Cats or dogs in the hold

You can take your dog or cat with you on your SWISS flight as excess baggage in a special carrying container in the air-conditioned hold. We will check availability and carry out the booking for you no later than 72 hours before departure. We will notify you by e-mail if it is not possible to carry out the booking for your pet. If the booking is successful, you pay the fees incurred at the airport (at check-in).

Check the fees for taking pets with you

Since 1 January 2020, the transport of snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds of dogs and cats has been restricted.

To the information about the carriage of fighting dogs and snub-nosed pets

 

The US health authority, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has imposed new restrictions with effect from 1 August 2024. This has changed the entry regulations for the import of dogs into the USA.

  • New bookings for dogs entering the USA are only accepted for airports in Washington DC, New York (JFK), Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
  • Only dogs with a minimum age of 6 months are accepted for travel to the USA.
  • Please also complete the CDC Dog Import Form.
  • You must present confirmation by the US authorities in digital or printed form on entry and departure.
To the CDC Dog Import Form (English)  , Please note that with this link you are visiting an external website that may not follow the same privacy, security or accessibility policies.
Please note that with this link you are visiting an external website that may not follow the same privacy, security or accessibility policies.

Carriage will be refused if you do not meet the CDC requirements.

 

Further information about travelling with animals
To the conditions of carriage for pets in the hold

General information

Please send us your contact and flight details and the scope of service you wish.

Taking your dog or cat with you in the hold
Personal details
Flight details
Scope of service
I would like to book the service for the outbound and return flight. I would like to book the service for the outbound flight only. I would like to book the service for the return flight only.

Register your cat or dog

We will check availability and book the carriage of your pet as excess baggage in the hold for your next SWISS flight. We will notify you by e-mail if it is not possible to carry out the booking for your pet. If the booking is successful, you pay the fees incurred including transfers at the airport (at check-in).

Conditions
  • New bookings for dogs entering the USA with a flight date after 1 August 2024 will only be accepted for airports in Washington DC, New York (JFK), Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
  • Book no later than 72 hours before departure (otherwise please contact the Service Centre up to 24 hours before departure).
  • Available on flights operated by SWISS.
  • SWISS airtrain: carriage not possible.
  • Restrictions may apply to specific countries (e.g. Australia, Bahrain, China, etc.) as well as exceptions for specific aircraft types.
  • The minimum age for pets is 15 weeks from/to Germany and 12 weeks for all other countries.
  • Only dogs with a minimum age of 6 months will be accepted on flights to the USA after 1 August 2024.
  • Every pet must be able to move, stand, lie down and turn inside the crate during carriage. If two animals are transported together in a single crate, they must be used to one another.
  • Your pet must be clean, healthy and not dangerous. It must not be pregnant and must not smell.
  • It must travel in a suitable container or crate and must have enough food and water for the entire journey.
  • Only one pet is permitted per transport carrier. Exception: two animals of approximately the same size and each no heavier than 14 kg, or a mother animal with a young animal.
  • The pet’s ​transport carrier must comply with the IATA Live Animal Regulations.

​Further information about the carriage of pets in the hold

Type of animal

Please select whether you wish to register a dog or cat for carriage with you in the hold.

Number of pets
I wish to carry one dog or cat with me in a transport carrier. I wish to carry two dogs or cats with me in a transport carrier.
Breed

Inform yourself beforehand about the carriage of fighting dogs and snub-nosed breeds.

​To the information about the carriage of fighting dogs and snub-nosed breeds

Your pet’s age
Please state your pet’s age with the day, month and year of birth (DD.MM.YYYY), e.g. 15.10.2022.
Please enter the date or select a date from the calendar. Use arrow up or down keys to access the calendar.
Please state your pet’s age with the day, month and year of birth (DD.MM.YYYY), e.g. 15.10.2022.
Please enter the date or select a date from the calendar. Use arrow up or down keys to access the calendar.
Dimensions and weight of the transport carrier

Please specify the exact dimensions of your ​transport carrier so that we can ensure carriage.

Terms and conditions of use

Please confirm the terms and conditions of use.

Please confirm the information that this is a paid service.

​Check prices for the carriage of pets with you in the hold

Please confirm the statement on presenting documents at the airport.

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