Lufthansa
Pet travel policy for Lufthansa (LH) — based at Frankfurt (FRA), Germany.
Policy summary
Lufthansa accepts cats and small dogs up to a combined pet plus carrier weight of 8 kilograms (about 17.6 pounds) in the cabin on most Lufthansa-operated flights. The carrier must measure no more than 55 by 40 by 23 centimetres (21.6 by 15.7 by 9 inches) and must remain stowed under the seat in front of you for the entire flight. The fee depends on the routing — roughly 70 EUR for European itineraries and 110–250 EUR for intercontinental flights — and pets must be added at the time of booking via the Lufthansa Service Centre. Larger animals fly with Lufthansa Cargo through its Animal Lounge in Frankfurt, the world's largest dedicated animal handling facility at an airport, which provides climate-controlled holding, pre-boarding exercise areas, and on-call veterinary care 24/7. Lufthansa enforces the German national list of banned dangerous dog breeds (American Staffordshire Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, and crosses) on both cabin and cargo, and snub-nosed breeds are restricted in cargo during summer and winter temperature embargoes.
Quick reference
| Cabin pets | Yes — cats & small dogs in approved under-seat carrier |
|---|---|
| Cargo / checked program | Yes — IATA-rated kennel via dedicated cargo division |
| Cabin fee (one-way) | $70 USD (typical, route-dependent) |
| Carrier max dimensions | 21.6 x 15.7 x 9 (cabin) in |
| Weight limit | 17.6 (pet + carrier) |
| Breed restrictions | Banned dangerous breeds (XL Bullies, Pit bull, etc.) on cargo and cabin. |
| Reservations | +49 69 86799799 |
| Hub airport | Frankfurt (FRA) |
| Country | Germany |
How to book a pet on Lufthansa
Almost every airline requires you to add a pet to your reservation by phone — there is no online self-service for in-cabin or cargo pets at the major carriers, because the airline must confirm there is space on the specific aircraft type and route. Call +49 69 86799799 within 24 hours of buying your ticket and ask the agent to add the pet to your booking. You will be quoted the fee at the time of booking and pay it at airport check-in. Bring printed proof of vaccinations and a recent veterinary health certificate, especially for international itineraries.
At the airport, plan to arrive 90 minutes before a domestic departure or three hours before an international departure. The airline gate agent will inspect your carrier, attach an in-cabin pet tag, and confirm that your pet meets the under-seat dimension and weight limits. If your animal is travelling in cargo, you will drop them off at the carrier's dedicated cargo-acceptance facility (separate from the passenger terminal) at least four hours before departure for kennel inspection and loading.