Travelling With A Pet

Important information

You may travel with a pet, either in cabin or in the hold, if you follow a series of conditions to ensure the safety of your pet and other passengers.

Travel restrictions and entry requirements

Air Belgium does not accept liability if a pet is denied entry into the destination country. Passengers are responsible to check that they have the necessary documents required by local Authorities and to check that their animal can travel to the destination including to transit points during the travel.

Unaccompanied minors are not authorised to travel alone with pets in cabin (PETC) or in the hold (AVIH).

How to book a flight with an animal?

Booking your pet in advance is mandatory, please contact our Teams by email at [email protected].

Whether in the hold or in the cabin, passengers should have the following information ready when they make a reservation for their pet, at least 48 hours prior departure, and when presenting at check-in:

• Total weight of the pet and its container (bag or kennel).
• Dimensions, material and brand of the container.
• A valid pet passport, health and vaccination certificates, entry permits, and other documents required by country of entry or transit.
• Completed and signed “Indemnity form Snub/Pug-nosed Pet”, if required.

What conditions apply for my pet?

To fly with your animal in cabin or in the hold, you must make sure that the following conditions are applied. The animal:

• Must be clean, healthy, harmless, and odourless.
• Must be over the age of 12 weeks.
• Must be calm and well behaved.
• Must be transported in an industry-approved bag in cabin, or kennel in the hold.
• If pregnant, must provide a certificate from the veterinary certifying that the animal is fit to fly and that no risk of birth may occur.
• Depending on the specific species, may be subject to some restrictions.
• Should not exceed the maximum weight of 8kg (including carrying bag) if transported in the cabin.

Restrictions for species of cats & dogs

For the sake of completeness, we list dog and cat species that are not allowed for carriage on board Air Belgium flights, either in the cabin or in the hold.

Snub- or Pug-nosed animals

Travel in the cabin

If snub- or pug-nosed, passenger must complete and sign the “Indemnity form Snub/Pug-nosed pet” before the animal is accepted in the cabin. The animal should not exceed the maximum weight of 8kg (including carrying bag).

Travel in the hold

Snub- or pug-nosed cats and dogs in hold (AVIH) shall undergo a medical examination between 30 and 3 days before departure. The veterinary must complete and sign the “fit to fly” form, stating that carriage on board an aircraft does not pose a risk to the animal’s health. Additionally, the passenger must also complete and sign the “Indemnity form Snub/Pug-nosed pet”.

Cats & dogs in the cabin

Only cats and dogs may be accepted for carriage in the cabin (PETC) on board Air Belgium flights, subject to availability, and if you follow a series of conditions to ensure the safety of your pet and other passengers.

Booking your pet in advance is mandatory, please contact our Teams by email at [email protected].

Important information

Pets, Service or Emotional Support Animals

Air Belgium accepts the following animals in the cabin:

• Service Animals
• Emotional Support Animals
• Pets in cabin (PETC)

The total number of animals in the cabin includes Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals, who have priority over pets in cabin (PETC). Emotional Support Animals are accepted under the same conditions as pets in cabin (PETC), except on flights to and from the USA.

Seating restrictions

Passengers travelling with an animal in the cabin may not be seated in the following locations:

• Near other animals in the same cabin compartment.
• In the emergency exit rows.
• In the first row of each cabin section, where there is no possibility to stow the carrying bag under the seat in front.

How do I transport my pet?

Your cat or dog must be placed in a bag during the flight, following the conditions below:

• The total weight must not exceed 8kg (including the carrying bag).
• A soft-sided, leak, paw and smell-proof bag for the entire duration of the flight.
• The bag must fit under the seat in front and shall not exceed 45x35x20cm.
• Fit comfortably inside the closed carrying bag during the entire flight (including tail and head).
• The animal must be able to stand up freely, lie-down and turn around in the bag.
• Not occupy or walk in the cabin aisle or galleys.
• Not sit on a passenger seat, even if the passenger purchased an additional seat or if the seat next to it is empty during the flight.
• The carrying bag must be provided by the passenger.
• Maximum 1 pet per bag, per passenger.
• Strollers for animals are not allowed in the cabin. You may check-in a stroller as excess baggage (additional fee applies).

Animals in the hold

Air Belgium allows certain animals for carriage in the aircraft hold (AVIH). Some animals in the hold may not be accepted for specific destinations.

Important information

Rules & regulations

Live animals should always be handled with great care. Animals in hold are transported as checked baggage in the aircraft hold and travel in accordance with IATA “Live Animal Regulations” and Air Belgium’s acceptance policies as stipulated below:

• Air Belgium only accepts dogs and cats for travel as checked baggage.
• Other small warm-blooded animals, such as guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, will not be accepted for carriage as checked baggage.
• Local requirements for importation and exportation of live animals must be applied depending on the destination including transit points.
• Domestic animals of unusual size or wild animals, reptiles and rodents must be transported as cargo.

How do I transport my pet?

During the flight, your animal in the hold must be carried in an industry-approved kennel and meet the guidelines from IATA “Live Animal Regulations”:

• The container must be big enough for the animal to fully stand up, lie down and turn around.
• The container must be leakproof.
• No wheels are permitted under the container.
• The container must be closed in a proper and safe way, making it escape-proof.
• An empty water and food tray must be provided.
• The inside of the container must be smooth with no sharp edges or protruding nails, to prevent injury to the animal.
• The animal’s leash or harness should never be placed inside the cage. It can be fixed to the top of the cage or taken onboard the aircraft in the hand baggage.
• Only one animal per container, unless they are used to cohabiting, in which case the following applies: a maximum of two adult animals of comparable size up to 14 kg each. Or a maximum of three puppies (up to 6 months old) from the same litter of max. 14 kg each.