How we score airlines
Every airline gets a Dog-Friendly Score from 0 to 100. Here's what it tells you.
Score tiers
The score adds up everything that makes flying with your dog easier. There is more than one way to a high score: a generous cabin limit can make up for higher fees, for example. The tiers describe the overall picture, not a fixed checklist.
| Score | Rating | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 90+ | Excellent | Among the easiest airlines to fly with a dog. Generous cabin rules, with little holding you back on fees or breed rules. |
| 80+ | Good | Flying with your dog is straightforward. Expect a trade-off or two, such as a stricter weight limit or higher fees on some routes. |
| 60+ | Fair | Possible, but with clear limits. Several restrictions add up, for example a tight cabin limit, breed bans in the cabin or high fees. |
| 20+ | Limited | Dogs mostly fly in the hold or as cargo, often with strict breed and route rules. Workable for some trips, rarely for small dogs. |
| <20 | Poor | Pet dogs are not accepted. At most, trained assistance dogs can fly. |
What we look at
We read each airline's official pet policy and look at these factors.
Cabin access
Can small dogs fly in the cabin with you? This is the biggest factor, as cabin travel is safer and less stressful for dogs.
Hold and cargo
Can larger dogs fly in the hold, on your flight or as a cargo shipment? Airlines that offer both cabin and hold score higher.
Cabin weight limit
8 kg including the carrier is the standard, 10 kg or more is better, and no fixed weight limit is best.
Cabin fees
We look at both the cheapest and the most expensive regular route, so an airline that is affordable everywhere scores higher than one that is only cheap on short hops.
Hold fees
The same for dogs flying in the hold.
Breed rules
We look at where a ban applies. A ban on snub-nosed breeds in the cabin weighs more than one that only covers the hold, because it hits small breeds like pugs and French bulldogs.
Assistance dogs
Are trained assistance dogs accepted in the cabin? This counts even when an airline does not take pet dogs.
If an airline does not publish its fees or its cabin weight limit, that factor adds nothing to the score. The score is recalculated automatically whenever we update an airline's policy.
Always double-check before booking
Airline pet policies change frequently and can vary by route, aircraft type, and season. The score reflects the general policy at the time of our last verification. Always confirm the current rules directly with the airline before booking.