Okay, KLM just earned a spot on my dream-route list. Dogs ride in the cabin here, which changes everything when you travel with a high-energy pup who hates being out of sight. Nala would fully approve of that seat-side arrangement. Sam and I map these details before we ever book, and knowing a big airline waves the cabin option through makes the whole adventure feel wide open. Let's go.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines'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 KLM Royal Dutch Airlines 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 Accepted
In the hold / cargo Accepted
Snub-nosed breedsAccepted

Cabin policy

Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-10-11
Snub-nosed breeds banned Noverified 2026-10-11
Minimum age15 weeksverified 2026-10-11
Advance booking notice48 hoursverified 2026-10-11
Advance booking required Yesverified 2026-10-11
Booking methodonlineverified 2026-10-11
Sedation allowed Yesverified 2026-10-11
Sedation needs vet approval Yesverified 2026-10-11
Carrier size46 × 28 × 24 cmverified 2026-10-11
Max weight (pet + crate)8 kgverified 2026-10-11
Crate must have/besoft-sided ok, ventilated, IATA-compliant, absorbent liner, a carrierverified 2026-10-11

Hold & cargo policy

Hold: Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-10-23
Hold: Snub-nosed breeds banned Yesverified 2026-10-11
Hold: Snub-nosed breeds list
  • Affenpinscher
  • American Bully
  • Boston Terrier
  • Boxers (all breeds)
  • Bulldogs (all breeds)
  • Bull Mastiff
  • Cane Corso
  • Pugs (all breeds)
  • Chow-Chow
  • Great Dane (all breeds)
  • Certain breeds of Spaniel (Tibetan, Japanese, English, King Charles)
  • Brussels Griffon
  • Lhasa Apso
  • Mastiffs (all breeds)
  • Neapolitan Mastiff
  • Pekingese
  • Small Brabant
  • Shih Tzu
  • Shar Pei
  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier
verified 2026-10-11
Hold: Minimum age15 weeksverified 2026-10-11
Hold: Advance booking notice48 hoursverified 2026-10-11
Hold: Advance booking required Yesverified 2026-10-11
Hold: Sedation allowed Yesverified 2026-10-11
Hold: Sedation needs vet approval Yesverified 2026-10-11
Hold: Carrier size122 × 81 × 89 cmverified 2026-10-11
Hold: Max weight (pet + crate)75 kgverified 2026-10-11
Hold: Crate must have/behard-sided ok, water bowl, IATA-compliant, absorbent liner, live-animal labelverified 2026-10-11
Cargo: Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-10-23
Cargo: Snub-nosed breeds banned Noverified 2026-10-11
Cargo: Minimum age15 weeksverified 2026-10-11
Cargo: Advance booking notice48 hoursverified 2026-10-11
Cargo: Advance booking required Yesverified 2026-10-11
Cargo: Sedation allowed Yesverified 2026-10-11
Cargo: Sedation needs vet approval Yesverified 2026-10-11
Cargo: Crate must have/behard-sided ok, water bowl, IATA-compliant, absorbent liner, live-animal label, a carrierverified 2026-10-11

Health & documents

Health certificate required Yesverified 2026-10-11

Service & assistance animals

Recognized Yesverified 2026-10-11
Cabin allowed Yesverified 2026-10-11
Forms required Yesverified 2026-10-11
Advance notice hours48 hoursverified 2026-10-11
Documentation required Yesverified 2026-10-11

Exceptions to the standard rules

Cases where the rules differ from the ones above.

  • Trained service dog — KLM policy source

    No fee for assistance dogs — accepted free in cabin regardless of size

    Assistance dogs travel at handler's feet, no carrier required

    Breed restrictions typically do not apply to trained assistance dogs

    No size/weight limit for assistance dogs in cabin

  • Emotional support animal — treated as regular pet by KLM source

    ESA letters are not accepted. Your pet travels under standard pet policy with applicable fees and restrictions.

KLM requires a pet cabin reservation no later than 48 hours before departure. Book that pet spot the same day the flight is confirmed. Cabin slots are limited and fill on a first-come basis. Do not wait for the airport counter. Call KLM directly after purchase to lock the reservation and get written confirmation of the pet booking far inside the 48-hour cutoff.
KLM cannot transport most snub-nosed breeds in the hold. Confirm the breed against KLM's restricted list before booking any cargo or hold segment. Choose a cabin-eligible route instead when the dog is brachycephalic. Contact KLM to verify the specific breed status in writing. Assume a hold ban applies to flat-faced breeds until KLM states otherwise for that exact flight.
The KLM cabin pet fee is 100 EUR one way. Budget 200 EUR for a round trip on the cabin fare. Confirm the exact charge for the booked route, since hold transport costs more than cabin travel. Pay the fee at reservation to secure the pet slot. Keep the payment receipt as proof of the confirmed cabin booking.
So KLM checks the big boxes for a cabin-first adventure, but the fine print shifts by route and breed. Nala taught me that one missed cutoff wrecks a whole itinerary, so I never wing it. Build your personalized plan with Pawgo's plan-builder, plug in your actual dog and destinations, and let it flag the fees and deadlines that apply to your real trip. Then go chase the trail.
Get YOUR personalized plan for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines →

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.