PetFlightCheck

SWISS Pet Policy (2026): Fees, Carrier Size & Rules

Yes. SWISS allows dogs and cats in the cabin on domestic and international flights from $80 per route. The carrier must fit under the seat in front of you, up to 55 × 40 × 23 cm (soft-sided). Your pet and carrier together can weigh up to 8 kg (≈ 17.6 lb).

Last verified against SWISS's official pages

PetFlightCheck is independent and not affiliated with SWISS. This page summarizes SWISS's official pet policy pages as of October 24, 2026; confirm the rules with SWISS before you book. Report an error

How to add your dog to a booking

  1. Tell SWISS well in advance. Register your pet online in “My bookings” (not available for flights to or from the USA) or through the Service Center; SWISS checks the transport rules and space.
  2. For flights to or from the USA, register your pet for the cabin with SWISS's online form. Otherwise contact the Service Center.
  3. For the cabin, confirm that your pet meets all the conditions with SWISS's form for carrying an animal in the passenger cabin, and present two printed copies of the completed, signed form at the check-in desk.
  4. For the hold, check in with your pet in an IATA-compliant crate 2 to 3 hours before departure.
  5. Dogs entering the USA: complete the CDC Dog Import Form and show the confirmation (digital or printed) on departure day and on entry.

Source: Travelling with animals

Pet fee

$80

Within Switzerland

starting price, per route

$95

Europe

starting price, per route

$110

Levant and North Africa

starting price, per route

$120

Short-haul intercontinental

starting price, per route

$135

Medium-haul intercontinental

starting price, per route

$145

Long-haul intercontinental

starting price, per route

$250

From/to Japan

per route

$95

Within Switzerland, crate size 1 (57 x 37 x 36 cm)

In the hold, per route

$190

Within Switzerland, crate sizes 2 to 5

In the hold, per route

$120

Europe, crate size 1 (57 x 37 x 36 cm)

In the hold, per route

$235

Europe, crate sizes 2 to 5

In the hold, per route

$155

Levant and North Africa, crate size 1 (57 x 37 x 36 cm)

In the hold, per route

$305

Levant and North Africa, crate sizes 2 to 5

In the hold, per route

$175

Short-haul intercontinental, crate size 1 (57 x 37 x 36 cm)

In the hold, per route

$350

Short-haul intercontinental, crate sizes 2 to 5

In the hold, per route

$200

Medium-haul intercontinental, crate size 1 (57 x 37 x 36 cm)

In the hold, per route

$395

Medium-haul intercontinental, crate sizes 2 to 5

In the hold, per route

$225

Long-haul intercontinental, crate size 1 (57 x 37 x 36 cm)

In the hold, per route

$445

Long-haul intercontinental, crate sizes 2 to 5

In the hold, per route

$290

From/to Japan, crate size 1 (57 x 37 x 36 cm)

In the hold, per route

$445

From/to Japan, crate sizes 2 to 5

In the hold, per route

  • SWISS gives each cabin price as a range, for example USD 80–100 within Switzerland. We show the lower end; SWISS doesn't say what sets the exact price within the range. Japan has a single cabin price.
  • SWISS says the charges vary by route. It doesn't say which routes count as short, medium or long haul, and it doesn't say whether the fee is charged each way. Ask SWISS for the price on your route.
  • Hold prices depend on the crate size: crate size 1 is 57 x 37 x 36 cm (up to 4 kg); crate sizes 2 to 5 run up to 125 x 75 x 85 cm.
  • Hold pets also pay an extra fee of EUR 150 / CHF 170 / USD 170 / CAD 220 per animal when traveling via FRA, MUC, VIE, ZRH or GVA (tickets issued after April 1, 2021). Another line on the same page lists transfers via Geneva, Frankfurt, Vienna and Zurich. Confirm with SWISS.
  • SWISS doesn't say on this page how or when to pay the pet fee. Ask the Service Center.

Source: Travelling with animals

Carrier size and weight

The weight limit is 8 kg (≈ 17.6 lb) including the carrier.

Soft-sided carrier (maximum)

55 × 40 × 23 cm

≈ 21.7 × 15.7 × 9.1 in (L × W × H)

  • A soft carrier that's clean, leak-proof and scratch-resistant is required; it can't have a solid frame. SWISS gives the maximum as 118 cm in total (55 x 40 x 23 cm). Your pet must stay fully inside the closed carrier for the whole time on board. If there isn't room under the seat in front of you, the crew stows the carrier with your pet in the wardrobe or an overhead bin for taxi, take-off, landing and turbulence.
  • Animals aren't part of your baggage allowance: SWISS always charges them as excess baggage.
  • Pets must be at least 12 weeks old, or 6 months old dogs on flights to the USA.

Where you can sit

  • No animals in SWISS First and Business class cabins on Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

Source: Travelling with animals

Routes, breeds and other restrictions

Where pets can't fly

SWISS doesn't publish a full list of routes, but says:

  • Animals may only be imported as cargo in Hong Kong, Ireland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and South Africa
  • Dogs entering the USA: new bookings can only be accepted to Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, New York-JFK, Philadelphia and Washington DC at present, and to Newark (EWR) if your dog has not stayed in a high-risk region (rabies) within the previous six months

Breeds

Short-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds are not accepted in cargo. SWISS excludes snub-nosed dogs and cats from the hold. They can still fly in the cabin if they meet the cabin rules. SWISS lists the breeds, including Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, Shih Tzus, Pit Bulls and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and says the rule also applies to crossbreeds.

Also good to know

  • Each passenger can bring at most two animals (in approved transport containers). That's one animal in the cabin and one in the hold, or up to two in the hold.
  • SWISS does not accept pregnant animals.
  • Dogs entering the USA must be at least 6 months old and need the CDC Dog Import Form confirmation, shown on the day of departure and on entry to the USA. SWISS refuses carriage without the CDC documents.
  • Dangerous dog breeds (American Bulldog, American Bully, Caucasian Ovcharka, Dogo Argentino, Karabash/Kangal, Rottweiler, and crossbreeds) are not allowed in the cabin and travel only in a special cargo crate. Dogs aged 3 to 6 months are exempt from this rule.
  • Your pet must be clean, healthy and not bother other passengers or the crew.
  • SWISS says the rules differ by country and airport (for example carriage only as freight, or general bans). Contact the Service Center to check your route.

Source: Travelling with animals

Cargo and checked pets

SWISS carries pets in the cargo hold through pets in the air-conditioned hold (as checked baggage). Dogs and cats over 8 kg with their carrier, or in a carrier bigger than 55 x 40 x 23 cm, travel in the hold. The carrier must be an IATA-compliant crate with ventilation openings no bigger than 25 x 25 mm for dogs; since May 4, 2026 SWISS refuses non-compliant crates at check-in. Bring your pet to check-in 2 to 3 hours before departure. SWISS says some destinations accept animals only as cargo (Hong Kong, Ireland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, South Africa), and that large animals can't go as cargo to certain destinations.

Compare every airline's hold rules in our guide to airlines that fly dogs in the hold.

Source: Travelling with animals

Service dogs and emotional support animals

  • Only trained service dogs are accepted as service animals.
  • Emotional support animals fly as regular pets, under the pet rules and fee on this page.
  • Required paperwork: US DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form, sent to SWISS no later than 48 hours before the flight. Flights longer than 8 hours also need the US Service Animal Relief Attestation Form. A training certificate is needed for connecting flights.

Source: Travelling with animals

Other details

  • Your pet can wait in a carrier or crate in SWISS Lounges; it can't roam free there. Assistance dogs are exempt from this rule.
  • SWISS publishes a checklist for animals in the hold (PDF) and handles pets traveling as cargo through Swiss WorldCargo.

Before you fly

SWISS can change its pet policy at any time. We last checked these official pages on October 24, 2026. Confirm the rules with SWISS before you book and again before you travel.

Planning a trip? Our trip checker checks your dog against SWISS's cabin rules and, for trips abroad, gives you a dated checklist of what your dog needs.

Entry rules for your dog: Canada, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Hawaii, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain and United Kingdom (Great Britain).

Compare other airlines