Today’s story comes from Maja, who sent us a lovely, honest look at her trip from Vienna to Madeira with her little dachshund Lilo. She shared the journey in simple, clear steps — from getting ready at home to navigating the layover — and it’s a perfect example of how real dog travel looks. Enjoy their island adventure.
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! 🙂
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