Air Tahiti Nui flies to French Polynesia — a long-haul route with a microchip requirement that absolutely belongs on row one of any spreadsheet. Luna has never been on a transpacific flight, but if she were, I'd have the health certificate printed and timestamped before the booking confirmation even arrived in my inbox. Here's what the policy actually says, so you can build your checklist accordingly.

Air Tahiti Nui'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 Tahiti Nui handles your pet

Each fact comes straight from the operator’s published policy. Tap the to read the exact wording; the opens the source page.

In the cabin Accepted
In the hold / cargo Accepted
Snub-nosed breedsNot accepted

Cabin policy

Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-07-14
Snub-nosed breeds banned Yesverified 2026-07-14
Snub-nosed breeds listof the Rottweiler verified 2026-07-14
Minimum age4 weeksverified 2026-07-14
Advance booking notice48 hoursverified 2026-07-14
Advance booking required Yesverified 2026-07-14
Max pets per passenger2verified 2026-07-14
Booking methodmake a reservationverified 2026-07-20
Advance notice hours48 hoursverified 2026-07-14
Carrier size35 × 20 cmverified 2026-07-14
Max weight (pet + crate)8 kgverified 2026-07-14
Crate must have/behard-sided ok, soft-sided ok, ventilated, IATA-compliant, a carrierverified 2026-07-14

Hold & cargo policy

Hold: Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-07-14
Hold: Snub-nosed breeds banned Yesverified 2026-07-14
Hold: Minimum age6 weeksverified 2026-07-14
Hold: Advance booking notice48 hoursverified 2026-07-14
Hold: Advance booking required Yesverified 2026-07-14
Hold: Crate must have/behard-sided ok, ventilated, IATA-compliant, absorbent linerverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-07-07
Cargo: Snub-nosed breeds banned Yesverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Minimum age4 weeksverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Advance booking notice48 hoursverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Advance booking required Yesverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Animals in heat accepted Noverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Pregnant animals accepted Noverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Carrier size6 cmverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Crate must have/behard-sided ok, ventilated, IATA-compliant, a carrierverified 2026-07-14

Health & documents

Health certificate required Yesverified 2026-07-29
Health certificate validity10 daysverified 2026-07-25
Microchip · Required Yesverified 2026-07-14
Import permit · Issuing authoritythe destination country is required. The traveler is responsible for ensuring compliance with all import regulations of the destination country. Failure to meet theverified 2026-07-14
Health certificate · Issuera veterinarianverified 2026-07-14
Health certificate · Required Yesverified 2026-07-28
Health certificate valid within days · Health certificate valid within days10 daysverified 2026-07-20

Other rules

Pregnant animals accepted Noverified 2026-07-14

Service & assistance animals

Fee waived Yesverified 2026-07-20
Recognized Yesverified 2026-07-28
Cabin allowed Yesverified 2026-07-28
Esa recognized Noverified 2026-07-14
Max pets per passenger2verified 2026-07-14
Documents must be submitted to the reservation service no earlier than 48 hours before departure — not at check-in, not the night before. Set a calendar alert 49 hours out. Submit via the reservation service specifically; showing up at the airport without that confirmation window risks denial. The 48-hour floor is a hard policy limit, not a soft recommendation.
The carrier must allow the animal to turn around, stand, and sit without the muzzle reaching the grid. This is an IATA-standard sizing rule applied by Air Tahiti Nui. Measure the pet at full standing height plus ear clearance, then verify the carrier interior matches before purchase. A carrier that passed on another airline may still fail this check.

Frequently asked

How many pets can I bring on Air Tahiti Nui?
Air Tahiti Nui allows 2 in the cabin, per passenger. Each pet needs its own carrier.
What is the cabin weight limit on Air Tahiti Nui?
In the cabin, your pet plus its carrier must not exceed 8 kg.
Can snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds fly Air Tahiti Nui?
Snub-nosed breeds such as bulldogs, pugs and Persian cats are not accepted in the cabin, not accepted in the hold.
How far in advance must I book my pet on Air Tahiti Nui?
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.
Transpacific routes have enough variables — layovers, transit country rules, timing — that a single checklist rarely covers everything. If this article pointed you in the right direction, Pawgo's personalized plan builder will take you the rest of the way. Luna's carrier is already measured and labeled. Yours should be too. Start a plan and let it map out every requirement for your specific route, dates, and pet.
Get YOUR personalized plan for Air Tahiti Nui →

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.