About the trip

• From: Helsinki, Finland
• To: Prague, Czech Republic
• Pet: Chihuahua
• Age: Adult
• Airline: Finnair
• Guide: How to fly with a dog

I’ve flown with my Chihuahua more times than I can count, and it’s always been smooth sailing. He’s tiny just 2.5 kg and his carrier is so spacious that, honestly, two of him could fit inside. So when we arrived at Helsinki Airport for our Finnair flight to Prague, I didn’t expect any issues.

But this time was different.

The check-in agent took one look at his carrier and started examining it like it was a suspicious package. Even though he clearly had plenty of room to stand, turn, and stretch, he wasn’t convinced. He called over his supervisor, and suddenly, I had two Finnair staff members crowded around my dog’s bag, debating whether a 2.5 kg Chihuahua had enough space to travel comfortably. For ten whole minutes, they circled the carrier, peering in from every angle, while my little dog just sat there, probably wondering what all the fuss was about.

Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, they gave us the green light. The rest of the flight was uneventful, but the whole experience left me with one thought: If it takes this much scrutiny for the smallest dog in the world, how long would they spend inspecting a French Bulldog?

If you’ve had a similar (or even wilder) experience flying with your pet, we’d love to hear about it. Share your own story by sending us email at contact@petabroad.eu.

About the trip

• From: Vienna, Austria
• To: Palma de Mallorca, Spain
• Pet: Dog, Yorkshire Terrier Teddy
• Age: 4 years
• Airline: Austrian Airlines
• Guide: How to fly with a dog

Hello Pet Abroad friends,

When I flew from Vienna to Mallorca last year, I couldn’t believe the prices. My ticket was 60 euros, which I thought was a great deal. But then I added Teddy to the booking—his in-cabin fee was 80 euros. So there I was in economy, while my dog, who spent the whole flight in a bag under my seat, was basically flying first class :).

At Vienna Airport, Teddy got a lot of attention. People kept stopping to look at his little top-knot and tiny paws. The Austrian Airlines staff were nice but strict—they weighed his carrier (it had to be under 8 kg) and of course checked his Pet Passport. Teddy just sat there, probably knowing his ticket cost more than mine.

Teddy is a high-energy dog, and the noises and movement on the plane usually stress him out. So I tried a simple trick: I draped a light scarf over his carrier once we were seated. It didn’t block the air, but it cut down on the bright lights and people walking by. He calmed down and even fell asleep, which is rare for him.

I would like to share some final thoughts about the prices

Looking back at the whole experience, I have to be honest about the cost. While I adore Teddy and wouldn’t dream of traveling without him, paying eighty euros for a dog to sit in a bag at my feet—or occasionally on my lap during the flight—feels a bit like paying an “existence tax.” When you think about it, you aren’t paying for extra legroom, a meal, or even a real seat; you are essentially paying a premium just for the permission to have your best friend breathe the same cabin air as you. It feels like a lot of money for “nothing” in terms of actual service provided by the airline, especially when my own ticket, which included an actual physical chair and a suitcase in the overhead bin, was cheaper.

🐾 — All about flight ticket prices for pets — ✈️

I want to end this on a positive note, though. Teddy and I had the absolute best time by the sea, and I wouldn’t change a single thing about our trip. Even if the airline’s pricing structure leaves me scratching my head sometimes, it was worth every moment. I’m really hoping that the way we fly with our dogs continues to evolve; we are already starting to see some positive shifts in the industry.

Thank you, Camille, for sharing your flight experience with us! If you would like to join and share your own pet travel story, you can do it here!

If you are preparing for your first flight with a dog or cat, you can check out our article about the things you can expect here.

About the trip

• From: Dallas, Texas, USA
• To: Paris, France
• Pet: Dog, Miniature Schnauzer
• Age of the pet: 6 years
• Guide: How to fly with dog

I’d always had Paris on my bucket list, and when the chance finally came, there was no way I was leaving my sidekick Rocky behind. He’s a 6-year-old Miniature Schnauzer — about 11 pounds (5 kg) of beard, sass, and attitude. At first, the idea of flying from the U.S. to Europe with a dog felt a bit daunting, but with the right prep, it turned out to be completely doable. First step was getting his paperwork in order for the EU — that meant a trip to a USDA-accredited vet for his microchip verification, rabies vaccine (over 21 days old), and the official EU Animal Health Certificate. The certificate had to be endorsed by the USDA office — yes, that meant FedEx-ing it overnight. Nerve-wracking, but it came back in time.

We flew Air France – pet-friendly European airline – out of DFW. They let small dogs travel in-cabin if the carrier fits under the seat, so I splurged on a Sherpa Deluxe bag — Rocky could stand up, turn around, and nap comfortably. At check-in, the agent weighed him in the bag (just under 8 kg — phew!) and checked the paperwork.

The flight itself? ocky was a total champ. Before heading to the airport, I took him for an extra-long walk and made sure he had a potty break at DFW’s pet relief area right before boarding. I skipped his breakfast so he’d be less restless, and only gave him small sips of water. I also tucked a pee pad into his Sherpa bag just in case, but he didn’t need it. About halfway over the Atlantic, he curled up and slept through most of the flight — pretty sure the hum of the engines worked better than any white noise machine.

Landing in Paris CDG was surprisingly smooth. Passport control didn’t even bat an eye once they saw his paperwork. My one big tip? Know where the pet relief areas are ahead of time — CDG has one in Terminal 2E, but it’s outdoors, so be ready for a quick trek after you land.

We spent the next two weeks wandering Parisian streets, hanging out at dog-friendly cafés, and even took a day trip to Versailles. Rocky got more attention than I did — apparently a Mini Schnauzer in a bow tie is irresistible in France.

If you’re thinking of doing it — go for it. Just start the paperwork early, invest in a good carrier, and research your arrival airport. Oh, and yes… pack extra poop bags for Paris strolling 🙂

🐾 — All about pet travel to and from USA — ✈️

Big thanks to Rachel for letting us share her adventure! And if you got a travel story of your own, you can send it in right here.

About the trip

• From: Vienna, Austria
• To: Funchal, Madeira (via Lisbon)
• Pet: Dog, Miniature Dachshund
• Age: 2 years
• Airline: TAP Air Portugal
• Guide: How to fly with a dog

Travelling with Lilo, my tiny miniature dachshund, is always a small adventure — and this winter we decided to escape Vienna’s cold and fly to Madeira. It was actually our first flight with a layover, so I tried to plan every detail to keep her comfortable.

Preparation before the flight

Lilo is only 4 kg, so she easily meets the in-cabin limit. A week before the trip, I checked her EU Pet Passport, microchip, and rabies vaccine as I read on the petabroad.eu and got confirmation from TAP that she is added to the booking.

At home we spent a few evenings practising with the carrier. I left it open with her blanket inside, and she naturally started napping in it — the best sign she’d feel safe on board.

Departure from Vienna

Vienna Airport is very easy ti navigate with pets. Check-in took extra time because they weighed the carrier and looked over her documents, but everything was smooth. Before heading through security, I walked her outside one last time — there’s a small grassy patch outside Terminal 3 that works well enough.

Security itself was easy: carrier through the scanner, dog in arms, and off we went.

Layover in Lisbon

As oyu can imagine this was the part I was most worried about. Lisbon Airport is quite busy and doesn’t have a marked pet relief area in the departures zone, so I knew I couldn’t count on an official area there.

When we arrived, I asked one of the TAP staff if there was any place to take a dog outside during a layover. The answer was basically: only if you leave the secure area and then go through security again, which we didn’t have time for.

So instead, we found a quiet corner near the far end of the terminal where Lilo could relax in her carrier with the top unzipped. We took a short break, gave her some water, and let her stretch inside the carrier — not ideal, but it worked well enough for a 90-minute connection.

Flight to Madeira

The second flight was short and easy. Lilo curled up immediately and slept the entire way. At this point she was far calmer than I was.

Arrival & island life

Madeira instantly felt different — warm air, ocean breeze, and relaxed energy. Once at our apartment, Lilo perked up the moment she saw the balcony. She spent the first ten minutes staring at the waves like she’d discovered another planet.

Madeira is very dog-friendly. We walked along the promenade in Funchal, explored a few coastal paths, and even took her to a quiet beach there. The only challenge? Hills. A LOT of hills. Her tiny dachshund legs worked overtime.

Going home

On the return trip, she behaved like a seasoned traveller — into the carrier, curled up, and completely calm. The whole journey back to Vienna felt much easier because we both knew what to expect.

Thank you, Maja, for sharing your adventure with us and we wish you safe flight on the way home! 🙂

Be part of petabroad.eu and share your own story with us! You can find more information here.

About the trip

• From: Helsinki, Finland
• To: Valletta, Malta
• Pet: Dog, Chihuahua
• Age of the pet: 8 years
• Airline: Finnair
• Guide: How to fly with dog

Traveling with a dog is always a bit of an adventure – but sometimes, it’s a comedy.

I recently flew from Helsinki to Malta with my little chihuahua, and while the flight itself was smooth (shoutout to Finnair for a calm 4-hour ride), the real “highlight” came after we landed.

If you’re flying to Malta with a dog, be aware: you need to declare your pet on arrival, and an official will check your travel documents at the airport. Simple, right?

Well, welcome to island time. We were told someone would meet us for the inspection, but the officer was… let’s say, taking his time. Eventually, someone casually waved us into the customs office to wait. It was a small, official-looking room – and since we’d been traveling for hours, I figured my pup could finally stretch her legs.

Big mistake. My chihuahua marched into that office and promptly peed all over the floor. Right there in the middle of Maltese customs. TBH I just stood there, horrified, while she looked very pleased with herself. Not a great first impression. Luckily, the official eventually showed up – very relaxed, completely unbothered by the situation with the Maltese word “MELA!” coming out of his mouth. He checked our documents, and let us go.

On the way out of the office I met a cleaning lady who I asked to go to the office, that there was an accident. 😉

Thank you, Emma, for sharing your story and big life lessons when it comes to travelling with pets!

So if you are also planning to fly to Malta, we recommend that you arrange a veterinary check at the airport in advance – this can be done online or over the phone. Upon arrival, you will head to the office where they will check your documents – normally it should not take more than 5-10 minutes, but it is an extra hustle when flying to Malta.

🐾 — Tapeworm treatment requirements for Malta —

Have a travel story with your dog you’d like to share? We’d love to hear it! Tell us about your journey and help inspire other pet travellers. 💌

About the trip

• From: Paris, France
• To: Venice, Italy
• Pet: Dog, Bichon Frisé
• Age of the pet: 5 months
• Airline: Air France
• Guide: How to fly with dog

I took my Bichon puppy on a flight from Paris to Venice when he was just five months old. I thought it would be an easy trip – but of course, it didn’t quite go that way.

Me and my boyfriend were sitting in the last row of the plane and at first all was actually fine: check-in went smoothly, the carrier nicely fit under the seat and puppy seemed calm enough. I started to relax a little. Then I heard some scratching.

By the time I looked down, he had already chewed a hole in the side of the soft bag. Not a tiny one either – big enough for him to think about crawling out. From that moment until landing, I had one hand stuck on the side of the carrier, covering the “escape door” he made.

The steward noticed and came over. Luckily, he turned out to be a dog person himself. Instead of making me feel worse, he laughed and said his own dogs had done plenty of damage at home too. That small bit of kindness really helped in the moment.

We landed safely in Venice, with the puppy still inside the bag, and me with a clear lesson: never trust a young pup not to test the strength of a carrier.

Thank you, Bella, for sharing your story with us as it shows you never know what kind of often funny surprise awaits you when travelling with pets. 🙂

You can check our recommended soft bag carriers here – but of course, we cannot guarantee your puppy won’t chew a hole in one!

Have a travel story with your dog you’d like to share? We’d love to hear it! Tell us about your journey and help inspire other pet travellers. 💌