Lufthansa Pets in Cabin: Rules, Fees and Carrier Limits (October 2026)

Lufthansa pets in cabin: As of October 2026, Lufthansa lets small dogs and cats travel in the passenger cabin if the animal and its soft-sided carrier together weigh no more than 8 kg and the carrier is no larger than 55 x 40 x 23 cm (118 cm total), according to Lufthansa's official policy pages. You must register the pet at least 72 hours before departure. You pay the cabin fee at check-in: €35 within Germany, €50 within Europe or €70 on intercontinental routes, per direction.

Lufthansa's pets-in-cabin policy is the set of rules under which the German airline Deutsche Lufthansa AG carries a small dog or cat as paid additional carry-on baggage, stowed in a carrier under the seat in front of its owner. Larger dogs and cats fly in the air-conditioned cargo hold. Lufthansa says all other species, whatever their size, are not allowed in the cabin.

By the Animal Passport editorial team. Last updated 11 October 2026. This guide summarises official airline and government sources. It is not legal or veterinary advice, so confirm the rules for your route with Lufthansa and your vet before you fly.

Lufthansa cabin pet rules at a glance

Which pets can fly in the Lufthansa cabin?

Only small dogs and cats can fly in the Lufthansa cabin. The weight limit is 8 kg for pet and carrier together, so in practice the animal itself needs to be well under 8 kg once you weigh the bag. Lufthansa's 2026 Travelling with animals page says that larger dogs and cats, and all other species regardless of weight and size, are not allowed in the cabin. Rabbits, birds, ferrets and reptiles therefore cannot travel as cabin pets on Lufthansa. They may be able to go as air freight through Lufthansa Cargo or a specialist animal forwarder.

Each passenger may take a maximum of two animals, and the animals must not be for commercial purposes. You can combine them in these ways:

• Two animals of the same species in one cabin carrier
• One animal in the cabin and one in the cargo hold
• Two animals in the cargo hold, in one or two containers

Lufthansa only allows two animals in one cabin carrier in limited cases. They can be two young animals of comparable size at least 12 weeks old, two adults of comparable size, or a mother with one dependent young animal aged 0 to 6 weeks. In each case the animals must be used to each other, able to stand, lie down and turn naturally, and within the 8 kg combined limit. Lufthansa does not accept pregnant animals.

Behaviour rules on board

Lufthansa requires a cabin pet to be clean, healthy, odour-free and well behaved in a public space, with no barking or growling. Under its carry-on baggage conditions, Lufthansa may move a disruptive animal to the cargo hold at extra cost or refuse to carry it, and the owner is liable for any damage. The pet must stay in its carrier for the whole flight.

Lufthansa pet carrier requirements

Lufthansa says you must bring your own soft-sided carrier, because one generally cannot be bought at the airport. Its official carrier specification lists these requirements:

1. Maximum size 118 cm total (55 x 40 x 23 cm, or 22 x 16 x 9 in).
2. Maximum total weight 8 kg, including the animal.
3. The animal can stand in its natural position, lie down and turn around with the carrier closed.
4. The carrier is escape-proof, leak-proof and bite-proof.
5. No sturdy frame, wheels or telescopic handle, so it fits under the seat in front.
6. The inside is lined with absorbent material such as a blanket or old clothing. Newspaper, cardboard and straw are not permitted.
7. If the carrier does not fit under the seat, the crew secures it to your seat belt with the Lufthansa Animal Belt.
8. Only one carrier per passenger is allowed in the cabin.

The rule that the pet must be able to stand and turn often decides the trip. A carrier can be within 55 x 40 x 23 cm and still be refused if the animal cannot move freely inside it. Measure your pet standing, then compare that with the inside of the carrier, not just the outside label.

How much does it cost to bring a pet in the cabin on Lufthansa?

Lufthansa's Baggage & other fees page (2026) says animals are not included in the free baggage allowance and lists these per-animal prices:

Lufthansa charges the cabin fee once per flight direction, including on Lufthansa connecting flights. Its example is Hamburg via Frankfurt to Madrid, which is charged once. The fee is charged again on the return flight and after any stopover longer than 24 hours. You pay at check-in or at the Lufthansa service counter, and your normal free baggage allowance still applies. Third-party sites sometimes show different US-dollar amounts, so check Lufthansa's baggage calculator for your exact fare before you travel.

How to book a pet in the Lufthansa cabin: step by step

1. Check entry rules first. Lufthansa says you are responsible for the import, export and transit rules of every country on your route, and it is not liable for costs if a pet is refused.
2. Confirm the flight is operated by Lufthansa. These rules apply only to Lufthansa-operated flights. On codeshare flights, the operating airline's pet policy applies.
3. Register at least 72 hours before departure. For non-US flights you can add the pet under My bookings, or contact the Service Center up to 24 hours before departure. For US flights you must use Lufthansa's online form and cannot book through the Service Center.
4. Register each pet separately and give the carrier's dimensions and the combined weight of pet and carrier.
5. Wait for email confirmation. Cabin pet places are limited, so Lufthansa recommends booking the pet at the same time as your own ticket.
6. Print the cabin animal form. Bring two signed printouts of Lufthansa's form for carrying an animal in the cabin to the check-in counter.
7. Check in at the counter. You can check in online or with the app from 30 hours before departure, but Lufthansa says passengers with a cabin pet must collect their boarding pass at the airport check-in counter.

Snub-nosed and fighting dog breeds on Lufthansa

Lufthansa has barred snub-nosed (brachycephalic) dogs and cats from the cargo hold since 1 January 2020. The airline explains that their restricted airways make them prone to breathing and circulatory problems under travel stress and heat. These breeds can still fly in the cabin if they meet all the cabin rules. The restricted list on Lufthansa's breed page includes pugs, most bulldogs (all except American bulldogs), Boston terriers, boxers, Shih Tzus, Pekingese, Lhasa apsos, Shar Pei and Chow Chows. For cats it includes Persians, Himalayans, British Shorthairs, Exotic Shorthairs and Scottish Folds. Cross-breeds of these breeds are covered too.

Breeds that Lufthansa classes as fighting or dangerous dogs can only travel in the cargo hold, in special crates that meet International Air Transport Association (IATA) rules. The exception is dogs aged three to six months, which are judged under the normal cabin criteria. Lufthansa also notes that Germany bans the import of pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers and bull terriers, although export and transit are allowed.

Flying Lufthansa to the United States with a dog in the cabin

New U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dog-import requirements took effect on 1 August 2024. The CDC bases the requirements on whether the dog has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies in the previous six months and where it was vaccinated. In response, Lufthansa made these rules for dogs on US flights:

• Dogs must be at least 6 months old.
• You must complete the CDC Dog Import Form and show the confirmation, printed or digital, at departure and on arrival.
• Until further notice, Lufthansa only accepts new dog bookings to Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, New York-JFK, Philadelphia and Washington DC.
• Since October 2024, dogs can also fly to Newark (EWR) again, provided they have not been in a high-risk rabies area in the six months before entry.

Lufthansa's own pages are not fully consistent here. Some regional registration pages leave Newark off the list of accepted US airports, while others include it. If Newark is your destination, ask Lufthansa to confirm in writing. The CDC also says travellers must meet U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rules and the rules of their US destination.

Documents your pet needs: EU pet passport, health certificates and UK rules

A Lufthansa booking only gets your pet a place on the plane. It does not let the animal enter a country. Entry is decided by governments, and the documents come from vets.

Travelling within or into the European Union

According to the European Commission's Your Europe portal, a dog, cat or ferret travelling between EU countries needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination given after microchipping, and a European pet passport issued by an authorised vet. The pet must be at least 12 weeks old at its first rabies vaccination, and you must wait at least 21 days after it before travelling. Pets arriving from outside the EU need an EU animal health certificate issued by an official state vet no more than 10 days before arrival. Pets from most non-EU countries also need a rabies antibody titration test. Dogs going to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland need tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before travel.

Travelling into Great Britain

GOV.UK says pets entering Great Britain must arrive on an approved route, be microchipped before their rabies vaccination, wait at least 21 days after the first vaccination, and travel with a pet travel document. Dogs may also need tapeworm treatment between 24 hours and 5 days before arrival. A pet that does not meet these rules may be quarantined for up to 4 months. Lufthansa separately says it may refuse cabin pet bookings on certain routes, naming the UK, Ireland and Bangalore in India. Check the route before you book a non-refundable fare.

Cabin vs cargo hold on Lufthansa

Lufthansa's own tips for a calmer flight

• Get the pet used to the closed carrier at home, in sessions of about two hours, and reward it afterwards.
• Think carefully before sedating the pet and ask your vet first. Lufthansa warns that sedatives can cause unpredictable reactions, including circulatory problems.
• Put a familiar blanket or toy in the carrier.
• Ask your vet whether to adjust feeding before the flight.
• Lufthansa lounges accept pets, but dogs and cats must stay in their carriers there. Assistance dogs are exempt.

Animal Passport is not an EU pet passport

Searches for pet travel often mix up two different things called a passport. The European pet passport is an official EU-standard document for dogs, cats and ferrets. Authorised vets issue it only to owners resident in the EU, and it records the microchip and rabies vaccination. That is the document border officials check.

Animal Passport is something else. It is a digital animal and livestock identity record built on muzzle biometrics, because an animal's nose print is unique, like a fingerprint. A farmer captures it with a phone, and the record links the owner, breed, estimated age (from a dental photograph, with a confidence score), body condition score (1 to 5, from a side-profile photo) and vaccination history. In August 2025 it was used in livestock flood rescue in Pakistan, where it helped farmers reclaim animals after paper tags washed away. It is not a government travel document and does not replace an EU pet passport, an EU animal health certificate, a CDC form or any Lufthansa booking. For more on animal ID and travel rules, see the Animal Passport blog.

Bottom line

If your dog or cat and its soft carrier weigh 8 kg or less, fit within 55 x 40 x 23 cm, and you register 72 hours ahead on a Lufthansa-operated flight, the cabin is usually an option for €35 to €70 per direction (Lufthansa, 2026). Most refusals come from paperwork rather than the airline: a missing CDC form, an expired rabies vaccination, or a route like the UK where cabin pets are restricted. Sort out the entry documents first, then book the pet when you book your own seat.