Travelling
with pets
Before you travel with your pet, you’ll be required to submit a booking form and several official documents.
We recommend that you start preparing these documents at least two weeks in advance. You may not be able to travel otherwise.
Find everything you need to know about travelling with trained service animals, falcons, cats and dogs with Etihad Airways.
You must submit all required documents before your flight and bring the original copies with you for verification at the airport. Your pet will not be permitted to fly otherwise.
If you have any questions, please email pets@etihad.ae.
You can pay to bring your cat or dog on board Etihad operated flights to and from Abu Dhabi. For all other destinations, please check with the relevant country authorities.
All other pets must be transported as manifested cargo with Etihad Cargo.
It costs $1,500 or 215,000 Etihad Guest Miles each way to travel with your cat or dog in Economy. If you are transiting, the combined price will apply. Read more
If you’d prefer to book an adjacent seat travelling in Economy, you’ll be charged for the cost of an extra seat plus $1,500 each way.
If you’re travelling in Business or First, as there is no space available under the seat, you must purchase an extra seat for your pet. You’ll be charged for the cost of an extra seat plus $1,500 each way.
Additional seats must be purchased in advance.
To pay using Etihad Guest Miles, please call us.
Before you travel with your cat or dog, make sure:
On board, your pet must always stay in their carrier. They must be able to sit, stand, turn around and lie down in their carrier.
Carriers must:
Arrive at check-in with your pet in a suitable carrier three hours before departure.
You must present all required documents at check-in. Your pet will not be permitted to fly otherwise.
Your pet can travel in addition to your cabin baggage allowance.
If you’re eligible to use one of our lounges in Abu Dhabi, you can bring your pet along too. Lounge access for pets in other airports is subject to local regulations and access policy.
We recommend that you board before other guests to give our crew time to help prepare your pet for travel.
If Abu Dhabi is your final destination, you must complete all arrival formalities according to UAE regulations. This includes an inspection by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) veterinary officer, performed in the Customs clearance area.
For all other destinations, you must complete all arrival formalities according to local regulations. Inspection and clearance areas may vary from airport to airport. Check with the applicable authority at your destination for specific requirements.
Falcons are permitted on board all Etihad operated flights.
If you’d like to travel with a falcon on board, please call us to book in advance of your flight.
You can travel with a trained service dog if you have a qualifying disability. You will not be permitted to travel with a psychiatric support dog, unless you are flying on a direct flight from the US.
Dogs trained for emotional support, comfort or companionship, or service dogs in training are not permitted on board as a trained service dog. You can pay to carry these dogs on board if they meet our rules for pets (check pets' section).
Trained service dogs must behave properly in public. They will not be accepted in the cabin if they display any form of disruptive behaviour, which may include growling, biting, jumping or causing damage to the cabin.
Trained service dogs are permitted at no cost on board all Etihad operated flights or in the cargo hold in addition to your checked baggage allowance.
We recommend you call us at least 48 hours before your flight if you are travelling with a trained service dog.
For all flights, you must complete a Live Animals On-Board Booking Form.
For flights from the US, you must also complete a U.S DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form, and a U.S DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form.
For all other flights, you must also complete a Trained service dog on board booking form.
We may refuse carriage of the dog or transfer the dog to the cargo hold at additional costs if the dog does not behave in an appropriate manner.
Legal requirements need to be fulfilled and embargos need to be followed for origin and destination.
Due to government-imposed restrictions, you will not be permitted to travel with your pet on board on the following routes:
Flying to or from:
Flying to:
Dogs posing a danger such as the below are not permitted on our aircraft.
Banned Breeds
Pit Bulls
Mastiff Dogs
Tosa
Rottweilers breed or hybrid
Doberman Pinschers
Canario Presa
BoxerAny mixed breed of above breeds of dog or their Hybrid
If you upgrade your flight, please call us to rebook your cat or dog to travel with you. In Business and First, you must pay for an additional seat for your pet. Your pet must travel always with you in the same cabin.
To travel with your cat, dog or trained service dog on board, submit a booking form at least seven days before your flight. To travel with a falcon, please call us.
You must complete this form in English.
If someone is allergic to animals and a guest with a trained service dog requests to travel on the same flight, the trained service dog will take priority, regardless of the time of reservation. Allergies must be proved by a medical report submitted before the flight.
If a guest with a trained service dog and a guest with a pet request to travel in the same cabin on the same flight, the trained service dog will take priority, regardless of the time of reservation.
