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 Egyptair allow pets on your specific route? How much does it cost to fly a dog or cat on Egyptair? What documents will I need? What are the carrier or crate requirements for Egyptair? All your answers related to Egyptair 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? Yes (Certain Flights)
Can my pet fly with me as checked baggage? Yes
Can my pet fly as manifest cargo? Yes
Where is Egyptair based?
Egyptair [IATA:MS] is based out of Cairo Airport in Egypt. Most layovers within Egyptair’s network will occur in this airport.
What countries does Egyptair fly to?
Egyptair offers service to pets to the following countries: Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Cameroon, Canada, China, Comoros, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel (suspended), Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Somali, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States.
Egyptair Pet Policy – In Cabin
If your dog or cat meets the requirements listed in Egyptairs 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 Egyptair in the cabin
Small dogs, cats and falcons are accepted in the cabin in Egyptair flights. Pets must be clean, healthy, harmless and mannerly. Two pets are permitted per cabin class and another as checked baggage. Passengers can fly a total of three pets.
Reservations
Owners of falcons must contact Egyptair sales office to make reservations. Owners of dogs and cats must contact the Reservation Department more than 48 hours prior to departure to make reservations for their pet. Pets are served on a first come – first served basis.
Weight requirements
Pet dogs and cats must not weigh more than 17 lbs. (8 kg) including their carrier to fly in the cabin.
Pet carrier requirements
Your pet’s carrier must:
- Have adequate ventilation on at least 3 sides (domestic US) or 4 sides (international)
- Be large enough for your pet to stand up and turn around comfortably
- Be able to accommodate your entire pet. No part of your pet can extend out of the carrier
- Be able to fit under the seat in front of you
- Have a waterproof bottom and absorbent pet pad
- Have secure fasteners (heavy duty zippers are recommended)
Maximum carrier measurements are 21.6″L x 15.8″W x 8″H (55 x 40 x 20 cm). Two pets are permitted in one carrier if their total weight including their carrier does not exceed 17 lbs. (8 kg).
Exit row or bulkhead seats cannot be reserved when flying with a pet. Pets must remain in carriers for the duration of the flight.
Related: Selecting a pet carrier that is airline compliant
Forms required
All pets flying with Egyptair must have a current health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian. The certificate should be issued within 10 days of departure. Import permits must be presented for pets flying to Sri Lanka.
The passenger assumes 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 your pet is being transported. Upon arrival, health certificates, import permits, and other papers may be required by local authorities depending upon the route on which your pet is traveling.
Route restrictions
No pets are permitted in the cabin on flights to or from the United Kingdom, South Africa, China, Bahrain, Yemen, Nairobi or the United Arab Emirates. *Regulations for dogs flying to the United States have changed. Find new regulations to import a dog to the United States here.
Check in
All pets flying in the cabin should present their pets in their carrier at the airport ticket counter at least 30 minutes more than normal check in times of their departure airport.
Related: How to clear airport security with a pet
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 disability*. Notice must be provided to Egyptair at least 48 hours before departure.
For flights that do not involve Canada or the United States, the disability will include a visual or hearing impairment. For flights involving Canada, the disability will include variety of tasks including visual, hearing and mobility issues, seizure alert and posttraumatic stress disorders. For flights involving the United States, the disability will include physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.
One service dog is permitted per passenger unless the flight involves the United States. In this case, a maximum of two service dogs are permitted. Pitbull breeds are not permitted as service dogs on flights that do not involve the United States.
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 will not be seated in exit rows.
They must be clean, mannerly and not show any signs of aggression toward other passengers or the flight crew. If this is possible, then passenger should check an empty crate which will be carrier free of charge.
Passengers should provide pet pads for their dog and can also provide a fleece blanket for them to lie on.
If flights involve the United States, Department of Transportation forms must be completed and submitted at least 48 hours prior to departure. Two copies should be printed. One copy will be submitted in advance and the other at check in.
All service dogs are subject to the same requirements as regular dogs when traveling internationally. All required documentation required for the destination country must be provided at check in.
Egyptair 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 Egyptair if it is flying 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 Egyptair as checked baggage
Dogs and cats only can be flown as checked baggage on Egyptair when accompanied by an adult passenger.
Reservations
Owners of dogs and cats must contact the Reservation Department more than 48 hours prior to departure to make reservations for their pet. Pets are served on a first come – first served basis. Pets without advance reservations will not be accepted.
Weight requirements
The weight of your pet including its crate must not exceed 50.7 lbs. (23 kg) to fly as checked baggage.
Pet crate requirements
One pet is permitted per crate. Exceptions: two puppies or kittens from the same litter up to six months of age can fly in the same crate if their combined weight including crate does not exceed 50.7 lbs. (23 kg). Two adult dogs or cats from the same household can fly in the same crate if their combined weight does not exceed 50.7 lbs. (23 kg).
All crates must conform to regulations imposed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For more information, see PET CRATE REQUIREMENTS.
Route or aircraft restrictions
No pets are permitted as checked baggage on flights to or from the United Kingdom, South Africa, China, Bahrain, Yemen, Nairobi or the United Arab Emirates. Pets whose weight including crate exceeds 23 kg will not be flown to either Tunisia or Tanzania. *Regulations for dogs flying to the United States have changed. Find new regulations to import a dog to the United States here.
Forms Required
All pets flying with Egyptair must have a current health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian. The certificate should be issued within 10 days of departure.
The passenger assumes 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 your pet is being transported. Upon arrival, health certificates, import permits, and other papers may be required by local authorities depending upon the route on which your pet is traveling.
Check in
All pets flying in the cabin should present their pets in their crate at the airport ticket counter at least 30 minutes more than normal check in times of their departure airport. Pets must remain in their crates at all times during check in.
Egyptair 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.
All pets that fly with Egyptair as air cargo must be booked by a licensed agent. If you need a licensed agent to arrange your pet’s transport, send us an email at info@pettraveltransport.com.
Egyptair 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, rigid plastics, weld metal mesh, solid wood or plywood.
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. Egyptair requires either metal or plastic threaded nuts and bolts to secure both halves of the crate.
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 Egyptair
The following breeds with brachycephalic (flat- or snub-nosed) characteristics are not permitted to fly on itineraries that involve other air carriers. Pet owners of these breeds will need to sign Animal Acceptance and Customer Acknowledgment Forms at check in. These pets should fly in crates that are one size larger than normally required with ventilation on all four sides and large water bowls attached to the door.
Dogs: Affenpinscher, American Bulldog, Pit Bull, Shar Pei, Chow Chow, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Aps, Boston Terrier, Cane Corso, Pekingese, King Charles, Tibetan Spaniel, Japanese Chin, Brussels Griffin, Dogue De Bordeaux, Boxer (All Breeds), American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Pug (All Breeds), Bull Dog (All Breeds), Staffordshire Bull Terrier, English Toy Spaniel and Mastiff (All Breeds except Great Danes).
Cats: Exotic, Himalayan, Persian and Burmese.
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
Pets cannot fly with unaccompanied minors. The information published here is a guideline for Egyptair 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 Egyptair pet policy.
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