Airline pet carrier: accepted cabin dimensions by airline
There is no universal "airline size". Each airline sets its own limit for your cat's or small dog's bag in the cabin, and the differences are significant: a few centimetres of height are enough for a bag accepted by one airline to be refused by another. We collected the rules from each airline's official pages on 16 October 2026. Here is what they say, and how to choose a bag accordingly.
The airlines flying from France at a glance
Maximum bag dimensions, maximum weight including the animal and the bag, and the one-way price as shown by the airline on the day we checked:
| Airline | Maximum bag | Maximum weight | Price (one way) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air France | 46 × 28 × 24 cm, soft only | 8 kg | €70 within France, €125 Europe and North Africa |
| KLM | 46 × 28 × 24 cm | 8 kg | €70 to €500 depending on the route |
| Transavia | 40 × 30 × 24 cm, soft | 8 kg | €60 to €180 depending on the destination |
| Vueling | 45 × 39 × 21 cm, non-rigid | 10 kg | €50 domestic, €60 international (online) |
| Volotea | 50 × 40 × 20 cm, soft | 10 kg | from €39.99 |
| Iberia | 45 × 35 × 25 cm (sum ≤ 105 cm) | 8 kg | €60 Europe (online) |
| Lufthansa | 55 × 40 × 23 cm, soft, no wheels | 8 kg | depends on the route |
| SWISS | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | 8 kg | calculator on the website |
| Brussels Airlines | 55 × 40 × 23 cm, no rigid frame | 8 kg | €80 to €100 in Europe |
| ITA Airways | 55 × 40 × 23 cm, soft | 8 kg (12 kg within Italy) | €95 Europe |
| TAP Air Portugal | 45 × 30 × 23 cm, soft | 8 kg | from €70 Europe (low season, online) |
| Air Corsica | 115 cm, rigid crates not allowed | 8 kg | €20 within France, €30 Orly and Roissy |
| Corsair | 115 cm in total, soft | 8 kg | €75 French Antilles, Réunion, Mayotte |
| Air Caraïbes | 43 × 35 × 20 cm, soft | 8 kg transatlantic, 5 kg regional | €75 transatlantic |
| French bee | 43 × 35 × 20 cm, soft | 8 kg | €75 |
| Royal Air Maroc | 55 × 40 × 20 cm, "solid" container | 8 kg | €70 to Europe and the Maghreb |
| Air Algérie | 115 cm (55 + 40 + 20) | 6 kg | excess baggage rate |
| easyJet | pets not accepted (assistance dogs only) | ||
| Ryanair | pets not accepted (guide and assistance dogs only) | ||
Two notes on this table. At Transavia, two official pages disagree (the conditions page mentions €50 and accepts a cage): we used the more detailed help page. And prices change: always check your airline's page when you book.
What applies everywhere
- The weight includes the bag. 8 kg at most airlines, 10 kg at Vueling and Volotea, 6 kg at Air Algérie. A 1 kg bag therefore leaves 7 kg for the animal under the usual limit.
- Soft is the rule in Europe. Air France, Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, TAP and most others require it, because the bag must fit under the seat in front. Royal Air Maroc is the exception and asks for a "solid" container.
- The animal's place must be booked. The number of animals per flight is limited. Air France and KLM require it at least 48 hours before departure, Lufthansa and SWISS at least 72 hours before.
- A minimum age often applies: 15 weeks at Air France (8 weeks on flights within mainland France), KLM and Transavia; 8 weeks at Volotea, Air Caraïbes and French bee.
"IATA-approved": what it really means
Many bags are sold as "IATA-approved". That is misleading. IATA, the International Air Transport Association, states in its own standards that it does not certify, approve or sell any pet container. There is therefore no such thing as an "IATA-approved" bag.
What does exist is a set of criteria in its Live Animals Regulations: for the cabin, the structure may be soft, but the bag must be ventilated (at least 16% of the surface of the four sides, according to IATA's guidance for passengers), escape-proof and leak-proof, and allow the animal to stand, turn around and lie down. It is the check-in agent who decides whether your bag is acceptable. When Vueling or Volotea write "approved", they mean their own requirement, not a label. Our guide flying with your dog covers these criteria in detail.
How to choose a bag for your airline
Take your airline's three dimensions and compare them one by one with the bag's: the longest with the longest, and so on. It is almost always the height that fails: 20 cm at Volotea, Air Caraïbes and French bee, 21 cm at Vueling, 23 or 24 cm elsewhere. A soft bag compresses a little, but the agent measures the bag as it is, with your animal inside.
Then check that your animal really fits. Our guide which carrier size to choose explains how to measure it.
Our cabin bags, airline by airline
We prefer to be precise rather than write "accepted by all airlines", which would be false:
- The airline carrier for cats and its version for dogs measure 43 × 25 × 23 cm. They stay within the limits of Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, SWISS, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, Iberia and TAP.
- The expandable cabin bag for cats in size S measures 40 × 25 × 25 cm: it meets Iberia's limit, but its 25 cm height exceeds the 23 to 24 cm of most other airlines.
- None of our current bags fits the limits of Transavia (40 cm long at most) or of Vueling, Volotea, Air Caraïbes and French bee (20 to 21 cm high). If you fly with them, look for a bag matching their exact dimensions.
All our models designed for air travel are in the air travel collection, and our guide flying with your cat covers how to prepare the trip.
Frequently asked questions
Which bag size is accepted by the most airlines?
There is no single one. A 43 × 25 × 23 cm bag fits at most major European airlines, but not at those that limit height to 20 or 21 cm.
Does the 8 kg include the bag?
Yes. At every airline in the table, the limit covers the animal and its bag together.
Do easyJet and Ryanair accept cats and dogs?
No. Both airlines only accept assistance dogs.
Is an "IATA-approved" bag guaranteed to be accepted?
No. IATA does not certify any bag; the airline sets its rules and the check-in agent inspects your bag.
Sources: official airline pages (Air France, KLM, Transavia, Volotea, Lufthansa…) and IATA documents (container requirements, cabin guidance), accessed on 16 October 2026.
