2026 Complete Guide to Major Airlines' Pet Policies

Taking Your Furry Friend Abroad? 2026 Airline Pet Policy Comparison Guide for Departing from Taiwan

Thinking about traveling overseas with your pet? Open any airline's website and you'll find every company has different rules—weight limits, crate dimensions, summer embargo breeds, quarantine documents... You can search until your head spins just gathering basic info. As 2026 airline pet policies have largely taken shape, Editor Mao has put together a comparison guide covering the most common airlines departing from Taiwan to save you research time.

Before Taking Your Pet on a Plane: What to Know?

Regardless of which airline you choose, the "fundamentals" of international pet transportation are pretty similar. Get these underlying concepts straight first, and the individual airline rules below will make a lot more sense.

International vs. Domestic Flights

International pet transport is almost exclusively handled as cargo hold shipment, with a few small dogs and cats that meet the criteria allowed in the cabin. Domestic flights within Taiwan do not accept pets at all. In other words, taking your pet out of Taiwan almost always requires going through cargo or accompanied freight service—advance booking is essential.

Required Documents

The quarantine requirements of your destination country must be researched before you even look at airline rules. International pet transport typically requires:

• Rabies vaccination certificate (depending on destination, usually administered 21 days to 1 year before departure)
• Pet microchip (ISO 15-digit chip, required by EU, Japan, Korea, and Schengen countries)
• Export quarantine certificate (issued by Taiwan's Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine)
• Additional documents required by the destination country—for example, Japan requires a Rabies Antibody Titer Test (FAVN) report, and the EU requires proof of serology test clearance
• Some countries require post-entry quarantine

Crate Requirements

The IATA Live Animals Regulations are the international standard for crates. Key requirements include:

• Pet must be able to stand naturally, turn around, and lie down inside the crate
• Crate must be hard-sided (soft carriers only potentially allowed for cabin travel)
• Metal welds or plastic latches that lock; door secured against opening
• Ventilation holes must meet proportional requirements
• Absorbent padding on the bottom
• Crate weight + pet weight is the billing basis

Advance Booking

Most airlines require you to apply and receive confirmation 7–30 days before departure. The most popular flights (summer vacation, Lunar New Year) fill up pet cabin space quickly—we recommend contacting them at least 2–3 months in advance.

EVA Air vs. China Airlines: Pet Transport Fees & Rules Compared

EVA Air and China Airlines are Taiwan's two major home carriers. Editor Mao has organized a comparison across several key areas. Note: The fees and regulations below reflect commonly seen ranges in recent years—always refer to the airline's official announcement at the time of booking.

EVA Air Highlights

• Accepts dogs, cats, domestic rabbits, and other live animals for transport
• Brachycephalic dogs (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, etc.) and brachycephalic cats (Exotic Shorthairs, Persians, etc.) are subject to embargo during summer high-temperature periods
• Must book through the customer service center or airport counter in advance and obtain written confirmation
• Fees are calculated by route, weight, and volume; transoceanic long-haul routes are more expensive
• Some short-haul Asian routes have different pricing structures

China Airlines Highlights

• Also accepts dogs, cats, and some small live animals
• Brachycephalic summer embargo rules are similar to EVA Air
• Booking required before departure with confirmation
• Fees calculated by route, weight, and volume
• Both airlines have additional restrictions on extra-large dogs and pregnant females

Other Airlines to Consider

For flights from Taiwan to Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Americas, these common options are also available:

• Starlux Airlines: Pet transport service is expanding; some flights accept dogs and cats—contact customer service directly
• Cathay Pacific: Hong Kong-based hub; accepts pet transport on long-haul routes with summer restrictions on brachycephalic breeds
• Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA): Popular choices for Japan routes—rules must be confirmed individually
• Korean Air & Asiana Airlines: Options for Korea-bound flights
• Singapore Airlines: Common for Southeast Asia and Europe routes
• Thai Airways: Bangkok transit or Bangkok entry

Each airline has slightly different rules on brachycephalic breed embargoes, summer temperature definitions, and weight limits—always review the airline's latest announcements before booking.

What to Do When Brachycephalic Dogs Are Banned All Summer?

Every year from May to September, EVA Air, China Airlines, and some Japanese, Korean, and Southeast Asian airlines implement summer embargoes on brachycephalic dogs and cats. Commonly embargoed breeds include:

• Brachycephalic dogs: French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, Boston Terriers, Pekingese, Shih Tzus, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
• Brachycephalic cats: Persians, Exotic Shorthairs, Himalayans

The reason is that these breeds have inherently narrower airways. Combined with the high temperatures and pressure changes in the cargo hold, they face higher risk of heatstroke, breathing difficulties, or even death during flight.

Option 1: Cargo Special Arrangement

Some airlines that ban pets as regular checked baggage may allow transport through their Cargo division using temperature-controlled specialized holds. Fees are higher than regular passenger check-in, but you can bypass the embargo restrictions.

Option 2: Airlines with Better Climate-Controlled Holds

Some Northern European and North American airlines use newer aircraft with better temperature-controlled cargo holds and can still transport brachycephalic dogs in summer. Icelandair, Delta Air Lines, and Virgin Atlantic are commonly mentioned in pet owner communities. Most of these airlines don't fly direct from Taiwan—connections are required—but for brachycephalic dog owners, these are among the few viable summer travel routes.

Option 3: Postpone Your Trip

If your destination isn't time-sensitive, consider moving your departure to October or later. Embargo restrictions are usually lifted in autumn and winter, and fees may also be lower.

Option 4: Professional Pet Transport Agency

There are specialized agencies in Taiwan that handle international pet transport end-to-end—from document processing and quarantine procedures to cabin booking, airport transfers, and door-to-door pickup. Fees are higher than doing it yourself, but for countries with complex documentation (like Japan, the EU, and the UK), they can save you a tremendous amount of effort.

Heavier dogs (weight limits vary by airline, commonly capped at 30–40 kg) may be outright rejected by some airlines or required to purchase multiple crate spaces. Generally speaking, options for extra-large dogs are more limited than for small and medium breeds—plan much further in advance.

Editor Mao Reminders

Q1: What should I prepare before flying with my pet?

The top three priorities:

1. Confirm the quarantine requirements of your destination country (this trips people up before airline rules even come into play)
2. Pet microchip + rabies vaccination + antibody titer test (depending on destination)
3. Contact the airline's customer service to book a pet cabin and obtain written confirmation

Q2: What if my pet exceeds the weight limit?

If the combined weight of "pet + crate" exceeds the route's limit, you can:

• Switch to a smaller crate (must still meet IATA minimum dimensions)
• Go through the Cargo division with different pricing
• Choose a different airline (different companies have different limits)
• Hire a professional pet transport agency

Q3: Is it really impossible to travel abroad with a brachycephalic dog in summer?

Not entirely impossible, but options shrink dramatically. The three main alternatives are airline cargo services, shorter connection routes via Europe or North America, or hiring a professional agency.

Q4: How much should I budget?

Costs vary enormously depending on destination, weight, and whether cargo is involved. Asian short-haul and Europe/America long-haul routes can differ by several times. Editor Mao suggests setting a budget ceiling first, then confirming actual quotes with the airline—don't estimate based solely on numbers from online articles.

Q5: Can I add my pet at the airport if I didn't mention it at booking?

Strongly discouraged. Airlines need to configure cargo holds in advance, and last-minute registration is very likely to be refused. You need to contact customer service 7–30 days in advance and obtain confirmation.

Policy versions are updated constantly. Editor Mao recommends downloading the latest "Pet Transport Guidelines" directly from the airline's website before booking, or calling customer service to confirm all details. The process of traveling abroad with your pet is complex, but with proper preparation, the journey will go much more smoothly.