Flying a pet to Spain in the cabin, hold or cargo

Key rules

• Cabin: Small pets travel under the seat, and the pet plus carrier is usually capped at roughly 8 to 10 kg.
• Ryanair and easyJet: They carry only assistance dogs in the cabin and no other pets.
• Summer hold: Airlines often refuse hold pets when temperatures pass about 29 to 30°C at departure, arrival or a transit point.
• Flat-faced breeds: Many airlines refuse these dogs and cats in the hold, and some in the cabin too.
• Booking: Book your pet's place in advance with the airline, because only a few pets are allowed per flight.

Start with your pet's size

Your pet's weight decides the travel mode. Weigh your pet together with its carrier before you look at airlines.

• Cabin: for small dogs and cats that fit in a soft carrier under the seat. The pet and carrier together are usually capped at roughly 8 to 10 kg, and some airlines use a lower or higher limit. It is the cheapest and least stressful option.
• Hold (checked baggage): for medium and large dogs. It costs more than cabin. Weight and crate limits are set by each airline.
• Cargo: for large animals, or when your pet travels without you. Fees are highest, and an agent often handles the booking and paperwork.
• Road or ferry: if you live in Europe, this is low cost and less stressful. Ferry operators set their own pet rules.

If you are unsure whether to hire a company or do it yourself, use the decision below.

Choose the airline before you buy anything

Airline rules differ, so read the current pet policy of your airline before you book. Check that it accepts pets on your route.

Most major airlines serving Spain take small dogs and cats in the cabin. Ryanair and easyJet are the exception. They carry only assistance dogs in the cabin and no other pets.

Cabin places are limited to a few pets per flight. Book the pet's place in advance, usually by phone or through the airline's contact centre. Fees are charged per pet each way. They depend on the airline, route and cabin or hold, and transatlantic fees are higher than European ones. Ask for the exact fee before you commit.

Check the carrier or crate

For the cabin, the carrier must fit under the seat in front of you. Typical limits run from about 40x30x20 cm for a soft carrier up to around 55x40x23 cm, depending on the airline. Your pet must be able to stand and turn around inside, and the carrier stays closed for the whole flight. Measure against your airline's limit before you buy.

For the hold, the crate must be:

• rigid, ventilated and leak-proof, with secure metal nut-and-bolt fasteners and a closed door;
• big enough for your pet to stand, turn around and lie down naturally;
• fitted with water and food containers you can fill from outside, and absorbent bedding;
• marked with "Live Animal" labels and upward-pointing arrows.

Summer heat can stop a hold booking

Many airlines refuse pets in the hold when the temperature at departure, arrival or a transit point is above about 29 to 30°C. Some also refuse below about -7°C to 0°C. A few stop hold pets on certain routes for roughly May to September. Cabin travel is generally not affected.

Ask your airline for its hot and cold limits. In summer, choose an early morning or late evening flight. If you cannot risk a refusal, consider a cooler month.

Flat-faced breeds face extra limits

Most airlines restrict flat-faced dogs and cats because of breathing risks. This includes bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers, boxers, Pekingese, shih tzus and Persian cats. They are commonly banned from the hold. Some airlines also ban them from the cabin, or accept them only in the cabin under weight limits. Some carriers restrict other breeds too, so ask about yours before you pay.

Dogs on Spain's dangerous-breed list

Spain does not ban entry for "perros potencialmente peligrosos". The listed breeds include Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu and Akita Inu, as well as dogs with similar characteristics.

Once you live in Spain, you need a licence from your local ayuntamiento, civil liability insurance and registration in the register for these dogs. In public your dog must wear a muzzle and be on a short lead. The licence now also needs a certificate of ability and a psychological aptitude test. Some regions have their own rules, so ask your town hall. Your airline may also have its own restrictions on these dogs.

Use the checklist and warnings below

The checklist below gives the booking steps in order. The warnings and FAQ cover the most common reasons a booking is refused.

Use a pet relocation company or do it yourself?

Should you use a pet relocation company or do the move yourself?

• Do it yourself: You are moving within the EU with a valid pet passport, or from a simple origin with a small pet that travels in the cabin, and you are comfortable handling the paperwork.

• Use a pet relocation company: You come from a non-EU country with complex steps (a rabies blood test, an official vet endorsement or a long waiting period), you have several pets, a large dog needing cargo, a snub-nosed breed with airline limits, or an exotic species needing permits.

• Use a company because you cannot travel with the pet: Your pet flies without you, or you cannot afford a refused entry and want someone else to carry the risk.

Weigh how complex your origin is, how many pets you have, whether the flight is cabin, hold or cargo, and how much risk you can accept against the price. Costs rise for moves from North America, Asia or Australia, for large dogs in the hold, and for extras like door-to-door transport, a vet visit and quarantine. Moves within Europe cost less.

Agent prices change often. Ask several relocation companies for written quotes and compare what each includes.

Choose how your pet travels and what to confirm with your landlord

How will your pet travel, and what do you need from your landlord first?

• In the cabin: Your pet is small and fits under the seat, with a weight limit commonly around 8 kg including the carrier. It is the cheapest and least stressful mode. Airlines cap pets per flight, and you handle the paperwork.

• Checked in the hold: Your dog is medium or large. It costs more than cabin and you handle the paperwork. Many airlines refuse or limit snub-nosed breeds, especially in hot months.

• By road or ferry: You live in Europe. It costs little and is less stressful, you arrange the paperwork, and each ferry operator sets its own pet rules.

• Let your pet follow later: You need to settle first, the rabies waiting period is not complete, airline seasonal limits apply, or your housing does not yet allow pets. It adds a second transport cost, boarding or a pet-sitter at home, and often agent fees. Your pet still counts as non-commercial if an authorised person accompanies it, or if it travels within 5 days of you with your written authorisation.

Before booking pet travel, get written confirmation from your landlord or host of: permission to keep a pet, the species, breed and number of animals, any extra deposit or fees, house rules (noise, common areas, leash, breed rules), and the lease length and renewal. A landlord can ban pets in the lease, and the building's community rules may restrict them; without a ban, pets are generally allowed. Dogs classed as potentially dangerous need a licence and insurance. The deposit is normally one month's rent. Order your decisions by rental stage. Not started: pick the travel mode first, but do not book until housing is settled. Searching: ask about pets in every listing and keep pet-friendly options only. Temporary: choose a mode that fits the short stay, and let your pet follow later if the place does not allow pets. Secured: get the pet terms in writing, then book the flight.

Checklist

• Weigh your pet together with its carrier and compare it with the airline's cabin limit, which is usually around 8 to 10 kg.

• Book the pet's place by phone or through the airline's contact centre, because only a few pets are allowed per flight.

• Check whether your pet's breed is restricted by the airline, especially flat-faced dogs and cats.

• Measure your carrier against the airline's under-seat size limit before you buy it.

• For the hold, buy a rigid, ventilated, leak-proof crate big enough for your pet to stand, turn around and lie down, with water and food containers reachable from outside.

• Ask the airline for its hot and cold temperature limits if your pet travels in the hold, and choose an early morning or late evening flight in summer.

• Decide between cabin, hold, cargo or road and ferry using your pet's size, breed and your budget.

What to watch out for

• Summer heat can get your pet refused in the hold: Many airlines refuse hold pets when it is above about 29 to 30°C at departure, arrival or a transit airport. Some stop hold pets completely from roughly May to September on certain routes. Ask the airline for its temperature limits and embargo dates before paying. Choose an early morning or late evening flight, or fly in the cabin if your pet is small enough.

• Flat-faced breeds are often refused: Bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers, boxers, Pekingese, shih tzus and Persian cats face breathing risks, so airlines commonly ban them from the hold and some from the cabin too. Ask the airline about your pet's breed before you book. If it is refused, consider road or ferry travel.

• Cabin places are limited: Airlines allow only a few pets per flight in the cabin, and cabin travel suits only pets that fit under the seat, usually with a combined weight of around 8 kg. Book the pet's place as soon as your flight is fixed, and confirm it with the airline.

• A carrier that is too big or the wrong type can stop boarding: Cabin carriers must fit under the seat and stay closed throughout the flight, and hold crates must meet airline standards.

Frequently asked questions

Can my pet fly in the cabin with Ryanair or easyJet?

No, Ryanair and easyJet carry only assistance dogs in the cabin and take no other pets. If you want to fly with one of them, your pet cannot come on that flight. Look at an airline that accepts pets, or travel by road or ferry.

What temperature stops a pet from travelling in the hold?

Many airlines refuse hold pets when the temperature at departure, arrival or a transit airport is above about 29 to 30°C. Some also refuse below about -7°C to 0°C. Flying early in the morning or late in the evening in summer helps avoid a refusal.

Can I bring a Rottweiler or other dog on the dangerous breed list to Spain?

Yes, entry is not banned, but once you live in Spain you need a licence from your local council, civil liability insurance and registration in the register of potentially dangerous dogs. In public the dog needs a muzzle and a short lead. Some regions add their own rules.