South African Airways doesn't run cabin pet travel — only service dogs ride up front. Nala would fly checked baggage in the hold with a 23 kg combined ceiling for domestic South Africa routes, in a container no bigger than 1 metre per side. International routes hand the pet off to SAA Cargo as a separate booking.
South African Airways'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 South African Airways treats your pet
Cabin policy
| Item | Detail | Source & confidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pets accepted | Not accepted in the cabin | 96% |
Hold policy
| Item | Detail | Source & confidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pets accepted | Accepted in the hold | 94% | |
| Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds | Not yet documented | — | |
| Pet + carrier max weight | 23 kg (incl. carrier) | 92% |
Cargo policy
| Item | Detail | Source & confidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pets accepted | Accepted in the cargo | 95% |
Frequently asked
- 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.
SAA is a no-fuss carrier if your plan is built around hold travel. Domestic is the simpler lane: contact the Call Centre well before flight, get the vaccination and rabies certs in order, and submit paperwork at least a week ahead. International always means routing through SAA Cargo — bake the lead time into your plan.
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.