Okay, El Al fans, here's the good news that made me grin: dogs ride in the cabin, full stop. If your pup tips the scale at or under 9 kg, they board with you instead of getting handed off below. That single fact reshapes how we pack, board, and time everything. Nala has opinions about layovers, and a cabin seat keeps those opinions right next to me the whole flight.

El Al'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 El Al 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 hold / cargo Accepted

Hold & cargo policy

Hold: Crate must have/bewater bowl, ventilated, IATA-compliantverified 2026-10-11
Cargo: Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-10-11
Cargo: Crate must have/bewater bowl, IATA-compliantverified 2026-10-11

Health & documents

Downloadable forms📄 Other formverified 2026-10-11
Health certificate required Yesverified 2026-10-11
Health certificate validity10 daysverified 2026-10-11
So that's El Al, wide open across cabin, cargo, and hold, with a clean 9 kg cabin ceiling. Weigh your dog honestly, book early, and confirm the carrier dimensions before you show up. Then let Pawgo build your personalized plan for the exact route and dog you're flying, so nothing gets guessed at the counter. Bring more water than you think, map your customs window, and go chase that trip. Your plan is one click away.
Get YOUR personalized plan for El Al →

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.