LOT Polish Airlines Pet Travel Policy

Hey, I'm Marco—and Mochi Nearly Didn't Make It to Warsaw

I learned the hard way that flying with pets isn't just about showing up at the airport with your furry friend. When I booked Mochi (my 11kg French Bulldog) on LOT Polish Airlines for a trip to Warsaw, I made every rookie mistake in the book. No pre-booking. Wrong carrier. And—worst of all—I didn't know that brachycephalic breeds like Mochi face serious restrictions on most airlines, including LOT.

Here's what nobody tells you: you can't just wing it with pet travel. But the good news? Once you know the rules, LOT Polish Airlines is actually pretty straightforward. Let me walk you through everything I wish someone had told me before that trip.

Can My Pet Fly in the Cabin with Me?

Yes—but there are big caveats. LOT allows dogs, cats, and ferrets in the cabin. That's the good news. The bad news? Your pet has to meet strict size and breed requirements, and you must book in advance.

Here's what I learned with Mochi:

• Weight limit: Your pet plus carrier cannot exceed 8kg (18 lbs) combined. Mochi weighs 11kg, so he's already over. That's why I had to explore other options.
• Carrier dimensions: Maximum 53cm long × 38cm wide × 20cm high (21" × 15" × 8"). It has to fit under the seat in front of you.
• Soft-sided carrier required: Hard-sided carriers won't work for cabin travel—they don't fit under seats. You need a collapsible, soft-sided carrier with mesh ventilation.
• Absorbent liner inside: Accidents happen. Line the carrier with an absorbent mat or pad.

Wait—Is My Breed Even Allowed?

This is where I hit the wall with Mochi. LOT restricts brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds in the cabin due to respiratory risks during flight. French Bulldogs, Pugs, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Boxers, Shih Tzus, and many others are on the banned list.

The restricted breeds include:

• Affenpinscher
• American Bully (all breeds)
• Boston Terrier
• Boxer (all breeds)
• Bulldog (all breeds, including French Bulldogs)
• Brussels Griffon
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Chow Chow
• English Toy Spaniel
• Japanese Chin
• Lhasa Apso
• Mastiff (all breeds)
• Pekingese
• Pit Bull / American Pit Bull Terrier / Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Pug (all breeds)
• Shar Pei
• Shih Tzu
• Tibetan Spaniel

If your breed is on this list, you cannot fly in the cabin. But don't panic—there are alternatives. Read on.

Okay, So What About Checked Baggage or Cargo?

This is where Mochi's journey got real. Since he's a French Bulldog, LOT wouldn't allow him in the cabin. But they do offer checked baggage and cargo options for larger or restricted-breed pets.

Checked Baggage (Hold)

Your pet travels in the aircraft hold with your luggage. This is cheaper than cargo but comes with strict requirements:

• Age minimum: At least 10 weeks old and fully weaned.
• Carrier type: Hard-sided, IATA-compliant crate only. No soft-sided carriers.
• Water bowl: Must have an attached, external water bowl that crew can refill during flight.
• Ventilation: Openings on at least three sides per IATA standards.
• Absorbent liner: Required to manage accidents.
• "Live Animals" labels: Required on the crate with orientation arrows.
• Temperature limits: Cannot fly if tarmac temperatures are below -6.7°C (20°F) or above 29.4°C (85°F) at origin or destination. This is huge—I nearly missed a summer flight because of heat embargoes.
• Brachycephalic breeds banned: Yes, even in checked baggage. Mochi still couldn't go this route.

Cargo Service

This is the option I ultimately used for Mochi. Cargo is a dedicated pet transport service with the same carrier and documentation requirements as checked baggage, but with more specialized handling. The requirements are identical to checked baggage regarding crate specs, water bowls, ventilation, and temperature embargoes.

Important: Brachycephalic breeds are also restricted in cargo. So if your pet is a snub-nosed breed, you need to call LOT directly to discuss your specific situation.

How Much Does It Cost?

Here's the breakdown:

Cabin Travel

• Short/mid-haul (Europe, Middle East): €65 or $70 USD
• Long-haul (North America, East Asia): €100 or $120 USD

Checked Baggage (Hold)

• Europe: €150
• Long-haul: €290

Cargo pricing: We're still verifying this—contact LOT Polish Airlines directly for cargo rates.

How Do I Book My Pet?

You cannot book online. This was another gotcha for me. You must call the LOT Contact Center directly:

• Phone: +48 22-577-77-55
• Timing: Book at least 12 hours before departure. Don't leave it to the last minute—LOT limits the number of pets per flight.
• Alternative: You can also try booking through "Manage My Booking" on their website, but phone is more reliable.

When I called, they asked for Mochi's age, weight, breed, and destination. They confirmed he couldn't fly cabin (brachycephalic restriction) and offered cargo as the safest option.

What Documents Do I Need?

Health certificate: Non-negotiable. You need a vet-issued health certificate dated within 10 days of departure. Some destinations require 7 days, so get it as close to your flight as possible. The airline will check it at the airport—don't risk being denied boarding.

For international travel, you may also need import permits depending on your destination country. Check the specific requirements for where you're flying.

What About Sedation?

Don't sedate your pet. IATA regulations prohibit sedation during air travel because a sedated animal cannot maintain equilibrium or respond to emergencies. This applies to all commercial airlines worldwide. Unless both your vet and LOT explicitly instruct you to sedate your pet, don't do it.

Special Cases: Pregnant, In Heat, or Very Young Pets?

• Pregnant animals: Most airlines, including LOT, do not accept visibly pregnant animals due to health risks during flight. If your pet is pregnant, contact LOT directly to confirm.
• Animals in heat: We're still verifying LOT's specific policy—call them directly.
• Minimum age: 8 weeks for cabin, 10 weeks for checked baggage or cargo. Puppies and kittens must be fully weaned.

Service Animals (Emotional Support or Assistance Dogs)

Service animals have a separate policy from regular pets. We're still verifying the specific details for LOT—contact them directly if you're traveling with a certified assistance animal.

Key Numbers at a Glance

• Cabin pet weight limit: 8kg (pet + carrier combined)
• Cabin carrier dimensions: 53cm × 38cm × 20cm max
• Cabin booking fee (short-haul): €65 / $70 USD
• Cabin booking fee (long-haul): €100 / $120 USD
• Checked baggage fee (Europe): €150
• Checked baggage fee (long-haul): €290
• Minimum age (cabin): 8 weeks
• Minimum age (checked/cargo): 10 weeks
• Advance booking required: At least 12 hours before departure
• Health certificate validity: 10 days (7 days for some destinations)
• Temperature embargo (checked/cargo): Cannot fly below -6.7°C or above 29.4°C
• LOT Contact Center: +48 22-577-77-55

What You Need to Do

• Step 1: Check if your pet's breed is on the brachycephalic restricted list. If yes, cabin travel is not an option.
• Step 2: Measure your pet and carrier. If combined weight exceeds 8kg or carrier exceeds dimensions, cabin won't work.
• Step 3: Call LOT Contact Center (+48 22-577-77-55) at least 12 hours before departure to book. Have your pet's age, weight, breed, and destination ready.
• Step 4: Schedule a vet appointment to get a health certificate dated within 10 days of travel.
• Step 5: If traveling checked baggage or cargo, invest in a hard-sided, IATA-compliant crate with an external water bowl and absorbent liner.
• Step 6: Check temperature forecasts at your origin and destination. If either exceeds 29.4°C (85°F), your pet cannot fly checked or cargo.
• Step 7: Confirm any import permits or destination-specific requirements with your vet or the destination country's authorities.
• Step 8: Arrive early on flight day. Pet check-in has its own process separate from regular baggage.

Real Talk: My Mochi Experience

Mochi flew LOT cargo to Warsaw, and honestly? It went smoothly once I got organized. The crate was secure, the crew was professional, and he arrived calm and healthy. The key was planning ahead, getting the right equipment, and not trying to cut corners.

The hardest part wasn't the rules—it was accepting that my little guy couldn't sit next to me in the cabin. But cargo was the safest option for a brachycephalic breed, and I'd do it the same way again.

If you're flying with a pet on LOT, don't make my early mistakes. Call them early, get your documents in order, and invest in the right carrier. Your pet will thank you.

Need more help? Check out our pet travel documents checklist, brachycephalic breed flying guide, and pet travel cost guide for more details.

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Data auto-verified from official LOT Polish Airlines sources. Last updated: April 17, 2026. Always confirm current policies directly with LOT Contact Center (+48 22-577-77-55) before booking, as policies may change.

Auto-generated from verified data · Last updated: April 21, 2026