The Air France pet policy gives you two passenger-facing options — cabin and hold — both bookable directly through a standard reservation. True cargo, through Air France KLM Martinair Cargo, is a separate, forwarder-only service most individual travelers won’t use.
Current as of 2026: Airline policies can change without notice. Confirm directly with Air France before booking — this guide reflects only what could be independently confirmed on Air France’s own site and official documents, including a real discrepancy in Air France’s own published weight limits (see below).
Cabin and Hold Are Both Bookable Directly
Air France’s standard passenger booking flow covers both cabin (carry-on) and hold (checked baggage) pet travel. True Cargo — the Air France KLM Martinair freight division — is different: its own site states it doesn’t accept live animals directly from individuals, only from forwarding agents with IATA LAR certification or training. For most travelers booking their own trip, cabin or hold is the real option, not cargo.
Carry-On (Cabin) Pets
Air France only accepts soft-sided carriers in the cabin — no rigid crates, a stricter rule than some other European carriers. Carrier maximum dimensions are 46 × 28 × 24cm. Your pet must be added to the booking at least 24 hours before departure.
A genuine discrepancy exists in Air France’s own published weight limits: the airline’s official cabin checklist states an 8kg combined limit (pet plus carrier), while its own U.S. fee page states a 6kg limit for the pet alone. These may describe different things, but Air France’s own materials don’t reconcile them. Confirm the exact figure directly with Air France before booking rather than relying on either number alone.
Hold (Checked Baggage) Pets
Pets too large for the cabin travel in the hold, weighing between 8kg and 75kg with their carrier. The hold carrier must be fiberglass or hard plastic, IATA-compliant, with central locking top and bottom and an open, accessible water bowl — bottles aren’t accepted. One detail worth knowing in advance: no water is provided during the flight itself, so plan your pet’s hydration accordingly before departure.
Fees
Air France’s U.S. site publishes a single blended range covering both cabin and hold together: $70–$400, not broken out by exact route. A more detailed route-by-route euro table circulates online, but it couldn’t be confirmed on Air France’s own site in this research and isn’t presented here as verified. If your pet is added less than 24 hours before departure and accepted at the airport, a late surcharge applies — 50% within Metropolitan France and the Caribbean, or 25% on international flights.
Breed Restrictions
French law bans “Category 1” dogs from international travel entirely — this isn’t an Air France policy choice, it’s a legal restriction. Air France’s own liability waiver also references a “Category 2” classification, requiring additional veterinary certification for dogs resembling either category, and separately restricts brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds from hold transport. A related but distinct list applies to true cargo shipments: Boston Terrier, English Bulldog, French Bulldog, and Pug are barred from Air France, KLM, and Martinair cargo flights, with American Bully barred on KLM and Martinair specifically. Whether this exact list also applies to passenger checked baggage isn’t confirmed, so don’t assume the two are identical.
Temperature Restrictions
Air France doesn’t publish a temperature or heat/cold embargo policy anywhere in its passenger pet materials or its cargo documentation. If you’re moving a heat-sensitive breed, this is worth asking Air France about directly rather than assuming a specific threshold applies.
CDC Requirements for Dogs Entering the U.S.
Air France’s page addresses U.S.-bound dog travel directly, recommending travelers review CDC requirements and submit their booking request 48 hours before departure (96 hours for service dogs traveling from or to the UK and UAE). See Rabies Vaccination Requirements for International Pet Travel for the complete federal picture.
Related Guides
Rabies Vaccination Requirements for International Pet Travel
Importing Brachycephalic (Flat-Faced) Dogs
Choosing Cabin vs. Cargo for International Pet Travel
KLM Pet Policy
Pet Travel Glossary
