Lufthansa Pet Policy 2023: Does Lufthansa Allow Pets?

Lufthansa Airlines offers you a variety of services regarding your journey along with your critter. You can bring your pet inside of the cabin with you, or your pet can travel as checked baggage in their cargo hold in the same flight with you. If you’re not accompanying your pet, you can send it to the desired location using their live animals cargo service.

Are you feeling excited? We have gathered all the Lufthansa pet policy information regarding your journey with your critter. Rules and restrictions for pets inside of the compartment and pets as checked baggage are given separately.

You will also get to know things relating to service animals, booking, and check-in at the end. Let’s look at the travel options now.

Lufthansa Pet Travel Policy 2022

Lufthansa is the biggest well-known airliner in the world. They offer you to travel with your pets inside the cabin, as checked baggage and cargo.

1. Pets in Cabin
2. As Checked Baggage
3. Cargo

Pets in the cabin

Lufthansa Airlines allows you to take your pet inside the cabin with you while flying.

Pets that are allowed inside the cabin:

Small dogs

Cats

• Pets that weigh in between 8 kg including its container can travel inside of the cabin.
• Pets age should be at least 12 weeks.
• Your pet should be trained to behave properly in the public.
• You have to fill out a form named “Transporting an animal in the  passenger cabin” by Lufthansa Airlines and bring two copies with you.

Container requirements

• Soft-sided.

Dimensions

Length	Width	Height
22 inches or 55 cm	16 inches or 40 cm	9 inches 23 cm

Container restrictions

• The total weight of the container including the pet should not exceed 8 kg.
• Your pet should be able to freely move, stand or lie down inside of the container.
• The floor of the container should be leak-proof.
• There should be an absorbent material like blanket or newspaper on the floor of the container.
• The container should be under your front seat.
• One passenger can carry only one container inside of the cabin.

Charges for pets in the cabin

The fees for keeping pets inside of the cabin vary depending on the aircraft you are traveling to and the destination. So, it is recommended to consult Lufthansa Support while booking your flight about the exact charges.

Pets as checked baggage

You can take your pet as checked baggage in the cargo hold with you in the same flight. General restrictions are the same as pets in the cabin.

• If you are traveling from or to the United States in a connecting flight, make sure you have at least 4 hours extra at the time of transit.

Container requirements

• Carrier must be tightened by screws.
• No plastic material should be used at the doors.
• Your pet should be able to freely move, stand or lie down inside of the container.
• Container should be made of hard materials.
• Space for ventilation should be available.
• There must be nothing inside of the container that can hurt your pet.
• The floor of the container should be leak-proof.
• There should be an absorbent material like blanket or newspaper on the floor of the container.
• You can provide food and water spaces inside of the container as well as put some water and food inside. But make sure your pet doesn’t spill it.

Dimensions

Length	Width	Height
125 cm	75 cm	85 cm

Container restrictions

• One container can not hold more than one animal.
• There should be no wheels under the container.
• Wire made containers will not be accepted.

Charges for pets as checked baggage

• The fees for pets as checked baggage varies depending on the aircraft you are traveling and the destination. So, it is recommended to consult Lufthansa Support while booking your flight about the exact charges.
• A service charge of $170 will apply if you are transiting from the below destinations:

Zurich

Vienna

Brussels

Geneva

Frankfurt

Transporting pets through Lufthansa Cargo

If you are not accompanying your pet, then you can use Lufthansa cargo service to ship your pet.

Animals that are accepted in cargo:

Domestic pets	Horses	Exotic animals
Ornamental fishes	Insects	Livestock

Animals that are not accepted:

Monkeys	Whales
Dolphins	Fighting  dogs
CITES 1 animal	–

• They offer species appropriate accommodation and 24/7 care by their highly trained staff.
• You will need to book your flight by a Flight Forwarder.
• A shipper’s certificate form needs to be filled by you while booking your shipment.
• Heated and well ventilated cargo compartments are offered by Lufthansa cargo.
• All animals require certified containers by IATA.

Charges for cargo

The fees for Lufthansa Cargo vary depending on the aircraft you are traveling and the destination and some additional charges may also apply for some specified ports and animals. So, it is recommended to consult the lufthansa corgo sales office or your nearest forwarder to learn about the exact charges while booking your flight.

Documents

• Health certificate.
• Other forms as per requirements stated in the Pets In The Cabin and Pets as Checked Baggage sections.
• Additional documents specified by your destination port.

Destination restrictions

If you are traveling to the United States from a country with high rabies risk identified by CDC certain restrictions will apply.

• Restrictions.
• List of countries with high risk.

Breed restrictions

There are certain rules and restrictions regarding fighting dogs and snub-nosed animals.

Fighting dogs

Breeds that are classified as fighting dogs:

American Bulldog	Dogo Argentino	Karabash (Kangal)
Anatolian Shepherd Dog	Caucasian Ovcharka (Caucasian Shepherd Dog)	Rottweiler

Breeds whose importation is banned by Germany:

Pit Bull Terrier	American Staffordshire Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier	Bull Terrier

Container requirements for fighting dogs:

• The container should be of hard materials like weld mesh or wire mesh.
• The design of the container should be according to the image.
• There should be nothing made of plastic.
• There should be ventilation holes.

Snub-Nosed Breeds

Lufthansa does not allow transportation of snub-nosed animals as checked baggage. Although they can travel inside the cabin with you or by Lufthansa cargo.

Snub-Nosed Dogs :

Affenpinscher	American Pit Bull Terrier	American Staffordshire Terrier
Bulldog (all breeds, excluded: American Bulldog)	Boston Terrier	Boxer
Pugs (all breeds)	Brussels Griffon	Bull Mastiff
Bull Terrier ( excluding : Miniature Bull Terriers)	Chow Chow	English Toy Spaniel
Japanese Chin	Japanese Spaniel	King Charles Spaniel
Lhasa Apso	Pekinese	Pit Bull
Shar Pei	Shih Tzu	Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Tibetan Spaniel	–	–

Snub-Nosed cats:

British Shorthair	Exotic Shorthair	Himalayan
Persian	Scottish Fold	–

Service Dogs

Lufthansa Airlines allows you to bring your service dog on board with you without any additional charges.

• No animals except dogs can be service animals.
• Your dog should be properly trained.
• Your dog can not roam around the aircraft on any accounts.
• If your dog does not behave properly, Lufthansa may forbid the transportation of the dog.
• The dog should fit in the foot space of your seat. It can not occupy any passenger seats.
• A harness should be with you.
• Lufthansa recommends bringing a muzzle for the safety of others.
• If you are traveling within the United States, you need to fill up the following forms and bring them with you at the time of departure.
  • Form – 1
  • Form – 2
• If you are traveling via Lufthansa outside of the United States, You will need to bring the following documents with you.
  • A trainer certificate from a certified trainer institute.
  • Download this form and bring two copies of it with you at the time of departure.
• You may need to bring other documents with you as per the requirements of your destination port. 

Emotional Support Animals (ESA)

Lufthansa Airlines does not accept pets as emotional support animals. But they can travel as normal pets inside the cabin with you if specified conditions are met. 

Booking

• You have to inform Lufthansa Support and register for your pet at least 24 hours before the departure.

Check In

• You can check in online or use mobile check in at least 23 hours before the departure. You will get your boarding pass at the airport. 

How to add a pet to my flight?

1. Register for your pet by contacting Lufthansa Support minimum 48 hours before your flight.
2. Select where you want your pet to travel – inside the cabin or as checked baggage.
3. Prepare the documents.
4. Have at least 4 hours of extra time in case you are transiting from or to the United States.
5. Check two to three hours before the flight or complete checking in online or using mobile 23 hours before the flight.
6. Make sure your pet is comfortable inside the container.
7. Travel with your pet.

Tips

• Checklist for pets as checked baggage.
• Checklist for pets inside of the cabin.
• Buy the carrier a few days before the flight so that your pet gets used to it.
• Do not sedate your pet.

FAQ

Lufthansa Contact details

Country	Number
United States	+1 800 – 645 38 80
Germany	+49 (0) 69 86 799 799
Austria	+43 7203800523
United Kingdom	+44 371 945 9747*
Australia	+61 283499694
France	+33 170 48 91 70
Brazil	+55 11 3878 8151 * ,+55 21 3500 1471 **
United Arab Emirates	+971 600595556
Turkey	+90 212 375 59 32
QATAR	+33 170 48 91 70

Lufthansa Short Profile

Company Name	Deutsche Lufthansa AG
Funded	6 January, 1953
IATA Code	LH
ICAO Code	DLH
Callsign	LUFTHANSA
Website	Lufthansa
Social Media Pages	Facebook
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	Instagram
	YouTube

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