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FrWhat is Finnair’s policy on pet acceptance?
Finnair accepts pets for carriage in the passenger cabin, as well as in the cargo hold, but some restrictions apply.
When Finnair agrees to transport your pet as baggage, it will not be part of the free baggage allowance, and additional conditions specified by the airline may apply. Any pet you bring along, whether it will be carried in the cabin or in the hold, will be regarded as excess baggage and charged accordingly.
Finnair’s pet policy only applies on flights operated by Finnair. If you are traveling on a codeshare flight (a flight operated by a Finnair’s partner airline), the rules of this airline apply, including for transporting pets, but many airlines do not accept pets if the flight ticket has been bought with another airline’s flight number (codeshare).
What responsibilities do I have?
A limited number of pet carriage requests can be made for each flight, thus it is your responsibility to contact the airline in advance and inquire about pet transportation availability. In general, two pets in the cabin and two pets in the hold of the aircraft are accepted, but restrictions may apply due to the weather, aircraft type, allergic passengers, etc.
The reservation for your pet must be made at the same time as yours, online, by contacting your travel agency, or through Finnair customer care. Upon making the reservation, the airline must be informed about all the details regarding your pet, including the size of the container in which your pet will be transported, as well as the total weight of your pet and its kennel.
The pet must be transported in a pet carrier complying with the IATA regulations and have all the necessary travel permits (valid health and vaccination certificates, permits for exit/entry/transit depending on the countries of travel, etc.), otherwise, its transportation may be denied.
Country-specific regulations are the second most important thing you have to consider. For example, Finland regards puppies younger than eight weeks as ineligible for air transportation. Other countries might have different age restrictions for pets, so contact all the relevant authorities in the countries of exit, transit, and entry before engaging in the booking process.
Thirdly, according to European Union directives, dogs, cats, and ferrets carried across the Union must be microchipped or tattooed in a clear manner, for easy identification. Besides this microchip or tattoo, the animal must have a valid passport containing your pet’s health details, as well as rabies vaccination status. The Finnish Food Safety Authority can provide you with more specific information on the matter.
Re-entry into the European Union might imply different regulations than simply traveling inside the Union. Other documentation requirements may be in effect, so make sure you inquire about all the restrictions regarding animal welfare before traveling.
Pets in the Passenger Cabin
With certain restrictions, only small animals, such as dogs, cats, rabbits, and other rodents, may be carried in the passenger cabin. When booking your flight, you can add your small pet to your booking online in the Travel Extras step if there is availability on your flight. If you have already booked your flight, you can add your pet to your booking via Manage Booking. However, you must contact Finnair’s customer service to add transportation for your pet if you are flying in Business Class on short-haul flights within Europe.
On log-haul flights, pets are not accepted in the Business Class cabin, since the reclining seats leave no room for placing your pet underneath in a suitable manner.
When traveling with Finnair, your pet must be enclosed in an appropriate container, e.g. a soft bag or a suitable box. Should the kennel be too large for transportation in the cabin or the animal carried in inappropriate conditions, for example in a container too small for it, the airline reserves its right to decline carriage. The pet must not exit from its container during the journey.
Weight and Size Restrictions
The total weight of your pet together with its container should not exceed 8 kg (17 lbs).
If you are planning to take your pet with you in the cabin, Finnair advises you to use for transportation a soft bag, except for rodents, which must always be transported in a hard case. This bag, although supposed to fit under the seat directly in front of you, should still be large enough to contain your pet in a comfortable manner. As far as your pet’s well-being is concerned, it must be able to stand, sit, and lie in a natural position, as well as turn around normally while in the bag.
A soft bag must have the same maximum dimensions as carry-on baggage, specifically 55 x 40 x 23 cm (22 x 16 x 9 in), while hard carriers must measure a maximum of 35 x 30 x 20 cm (14 x 12 x 8 in). On flights operated by Norra, the maximum dimensions for a soft bag are 55 x 40 x 20 cm (21 x 15 x 8 in). If these dimensions or the aforementioned weight are exceeded, the animal and its container will be transferred to the aircraft hold.
Fees
Pets transported in the passenger cabin are not included in the free baggage allowance but are always regarded as excess baggage and charged accordingly:
- Short-haul flights – €60 one-way.
- Long-haul flights – €120/$130 one-way.
Pets as Checked Baggage
All animals, regardless of their type or species, must be transported in the aircraft hold as checked baggage if the total weight of the pet and its container exceeds 8 kg (17 lbs). When transporting a pet as checked baggage, you should take into account the following:
- You should book your flight online at least 7 days before the flight and inform Finnair about your pet within 24 hours via the chat service.
- The transportation box must comply with the IATA regulations. The box must be not only proportional to the animal’s size but also large enough to allow it to travel in the most humane conditions possible. Therefore, to spare your pet additional stress, try and make sure its container provides it plenty of space to move freely, as well as sit comfortably during the flight.
- A strong transportation box must be provided for pets heavier than 40 kg (88 lbs).
- The maximum total weight of the animal and its box must not exceed 75 kg (165 lbs) (max. 50 kg on Norra-operated flights).
- Maximum pet container size depends on the type of aircraft operating the flight:
Aircraft type A319, A320, A321, A330 & A350 E90 (Norra) ATR (Norra) Max. dimensions (L x W x H) 122 x 81 x 89 cm 101 x 68 x 76 cm 81 x 57 x 53 cm
Fees
Since pets are not part of the free checked baggage allowance, they will be subject to excess baggage charges:
- Short-haul flights – €120 one-way.
- Long-haul flights – €600/$650 one-way.
Assistance Dogs
No matter what flight you will take with Finnair, you are always permitted to take your Guide Dog, Hearing Dog, or Service Dog in the cabin with you. If you are traveling with an Assistance Dog, you should notify Finnair at least 48 hours before departure. Assistance Dogs are transported in addition to the free checked baggage allowance, so no charges will apply for them, unlike for all other pets, which are subject to excess baggage fees.
