Brussels Airlines (SN) is one of the Lufthansa Group's smaller carriers, primarily running short-haul European and African routes plus limited transatlantic. Their pet program is straightforward, but with some specific rules around age that catch owners of younger animals. Nala once watched me almost book a Brussels Airlines flight for a 13-week-old foster kitten before noticing the age restriction. The single decision is the pet's age at travel date — not at booking.
SN'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 SN treats your pet
Cabin policy
Hold policy
| Item | Detail | Source & confidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pets accepted | Not accepted in the hold | 95% | |
| Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds | Not yet documented | — |
Cargo policy
| Item | Detail | Source & confidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Policy | Not yet documented | — |
Brussels Airlines requires cabin pets to be older than 15 weeks at the date of travel. From August 1, 2024, the minimum age for travel to the USA is raised to 6 months, aligning with CDC's dog import rule. Verify the pet's age against the travel date and destination — different age floors apply per country, checked at the gate.
Brussels Airlines does not accept snub-nosed (brachycephalic) pets for transportation in the hold. French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, Persians, and Exotic Shorthairs are restricted to cabin only on SN. Brachycephalic dogs above the cabin weight limit cannot fly Brussels Airlines at all — owners need to use a specialized pet relocation service or a different carrier for these breeds.
Frequently asked
- Can snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds fly SN?
- Snub-nosed breeds such as bulldogs, pugs and Persian cats are not accepted in the cabin.
- 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.
For Brussels Airlines: verify your pet meets the 15-week minimum age (or 6-month minimum for USA-bound flights from August 2024 onward), confirm your dog is not on the brachycephalic restricted list if planning cargo, and book the cabin pet slot through their special services line. Build your plan against your departure date in Pawgo before booking — it confirms the age requirements, brachy restrictions, and cabin slot capacity for your specific SN flight.
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.