Organize your Trip

Travel documents, special assistance, moms-to-be, children and pets: Find out how to better organize your trip.

ANIMALS

DON'T WANT TO LEAVE YOUR DOG, CAT, FERRET OR CANARY BEHIND WHEN YOU GO ON VACATION? FIND OUT EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TRAVELING WITH YOUR PET.

Not every aircraft has animal transport facilities and the maximum size of the pet carriers they can take on board varies. Please find out if your pet can travel with you by calling our Special Assistance service.

Find out more

Some advice to prepare your trip:
 

  • Get your pet used to a carrier or cage at least five days before your trip if your pet will be traveling in the cargo hold
  • Give your pet frequent but small quantities of water before take-off
  • Feed your pet up to four hours before take-off and make sure it has enough food for the entire trip
  • Check with your vet to see if your pet might benefit from tranquilizers
     

Other criteria for the pet's comfort and safety
 

  • The bottom of the carrier must be covered with a blanket, newspaper or other absorbent material. Straw is forbidden
  • The pet must not have a leash or a muzzle. In addition, these accessories must not be left inside the carrier
  • The pet must not show signs of physical tiredness and must not be injured. Check with your vet to see if your pet might benefit from tranquilizers and remember to put at least a bowl inside the carrier so that your pet is comfortable during the journey. The bowl must be empty, fastened and accessible without opening the carrier.


If these conditions are not met or if the pet disturbs passengers, the captain can transfer it to the cargo hold.
 

If you want advice and suggestions on the best way to plan your trip with your pet, please visit the website of Ministry of Health.


Not every aircraft has animal transport facilities and the maximum size of the pet carriers they can take on board varies. Please find out if your pet can travel with you by calling our Special Assistance service.

 

 

DOGS, CATS AND FERRETS

In order to travel within the EU, cats, dogs and ferrets must have the following:

 

  • A passport issued by a veterinarian listing the vaccinations your pet has received (valid and up-to-date rabies vaccination certificate is compulsory) and attesting to its health
  • Legible tattoo or microchip

 

To travel in Italy, pets must have:

  • Pet Health Card or Passport

 

In order to travel within the United States, cats and dogs must have one of the following documents or information:

 

1. Valid rabies vaccination certificate


OR
 

2. CDC (Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention) issued unimmunized dog permit (for dogs inadequately immunized against rabies). For further information and to apply for permit, visit the web site  https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/dogs.html

OR
 

3. Written (or oral) statement that the dog has been living in a rabies-free country for the past 6 months or since birth. Check the countries list here -> www.cdc.gov/importation/rabies-free-countries.html

 

When travelling to South Africa, animals cannot be transported in the cabin and hold, only with the Cargo service. For flights departing from South Africa, animals can travel in the cabin, with a maximum allowed weight of 7 kg including the transporter. If the weight exceeds this amount, transportation should take place via the Cargo service. For further information, please contact the South Africa Embassy or Consulate.


Remember:

 


There may be other restrictions on bringing in certain animal species depending on the destination country.

CONDITIONS FOR CABIN AND HOLD TRANSPORT

Cabin transport is subject to certain conditions:   

  • the transport of animals is only possible if they are kept inside an appropriate soft-sided, semi-rigid or rigid carrier;
  • for the transport of animals in the cabin it is recommended to use a soft-sided carrier, which is easier to fit under the seat;
  • for safety reasons, the animal should be kept inside the carrier when boarding and disembarking from the aircraft and for the entire duration of the flight;     
  • the animal, which should have a maximum weight of 8kg, must remain in the carrier for the entire journey. The carrier should be no larger than:
    • 24 cm in height
    • 40 cm in length
    • 20 cm in width
  • if you are using a soft-sided or semi-rigid carrier, this can be slightly higher (+2-4 cm) at the top in respect to the height indicated above. Rigid carriers, on the other hand, must respect the maximum dimensions indicated, otherwise the animal may not be allowed to board the aircraft;
  • the carrier must enable the animal to stay i.n a comfortable position, to turn around and lie down; the carrier should be well ventilated, waterproof, resistant and preferably semi-rigid or soft-sided in order to meet the conditions described above. 
  • carriers can transport up to five animals of the same species, on the condition that the total weight of the animals does not exceed 8 kg, and a weight of 10 kg including any food and the carrier itself.

These conditions must be met for the pet to travel in the hold:

  • The pet must travel in a rigid carrier
  • The body of the carrier must be made from fiberglass or hard plastic only
  • If the carrier has wheels, these must be removed. If they are retractable, they must be locked with adhesive tape
  • CAGES for transporting DOGS must:
    • have a metal door with a locking system that locks the closure points at the top, middle and bottom of the door
    • The side air inlets of CAGES for transporting DOGS must be made of metal, not plastic
  • The dimensions of the CAGE may vary based on the type of aircraft being used for the journey. For further information, please contact our Call Center

NEW

Recommendations for the transportation of brachycephalic races in the hold

Brachycephalic races or snub nose, are particularly susceptible to stress and temperature. To ensure the wellness and safety of your pet, we suggest you to evaluate carefully the overall health of your pet and consequently to assess the risks associated with this type of transport.

Based on IATA Regulations, it includes the following races:

DOGS

  • Affenpinscher
  • American Pit Bull Terrier
  • American Staffordshire Terrier
  • Bichon Frise
  • Boston Terrier
  • Boxer
  • Brussels Griffon
  • Bulldog
  • Bullmastiff
  • Cane Corso
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  • Chihuahua (apple-headed)
  • Chow Chow
  • Dogo Argentino
  • Dogue de Bordeaux
  • English Mastiff
  • French Bulldog
  • Japanese Chin
  • King Charles Spaniel
  • Lhasa Apso
  • Maltese
  • Neapolitan Mastiff
  • Newfoundland
  • Pekingese
  • Presa Canario
  • Pug
  • Shar-Pei
  • Shih Tzu
  • Silky Terrier
  • Tibetan Spaniel
  • Valley Bulldog
  • Yorkshire Terrier

CATS

  • Burmese
  • Exotic Shorthair
  • Persiano
  • Himalayano 

For more information please contact our Call Center.

RABBITS AND HAMSTERS

To travel in the EU rabbits and hamsters must have:

 

·       a valid veterinary medical certificate of good health

·       a container or cage suitable for the type of animal and for cabin transport

 

For journeys outside of the EU please contact the Alitalia Call Center


In order to travel within the EU, cats, dogs and ferrets must have the following:

 

  • A passport issued by a veterinarian listing the vaccinations your pet has received (valid and up-to-date rabies vaccination certificate is compulsory) and attesting to its health
  • Legible tattoo or microchip

 

 

BIRDS

In order to prevent the spread of avian (bird) flu, the EU and the Ministry of Health have placed a total ban on the importation of birds from Asia, Turkey, Russia, South Africa, Romania and the Balkan Peninsula.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES

In order for your pet to be able to travel with you, you must pay an additional ticket charge, which will vary depending on the pet's weight, the departure and arrival airports, and whether it will travel in the cabin or in the cargo hold. Check all the informations about the additional charges.

REFUNDS

You are entitled to a refund of the extra baggage allowance fee in the following cases:

  • Illness/death (in each case, not flying due to illness or death must be proven by a valid hospital certificate or death certificate):
    • of close relatives: spouse, children including adopted children, parents, brothers/sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, parents-in-law, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and sons-in-law and daughters-in-law; in this case, proof of the relationship must be provided with the appropriate certificate (certificate of family status or other certificate issued by a local council or registry office)
    •  of passengers who are relatives or friends on the same PNR
    • of the pet

In any case, the cancellation due to death/illness must be supported with a death certificate, a hospital certification or a veterinarian certificate validating the impossibility for the pet to travel due to illness.

 

 

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