Flying with a big dog to China means doing your homework before you even open the booking tab. Shandong Airlines does allow dogs in the cabin — that alone changed our whole routing conversation. But quarantine is required on arrival, and that changes everything about how you time the trip. Nala's patience is legendary, but even she has a limit. Here's what you actually need to know.
Shandong 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 Shandong Airlines 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 Accepted
In the hold / cargo Accepted
Snub-nosed breedsNot accepted
Cabin policy
Pets accepted Accepted“Pets in the Cabin Unfortunately, pets aren't permitted to travel in the cabin with Shandong Airlines.”
One-way fee250 USD“$20 off a $250+ pay-now hotel rate with promo code PAWTY Home Air Travel Shandong Airlines Shandong Airlines No Reviews…”
Hold & cargo policy
Hold: Pets accepted Accepted“Pets in the Cabin Unfortunately, pets aren't permitted to travel in the cabin with Shandong Airlines.”
Hold: Snub-nosed breeds banned Yes“Small animals refer to domestic dogs and cats (flat-nosed canines, flat-nosed felines, pitbulls and canines that are sensitive to high temperature and high altitude are not suitable for air transport).”
Hold: Advance booking required Yes“We may inquire about your condition out of safety concerns and provide corresponding services based on your condition, or ask you for a medical certificate that says your condition is suitable for flying, or come up…”
Hold: Max weight (pet + crate)32 kg“…if the combined weight of the pet and carrier does not exceed 99 lbs (45 kg) on domestic flights and 70 lbs (32 kg) on international flights Pets in Check”
Hold: Crate must have/behard-sided ok, ventilated, a carrier“For pets traveling as checked baggage, carriers must be solid, escape-proof, and leak-proof.”
Cargo: Advance booking required Yes“We may inquire about your condition out of safety concerns and provide corresponding services based on your condition, or ask you for a medical certificate that says your condition is suitable for flying, or come up…”
Health & documents
Service & assistance animals
In the cabin Accepted
In the hold / cargo Accepted
Cabin policy
Hold & cargo policy
Hold: Advance booking required Yes“We may inquire about your condition out of safety concerns and provide corresponding services based on your condition, or ask you for a medical certificate that says your condition is suitable for flying, or come up…”
Hold: Max weight (pet + crate)32 kg“…if the combined weight of the pet and carrier does not exceed 99 lbs (45 kg) on domestic flights and 70 lbs (32 kg) on international flights Pets in Check”
Hold: Crate must have/behard-sided ok, ventilated, a carrier“For pets traveling as checked baggage, carriers must be solid, escape-proof, and leak-proof.”
Cargo: Pets accepted Accepted“Pets in the Cabin Unfortunately, pets aren't permitted to travel in the cabin with Shandong Airlines.”
Cargo: Advance booking required Yes“We may inquire about your condition out of safety concerns and provide corresponding services based on your condition, or ask you for a medical certificate that says your condition is suitable for flying, or come up…”
Cargo: Pregnant animals accepted No“Passengers carrying small animals Small animals refer to domestic dogs and cats (flat-nosed canines, flat-nosed felines, pitbulls and canines that are sensitive to high temperature and high altitude are not suitable for…”
Health & documents
Frequently asked
- Can snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds fly Shandong Airlines?
- Snub-nosed breeds such as bulldogs, pugs and Persian cats are not accepted in the hold.
- How much does it cost to fly a pet on Shandong Airlines?
- On flights within Metropolitan France, Shandong Airlines charges from 250 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.
Shandong Airlines sets the one-way cabin fee for dogs at 250 USD. That figure applies per leg, so multi-segment itineraries stack the cost. Collect the exact CNY equivalent from the airline before departure — airport counters typically collect in local currency. Verify the fee at check-in rather than assuming the booking confirmation shows the final pet charge.
Shandong Airlines is workable if you plan obsessively — quarantine requirements and per-leg fees add up fast, and the details shift. Sam and I always run the full route through Pawgo before committing to anything. Hit the plan builder, drop in your origin and destination, and get a personalized plan that maps every requirement for your actual itinerary. That's how a complicated route becomes a trip you can actually book.
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.