Lufthansa is the carrier I've flown Cooper on the most — they're predictable on documentation and one of the more big-dog-cargo-friendly options out of Frankfurt. Cabin maxes at 8 kg combined, two pets per passenger. Minimum age is 12 weeks for most routes, 15 weeks for any Germany-routed flight, 6 months for the United States.
Lufthansa'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 Lufthansa treats your pet
Cabin policy
Hold policy
| Item | Detail | Source & confidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pets accepted | Not accepted in the hold | 95% | |
| Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds | Not accepted in the hold | 85% |
Cargo policy
| Item | Detail | Source & confidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pets accepted | Accepted in the cargo | 82% | |
| Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds | Not accepted in the cargo | 100% | |
| Pets per passenger | Up to 2 per passenger | 85% |
Lufthansa applies a hard 48-hour deadline on pet bookings before the first scheduled departure. Pet slots per flight are limited, and same-day add-ons are denied even when other slots remain. Use the online registration form for US-bound dogs. Everything else routes through the Service Centre by phone, including hold-bound pets and any breed flag.
Lufthansa does not accept snub-nosed breeds for hold travel; the heat-stress embargo runs year-round. The cabin lane remains open for those breeds when they fit the 8 kg ceiling and the soft-sided carrier. Dangerous and aggressive dogs route through Lufthansa Cargo as freight under a separate booking, not as accompanied passenger baggage.
Frequently asked
- How many pets can I bring on Lufthansa?
- Lufthansa allows 2 in the cabin, per passenger. Each pet needs its own carrier.
- What is the cabin weight limit on Lufthansa?
- In the cabin, your pet plus its carrier must not exceed 8 kg.
- How far in advance must I book my pet on Lufthansa?
- Add your pet to the booking at least 48 hours before departure — do it when you book the ticket, not at the airport.
- 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.
Lufthansa is a solid choice for both cabin and cargo dog travel. Your plan answers three questions before the booking: cabin or hold, brachy status, and the 12/15-week or 6-month age floor for the route. Once those are locked, the rest is paperwork — and Lufthansa is good at telling you exactly what's missing.
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.