Transporting animals as excess baggage in the cargo hold

Dogs and cats that weigh more than 8 kg including their transport container, may not travel in the cabin.

From 1 January 2020 the transport of hares and rabbits in the cargo hold will be restricted.
Existing, confirmed bookings, including those scheduled for after 1 January 2020, will remain valid.

Please note: no animals are accepted in the cargo hold on connecting flights via Munich. Through-checking of animals transported in the cargo hold is not possible at Munich Airport. The booking of transit and connecting flights with checked-in animals and their through-checking is still possible via Frankfurt.

Please note the following exceptions for the transport of service dogs (e.g. guide dogs or hearing dogs). 

Each passenger is allowed to take a maximum of two animals with them (in an approved transport container). Animals can be transported either in the cabin and/or in the cargo hold:

• No more than two animals (dog or cat) in the cabin (in an approved transport container) or no more than two animals in the cargo hold (in one or two approved transport containers).
  
• One animal (dog or cat) in the cabin (in an approved transport container) and one animal in the cargo hold (in an approved transport container).

Please also note the minimum age of the animals to be transported:

• For dogs and cats, the minimum age is 12 weeks; for journeys to/from the USA it is 16 weeks
• For rabbits and hares, the minimum age is 5 weeks

Detailed information about the quality and dimensions of transport containers can be found further down this page.

Special regulations also apply to breeds of fighting dogs and snub-nosed animals.

Compliance with import and export provisions as well as animal protection regulations is your responsibility. Please enquire about the regulations applicable in the country or countries you intend to visit at their respective consulates and at your veterinary surgery. Furthermore, Lufthansa reserves the right to apply stricter regulations and to refuse bookings on certain routes (such as, for example, to the UK, Ireland or Bangalore in India) if necessary.

Should Lufthansa have to refuse the carriage of your pet because of non-compliance with the regulations, Lufthansa is not liable for any resulting costs, such as, for example, rebooking charges, animal boarding costs or hotel accommodation.

In exceptional cases, for example due to the regulations of a particular country, it is possible that we will not be able to transport your pet as excess baggage in the air-conditioned cargo hold of a Lufthansa aircraft, despite the fulfilment of all the requirements mentioned here. However, transport as air freight in the cargo hold of a Lufthansa aircraft may be possible in some circumstances. Varying prices apply to transportation as air freight.

In this case, you require the services of a carrier who specialises in transporting animals. You can find the contact details of one near you with the help of the animal carrier search. If you have any questions about this, the Lufthansa Cargo Service Centre will be happy to help you on: 0180 6 - 747 100 (calls cost EUR 0.20 per min. from a German landline network; max. EUR 0.60 per min. from a mobile phone network).

If the animal is to travel in the cargo hold as excess baggage and your itinerary includes a United Airlines flight before or after your Lufthansa flight, please note the following information.

Information regarding the carriage of animal species other than the permitted dogs, cats, hares and rabbits can be found on the website lufthansa-cargo.com.

In this case, you require the services of a carrier who specialises in transporting animals. You can find the contact details of one near you with the help of the animal carrier search. If you have any questions about this, the Lufthansa Cargo Service Centre will be happy to help you on: 0180 6 - 747 100 (calls cost EUR 0.20 per min. from a German landline network; max. EUR 0.60 per min. from a mobile phone network).

1. The transport container must be big enough for the animal to be able to stand in its natural position and have enough room to lie down and turn round.

2. The maximum size for a container for transport in the cargo hold of a passenger aircraft is 125 × 75 × 85 cm.

3. The container must be escape-proof. We recommend sturdy plastic or wooden cages made from harmless and non-toxic material. The transport container must have ventilation holes in all four sides. The holes must be small enough to prevent the animal getting any part of its body through and risking injury and to guarantee protection from biting or scratching by the animal.

4. The inside of the container must not have any sharp corners, edges or protruding nails on which the animal could injure itself.

5. The transport container must have a water-proof floor and be lined with absorbent material, such as a blanket or absorbent pad/mat. Newspaper, cardboard and straw are not permitted.

6. Food and water bowls (empty) must be attached to the cage and be fillable from the outside. Food and water for the flight can be optionally provided to take with the animal; however, it must be ensured that these cannot be spilled during the flight.

7. Castors/wheels are not permitted on the container.

8. Spacer bars must be attached centrally on both of the long sides.

9. Please carry your pet’s collar and lead with you in your carry-on baggage.

10. Only one animal is permitted per container. Exceptions apply.*

* Up to two young animals of comparable size, which may be between 12 weeks and 6 months old, or two fully grown animals of comparable size and up to 14 kg per animal or a mother animal with one young animal (0–6 months) still dependent on the mother are permitted in the same transport container. The requirement for transporting several animals in one container is that all the animals in it must be able to stand, turn and lie down in their natural positions and that they are used to being together.

Please note: the container top must not be covered with mesh. However, ventilation holes are allowed in the lid.

1. The transport container must be big enough for the animal to be able to stand in its natural position and have enough room to lie down and turn round.

2. Containers for hares must be lined with wire mesh to prevent the animal from escaping by gnawing through the container walls. Containers for rabbits must also be secured, for example by lining them with wire mesh, so that the animal cannot gnaw through the container walls and escape.

3. The wire mesh must be attached and secured in such a way as to protect the animal from injury.

4. For hares, the doors and ventilation holes must also be provided with wire mesh. For rabbits, there must be ventilation holes on at least three sides of the container and these must be protected with wire mesh. The size of the mesh must be small enough to prevent the animal getting any part of its body through and risking injury and to provide protection from biting or scratching by the animal.

5. The container, including the doors, must be able to be securely locked and escape-proof and may not have any castors or wheels.

6. The transport container must be sturdy and possess a water-proof floor lined with absorbent material (blanket or absorbent pad/mat).

7. Food and water containers (empty) must be attached to the container and be fillable from the outside.

1. Door
2. Metal water container with access from outside