China Airlines flying with pets

Are animals accepted on China Airlines flights?

China Airlines accepts animals for transportation either in the cabin, or in the hold. Only Assistance Animals (seeing-eye dog, hearing dog, or service dog, and Emotional Support Dog only on flights to/from the US) traveling with a disabled passenger may accompany its owner in the passenger cabin.

Other pets must travel in a container as checked baggage.

Which pets may be transported on China Airlines flights?

China Airlines will accept, conditionally, domesticated cats and dogs and Assistance Dogs of disabled passengers. Carriage of snub-nosed dogs and cats (all breeds, including any crossbreeds and subspecies) is subject to special conditions.

China Airlines will not accept for carriage all breeds of fighting dogs (including any crossbreeds and subspecies): American Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terrier, Fila Brasileiros, Japanese Tosa, Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino. Puppies and kittens under 10 weeks old, as well as strongly smelling pets, will not be accepted for carriage on China Airlines flights.

Pets as Checked Baggage

If you need to travel with your pet, you must contact China Airlines Reservation Office in advance. If the terms of pet carriage are met, passengers and their pets shall check in at the airport at least 2 hours before departure in order to give the airport staff sufficient time to make proper arrangements.

All pets must travel in proper containers. Due to the consideration of temperature controlling module in the cargo hold, carriage of pets is not possible on B738 and ERJ aircraft. The number of pets allowed per container is limited as follows:

RoutePet AgePet WeightNumber of Pets per Container
The Americas6 months and younger9 kg or lessMax. 2 pets
Over 6 monthsOver 9 kgMax. 1 pet
All other

routes

6 months and younger14 kg or lessMax. 3 pets
Over 6 months14 kg or lessMax. 2 pet
Over 14 kgMax. 1 pets

Because snub-nosed dogs and cats are maladaptive to the surrounding temperature higher than 21°C (70°F), special conditions apply for the transportation of snub-nosed dogs and cats:

  • Only accepted on routes between Taiwan and Northeast Asia, China (including Hong Kong).
  • Only accepted in January, February, March and December.
  • The total traveling time should be less than 6 hours (including the ground transferring time at the intermediate station).
  • Kennel requirements: one size larger kennel than normally required and with ventilation on 4 sides.
  • No food in the kennel allowed during the flight, except just water.

Since different regulations on animal import and export apply in different countries, passengers need to familiarize themselves with these regulations before departure and prepare the pet’s health certificate, quarantine certificate, as well as the export and import permits for the transit and destination countries.

Fees

Assistance Dogs accompanying disabled passengers are transported free of charge on China Airlines flights.

Any other pet transported as checked baggage shall not be included in the passenger‘s free baggage allowance.

Pets and their containers will be charged as excess baggage based on their quantity or weight:

  • Piece System (travel to/from territories in the US and Canada and certain countries in South and Central America):
  • Weight System (all other routes):

More information here >>