Rules for travelling by plane with your pet

To take a flight with your pet, you need to carry out certain checks as soon as you book your ticket. As well as having an up-to-date health record, your pet must be of the correct weight and in the correct cage. The airline must also accept your pet for carriage in the cabin or in the hold. To help you travel in the best possible conditions with your dog or cat, Beep Valet Parking has compiled a list of the rules to be observed.

Regulations governing the carriage of animals by air: the case of dogs and cats

Air transport of animals is subject to a number of rules that vary from one airline to another. Although reptiles and small rodents (rabbits, hamsters, etc.) are not generally accepted on board, it is possible to take them with you. flying with your dog or cat. However, you must inform the airline in advance of the presence of your pet, which will be subject to a security check before departure. This formality is compulsory both for carriage in the cabin and for placing your pet in the hold.

When should your pet be placed in the hold?

If your dog or cat weighs more than the cabin weight limit, it must be placed in the hold. This meansa ventilated and ideally heated space to enable your pet to travel in the best possible conditions. Your pet must be placed in a cage approved for air transport and meeting IATA (International Air Transport Association) standards. It must also undergo a security check at least 3 hours before boarding.

For avoid delays and make your journey to Bordeaux airport easierBeep Valet Parking offers a free shuttle for you and your pet in a cage. After reserving a parking space and parking your vehicle in our car park, we will drive you as quickly as possible to the departure terminal at Bordeaux-Mérignac airport. On your return, we will arrange to collect you from the agreed meeting point.

What are the conditions for taking your pet in the cabin?

Generally speaking, only dogs and cats weighing up to 5 kg are allowed in the cabin. Some travel groups do not allow pets on board, or restrict their carriage depending on the destination. Similarly, weight limits for dogs and cats are left to the discretion of each airline. For information, the Air France-KLM group only accepts pets weighing a maximum of 8 kg (including bag).

Since 26 July 2008, assistance dogs, i.e. dogs that guide people with sensory or motor disabilities, have been accepted in the cabin. This rule applies to flights departing from all airports in the European Union and non-EU countries.

To avoid your dog being denied boarding, we recommend that you provide him with a passport issued by an authorised veterinarian. You must also have an up-to-date vaccination record and identify your pet by microchip or tattoo.

Air travel with your pet: Air France-KLM group conditions

The Air France-KLM group imposes certain strict rules for travellers wishing to fly with their cat or your dog. These principles differ depending on the age of your pet and the flight (domestic or intercontinental).

Regulations for domestic flights

To be accepted on national flights operated by the Air France-KLM group, your pet must be at least 8 weeks old and have up-to-date vaccinations. This rule applies for travel to all departments of mainland France, including Corsica, but also to Guadeloupe, Martinique and Reunion Island.

What's more, for domestic travel, the French company accepts both transporting animals in the cabin rather than in the hold. In the first case, your dog or cat must be placed in a closed, flexible bag measuring 46 x 28 x 24 cm. However, transport in the cabin is limited to one animal per passenger. For travel in the hold, an IATA-approved bag is required.

Conditions to be met for an international flight

On intercontinental journeys, the Air France-KLM group generally does not allow pets in the cabin, but rather in the hold. This provision guarantees the safety and comfort of your companionespecially on long flights. However, your dog or cat must be at least 15 weeks old and have an up-to-date vaccination record. They must also be placed in a rigid plastic or fibreglass crate. As well as being IATA-approved, this crate must be secured with suitable bolts.

Air France-KLM also does not allow animals with snub noses, such as bulldogs, boxers, shih tzus and Burmese or Persian cats, to be carried in the hold.

Before purchasing your flight ticket, we recommend that you contact the airline's customer service department in order to find out about all the air transport formalities for animals to complete. In this way, you can avoid being refused boarding.