KLM Airlines

We move pets all the time using KLM and have outlined some pet friendly perks of the top destinations accessible on KLM Cargo flights. 

1.  Amsterdam, Netherlands

In addition to hosting the AF-KL Cargo Animal Hotel at its main airport, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the city of Amsterdam offers pet lovers plenty of pet friendly options.

The Ibis Amsterdam City Stopera hotel is ideally located in the city centre a few minutes from the Stopera Opera House Dam Square Rembrandtplein and Waterlooplein.  They allow up to two dogs per night for a fee of 5 euros/night per dog.  Pet owners who want to get out and enjoy some of the Netherlands beautiful parks can stop by Sarphatipark, which has a doggie playground on the opposite side of a small pond.  It's also conveniently located to Albert Cuyp Market, which makes a great picnic stop!  De Bakkerswinkel also offers outdoor seating for pets and their owners.

Since Amsterdam is AF-KL Cargo's main hub, there are plenty of pet friendly flights for pets from the US and other international airports all over the world.  Pets that fly into Amsterdam will need to clear through customs at Schiphol and will need to meet the Netherlands Pet Import Rules.

We moved Murphy to Singapore using KLM Airlines - here he enjoys a ride on a pedicab!2. Singapore, Singapore

Singapore is a popular destination for expats and their pets.  There are plenty of leash-free dog parks available in Singapore where pets can run and socialize.  Bishan Park Dog Run, one of the largest dog parks in Singapore, is fenced in and centrally located.  Weekends can get cramped but it has some perks:  big breed dogs are kept separated from small-breed pets at the park.  While the park is open daily 24 hours, it is only lit from 7pm-7am.   For more dog parks, check out Time Out Singapore's dog park rundown!

AF-KL Cargo offers pet flights to Singapore Changi from their hub in Amsterdam.  For information on rules and requirements for moving your pet to Singapore, see our Singapore Pet Travel page.

3. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Every dog has its day in Kuala Lumpur!  Dogathon, an annual carnival of dogs and their owners, was started in 1997 as a 2.5km run to benefit Pro-Kasih, a public education program that supports catch-and-release spay and neuter services to help control Malaysia's stray dog problems.  Now in its thirteen year, the Dogathon offers games and events for pets and their owners. 

Pets can travel to Malaysia via AF-KL Cargo's pet flights from Amsterdam, but will need to fulfill a seven-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur at the government quarantine facility. Check out our Malaysia Pet Travel page for more details.

4. Stockholm, Sweden

If you're looking for a pet friendly place to stay in Stockholm, try the Grand Hotel Intercontinental, which allows up to two dogs of any size for no additional fees.  For a little exercise for your pooch, check out Vasaparken, a dog-friendly park located in Vasastaden and named after the Royal Vasa Dynasty.  Your pet will feel like he's king of the castle!

Don't forget to check out the Sweden Pet Travel rules before you go.

Here's Wheezy, a Boston Terrier we moved to Bali using KLM Airlines!5. Bali, Indonesia

Bali is an exotic location that has been booming with tourism and business-which means the pets followed shortly behind!  The Bali Street Dog Foundation is a non-profit animal welfare organization that aims to reduce the numbers of unhealthy, neglected street dogs in Bali and hosts occasional events to raise awareness.  Most recently, they had a Fun Walk for Animals to help raise money to control the spread of rabies within Bali.  If you run out of supplies for your favorite pet, not to worry:  the Bali Pet Shop has four locations in Sanur, Denpasar, Kuta and Seminyak selling "complete products for your lovely animal."

PetRelocation.com's Pet Friendly Airline Spotlight series features our favorite pet friendly airlines for travel with pets.  These Spotlights will highlight one airline each week, Monday through Thursday, through the month of May.  We'll take a look at the various aspects of their pet programs, including amenities offered for pets, how to book a pet flight on each airline and their fee structures.  For a look at the rest of our Airline Spotlight series, check out the Airline Spotlight page or on Twitter as #PetReloAS.

Booking your pet's flight correctly is one of the most important parts of your trip.  After all, how else will your pet get to where you're going?  Below is a step-by-step guide to booking a flight on KLM Airlines for your pet.

Accompanied Pets

Please Note:

If you are traveling with your pet to Australia, Hong Kong, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, Kenya, South Africa or the United Kingdom, please skip this section and proceed to Unaccompanied Pets.

1)  First you will need to determine whether your species of pet can travel in cabin.  KLM only allows small cats and dogs up to 6 kg (13 lbs) including their carrier in the cabin.  If you have a dog or cat who weighs under 6 kg (13 lbs) with his carrier, go to step 2. If you have another species of pet, go to step 6.

2) Your pet will need to travel in a hard-shelled kennel no higher than 20 cm or in an animal travel bag (soft-sided) that expands to a maximum of 115 cm (L+W+H).  Your pet will need to be able to stand up comfortably in the carrier while traveling.  If your pet cannot fit comfortably in a carrier or kennel of this size, go to step 4. 

3) Call to Book Your Flight:  To make reservations by phone, please contact your country's KLM Telephone Reservations Line.

When you call to book your flight, you will need to notify the person making the reservation that you will be traveling with a pet in cabin.  While you can book your flight up until the last minute, KLM requires at least 48 hours advance notice for pets traveling in cabin.  Your pet will also need to fulfill the international pet travel requirements for your destination country (if traveling internationally).

4)  If your dog or cat cannot travel in cabin due to size or weight restrictions, your pet can travel underneath the plane in the air-conditioned cargo hold as "Accompanied luggage."  Your pet must be transported in a hard-shelled pet travel crate approved for pets as cargo (see below).  Your pet and kennel combined may not weigh more than 75 kg (165 lbs).  If your pet weighs under 75 kg with his carrier, proceed to step 5.  If your pet weighs more than 75 kg with his carrier, proceed to step 6.

Travel Crates for Pets as Cargo:  Your pet's travel crate will need to be up to IATA (International Air Transport Association) standards.  We sell IATA-approved pet travel crates through our website, which are suitable for domestic and international travel.  Lufthansa also requires pet travel crates to be equipped with a water dish.  We recommend attaching your pet's water dish to the inside of the crate door (see: All About Pet Travel Crates).

5) Call to Book Your Flight:  To make reservations by phone, please contact your country's KLM Telephone Reservations Line.

When you call to book your flight, you will need to notify the person making the reservation that you will be traveling with a pet in the cargo hold as accompanied luggage.  While you can book your flight up until the last minute, KLM requires 48 hours advance notice of pets accompanying their owners and traveling in the cargo hold.

Unaccompanied Pets (or Pets Traveling as Cargo)

6) Your pet should be transported as freight by Air France-KLM Cargo if:

• Your pet and kennel weigh more than 75 kg (165 lbs). 
• The kennel is larger than 292 cm (115 inches) (l + w + h). On some types of aircraft, the kennel must not be larger than 247 cm (97 inches) (l + w + h).
•  The pet is travelling to Australia, Hong Kong, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, Kenya, South Africa or the United Kingdom. 

For your pet to travel unaccompanied via Air France-KLM Cargo, a cargo account is required and pricing is based off a dimensional or volume weight.  If your pet is going to be traveling unaccompanied, it is best to obtain a quote from a PetRelocation.com Specialist by filling out our International Quote Request form.

Air France-KLM Pricing Structure for Pets

Accompanied:   For pets traveling within Europe on most AF-KL flights, the pricing per pet is EUR 70.  For all other international flights, the price per pet is EUR 200.

Unaccompanied/Cargo:  The pricing is based on dimensional weight and varies per pet.  Fuel surcharges and other fees also apply.

PetRelocation.com's Pet Friendly Airline Spotlight series features our favorite pet friendly airlines for travel with pets.  These Spotlights will highlight one airline each week, Monday through Thursday, through the month of May.  We'll take a look at the various aspects of their pet programs, including amenities offered for pets, how to book a pet flight on each airline and their fee structures.  For a look at the rest of our Airline Spotlight series, check out the Airline Spotlight page or on Twitter as #PetReloAS.

Outside the Air France-KLM Animal Hotel in AmsterdamImagine a place at the airport where you could retreat to your private, air-conditioned room, take a nice walk in a grassy park and grab a bite to eat while you relax and wait for your next flight to take off.  No more loud terminals, uncomfortable waiting area chairs, or worrying about final boarding calls-you're free to relax while your personal assistant makes sure you make it onto your next flight in time.

At Air France-KLM (AF-KL) Cargo's Animal Hotel, your airport dream is your pet's reality.  Pets traveling on AF-KL Cargo get a chance to relax in comfortable surroundings while being cared for by qualified and specially-trained Animal Attendants.  "All animals can eat, drink, exercise and rest to break up a long journey," said Robert van Voorthuysen, International Sales Manager for the Variation Live department at AF-KL Cargo.  "Dogs and cats deserve the comfort and attention we give to our passengers."

The AF-KL Cargo Animal Hotel, sometimes called "a home away from home," is located at the Amsterdam International Airport Schiphol, and serves as the perfect entry and jumping-off point for pets traveling to the Netherlands and other European Union destinations.

Upon arrival at the Amsterdam airport, pets are immediately transferred to the Animal Hotel via climate-controlled, pet friendly vehicles.  There, the Animal Attendant staff is able to provide dogs with their unique KLM cargo dog-walking service! 

While enjoying a short break in size-appropriate kennels, pets' crates are cleaned thoroughly before being transferred to their next flight.

The Animal Hotel is definitely a comfortable place to wait for your next flight.  "It meets and even exceeds all the high European standards in quality and hygiene," said van Voorthuysen.  "We are proud to mention that the Animal Hotel is qualified according to ISO 9002," the most prestigious recognition of industrial quality in Europe.  In addition to being clean, a veterinarian is on call at all times to assist with pets who might have become ill during transport.  The Animal Hotel, which is fully operational twenty-four hours a day, also has its own quarantine station.

If you're headed to the Netherlands or beyond, AF-KL Cargo's Animal Hotel is a great layover option for your pet. Ready to go?  Check back tomorrow for more information on how to book a flight on KLM for your pet!

PetRelocation.com's Pet Friendly Airline Spotlight series features our favorite pet friendly airlines for travel with pets. These Spotlights will highlight one airline each week, Monday through Thursday, through the month of May. We'll take a look at the various aspects of their pet programs, including amenities offered for pets, how to book a pet flight on each airline and their fee structures. For a look at the rest of our Airline Spotlight series, check out the Airline Spotlight page or on Twitter as #PetReloAS.

Welcome to Week 3 of PetRelocation.com's Pet Friendly Airline Spotlight series, featuring our favorite pet friendly airlines for travel with pets.  These Spotlights will highlight one airline each week, Monday through Thursday, through the month of May.  We'll take a look at the various aspects of their pet programs, including amenities offered for pets, how to book a pet flight on each airline and their fee structures.  For a look at the rest of our Airline Spotlight series, check out the Airline Spotlight page or on Twitter as #PetReloAS.

Over ninety years ago, KLM's "Variation Live Pets" pet cargo program was started with safety, comfort and pet hygiene being their main focus when transporting a wide variety of pets. After joining forces with Air France in 2004, pets now have the ability to travel on one of Europe's most popular airlines, boasting the largest number of international passenger-miles flown in both 2008 and 2007.

Based in Amsterdam, AF-KL Cargo offers an exclusive Animal Hotel for pets transiting through Amsterdam, which we'll take a look at in more detail later this week, including an exclusive video of the inside of the Pet Hotel and an in-depth look at the AF-KL Cargo booking process for pets traveling on KLM's Variation Live Pets.  We'll also talk to Robert van Voorthuysen, International Sales Manager for Variation Live, to find out more about what pet owners can expect when traveling on KLM with their pets.

Be sure to catch all of the AF-KL Cargo action this week and let us know what questions you'd like answered in the comments section!

Pet travel to China just got a little easier.  Pet friendly KLM Airlines will launch scheduled service between Amsterdam and Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport in China beginning May 8, 2010. KLM is the first airline to offer direct service between Hangzhou and Europe, where their pet hotel is located at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport. 

The new roundtrip service will be operated three times a week, departing from Schiphol on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, and returning from Hangzhou on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Flights will be operated with a Boeing 777-200ER, which has pressurized, climate controlled cargo holds for pets.

Hangzhou is the capital of the province Zhejiang, which, together with the neighbouring province Fujian, is home to more than 80 million people. Via Hangzhou, passengers can catch connecting flights to other destinations within China once their pets have cleared through customs for entering the country.

"KLM is proud to add this 63rd intercontinental destination to its network. KLM has thus improved China’s connection with Europe and the rest of the world,” said KLM President & CEO Peter Hartman in an email to pet-friendly pet travel companies. "Furthermore, KLM has hereby given an enormous impulse to Schiphol’s mainport status. The KLM network is crucial to the Dutch economy, contributing to a favourable business establishment climate, generating employment and creating opportunities for Dutch businesses."

Below is a letter to the IPATA organization reminding them of the importance of serial numbers on the EU veterinary certificate (form 998).  This is commonly overlooked by veterinarians and USDA officials, so it is the responsibility of the pet owner (or their pet relocation company!) to ensure that it is filled in.  We thought it'd be useful for our readers to remind them about the importance of the serial number (emphasis ours):