KLM Airlines Pet Policy

KLM Airlines accepts small cats and dogs in the cabin in Economy Class (and in Business Class for European flights), but only if the total weight of the pet and carrier does not exceed 8 kg (17.6 lb). If you have a larger animal, it will be able to travel in the temperature-controlled hold as checked baggage, but only if the total weight does not exceed 75 kg (165 lb); in case of oversized animals, transportation will be possible through Air France KLM Cargo. Bookings should be made at least 48 hours before your flight. The following is the full list of requirements and information about the pet travel policies of KLM Airlines.

Traveling with Pet in the Cabin

1 pet per flight is allowed in Economy class travel, while 1 cat or dog is allowed for travelers using the business class on trips within Europe. The traveler cannot use the service on intercontinental trips.

Requirements for traveling with pets in the cabin:

• Your pet should be able to be put in a closed container and placed underneath the seat in front of you. This container should have no more than the following dimensions: 46 x 28 x 24 cm (18 x 11 x 9 in).
• The total weight of the pet and its carrier shouldn’t exceed 8 kg (17.6 lb).
• Your pet can’t be taken out of the carrier throughout the flight, meaning that the carrier should be comfortable enough.
• There is limited space in the airplane, and cabin slots for pets can be reserved far ahead of time.

Brachycephalic breeds like the Bulldog, Pug, Boxer, and Persian cat will not usually be allowed in the cargo hold because of potential breathing problems at high altitudes, although if they fit within the size and weight requirements, they could still be able to fly in the cabin.

Transporting Your Pet in the Hold

If your pet cannot travel with you in the cabin, KLM is capable of transporting your pet in the hold on many flights.

• Up to three pets can be taken into the hold; these can share one cage if each of them weighs no more than 14 kg (31 lb).
• The total weight of the pet and cage should not exceed 75 kg (165 lb).
• The maximum dimensions of the cage allowed on KLM flights is 122 x 81 x 89 cm (48 x 32 x 35 in), while on KLM flights within Europe operated by Boeing 737 or Embraer planes, it will be 102 x 69 x 76 cm (40 x 27 x 30 in).
• Cages have to be hard-shell, IATA-certified, waterproof, and well-ventilated.

Aircraft and connections Matters: There are some wide-body aircraft that do not transport pets in the hold; such planes include Boeing 787-9, 787-10, and Airbus A321neo. In addition, KLM Cityhopper flights lasting more than two hours do not allow taking pets into the cargo compartment either.

The transfer time is another important element because it will be impossible to take a pet in the hold in case your transfer time exceeds 3 hours. In case you have a longer transfer time, the only possibility would be cargo transport. It is worth mentioning that travelers who connect in Paris CDG or Orly should pay attention to the fact that pets will not be transferred between the flights there as well. Even having more than 4.5 hours in-between flights, you will need to collect your pet and its luggage and re-check it in.

Pets Traveling via Cargo

In case the pet does not fit into the cabin or the hold or does not comply with aircraft limitations, or in case your pet travels to one of the destinations such as the United Kingdom where it will be impossible to carry a pet as passenger baggage, then Air France KLM Cargo will become a necessity.

How to Book Pet Travel with KLM

The following steps are among those that you can use to Book Pet Travel with KLM

1. First, book your ticket through klm.com.
2. Navigate to the “My Trip” tab, select your booking, and add a pet travel request either in the cabin or the hold.
3. Confirm the request as soon as you make the booking, and not later than 48 hours before the flight, since the number of pets allowed in the cabin or hold on each flight is limited.
4. The request will be confirmed and appear on My Trip. Print out or take a screenshot as proof for your boarding procedure.
5. If your booking consists of a codeshare flight which will be operated by another airline company, then their pet policy applies.

KLM Pet Travel Fees and Costs

The pet transport fees with KLM depend on the route, aircraft cabin and whether the animal travels in the cabin or hold. Fees reported one way are usually in the range of $70-$500 (about €70–€500). The lower end of this range applies to shorter intra-European flights, whereas the higher end applies to intercontinental flights.

Also Read: Air France Pet Policy

Documents Required

Wherever your pet will be going, make sure to have:

• A valid veterinary health certificate, which is usually obtained within 10 days before travel.
• Proof of a current rabies vaccination.
• An EU Pet Passport if you’re traveling in or into the EU or any other official government document if you’re going elsewhere.
• Your pet must also be microchipped, and your contact information needs to be updated.
• Special documents specific to your destination; for instance, some countries need extra blood tests or even a quarantine period.

Please be aware that KLM has age and travel requirements – pets must be at least 15 weeks old and traveling on the same flight as you.

Frequently Asked Questions