- Service dogs must sit with you and be harnessed or leashed at all times
- Keep your service dog license with you at all times (excludes flights from the U.S.)
Travelling with pets
Helping our best friends travel too
Due to government-imposed restrictions, you will not be permitted to travel with your pet on board on the following routes:
Flying to or from:
- India (Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram)
- Maldives
- South Africa
- Indonesia (Bali)
Flying to:
- Australia
- China (Shanghai)
- Qatar
- UK (London and Manchester)
- US
Dogs posing a danger such as the below are not permitted on our aircraft.
Banned Breeds
Pit Bulls
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed of dog
- American Pit Bull Terrier breed of dog
- American Staffordshire Terrier breed of dog
- American Bully
Mastiff Dogs
- Brazilian Mastiff (Fila Brasiliero)
- Argentinian Mastiff (Dogo Argentino)
- Any Mastiff or Hybrid
- Japanese Tosa or hybrid
Tosa
- Japanese Tosa or hybrid
Rottweilers breed or hybrid
Doberman Pinschers
Canario Presa
BoxerAny mixed breed of above breeds of dog or their Hybrid
If you upgrade your flight, please call us to rebook your cat or dog to travel with you. In Business, you must pay for an additional seat for your pet. Your pet must travel always with you in the same cabin.
- Voluntary Changes: You can change your request up to three hours before the flight departure time. To arrange a new flight, please contact us to confirm availability before you make any changes to your itinerary. You must complete all approval processes again and will still be liable for ensuring that the required documents, certificates and permits are in order for your pet to travel on the rebooked flight.
- Involuntary changes: We will coordinate with you and provide the best available options in cases where your flight has been rebooked or cancelled. You can request a full refund for the fees that were paid for transporting your pet if the options that we have provided do not meet your needs, provided that your pet was not transported from the country of origin.
- Refunds: A full refund is only given for cases where we had an irregular operation and are not able to transport your pet. In this case, you can reach out to our Contact Centre and request a refund to the fees that were paid. If we were able to transport your pet on another flight/date or airline after obtaining your consent, then a refund is not permitted in this case.
- Documentation – The documentation required for pets in cabin must be provided as per Etihad requirements and/or country regulations. Etihad documentation policy is more restrictive for some countries.
- You are permitted to carry one pet on board. If you are travelling with another guest, you may bring two pets, provided the pets are from the same household and known to each other. If you are travelling with two pets, you must complete a separate booking form for each pet.
- Etihad Airways will not be responsible if authorities in other countries refuse entry of your pet due to non-compliance with local regulations. Etihad will in this case, not be liable for any resulting costs such as flight rebooking charges, hotel accommodation if Etihad have to refuse the carriage of your pet due to non-compliance with the regulations.
- We assume no liability for the health or well being of pets carried in the cabin.
- Pets must be able to stand and sit erect, turn around normally and lie down in a natural position in their travel bag or kennel (without touching any side or the top).
- Pet travel bags or kennels can’t exceed the under seat dimensions of any aircraft in your journey.
- You are responsible for additional costs for import or export.
- Pregnant pets cannot be accepted for travel.
- You must report 3 hours prior to departure at the airport.
- You must bring enough of absorbent sheets for your pet to relieve itself, including connecting flights and transit airport, if applicable. You will be responsible for the replacement and associated disposal.
- You can only carry dry pet food in your cabin baggage. Food should be carried in a sealed container so the smell does not disturb other guests.
- If there are guests travelling on-board that are allergic to animals, our crew may be required to re-seat you and your pet. In rare occurrences, we may need to re-book your flight.
- Sedation of animals, except under certain conditions and carried out under veterinary supervision, is not recommended. Commonly used tranquilizers lower blood pressure, which also occurs at high altitude.
- Third party lounge access for animals is dependent on local regulations.
- In cases of a guest with an allergy statement and a guest with a pet request travelling on the same flight, the request of the guest who made the first reservation shall be confirmed.
- In cases of a guest wishing to travel with a trained service animal and a guest wishing to travel with a pet in the same class on the same flight, the request of the guest wishing to travel with a trained service animal shall always take priority regardless of time of reservation.
- It costs $1,500 or 215,000 Etihad Guest Miles each way to travel with your cat or dog
- If you are transiting, the combined price will apply.
- You can pay for this fee using Etihad Guest Miles by calling our Contact Centre.
- You must be travelling on an Etihad operated flight. If you have a connecting flight operated by another airline, we'll be unable to permit carriage of your pet.
- Customs/Veterinarians import checks are governed by the airport authorities/ministries/veterinarians at destination and may take several hours for clearance.
Small dogs, cats and falcons are permitted on Etihad Airways flight to and from Abu Dhabi.
However, due to government-imposed restrictions, you will not be permitted to travel with your pet on board on the following routes:
Flying to or from: | Flying to: |
India (Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram) | Australia |
Maldives | China (Shanghai) |
South Africa | Qatar |
Indonesia (Bali) | UK (London and Manchester) |
U.S. |
The below dog breeds are not permitted on our aircraft:
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed of dog
- American Pit Bull Terrier breed of dog
- American Staffordshire Terrier breed of dog
- American Bully
- Brazilian Mastiff (Fila Brasiliero)
- Argentinian Mastiff (Dogo Argentino)
- Any Mastiff or Hybrid
- Japanese Tosa or hybrid
- Tosa
- Rottweiler
- Doberman Pinscher
- Canario Presa
- Boxer
- Any mixed breed of the above dog or their hybrid
Yes. If you upgrade your flight, please just remember to call us to rebook your cat or dog to travel with you. In Business, you must pay for an additional seat for your pet. Your pet must travel always with you in the same cabin.