Lufthansa is one of the better known airlines for international pet travel, and for good reason. They offer more than one way for pets to fly, and they have an established live animal program.
That said, this is where people get confused. A pet traveling in the cabin, a pet traveling in the aircraft hold with a passenger, and a pet traveling as cargo are three different setups. The right choice depends on your pet’s size, breed, route, destination rules, and whether your pet needs to travel with you or separately.
Lufthansa allows small dogs and cats to travel in the cabin if they meet the airline’s current size and weight rules.
One important update here: Lufthansa now says pets traveling in the cabin must be registered at least 72 hours before departure. That is a bigger planning window than many older articles mention.
Even when a pet qualifies for cabin travel, that does not automatically make it the best option for every route. Entry rules, connection airports, and destination-country requirements still matter.
If your pet does not qualify for in-cabin travel, there are usually two other possibilities on Lufthansa, depending on the route and the pet.
Some pets can travel in the hold as part of the passenger’s trip. This is different from manifest cargo. The pet is still linked to the passenger itinerary, but is checked for travel in an airline-approved crate.
This option may work well for some straightforward trips, but it is not always available on every route or for every breed.
For many international pet relocations, especially more complex ones, Lufthansa Cargo is the better fit. In that setup, your pet travels under a cargo booking rather than under your passenger reservation.
This is often how international pet shippers use Lufthansa. It gives more flexibility on routing and timing, and it can be the right answer when a pet needs to travel separately from the owner or when the destination country requires cargo arrival.
Lufthansa Cargo also states that private individuals must book through a freight forwarder for live animal shipments.
This is one area where older Lufthansa pet articles can get people in trouble.
Lufthansa says snub-nosed dogs and cats have been barred from transport in the cargo hold since 2020. Some of these pets may still be transported as air freight through Lufthansa Cargo, but that depends on current rules, crate setup, routing, and acceptance standards.
There is also a recent cargo update worth noting. Lufthansa Cargo says that, effective March 1, 2026, kennels for restricted dog breeds must comply with LH05 container requirements under the IATA Live Animals Regulations, including a wooden or steel frame and solid or plywood side walls. Metal kennels are no longer accepted for those bookings.
That is a good example of why pet travel planning cannot rely on one old airline article and a guess.
No matter which Lufthansa option you use, crate fit is a big deal.
A bad crate choice can stop a booking, delay acceptance, or create a problem at check-in. It is one of the first things worth confirming.
Start with Lufthansa directly and request the pet reservation early. Do not wait until the last day. Space for pets is limited, and Lufthansa says cabin pets must be registered at least 72 hours before departure.
Check with Lufthansa on whether the route, aircraft, and pet type are eligible. This can vary.
You will generally need a qualified freight forwarder or pet transport company to arrange the booking with Lufthansa Cargo.
Lufthansa remains a solid airline to consider for international pet travel because of its long standing live animal handling program and cargo infrastructure. Lufthansa Cargo also highlights animal care during transit, including qualified animal keepers at the Frankfurt Animal Lounge.
Still, Lufthansa is not automatically the right airline for every pet or every route. The best choice depends on the trip in front of you.
If you are trying to figure out whether Lufthansa cabin travel, hold travel, or cargo is the better fit, start with the pet, the route, and the country rules. Then build from there.
Start planning your pet’s move with PetRelocation