary yes and no criteria and therefore lists the ten airlines in alphabetical order.
Different rules for transportation in the cabin and cargo space
Of the 22 airlines reviewed, according to AirAdvisor, three do not allow pets in the cabin: Ryanair, Wizz Air and Icelandair.
The rules also differ for cargo transport. AirAdvisor states that Ryanair, Wizz Air and Volotea do not offer such transport, while Icelandair does not accept pets in cargo on international routes.
Other airlines vary in terms of weight limits, modes of transport and which animals are accepted.
AirAdvisor: Cabin fees from 380 SEK
AirAdvisor has also compared the initial fees for bringing pets in the cabin of the ten companies that meet all the criteria.
According to the analysis, Aegean Airlines has the lowest stated take-off fee, 35 euros, equivalent to around 380 kronor. Brussels Airlines is highest among the ten with a take-off fee of 80 euros, around 870 kronor.
This corresponds to a difference of 45 euros for a one-way trip. AirAdvisor emphasizes that fees can vary depending on, among other things, the route, destination and the size of the transport cage.
Among the Nordic airlines, Finnair's cabin fee is stated to start at around 650 SEK and SAS at around 600 SEK.
The rules may differ over long distances
AirAdvisor points out that the rules on European flights do not necessarily apply to long-haul routes. The destination's own import and transportation regulations may affect how the animal is allowed to travel.
The type of aircraft, the animal's age and breed can also affect the conditions. According to AirAdvisor, snub-nosed dog breeds such as bulldogs and pugs are often subject to special rules.
In the case of codeshare travel, it may also be the operating airline's rules that apply rather than the rules of the company that sold the ticket.
“There can be surprisingly large differences between airline rules, even when they offer similar trips. Always check the rules for the specific route and the airline actually operating the flight,” says Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor.
The analysis includes 22 airlines
AirAdvisor's review covers Aegean Airlines, Air Europa, Air France, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Condor, Eurowings, Finnair, Iberia, Icelandair, ITA Airways, KLM, LOT, Lufthansa, Norwegian, Ryanair, SAS, TAP, Transavia, Volotea, Vueling and Wizz Air.
AirAdvisor says the data is based on airlines' publicly published policies at the time of the survey. The company points out that fees, weight limits and other terms are subject to change and therefore recommends travelers check current policies directly with the airline before booking.
