Here's what nobody tells you about flying Air Algerie with a flat-faced little tank like Mochi: the cabin door is actually open to dogs, which surprised me. Six kilos is the ceiling for that cabin seat, and Mochi sits right under it. Good news, but the good news comes with fine print, and the fine print is where I once got humbled at the counter.
Air Algerie's pet policy splits into cabin and cargo. This page summarizes the weight limits, fees, brachycephalic-breed restrictions, and carrier specifications for both modes — sourced from the airline's official pet pages.
How Air Algérie handles your pet
Each fact comes straight from the operator’s published policy. Hover the to read the exact wording; the opens the source page.
In the cabin Accepted
In the hold / cargo Accepted
Cabin policy
Pets accepted Accepted“only small pets under 6 kg are accepted on board: cats, dogs, hamsters, small birds, turtles”
Advance booking notice48 hours“…We kindly ask you to notify us of your need for assistance at the time of booking and no later than 48 Hours before your departure, so that we can provide you with the appropriate”
Advance booking required Yes“whether it can travels with you in cabin, in the hold, or transported by cargo, you should declare it at the time of booking”
Hold & cargo policy
Hold: Pets accepted Accepted“If your pet cannot travel with you in the cabin, either because of a weight exceeding 6 kg or of the container size that exceeds 115 cm, your pet must be transported in the hold”
Hold: One-way fee300 CNY“…< 06 Kg Pets traveling in Hold pet + cage < 23 Kg Algeria – China 15 000 DZD 15 000 DZD China – Algeria 1 300 CNY 1 300 CNY China – Africa 1 700 CNY / 78 000 MRO / 130 000 XOF 1 700 CNY / 78 000 MRO / 130 000 XOF Voir…”
Hold: Advance booking notice48 hours“…We kindly ask you to notify us of your need for assistance at the time of booking and no later than 48 Hours before your departure, so that we can provide you with the appropriate assistance and keep the Airport…”
Hold: Booking methodCall-center“…in cabin, in the hold, or transported by cargo, you should declare it at the time of booking or contact our Call-center”
Hold: Crate must have/beIata compliant, ventilated, a carrier“Pets should be placed in a container (cage) with guarantee of safety, that is namely robustness, floor sealing, closure, aeration, according to IATA requirements”
Cargo: Advance booking notice48 hours“…We kindly ask you to notify us of your need for assistance at the time of booking and no later than 48 Hours before your departure, so that we can provide you with the appropriate assistance and keep the Airport…”
Cargo: Advance booking required Yes“In order to find out regulation and procedures related to your pet transportation, whether it can travels with you in cabin, in the hold, or transported by cargo, you should declare it at the time of booking or contact…”
Cargo: Booking methodCall-center“…in cabin, in the hold, or transported by cargo, you should declare it at the time of booking or contact our Call-center”
Health & documents
Other rules
Service & assistance animals
In the cabin Accepted
In the hold / cargo Accepted
Cabin policy
Pets accepted Accepted“only small pets under 6 kg are accepted on board: cats, dogs, hamsters, small birds, turtles”
Advance booking notice48 hours“…We kindly ask you to notify us of your need for assistance at the time of booking and no later than 48 Hours before your departure, so that we can provide you with the appropriate”
Advance booking required Yes“whether it can travels with you in cabin, in the hold, or transported by cargo, you should declare it at the time of booking”
Carrier size20 cm“It must respect the maximum size of hand baggage 115 cm (55 +40 +20 cm) and represents the only cabin baggage of the passenger.”
Hold & cargo policy
Hold: Pets accepted Accepted“If your pet cannot travel with you in the cabin, either because of a weight exceeding 6 kg or of the container size that exceeds 115 cm, your pet must be transported in the hold”
Hold: One-way fee300 CNY“…< 06 Kg Pets traveling in Hold pet + cage < 23 Kg Algeria – China 15 000 DZD 15 000 DZD China – Algeria 1 300 CNY 1 300 CNY China – Africa 1 700 CNY / 78 000 MRO / 130 000 XOF 1 700 CNY / 78 000 MRO / 130 000 XOF Voir…”
Hold: Advance booking notice48 hours“…We kindly ask you to notify us of your need for assistance at the time of booking and no later than 48 Hours before your departure, so that we can provide you with the appropriate assistance and keep the Airport…”
Hold: Advance booking required Yes“In order to find out regulation and procedures related to your pet transportation, whether it can travels with you in cabin, in the hold, or transported by cargo, you should declare it at the time of booking or contact…”
Hold: Booking methodCall-center“…in cabin, in the hold, or transported by cargo, you should declare it at the time of booking or contact our Call-center”
Hold: Max weight (pet + crate)6 kg“Pets travel in the hold If your pet cannot travel with you in the cabin, either because of a weight exceeding 6 kg or of the container size that exceeds 115 cm, your pet must be transported in the hold Pets travel in the…”
Hold: Crate must have/beIata compliant, ventilated, a carrier“Pets should be placed in a container (cage) with guarantee of safety, that is namely robustness, floor sealing, closure, aeration, according to IATA requirements”
Cargo: Advance booking notice48 hours“…We kindly ask you to notify us of your need for assistance at the time of booking and no later than 48 Hours before your departure, so that we can provide you with the appropriate assistance and keep the Airport…”
Cargo: Booking methodCall-center“…in cabin, in the hold, or transported by cargo, you should declare it at the time of booking or contact our Call-center”
Health & documents
Air Algerie requires notification of your pet's need for assistance at booking, and no later than 48 hours before departure. Flag the dog when the ticket is purchased. If booking closer to the flight, contact the airline at least 48 hours ahead. Missing that 48-hour window risks refused boarding at check-in. Confirm the notification was recorded before arriving at the airport.
Frequently asked
- What is the cabin weight limit on Air Algerie?
- In the cabin, your pet plus its carrier must not exceed 6 kg.
- How much does it cost to fly a pet on Air Algerie?
- On flights within Metropolitan France, Air Algerie charges from 300 CNY in the hold, one way per pet. Longer routes cost more — price your exact itinerary.
- How far in advance must I book my pet on Air Algerie?
- Add your pet to the booking at least 48 hours before departure — do it when you book the ticket, not at the airport.
- What if my flight is delayed past my health certificate validity?
- If the certificate window expires before you board, you'll need a re-issue. Build a 1-2 day buffer between the cert date and departure to absorb minor delays.
- What happens if I forget a document?
- At the destination airport: at best, an extended inspection while you produce backup; at worst, the pet is held in quarantine or returned to origin at your cost. Bring printed copies.
So yes, the cabin is possible, the hold is possible, and six kilos keeps a small dog in a seat beside you. But every route bends the rules a little, and one wrong assumption at the desk costs you the whole trip. Skip the guessing. Build a personalized plan for your exact departure, weight, and dates with Pawgo's plan-builder, and walk up to that counter already knowing the answer.
Glossary
- ISO chip
- ISO 11784/11785 — the universal microchip standard.
- FAVN
- Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization — a rabies serology test required by rabies-free destinations.
- Brachycephalic
- Snub-nosed breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians, Himalayans) with restricted airline acceptance due to heat-stress risk.
- AVIH
- Animal Vehicle In Hold — IATA's term for cargo pet shipment, with fees that vary by carrier and route.