When transporting a pet by a commercial airline, it is extremely important to understand their pet policy. These policies vary between airlines. Some allow small pets to fly in the cabin and others don’t. It is important to know the answers to all your questions before making your decision to fly your pet on any commercial airline. Does Cathay Pacific allow pets on your specific route? How much does it cost to fly a dog or cat on Cathay Pacific? What documents will I need? What are the carrier or crate requirements for Cathay Pacific? All your answers related to Cathay Pacific pet policy are answered below.
Note: It is important to mention that the pet policy of the airline that operates your pet’s route will preside over the policy of the airline that owns the route. This is important to note because if the operating airline changes during your trip, then you will likely need to claim and recheck your pet on the next airline. This will cause you to clear customs and enter the layover country. You will need time and extra documentation to accommodate this process during the layover unless flying domestically.
Classes of service offered to pets by commercial airlines
- In-Cabin: Pets traveling in the cabin must fly with an adult passenger and travel in an airline compliant
carrier stowed under the seat. - Checked Baggage: Pets traveling with a passenger that are not permitted in the cabin due to size or breed can be transported as checked baggage in the cargo hold.
- Air Cargo: Unaccompanied, very large pets or pets flying to countries that require that pets enter under air cargo will travel as manifest cargo in the hold.
Can my pet fly with me in the cabin? No
Can my pet fly with me as checked baggage? Yes
Can my pet fly as manifest cargo? Yes
Where is Cathay Pacific based?
Cathay Pacific (full name Cathay Pacific Airways) [IATA:CX] is based out of Hong Kong Airport in Hong Kong. Most layovers within Cathay Pacific’s network will occur in this airport.
What countries does Cathay Pacific fly to?
Cathay Pacific offers service to pets to the following countries: Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates (cargo), United Kingdom (cargo), United States and Vietnam.
Cathay Pacific Pet Policy – In Cabin
If your dog or cat meets the requirements listed in Cathay Pacific’s pet policy to fly in the cabin, it will need an airline-compliant pet carrier unless you are flying with a service dog who is trained to assist you in a task required to address a physical or medical disability.
Pets allowed flown by Cathay Pacific in the cabin
Cathay Pacific does not offer in-cabin services to any live animals other than service dogs.
Service dog pet policy
All service dogs may fly in the cabin at no charge. They must be trained by a person or organization that specializes in service dog training to provide specific tasks for a person with a disability.
Service dogs must be suitably marked, harnessed and leashed. They must fit in the space provided at their passenger’s feet without intruding on cabin operations or other passengers. They must be clean, mannerly and not show any signs of aggression toward other passengers or the flight crew.
If flights involve the United States, Department of Transportation forms must be completed and submitted at least 48 hours prior to departure. All required documentation required for the destination country must be provided at check in.
All service dogs are subject to the same requirements as regular dogs when traveling internationally.
Cathay Pacific Pet Policy – Checked Baggage
If the size of your pet is too large to fit in an airline-compliant pet carrier, or it is a pet other than a cat or dog, it will be transported as checked baggage on Cathay Pacific if it is flying OUT of Hong Kong with an adult passenger. This section of the cargo department has the same temperature and pressure as the passenger cabin.
Live animals are checked in by reservation employees and are checked in at the airport terminal. The airline will move your pet between aircraft in their fleet during layovers if the layover is not over about 3 hours in length.
Pets flown by Cathay Pacific as checked baggage
Dogs, cats and household birds can fly out of Hong Kong as checked baggage.
Reservations
Age requirements
Minimum age will depend on pet import requirements of the destination country. Minimum age of transport is 8 weeks.
Pet crate requirements
All crates must conform to regulations imposed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For additional information, see PET CRATE REQUIREMENTS.
Route or aircraft restrictions
Pets flying to the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates must do so as air cargo. Pets flying to Hong Kong must do so as air cargo.
Forms Required
The passenger must assume full responsibility and expense for complying with applicable laws, customs
and/or other governmental regulations, requirements, or restrictions of the country,
state or territory to and from which the pet is being transported.
Check in
All pets flying as checked baggage must be checked in at the airport ticket counter. Pets must be presented in their crates.
Cathay Pacific Pet Policy – Air Cargo
All live animals flying as air cargo travel under an airline manifest or air waybill and are tracked throughout the entire flight. The airlines are responsible for caring for your pet during layovers as well. Unlike checked baggage, pets are generally checked in and claimed at the airline’s cargo facility. This facility is located on airport grounds; however, not the terminal. Many airlines require that an agent books the transport. If you need a licensed agent to arrange your pet’s transport, send us an email at info@pettraveltransport.com.
Pets flown by Cathay Pacific as air cargo
Dogs, cats and all sorts of other animals are flown on Cathay Cargo. Lab animals, Greyhounds transported for racing purposes, Korean squirrels and skunks, trophies and birds (with the exception of racing pigeons) are not permitted.
Age requirements
Pets must be at least eight weeks and weaned to fly as air cargo. Know that the pet import requirements of the destination country will affect the minimum age of your pet.
Pet crate requirements
All crates must conform to regulations imposed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For further information, see PET CRATE REQUIREMENTS.
Forms Required
The shipper must assume full responsibility and expense for complying with applicable laws, customs and/or other governmental regulations, requirements, or restrictions of the country, state or territory to and from which the pet is being transported.
Related: Regulations and forms required to import a pet to over 220 countries
Check in
Your pet will be checked in at the Cathay Pacific cargo facility which is located on airport grounds; however, with few exceptions, not at the airport terminal.
Pet fee
Your agent will advise you as to the cost of transporting your pet as air cargo.
Cathay Pacific Pet Crate Requirements
All pet crates must conform to regulations set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The container must be large enough for your pet(s) to stand, turn around, and lie down. The crate must be made of fiberglass, metal or rigid plastics. Wooden crates are not permitted.
The crate door must have a secure, spring-loaded, all-around locking system with the pins extending beyond the horizontal extrusions above and below the door. The floor must be waterproof. The crate must not have wheels attached when checking your pet. Metal hardware should be used to fasten the top and bottom halves of your pet crate together. Cathay Pacific requires either metal or plastic threaded nuts and bolts to secure both halves of the crate.
The maximum size openings in the welded mesh is 25 mm x 25 mm (1 inch x 1 inch) for dog’s container, and 19 mm x 19 mm (3/4 inch x 3/4 inch) for cat’s container. All openings must be nose and pawproof.
All crates must be labeled with LIVE ANIMAL stickers and a Shipping Declaration that includes feeding and watering instructions.
Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?
All pets should be acclimated to their crates prior to travel. This may take weeks or even months to accomplish; however it is the best thing you can do for pet before flying.
Related: Acclimating your pet to its crate or carrier
Temperature Restrictions – Checked Baggage and Air Cargo
When temperatures rise above or drop under certain levels, commercial airlines will prohibit the transport of live animals in the cargo hold. These restrictions are implemented for the safety of your pet. It is important to note that the risk from high or low temperatures is not when your pet is airborne. The risks come during preflight holding, loading on the tarmac and taxiing to the take-off runway.
Pets will not be accepted as checked baggage or air cargo when actual or forecasted temperatures are above 85°F (29.4°C) or below 45°F (7.2°C) at any airport on the itinerary. Pets may be accepted at temperatures below 45°F with an acclimation certificate, however, no pet will be transported at temperatures lower than 20°F (-6.6°C).
Note that the temperature restrictions for summer travel are lower for brachycephalic (snub-nosed) pets.
Cold-blooded animals are exempt from these restrictions.
Related: Why temperatures matter for pets flying in the cargo hold
Breeds Banned by Cathay Pacific
These breeds of aggressive dogs are not permitted to fly on Cathay Pacific:
American Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasiliero, Japanese Tosa.
Sphynx cats are not permitted.
Except for Hong Kong to Melbourne or Singapore, the following snub-nosed animals may only be transported as air cargo only under certain circumstances:
DOGS: Affenpinscher, British Shorthair, Boston Terrier, Burmese, Boxer, Exotic Shorthair, Brussels Griffon, Bulldog (all breeds), Chow Chow, Dogue de Bordeaux, English Toy Spaniel, Japanese Chin (Japanese Spaniel), Lhasa Apso, Mastiff (all breeds), Pekingese, Pug (all breeds), Shar Pei, Tibetan Spaniel, Shih Tzu and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
CATS: Himalayan Cat, Persian Cat, Scottish Fold and Chinchilla Cat.
To ensure the welfare of all animals, shipments can only be accepted from January to May and from October to December. Other snub-nosed breeds should always travel in a crate that is size larger than required. Bookings for brachycephalic breeds must be made through an IPATA agent.
Private Jet Charter
Another option for pet owners who do not want their pet to fly in the cargo hold is a pet-friendly private jet charter. Your pet can fly in your lap, at your feet or beside you comfortably without being confined. We can arrange flights from anywhere in the world to anywhere you need to go on your time schedule, without the crowds or commotion of a commercial airport.
Other Information
The information published here is a guideline for Cathay Pacific airline pet policy. For more airline pet policies, click the banner below.
Further Reading
How to keep your pet safe when flying in the cargo hold
Tips for airline pet travel
Requirements for a pet transiting a country by air
When do you need a pet transporter?
Routing your pet’s flight
Flying with a snub-nosed breed
More information on airline pet travel
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To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given airline may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to deny your pet boarding privileges at the time of check in. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Cathay Pacific pet policy.
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