Air NZ's cabin is service-dog only, but they're solid on domestic checked baggage — 60 kg combined, 8-week minimum age, and they want a fit-for-flight pet that hasn't given birth in the last 48 hours.
Air New Zealand'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 New Zealand treats your pet
Cabin policy
| Item | Detail | Source & confidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Policy | Not yet documented | — |
Hold policy
| Item | Detail | Source & confidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pets accepted | Accepted in the hold | 94% | |
| Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds | Not yet documented | — | |
| Pet + carrier max weight | 60 kg (incl. carrier) | 93% |
Cargo policy
| Item | Detail | Source & confidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pets per passenger | 1 per passenger | 95% |
Frequently asked
- 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.
International with Air NZ means an IATA-approved pet transporter — not a paste-in form. Sort the domestic vs. international leg in your plan first so you're not surprised at the counter.
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.