Okay, adventure crew, listen up: if you were counting on tucking your pup under the seat with Air New Zealand, that door is closed. Dogs travel cargo or hold on this carrier, not in the cabin. That reshapes your whole day-of playbook, from check-in timing to crate prep. Nala has opinions about layovers, and this is exactly the kind of detail worth locking down before you book a single leg.
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 handles your pet Each fact comes straight from the operator’s published policy. Tap the
🐕 Dog 🐈 Cat
In the cabin ✗ Not accepted
In the hold / cargo ✓ Accepted
Snub-nosed breeds Not accepted
Cabin policy Pets accepted ✗ Not acceptedPets in the Cabin Unfortunately, pets are not permitted to travel in the cabin with Air New Zealand. verified 2026-07-14 Hold & cargo policy Hold: Pets accepted ✓ AcceptedKoru Help Travelling with pets Find out how your furry or feathered friend can accompany you on Air New Zealand domestic flights. Domesticated c ats, dogs and small caged birds can travel as checked-in baggage on some… verified 2026-07-05 Hold: Snub-nosed breeds banned ✗ YesAir New Zealand will no longer accept brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds of dogs or cats o n flights with legs more than 5 hours in duration. verified 2026-07-07 Hold: Snub-nosed breeds list Persian Himalayan Burmese Snub-nosed cat breeds: Burmese, Himalayan and Persian. Private Jet Charter Another option for pet owners who do not want their pet to fly in the cargo hold is a pet-friendly private jet charter verified 2026-07-14 Hold: Minimum age 8 weeks Age requirements Minimum age of transport is 8 weeks. verified 2026-07-25 Hold: Advance booking required ✓ Yes. W e have adjusted the way we support customers travelling with pets and carriers with a combined weight of 60kg or more. Customers travelling with pets and carriers over 60kg can still travel on some domestic routes… verified 2026-06-24 Hold: Min age weeks 8 weeks Only kittens and puppies over 8 weeks will be accepted for travel verified 2026-05-31 Hold: Sedation allowed ✗ NoTravelling by air can have an unsettling effect on animals which may cause changes to behaviour. There is a definite increased risk for brachycephalic (snub nosed animals) due to their physical breathing conditions.… verified 2026-07-14 Hold: Max weight (pet + crate) 60 kg Combined weight of your pet and carrier - rounded up to the nearest kilogram and must not exceed 60kg. verified 2026-05-31 Hold: Crate must have/be hard-sided ok, water bowl, ventilated, IATA-compliant, absorbent liner, live-animal label, a carrier carriers should be rigid without a pop-up hatch, be fitted with a water container fillable from the outside verified 2026-07-14 Cargo: Pets accepted ✓ AcceptedPets in Cargo Animals traveling internationally must be transported as cargo in the hold instead. verified 2026-07-14 Cargo: Snub-nosed breeds banned ✗ YesAir New Zealand will no longer accept brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds of dogs or cats o n flights with legs more than 5 hours in duration. verified 2026-07-07 Cargo: Snub-nosed breeds list Persian Himalayan Burmese Snub-nosed cat breeds: Burmese, Himalayan and Persian. Private Jet Charter Another option for pet owners who do not want their pet to fly in the cargo hold is a pet-friendly private jet charter verified 2026-07-14 Cargo: Minimum age 8 weeks Age requirements Minimum age of transport is 8 weeks. verified 2026-07-25 Cargo: Advance booking required ✓ YesPet Reservations Pets must be added to your domestic flight booking using Air New Zealand’s pet request form, providing booking reference, pet details, weight, carrier dimensions, and contact information Learn more… verified 2026-06-01 Cargo: Max pets per passenger 1 If your booking is for a regional route and includes more than one pet carrier per person, you'll need to pre-book your pets to travel as cargo through an approved pet transporter due to the space limitations of our… verified 2026-06-24 Cargo: Sedation allowed ✓ YesBook your pet to travel as cargo Get in touch with one of our approved pet transporters Book now Did you find this page helpful? verified 2026-07-07 Cargo: Max weight (pet + crate) 60 kg , such as livestock If your pet and carrier weigh more than 60kg combined Your pet cannot travel as checked-in baggage if verified 2026-07-14 Cargo: Crate must have/be water bowl, IATA-compliant, absorbent liner, live-animal label " x 30" x 47" (82 cm x 75 cm x 120 cm). Additionally, carriers should be rigid without a pop-up hatch, be fitted with a water container fillable from the outside, have ventilation holes only on the upper half of three… verified 2026-07-24 Health & documents Health certificate required ✓ YesA health certificate issued within 10 days of travel, proof of rabies vaccination (dogs, cats and ferrets) and all forms required for your destination country. verified 2026-07-14 Health certificate validity 10 days Forms Required A health certificate issued within 10 days of travel, proof of rabies vaccination (dogs, cats and ferrets) and all forms required for your destination country. verified 2026-07-14 Rabies vaccination · Min age at vaccination 8 weeks Age requirements Minimum age of transport is 8 weeks. verified 2026-07-14 Health certificate valid within days · Health certificate valid within days 10 days Forms Required A health certificate issued within 10 days of travel, proof of rabies vaccination (dogs, cats and ferrets) and all forms required for your destination country. verified 2026-07-14 Other rules Assistance animals accepted ✓ YesCheck if your service dog can travel in the cabin To travel in the cabin, your service dog must be trained or accredited by one of these organisations: A fully accredited member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI) A… verified 2026-07-20 Service & assistance animals Esa note Emotional support dogs are not permitted Emotional support dogs are not permitted to fly with Air New Zealand. verified 2026-07-14 Fee waived ✓ YesLearn how we can help your jet-setting pet Flying with a service animal We welcome accredited service dogs to accompany and assist their handler on international and domestic flights. Learn about flying with your… verified 2026-06-24 Recognized ✓ YesOn New Zealand domestic flights, service dogs in training may travel in the cabin at our discretion if: the dog is accompanied by a certified trainer the flight is part of the dog’s formal training programme A service… verified 2026-07-23 Cabin allowed ✓ YesFind out whether your service dog can travel in the cabin, what forms you need to submit, and any entry requirements for the countries you’re travelling to or through. verified 2026-07-14 Esa recognized ✗ NoEmotional support dogs are not permitted to fly with Air New Zealand verified 2026-07-14 Forms required ✓ Yesbooked your flight, please review and complete the required forms: For US routes : Complete the required DOT forms about the verified 2026-07-06 Breed restrictions ✓ NoTo be accepted for travel in the cabin, your service dog must be trained or accredited by one of the following: A fully accredited member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI); A full member of the International Guide… verified 2026-06-19 Advance notice hours 48 hours For all other routes : Complete the service dog declaration form Please submit the required forms at least 48 hours before your flight . verified 2026-07-01 Documentation required ✓ YesFor more information and pricing, please contact an approved pet transporter. verified 2026-07-14 Recognized organizations Assistance Dogs International International Guide Dog Federation Check if your service dog can travel in the cabin To travel in the cabin, your service dog must be trained or accredited by one of these organisations: A fully accredited member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI) A… verified 2026-07-23 In the cabin ✗ Not accepted
In the hold / cargo ✓ Accepted
Snub-nosed breeds Not accepted
Cabin policy Pets accepted ✗ Not acceptedAir New Zealand Pet Policy – In Cabin Pets allowed flown by Air New Zealand in the cabin Air New Zealand does not offer in-cabin service to any live animal with the exception of professionally trained service dogs.… verified 2026-07-14 Hold & cargo policy Hold: Pets accepted ✓ AcceptedDomesticated cats, dogs and small caged birds can travel as checked-in baggage on some domestic flights around New Zealand provided they fly in pet carriers suitable for air travel Domesticated cats, dogs and small… verified 2026-07-21 Hold: Snub-nosed breeds banned ✗ YesAir New Zealand will no longer accept brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds of dogs or cats o n flights with legs more than 5 hours in duration. verified 2026-07-07 Hold: Snub-nosed breeds list Persian Himalayan Burmese Snub-nosed cat breeds: Burmese, Himalayan and Persian. Private Jet Charter Another option for pet owners who do not want their pet to fly in the cargo hold is a pet-friendly private jet charter verified 2026-07-14 Hold: Minimum age 8 weeks Age requirements Minimum age of transport is 8 weeks. verified 2026-07-24 Hold: Advance booking required ✓ Yes. W e have adjusted the way we support customers travelling with pets and carriers with a combined weight of 60kg or more. Customers travelling with pets and carriers over 60kg can still travel on some domestic routes… verified 2026-06-24 Hold: Min age weeks 8 weeks Only kittens and puppies over 8 weeks will be accepted for travel verified 2026-05-31 Hold: Sedation allowed ✗ NoTravelling by air can have an unsettling effect on animals which may cause changes to behaviour. There is a definite increased risk for brachycephalic (snub nosed animals) due to their physical breathing conditions.… verified 2026-07-14 Hold: Max weight (pet + crate) 60 kg Combined weight of your pet and carrier - rounded up to the nearest kilogram and must not exceed 60kg. verified 2026-05-31 Hold: Crate must have/be hard-sided ok, water bowl, ventilated, IATA-compliant, absorbent liner, live-animal label, a carrier carriers should be rigid without a pop-up hatch, be fitted with a water container fillable from the outside verified 2026-07-14 Cargo: Pets accepted ✓ AcceptedPets in Cargo Animals traveling internationally must be transported as cargo in the hold instead. verified 2026-07-14 Cargo: Snub-nosed breeds banned ✗ YesAir New Zealand will no longer accept brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds of dogs or cats o n flights with legs more than 5 hours in duration. verified 2026-07-07 Cargo: Snub-nosed breeds list Persian Himalayan Burmese Snub-nosed cat breeds: Burmese, Himalayan and Persian. Private Jet Charter Another option for pet owners who do not want their pet to fly in the cargo hold is a pet-friendly private jet charter verified 2026-07-14 Cargo: Minimum age 8 weeks Age requirements Minimum age of transport is 8 weeks. Pet crate requirements Mother and a litter are acceptable in the same crate. verified 2026-07-14 Cargo: Advance booking required ✓ YesPet Reservations Pets must be added to your domestic flight booking using Air New Zealand’s pet request form, providing booking reference, pet details, weight, carrier dimensions, and contact information Learn more… verified 2026-06-01 Cargo: Max pets per passenger 1 If your booking is for a regional route and includes more than one pet carrier per person, you'll need to pre-book your pets to travel as cargo through an approved pet transporter due to the space limitations of our… verified 2026-06-24 Cargo: Sedation allowed ✓ YesBook your pet to travel as cargo Get in touch with one of our approved pet transporters Book now Did you find this page helpful? verified 2026-07-07 Cargo: Max weight (pet + crate) 60 kg …Pet type Combined weight of your pet and carrier - rounded up to the nearest kilogram and must not exceed 60kg. verified 2026-07-07 Cargo: Crate must have/be hard-sided ok, water bowl, ventilated, IATA-compliant, absorbent liner, live-animal label Cat and dog carriers Permitted Not permitted Construction of cat or dog carrier Fibreglass, metal, rigid plastic, welded metal mesh, solid wood, and plywood carriers verified 2026-06-23 Health & documents Health certificate required ✓ YesA health certificate issued within 10 days of travel, proof of rabies vaccination (dogs, cats and ferrets) and all forms required for your destination country. verified 2026-07-14 Health certificate validity 10 days Forms Required A health certificate issued within 10 days of travel, proof of rabies vaccination (dogs, cats and ferrets) and all forms required for your destination country. verified 2026-07-14 Health certificate · Validity days 10 days Forms Required A health certificate issued within 10 days of travel, proof of rabies vaccination (dogs, cats and ferrets) and all forms r verified 2026-07-07 Air New Zealand accepts dogs for cargo travel from a minimum age of 6 weeks. Puppies under 6 weeks are not accepted. Confirm the puppy's exact age against the travel date before booking cargo. Request the airline's written age documentation requirements at reservation. Carry proof of the puppy's birth date to check-in to satisfy the 6-week cargo threshold.
Frequently asked
How much does it cost to fly a pet on Air New Zealand? On flights within Metropolitan France, Air New Zealand charges from 100 NZD in the cabin, and 120 NZD in the hold, one way per pet. Longer routes cost more — price your exact itinerary. 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.
Air New Zealand charges a cabin pet fee of 100 NZD one way. Budget 100 NZD per direction and double it for a round trip. Pay this separately from the ticket fare. Confirm the 100 NZD amount at booking, since it applies per one-way segment. Keep the payment receipt to present at check-in.
So map it out early: crate specs, the 6-week age line, and that cargo-versus-hold call all stack up fast on this route. Sam and I never wing this stuff, and neither should you. Build a personalized plan with Pawgo's plan-builder, punch in your actual dates and airports, and get every Air New Zealand requirement laid out for your real trip. Then go chase the good trails, together.
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.
