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.
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
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:
- Pets that are younger than three months, and therefore have not yet had a rabies vaccine, cannot travel within Europe
- You should check any rules or restrictions for your destination country with its embassy or consulate, or by consulting the IATA Travel Information Manual
- No pets can travel to the United Kingdom or Ireland
- That the transport of DOGS and CATS in Israel is regulated by specific legislation. We invite you to check the following link before the trip: http://www.moag.gov.il/en/Ministrys%20Units/Veterinary_Services/Import%20-%20Export/Pages/default.aspx
- that to carry dogs or cats in Brazil the International Veterinary Health Certificate (CZI) is required
- Transportation for recognized guide dogs or assistance dogs accompanying disabled passengers is free of charge (recognized assistance dogs can travel to the United Kingdom and Ireland)
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.
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
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.
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.
Find out more
ANIMALS
Don't want to leave your dog, cat, ferret or canary behind when you go on vacation?
Here are some tips on how to make your pet's airplane trip as comfortable as possible:
- 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
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.
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 transportation of birds from Asia, Turkey, Russia, South Africa, Romania, Croatia and the Balkan Peninsula. For public health and safety reasons, parrots and parakeets cannot be transported.
ADDITIONAL CHARGES
FIND OUT MORE about the fares applicable to the transportation of pets.
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.