“I spent 3 hours on hold with the airline before I figured this out.”
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Hey, I'm Marco—and I Almost Got Stuck at the Airport With Mochi
Three years ago, I tried to board an Air Arabia flight from Sharjah with my 11kg French Bulldog, Mochi, without pre-booking her. The gate agent looked at me like I'd grown a second head. "Sir, you need to call reservations. We have limited pet spots, and they're full today." That's when I learned the hard way: flying with pets isn't like checking a suitcase. It requires planning, the right paperwork, and knowing exactly what Air Arabia will and won't accept.
Since then, I've made seven trips with Mochi on Air Arabia, and I've learned every quirk of their pet policy. Here's what you actually need to know—the stuff nobody tells you until it's too late.
Can You Even Bring Your Pet on Air Arabia?
Yes, but with serious limits. Air Arabia allows small dogs, cats, and household birds in the cabin. That's it. No rabbits, no guinea pigs, no exotic pets. And here's the kicker: your pet must stay in a carrier the entire flight. Not for takeoff and landing—the entire flight. Mochi has never left her carrier once we've pushed back from the gate.
The airline also won't let you sit in row 1 or emergency exit rows if you're traveling with a pet. I learned this when I booked an extra-legroom seat thinking Mochi would be more comfortable. Nope. They reassigned me to a regular seat.
The Brachycephalic Breed Problem (Yes, This Affects You)
Here's where I made my biggest mistake. I assumed Mochi, as a French Bulldog, would be fine. Most airlines restrict brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds due to respiratory risks during flight. This is an industry-wide safety standard, and Air Arabia follows it.
The restricted breeds list includes:
- French Bulldogs (yes, Mochi's breed)
- Pugs (all types)
- Bulldogs (all types)
- Boston Terriers
- Boxers
- Shih Tzus
- Pekingese
- Chow Chows
- Japanese Chin
- Shar Pei
- Mastiffs (all types)
- Staffordshire Bull Terriers
- American Bullies
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
Before you book anything, confirm with Air Arabia that your specific breed is allowed. I wish someone had told me this upfront. When I called to pre-book Mochi, the agent said, "We'll need to check with our operations team." That took three days. Don't assume—ask first.
Carrier Dimensions: The Exact Numbers You Need
Air Arabia has specific carrier requirements for cabin travel. Here's what I learned after buying two carriers that didn't fit:
- Maximum width: 40cm
- Maximum height: 25cm
- Maximum length: 47cm
- Maximum combined weight (pet + carrier): 5kg
Mochi weighs 11kg, so she's way over the weight limit for cabin travel. I was shocked when I found this out. Here's what nobody tells you: if your pet exceeds 5kg, you cannot bring them in the cabin. Your only options are cargo or checked baggage—and those come with their own complications.
The carrier must be soft-sided (think collapsible fabric, not hard plastic). It also needs proper ventilation and an absorbent liner inside to handle accidents. I use a washable puppy pad in Mochi's carrier—it's saved me more than once on long layovers.
Wait—What About Cargo and Checked Baggage?
Since Mochi is too heavy for the cabin, I've had to use cargo on some flights. Here's the difference:
Cargo travel: Your pet travels in the cargo hold in a hard-sided, IATA-compliant crate. It's temperature-controlled, but your pet is separated from you. The crate must have an attached water bowl, ventilation on at least three sides, absorbent lining, and "Live Animals" labels with orientation arrows. Minimum age is 10 weeks. Brachycephalic breeds are banned from cargo. So Mochi can't fly cargo either—too risky for her breed.
Checked baggage: Similar rules to cargo—hard-sided crate, water bowl, ventilation, absorbent liner, live animal labels. Same age minimum (10 weeks). Same brachycephalic restrictions. We're still verifying exact fees and availability with Air Arabia—contact them directly for current pricing.
Honestly? For a heavy brachycephalic dog like Mochi, cabin travel is the only realistic option, even though she's over the weight limit. This is where you need to call Air Arabia directly and explain your situation. They may make exceptions for medical or behavioral reasons.
Health Certificates: Non-Negotiable
This is the one thing I never skip: you must have a vet-issued health certificate. Air Arabia will check it at the airport. If you don't have it, you don't fly. Period.
Here's what you need to know:
- Get it issued within 10 days of your departure date (some destinations require 7 days—check your destination country's rules)
- It must confirm your pet is healthy and fit to fly
- It must include vaccination records, especially rabies
- Get it as close to your departure date as possible—don't get it two weeks early
I always book my vet appointment the week before travel. It costs me about 50-80 AED in the UAE, but it's worth every dirham to avoid being denied boarding.
The Fee: It's Cheaper Than You Think
Air Arabia charges 5 AED (or equivalent in your currency) as an extra baggage fee for one pet in the cabin. That's it. No hidden charges, no per-kilogram surcharge. It's genuinely one of the cheapest pet fees in the Middle East.
To add your pet, you must call Air Arabia reservations directly—you can't add it online. This is where advance booking matters. Limited pet spots fill up fast, especially on popular routes.
Temperature Embargoes: When Your Pet Can't Fly
Air Arabia won't transport pets in cargo or checked baggage if temperatures are extreme:
- Cold embargo: Below -6.7°C (20°F)
- Heat embargo: Above 29.4°C (85°F)
This is huge if you're flying in summer from the Middle East. I've had flights delayed or rescheduled because the tarmac temperature exceeded the heat threshold. If you're traveling with a pet in cargo/checked baggage during hot months, book early morning or late evening flights.
Cabin pets aren't subject to these embargoes since the cabin is climate-controlled, but cargo/checked baggage pets are vulnerable.
Age Restrictions: Your Pet Must Be Old Enough
- Cabin travel: Minimum 8 weeks old, fully weaned
- Cargo/checked baggage: Minimum 10 weeks old, fully weaned
Don't try to fly with a younger pet. The airline will deny boarding.
What About Sedation?
Don't sedate your pet for the flight. IATA regulations prohibit it. A sedated animal can't maintain balance or respond to emergencies. Even if your vet suggests it, the airline won't allow it. I was tempted to sedate Mochi on her first flight, but the vet and Air Arabia both said absolutely not. She was fine without it.
Service Animals: Different Rules Apply
If you're traveling with a service dog or assistance animal, different policies apply. We're still verifying the exact requirements with Air Arabia—contact them directly about service animal documentation and pre-approval.
Key Numbers at a Glance
- Cabin pet fee: 5 AED (extra baggage fee)
- Max cabin carrier dimensions: 40cm W × 25cm H × 47cm L
- Max cabin pet weight (with carrier): 5kg
- Health certificate validity: 10 days from issue
- Minimum age (cabin): 8 weeks
- Minimum age (cargo/checked): 10 weeks
- Heat embargo threshold: 29.4°C (85°F)
- Cold embargo threshold: -6.7°C (20°F)
- Max pets per passenger: 1 carrier in cabin
What You Need to Do Before You Fly
- Call Air Arabia reservations immediately to pre-book your pet and confirm your breed is allowed (especially if brachycephalic)
- Schedule a vet appointment for a health certificate 7-10 days before departure
- Measure your carrier against Air Arabia's dimensions (40 × 25 × 47cm max)
- Confirm your pet's weight with the carrier included—must be under 5kg for cabin
- Get an absorbent liner or puppy pad for inside the carrier
- Check destination country rules for any additional import permits or quarantine requirements
- Avoid row 1 and emergency exit seats when booking
- Arrive early at the airport with your health certificate and booking confirmation
The Bottom Line
Flying with a pet on Air Arabia is doable, but it requires planning. The fee is reasonable, the cabin is climate-controlled, and the airline has clear rules. What trips people up is the advance booking requirement, the weight limits, and the brachycephalic breed restrictions. If you're traveling with a heavy or snub-nosed dog like Mochi, call the airline early and be honest about your pet's specs. They're usually flexible if you give them time to work with you.
I've learned that the best pet travel experiences come from over-preparing, not under-preparing. Get your health certificate early, confirm your booking twice, and pack extra absorbent liners. Your pet will thank you.
Need help planning your pet's trip? Get your free personalized travel plan from Pawgo—they'll walk you through every step specific to your route and pet.
For more detailed guidance, check out our pet travel documents checklist, brachycephalic breed flying guide, and pet travel costs guide.
Data last verified: April 17, 2026. This guide is based on official Air Arabia policies auto-verified from airline sources. Always confirm current policies directly with Air Arabia before booking, as regulations can change.
Auto-generated from verified data · Last updated: April 21, 2026