Air France vs Lufthansa pets: which European carrier is easier for pet travel

Once you've chosen your airline, the next step is documentation. A personal plan tells you exactly what to prepare, in what order, for your destination.

Quick verdict

For most short-haul European trips with a small pet under 8 kg, Air France is usually cheaper: domestic French flights run €70, most European and North African routes run €125. Lufthansa's equivalent fees run higher on European routes, typically €70 to €100, climbing to €110-160 on longer international legs, though Lufthansa does not publish a fixed fee table and confirms exact pricing only at booking.

For dogs that need the hold rather than the cabin, Lufthansa's Frankfurt hub and dedicated Animal Lounge give it an edge on layovers, since Munich does not support pet transfers through the hold at all. Air France's hold capacity goes up to 75 kg including the carrier, broadly similar to Lufthansa's hold options.

If your pet needs to travel to the UK, UAE, or South Africa, Air France does not permit cabin travel on those routes at all. Lufthansa also restricts or refuses certain UK and Ireland cabin bookings depending on the flight. Check both airlines' route-specific rules before assuming either one works for your destination.

Comparison table

Air France: the details

Air France splits pet travel into cabin, hold, and cargo. Cabin pets must fit a soft-sided carrier no larger than 46 x 28 x 24 cm, and the combined weight of pet plus carrier cannot exceed 8 kg. Hard carriers are not accepted in the cabin under any circumstances.

Booking happens through "Manage My Booking" online or by calling customer service, and Air France asks for at least 48 hours' notice. The fee structure is tiered by zone: domestic France costs the least, European and North African routes sit in the middle, and long-haul intercontinental flights cost the most.

One detail that trips people up: Air France does not accept snub-nosed breeds, like French Bulldogs, Pugs, or Persian cats, in the hold under any circumstances, for medical reasons related to breathing risk at altitude. These breeds can only fly in the cabin if they meet the standard 8 kg limit.

Lufthansa: the details

Lufthansa's cabin process looks similar on paper, same 8 kg limit, similar carrier dimensions, but the booking window is longer. Lufthansa asks for registration at least 72 hours before departure, and pet bookings for flights involving the United States require a specific form submitted in advance rather than a simple online add-on.

Lufthansa does not publish a fixed fee table on its website. Fees depend on route, cabin class, and whether the pet travels in cabin or hold, and you typically pay at the airport check-in counter once your pet's slot is confirmed, not during initial booking. This makes Lufthansa harder to budget for in advance compared to Air France's published tier structure.

Frankfurt is the key transfer hub, with a dedicated Animal Lounge for layovers. Munich does not support hold transfers, so any itinerary connecting through Munich with a pet in the hold needs a different routing.

Which to choose

If your pet is under 8 kg and your route is within Europe or to North Africa, Air France's published fee structure makes it easier to budget, and the shorter 48-hour booking window gives more flexibility if your plans change late.

If your route connects through Germany, or your pet needs the hold rather than the cabin, Lufthansa's Frankfurt infrastructure is built for it, but plan further ahead given the 72-hour registration requirement and the lack of published fees.

For snub-nosed breeds needing the hold, neither airline works. Check airlines that explicitly accommodate brachycephalic breeds in the hold, or plan for cabin travel only if your pet meets the weight limit.

FAQ

Once you've chosen your airline, the next step is documentation. A personal plan tells you exactly what to prepare, in what order, for your destination. $24.