SWISS – Pet Policy
| Pet Type | Cabin | Checked Hold / Cargo | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog | Yes (≤8 kg incl. soft carrier, max 55x40x23 cm, 1 per pax; snub-nosed only in cabin, never in hold; assistance/guide dogs allowed any size, with docs) | Yes (>8 kg incl. crate, hard IATA crate; snub-nosed breeds banned in hold; fighting/dangerous breeds only in cargo in reinforced crate; pre-book mandatory) | Min age 12 wks (6m for USA); CDC Dog Import Form, microchip, EU passport/health docs; route/season/crate/size restrictions, severe embargoes for some routes/countries |
| Cat | Yes (same as dog; snub-nosed cats only in cabin) | Yes (same rules as dogs; hard crate/cargo only for >8kg) | All doc rules apply, pre-book needed |
| Bird / Rabbit / Reptile / Fish | No | No (only as air cargo by prior arrangement; documents and animal forwarder mandatory) | Must use specialist cargo, import/export/CITES permits required |
Important Guidelines
- Max two pets per passenger (1 in cabin, 1 in hold, or both in hold/carriers); all must be pre-booked online or through the Service Centre.
- Cabin: carrier max 55x40x23 cm, soft, leakproof, animal ≤8kg; animal must remain inside for flight; carrier fits under seat (except in some Business/First rows—crew will stow).
- Snub-nosed/brachycephalic breeds only in cabin—never in hold/cargo. Dangerous dog breeds only permitted as cargo using special solid-metal or wooden crate per IATA CR82.
- No pregnant, ill, aggressive, or excessively smelly pets; unaccompanied pet travel or import to UK, UAE, Ireland, Hong Kong, and several others must use cargo only.
- Check special CDC Dog Import Rules for USA from August 1, 2024: CDC Dog Import Form, microchip, 6 months age minimum, and only accepted into select airports.
- All animals: health/vaccine certificates and import/export/transit paperwork for every border crossed—arrive 2–3 hours before departure for pet check-in if traveling in hold.
- Lounges: permitted with animal in carrier/crate (not roaming), except service/guide dogs in harness.
Woofly Tips
- Spaces for pets in cabin and hold sell out—book early, especially for long-haul/routes with embargoes and for assistance/guide dogs needing extra documentation review.
- If you have a snub-nosed pet, always request written airline approval in advance and avoid booking during periods of high temperature or long transit/layover.
- Prepare all paperwork in both paper and digital form; failure to show originals at check-in or arrival will result in animal being denied boarding or sent home at owner’s expense.
- Acclimate your pet to their travel carrier ahead of time—nervous or distressed animals, or any wrong-size/inadequate carrier, are the main reasons for denied boarding.
- Never sedate your animal unless explicitly prescribed by a veterinarian, and notify check-in staff if medication has been administered.
- Check connecting airline partners for stricter pet policies—if codesharing, their rules will apply for those segments, and some (e.g., UK, UAE) require all pets to arrive as cargo only.
- Contact SWISS Customer Service for updated breed/route/seasonal restrictions (pets in hold can be limited during heat/cold periods for animal safety).
Last updated: July 25, 2025