Turkish Airlines
Pet travel policy for Turkish Airlines (TK) — based at Istanbul (IST), Turkey.
Policy summary
Turkish Airlines accepts cats, dogs, and small pet birds in the cabin on most Turkish Airlines-operated flights up to a combined pet plus carrier weight of 8 kilograms. The carrier may measure no more than 23 by 40 by 55 centimetres (about 9 by 15.7 by 21.6 inches), and reservations must be made by phone or email at least six hours before flight time. Cabin fees are calculated by route distance and pet weight, generally 70 EUR for European itineraries and 200 EUR for intercontinental flights. Larger animals fly as checked baggage in the temperature-controlled hold up to 75 kilograms total weight including kennel, and Turkish Cargo handles unaccompanied pet shipments through Istanbul Airport. Brachycephalic dog and cat breeds (Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians, Himalayans) are restricted from the cargo hold during summer temperature embargoes, and Turkey's national list of banned dangerous dog breeds (Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Tosa Inu, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro) cannot be carried on any Turkish Airlines flight in any class.
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 | 23 x 15 x 9 (cabin) in |
| Weight limit | 17.6 (pet + carrier) |
| Breed restrictions | No snub-nosed in cargo; banned dangerous dog breeds. |
| Reservations | +90 850 333 0 849 |
| Hub airport | Istanbul (IST) |
| Country | Turkey |
How to book a pet on Turkish Airlines
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 +90 850 333 0 849 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.