Seven days. That is how far ahead Etihad wants your booking form and travel documents, and my own paperwork has never been ready that fast. Mochi, at 6 kg, slips under the 8 kg cabin limit with room to spare, so weight is not my gotcha here. Timing is. Let's go through what Etihad asks, and when.

Etihad Airways'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 Etihad Airways handles your pet

Key points

  • Pets accepted in cabin only (cats and dogs, max 8 kg total)
  • Checked baggage (AVIH) not offered; cargo via Etihad Cargo LiveAnimals
  • Cabin: USD 399 per flight
  • Pet must stay in carrier under seat (or extra purchased seat in Business)

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

Cabin policy

Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-10-14
Minimum age16 weeksverified 2026-10-14
Advance booking notice168 hoursverified 2026-10-14
Advance booking required Yesverified 2026-10-14
Max pets per passenger1verified 2026-10-14
Booking methodonlineverified 2026-10-14
Banned destinations Yesverified 2026-10-14
Own seat allowed Yesverified 2026-10-21
Banned breeds list
  • Pit Bull
  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier
  • American Pit Bull Terrier
  • American Staffordshire Terrier
  • American Bully
  • Mastiff
  • Fila Brasileiro
  • Dogo Argentino
verified 2026-10-14
Pregnant animals accepted Noverified 2026-10-14
Sedation needs vet approval Yesverified 2026-10-14
Carrier size40 × 40 × 22 cmverified 2026-10-14
Max weight (pet + crate)8.0 kgverified 2026-10-14
Crate must have/beventilated, absorbent liner, a carrierverified 2026-10-14

Hold & cargo policy

Cargo: Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-10-14
Cargo: Banned breeds list
  • Pit Bull
  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier
  • American Pit Bull Terrier
  • American Staffordshire Terrier
  • American Bully
  • Mastiff
  • Fila Brasileiro
  • Dogo Argentino
verified 2026-10-14
Cargo: Pregnant animals accepted Noverified 2026-10-14
Cargo: Crate must have/bewater bowl, ventilated, a carrierverified 2026-10-14

Health & documents

Downloadable forms📄 Pet in cabin booking formverified 2026-08-28
Health certificate required Yesverified 2026-10-14

Service & assistance animals

Esa noteDogs trained for emotional support, comfort or companionship are not accepted as trained service dogs.verified 2026-10-14
Fee waived Yesverified 2026-10-14
Recognized Yesverified 2026-10-14
Cabin allowed Yesverified 2026-10-22
Esa recognized Noverified 2026-10-14
Forms required Yesverified 2026-10-14
Max pets per passenger1verified 2026-10-14
Breed restrictionsnoneverified 2026-10-14
Documentation required Yesverified 2026-10-14
Recognized organizationsADI (Assistance Dog International) or IGDF (International Guide Dog Federation)verified 2026-10-14
Etihad requires the booking form and the required travel documents at least seven days before the flight. That equals 168 hours. Submit both together, early in the booking process, and count back seven full days from departure to find the cutoff. A submission one day late misses the requirement, so build in a buffer.
Etihad bans named breeds outright: Pit Bulls, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Canario Presa and Boxer, plus any mixed breed or hybrid of them. The cited page lists no separate rule for snub-nosed breeds. Check the dog's breed against the list, and confirm the snub-nosed position with Etihad in writing.
Seven-day deadline, 8 kg limit, one banned-breed list: that is the Etihad gotcha sheet, and now you have it. Build your personalized plan on Pawgo and the dates get counted for you. The plan costs a few minutes, and the queue at the check-in desk gets a lot shorter for everyone behind you too.
Get YOUR personalized plan for Etihad Airways →

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.