Icelandair keeps dogs out of the cabin, so if you pictured your pup under the seat, reset that expectation now. Cargo and hold are your routes, and the paperwork rewards travelers who prep early. The science here is simpler than it sounds. Pixel has taught me that a calm, well-documented dog clears every checkpoint faster than a frantic one ever will.

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

Cabin policy

Pets accepted Not acceptedverified 2026-07-14

Hold & cargo policy

Hold: Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-07-14
Hold: Snub-nosed breeds banned Yesverified 2026-07-14
Hold: Snub-nosed breeds listBulldogPugBoxerBoston TerrierPekingeseShih TzuLhasa ApsoChow ChowBullmastiffCane CorsoDogue de BordeauxBrussels GriffonAffenpinscherJapanese ChinShar PeiMastiffverified 2026-07-14
Hold: Advance booking notice48 hoursverified 2026-07-20
Hold: Advance booking required Yesverified 2026-07-11
Hold: Crate must have/beIATA-compliant, live-animal label, a carrierverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Snub-nosed breeds banned Yesverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Snub-nosed breeds listBulldogPugBoxerBoston TerrierPekingeseShih TzuLhasa ApsoChow ChowBullmastiffCane CorsoDogue de BordeauxBrussels GriffonAffenpinscherJapanese ChinShar PeiMastiffverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Advance booking notice48 hoursverified 2026-07-15
Cargo: Advance booking required Yesverified 2026-07-24
Cargo: Min age weeks8 weeksverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Max weight (pet + crate)14 kgverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Crate must have/behard-sided ok, Hard sided required, IATA-compliant, absorbent liner, live-animal label, a carrierverified 2026-07-14

Health & documents

Health certificate required Yesverified 2026-07-14
Health certificate validity10 daysverified 2026-07-14
Quarantine · Required Yesverified 2026-06-04
Health certificate · Required Yesverified 2026-07-20
Health certificate required · Health certificate required Yesverified 2026-06-19
Health certificate valid within days · Health certificate valid within days10 daysverified 2026-07-14

Other rules

Dangerous breeds banned Yesverified 2026-07-14
Breed restrictions apply Yesverified 2026-07-14
Assistance animals accepted Yesverified 2026-07-15

Service & assistance animals

Fee waived Yesverified 2026-07-14
Recognized Yesverified 2026-07-28
Cabin allowed Yesverified 2026-07-21
Forms required Yesverified 2026-07-07
Max pets per passenger2verified 2026-07-14
Breed restrictionsService animals are dogs, regardless of breedverified 2026-07-20
Advance notice hours48 hoursverified 2026-07-14
Documentation required Yesverified 2026-07-07
Recognized organizationstrained by a person or organization that specializes in service dog trainingverified 2026-07-14
Icelandair requires cargo bookings 48 hours in advance. Call the airline at least two days before departure to reserve the cargo slot. Do not arrive at the airport expecting same-day cargo space. Confirm the 48-hour reservation in writing. Missing this window means the dog does not fly on the booked flight. Book the cargo slot the moment the ticket is confirmed.

Frequently asked

How much does it cost to fly a pet on Icelandair?
On flights within Metropolitan France, Icelandair charges from 35 USD in the cabin, one way per pet. Longer routes cost more — price your exact itinerary.
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.
The cabin pet fee is 35 USD one way. Budget 35 USD for each direction separately, so a round trip totals 70 USD. Pay the fee when booking the pet by phone. Confirm the 35 USD charge appears on the reservation before travel. Carry proof of payment to the airport. Fares in other currencies convert to the same 35 USD baseline.
Icelandair works well for dogs once you accept cargo or hold instead of the cabin and book that space ahead. Every route, fee, and health-certificate deadline shifts with your exact cities and dates. Do not guess. Build your personalized plan with Pawgo's plan-builder, enter your real trip, and get the checklist that matches it. The science here is simpler than it sounds when the plan does the sorting for you.
Get YOUR personalized plan for Icelandair →

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.