In a ruling from October 2025, the European Court of Justice confirmed that if your pet is flying in the cargo hold, airlines can legally treat them like checked luggage.
The case that started it all
The ruling came after a dog named Mona was lost during a flight from Buenos Aires to Barcelona. Her owner had booked her as cargo with Iberia. Somewhere along the way, Mona disappeared. Gone. The owner filed a claim for €5,000—not just for the loss itself, but for the emotional damage.
The case went all the way to the EU’s top court.
Their verdict?
Unless you specifically declare your pet’s value when checking them in, they fall under the same legal rules as baggage. No special protection. No higher compensation.
What the court actually said
The court looked at the Montreal Convention, which regulates airline liability. It doesn’t mention pets at all. So the judges decided: if an airline carries your dog in the hold, and something happens, it’s the same as if a suitcase got lost.
Unless you’ve made a special declaration of value, your compensation is limited—usually around €1,500 to €1,800.
So legally speaking, your dog could be worth less than a laptop.
🐾 — Other news from 10/2025 about IATA initiative — ✈️
What this means if you’re flying with a dog
If your dog is travelling in the cabin with you, this likely doesn’t apply.
But if they’re going into the hold, which is the case for medium or large dogs, this decision matters a lot.
Here’s what you can do:
- Check with your airline, if you can declare the value of your pet when booking. Most people don’t know this is even an option.
- Get insurance: Some travel pet insurance plans offer better protection than airlines. We’re currently reviewing the best ones in Europe.
- Read the fine print: Becasue every airline has its own pet policy, you should not assume that they’ll treat your dog the same way others do.
- Choose airlines carefully: Some carriers handle animals with more care. Others treat it like another logistics problem. You know which one to avoid.
No, your dog isn’t “just luggage”. But the law says otherwise.
Let’s be clear. No one who flies with a pet thinks of them as luggage. They’re family.
But the law doesn’t always match how we live.
This court decision doesn’t mean airlines will suddenly be careless. But it does mean that if something goes wrong, you can’t count on the legal system to have your back.
What now?
Airline rules probably won’t change overnight. But this ruling sets a clear precedent: pets in cargo = baggage, legally.
So next time you fly, do not just ask how much it costs to bring your dog with you but also ask what happens if something goes wrong.
Because after this ruling, it’s on you to make sure your pet is properly protected.