Here's what I wish someone had told me before booking FlySafair: dogs travel in cargo, never in the cabin. Cooper has done this trip three times now, so the cargo hold no longer scares me the way it once did. If you're relocating a bigger dog, this is the airline you'll actually work with, and getting the details right early is what keeps the whole thing calm.

FlySafair'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 FlySafair handles your pet

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

In the cabin Not accepted
In the hold / cargo Accepted
Snub-nosed breedsNot accepted

Cabin policy

Pets accepted Not accepted“May I take my dog, cat, hamster, porcupine, lizard or snake? Unfortunately we do not transport any live animals.”

Hold & cargo policy

Hold: Snub-nosed breeds banned Yes“Pregnant Pets Heavily pregnant animals will not be transported unless under exceptional circumstances.”
Hold: Minimum age3 weeks“If the pet is under 3 months old, a legible copy of the mother's updated vaccination records is required”
Hold: Pregnant animals accepted No“Pregnant Pets Heavily pregnant animals will not be transported unless under exceptional circumstances”
Hold: Crate must have/bewater bowl, IATA-compliant, absorbent liner“Requirements for a Comfortable & Secure Journey Water Bowl Pets must have a water bowl inside their crate”
Cargo: Pets accepted Accepted“From 15 April 2025, FlySafair passengers can now transport their cats and dogs safely and comfortably with FlySafair and BidAir Cargo PetLounge.”
Cargo: Snub-nosed breeds banned Yes“Pregnant Pets Heavily pregnant animals will not be transported unless under exceptional circumstances.”
Cargo: Minimum age8 weeks“Puppies and kittens may only fly from 8 weeks old.”
Cargo: Advance booking notice72 hours“This service must be booked at least 72 hours prior to travel on the FlySafair website and is only available when booking a Standard or Premium fare.”
Cargo: Pregnant animals accepted No“Heavily pregnant animals will not be transported unless under exceptional circumstances.”
Cargo: Crate must have/bewater bowl, IATA-compliant, absorbent liner, a carrier“Water Bowl Pets must have a water bowl inside their crate.”

Health & documents

Downloadable forms{'url': 'https://www.flysafair.co.za/upload/legal/flysafair-terms-and-conditions-of-booking-and-carriage.pdf', 'label': 'flysafair-terms-and-conditions-of-booking-and-carriage.pdf', 'form_type': 'conditions_of_carriage'}“Airline-owned PDF auto-paired by pair_airline_pdfs_to_downloadable_forms — classified as conditions_of_carriage from URL keywords.”

Other rules

Assistance animals accepted Yes“We do not transport any other animals. Service dogs By the prior approval of FlySafair, Service Dogs (seeing eye, medical alert and psychiatric assistance) are carried free of charge, provided the Service Dog is…”

Service & assistance animals

Fee waived Yes“Service dogs By the prior approval of FlySafair, Service Dogs (seeing eye, medical alert and psychiatric assistance) are carried free of charge, provided the Service Dog is travelling with the owner, and that the…”
Recognized Yes“Service dogs By the prior approval of FlySafair, Service Dogs (seeing eye, medical alert and psychiatric assistance) are carried free of charge, provided the Service Dog is travelling with the owner, and that the…”
Advance notice hours48 hours“Arrangements for the carriage of Service Dogs are to be concluded no later than 48 hours prior to flight departure.”
Documentation required Yes“The Service Dog must be fully trained and harnessed and must be able to be seated on the floor in front of your seat.”
FlySafair cargo pet transport must be booked at least 72 hours before travel. Complete the booking directly on the FlySafair website within that window. The service is offered only on Standard or Premium fares, so select one of those fare tiers first. A cheaper fare disqualifies the booking. Confirm the 72-hour arrangement before finalizing any onward connections.
Heavily pregnant animals will not be transported except under exceptional circumstances. Confirm the pregnancy status before booking cargo transport. If a pet is far along, arrange the journey for a different date or after the birth. Contact FlySafair directly to request review under exceptional circumstances. Do not assume acceptance without written confirmation from the airline.

Frequently asked

Can snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds fly FlySafair?
Snub-nosed breeds such as bulldogs, pugs and Persian cats are not accepted in the hold.
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.
Cargo shipping felt overwhelming until I broke it into a countdown instead of one giant task. Start early, lock in the 72-hour cargo booking, and check the fare tier before anything else. When you're ready to map your exact route, build a personalized plan with Pawgo's plan-builder. It pulls the rules for your dog, your fare, and your dates into one clear checklist you can actually follow.
Get YOUR personalized plan for FlySafair →

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.