Qantas
Pet travel policy for Qantas (QF) — based at Sydney (SYD), Australia.
Policy summary
Qantas accepts pets only as manifested cargo through Qantas Freight; no pets are permitted in the passenger cabin on any Qantas-operated flight other than approved assistance dogs accompanying passengers with disabilities. Qantas Freight handles domestic Australian pet shipments and accepts inbound international pets in coordination with Australia's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry biosecurity service. Pets entering Australia must hold an import permit issued by DAFF before travel, must arrive at the Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine facility outside Melbourne for a minimum 10-day quarantine, and must satisfy strict pre-export rabies-titer, parasite-treatment, and ISO-microchip requirements. Snub-nosed dog and cat breeds face additional cargo restrictions and may be refused on extreme-temperature days. Domestic pet shipments within Australia are simpler and can be booked online through Qantas Freight's pet portal up to 14 days before travel; the airline supplies appropriately sized hire kennels at major capital-city airports.
Quick reference
| Cabin pets | No (service dogs only) |
|---|---|
| Cargo / checked program | Yes — IATA-rated kennel via dedicated cargo division |
| Cabin fee (one-way) | See airline website |
| Carrier max dimensions | IATA Live Animals Regulations kennel in |
| Weight limit | cargo only |
| Breed restrictions | Cargo only via Qantas Freight; Australian biosecurity import permit. |
| Reservations | +61 13 13 13 |
| Hub airport | Sydney (SYD) |
| Country | Australia |
How to book a pet on Qantas
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 +61 13 13 13 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.