The Lufthansa pet policy is more accessible than several other international carriers’: both cabin and cargo-hold travel are open to the general public through a standard booking, not restricted to specific traveler categories.
Current as of 2026: Airline policies can change without notice. Confirm directly with Lufthansa before booking — this guide reflects only what could be independently confirmed on Lufthansa’s own site.
Cabin and Cargo Hold Are Both Open to the Public
Unlike some carriers that restrict pet cargo to military or government moves, Lufthansa lets any traveler book either a cabin pet (up to 8kg total) or a cargo-hold pet (over 8kg, as excess baggage) through the same registration process — online or via Lufthansa’s Service Center, at least 72 hours before departure. A separate, unaccompanied-freight option, Lufthansa Cargo, also exists, but its booking process runs through a different site than Lufthansa’s main passenger pages.
Carry-On (Cabin) Pets
Only small dogs and cats qualify, up to 8kg total including the carrier. The carrier must be soft-sided — Lufthansa doesn’t sell them at the airport, so bring your own — and no larger than 55 × 40 × 23cm. Minimum age is 15 weeks for travel to or from Germany, 12 weeks everywhere else; dogs traveling to the U.S. specifically must be at least 6 months old. The pet and carrier don’t count against your regular baggage allowance. The fee is charged once per flight direction, including on Lufthansa connecting flights.
Cargo-Hold Pets
Pets over 8kg travel in the temperature-controlled cargo hold, booked the same way as cabin pets. One real routing limitation to know about: cargo-hold pets can’t connect through Munich at all — through-checking isn’t possible there, though direct flights to or from Munich work fine, and transfers through Frankfurt remain an option. Cargo-hold availability is also limited on some codeshare flights — notably, it’s not available on flights operated by United Airlines. The carrying container must meet IATA Live Animal Regulations, secured with metal screws rather than a plastic locking mechanism, with a waterproof, absorbent-lined floor.
Fees
Lufthansa doesn’t publish a flat fee table — pricing runs through an interactive fare calculator based on your specific route, class, and fare. A few fixed charges are published outside that calculator:
- Cargo-hold transfer surcharge (via Brussels, Geneva, Frankfurt, Vienna, or Zurich): about $170
- Cargo-hold overnight stay in Zurich: about $220 (CHF 200) per container
- Assistance dogs: free of charge
For your specific route’s base cabin or cargo-hold fee, use Lufthansa’s own calculator rather than relying on a number quoted elsewhere.
Breed Restrictions
Brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dog and cat breeds have been barred from the cargo hold since January 1, 2020 — this is Lufthansa’s own confirmed, published policy, not just a widely repeated claim. These breeds can still travel in the cabin if they meet the standard cabin requirements. Separately, dogs classified as “fighting or dangerous” may only travel in the cargo hold, in special crates — except dogs aged 3 to 6 months, who can use standard containers. Lufthansa’s own page doesn’t name specific “dangerous dog” breeds; if you’ve seen a specific breed list attributed to Lufthansa elsewhere, it isn’t confirmed on Lufthansa’s own site and is most likely a local municipal classification rather than airline policy.
Temperature Restrictions
Lufthansa explains the reasoning behind its brachycephalic cargo-hold ban directly: high temperatures and stress at the departure, transfer, or destination airport can cause circulatory problems and shortness of breath for snub-nosed breeds. Beyond that, Lufthansa reserves the right to refuse cargo-hold transport during extreme weather conditions, which can apply seasonally or on short notice — but it doesn’t publish a specific degree threshold the way some other carriers do.
CDC Requirements for Dogs Entering the U.S.
Lufthansa’s registration pages carry a direct notice for U.S.-bound travelers: you must present confirmation from CDC, digital or printed, when entering the country, with a link to the CDC Dog Import Form — and transport will be denied if you don’t meet CDC’s entry requirements. Lufthansa also states dogs entering the U.S. must be at least 6 months old. New bookings for U.S.-bound dogs are currently accepted only for 7 airports: Washington DC, New York-JFK, Newark, Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. 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
