Dec 25, 2024
Flying with a dog, cat or any other pet can be a confusing and stressful experience, especially if it’s your first time flying with them. If you are planning to fly your pets with EL AL, Israel’s national airline, it is important that you know EL AL’s pet policy.
EL AL airlines do their best to make the flying experience for your pets enjoyable, relaxed and less challenging.
EL AL airlines is considered, by many, to be a pet-friendly airline. Because of this, we decided to prepare for you the complete guide for flying pets with EL AL! – From our experience, this is an airline you could trust!
This comprehensive guide will guide you through everything you need to know about flying animals with EL AL airlines: from their policy for flying pets and the involved costs.
EL AL allows pets to fly in-cabin. However, the following should be considered:
Below are the maximum dimensions allowed for crates/carriers in-cabin:
You can use a soft flight carrier (bag) or a hard flight crate.
From our experience, you probably won’t find a rigid flight crate with the necessary dimensions. Therefore, we recommend you look for a soft carrier. If you decide to use a soft carrier, you can exceed, up to 4 cm, from all the measurements we mentioned above.
Pets2Fly has a wide variety of flight carriers/bags, suitable for flying dogs and cats in-cabin (passenger compartment).
Our flight carriers have been carefully selected to meet the regulations set by IATA (International Air Transport Association).
Below are the dimensions of one of our most popular flight carriers:
Here’s a link for further information: Flight carrier for EL AL
EL AL allows animals to fly in the belly of the plane as checked baggage. However, the following should be considered:
In addition, we recommend that you review the following file: Click here!
What is registered cargo?
When flying pets as registered cargo, it is done using an airway bill (bill of landing). In practice, you will have to deliver your pet at the cargo facility (the cargo terminal) in the country of origin and you will have to “release” your pet at the cargo terminal at the destination country.
When a pet is flying as registered cargo, the pet’s flight ticket (airway bill) is not linked to the owner’s flight ticket. In other words, your pet will fly “unaccompanied”, even if you are actually on the same flight.
If you want or need to fly your pet as cargo, keep in mind that:
In which cases should an animal fly as registered cargo with EL AL?
There are several cases, here are some of them:
Following the unfortunate case of a French bulldog that died on one of EL AL’s planes (from our knowledge, this wasn’t EL AL’s fault), EL AL decided to change their regulations. From this point forward, snub-nosed (brachycephalic) dogs and cats can’t fly as baggage or as cargo with EL AL.
We think this issue is less significant for cat owners, since cats are usually small enough to fly in cabin.
Below is a short list of snub-nosed dogs that can’t fly in the belly of EL AL’s planes:
For further information regarding transporting snub-nosed dogs/cats, we recommend you check out the following article: Flying a snub-nosed dog
This, truthfully, isn’t clear to us, but EL AL decided that they will no longer transport “dangerous” dogs, as defined in the Israeli law.
Unlike snub-nosed dogs, dangerous dogs aren’t allowed to fly in EL AL’s cabins, even if they are considered service or emotional support dogs. In other words, if your dog is on the “dangerous” dog list, you won’t be able to fly them with EL AL.
The following breeds are considered “dangerous” in Israel and therefore, can’t fly with EL AL:
For further information regarding transporting dangerous dog breeds, we recommend you check out the following article: Flying a dangerous dog
EL AL, like all other airlines in the world, charges a fee for flying dogs and cats.
What price are you going to pay EL AL to fly your pet? Well, the fee for flying pets in-cabin or as checked baggage is based on the total weight (pet + flight crate).
Below are the costs for flying dogs and cats with EL AL:
To Europe and the Middle East:
To North America and the Far East:
Please note that the weight also includes the weight of the flight crate/carrier.
Payment is done at the check-in counter, on the day of the flight, after weighing the animal and the flight crate/carrier.
If you wish to know the cost for sending your pet as registered cargo with EL AL, you’ll have to contact their cargo department (EL AL cargo) or you may contact us for a quote.
A service dog is a dog that accompanies a passenger with special needs and/or a dog that accompanies an IDF soldier/combat victim suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
EL AL no longer allows emotional support dogs to fly in their aircraft cabins.
In order to fly a service dog in EL AL’s cabins, the passenger (the owner of the dog) must present an official document proving that the dog has been trained in one of the organizations authorized to train service dogs. In addition, the passenger must provide a certificate from a veterinarian stating that the dog is able to restrain itself throughout the flight.
Note: We can’t make your dog a service dog! We can’t help you with this.
My pet can’t fit in the flight carriers that are allowed in EL AL’s cabin. Can I bring my pet with a bigger flight carrier?
Unfortunately, pets that don’t meet the size and weight requirements for flying in the passenger cabin must be transported in the hold (as checked baggage or registered cargo). We highly recommend pet owners to follow the airline’s guidelines/restrictions.
How do you book a flight ticket for a dog or cat?
In order to order a flight ticket for your dog or cat, you will need to contact EL AL’s customer service by phone.
It isn’t possible to book a pet’s ticket through EL AL’s website!
Are there temperature restrictions for pets traveling in the hold of EL AL aircrafts?
EL AL takes the well-being of pets seriously and because of this, EL AL may impose temperature restrictions on pets flying in the hold. In cases of extreme temperatures, the airline may refuse to transport pets to ensure their safety.
How far in advance should I book my pet’s flight ticket?
It is important to book your pet’s flight ticket as early as possible, since the space for pets on EL AL flights is limited.
We recommend pet owners contact EL AL’s customer service well in advance to ensure availability.
Is it possible to fly a rabbit in EL AL’s cabin?
EL AL only allows dogs, cats and exotic birds to accompany their owners in the passenger cabin. That is, if you have a rabbit, unfortunately, you won’t be able to fly it with you in the passenger cabin.
If you own a rabbit, you probably should take this into account as sending a rabbit in the hold of a plane is considered risky!
Are EL AL’s planes temperature controlled? Do they heat the belly of the planes?
To the best of our knowledge, only some of EL AL’s planes have heating in the belly.
However, it is important for us to emphasize that EL AL takes many steps to ensure the well-being of all the animals that fly with them, even if they fly on planes that are not equipped with heated cargo areas.
From our knowledge, below are the temperatures in the hold of EL AL planes:
737 planes:
787 planes:
We recommend pet owners always check with EL AL’s customer service, in order to get the most recent information regarding these or other limitations.
EL AL recognizes the importance of your pets in your life, and treats them not only as baggage/cargo, but as “special passengers”.
EL AL’s pet-friendly policy allows your four-legged friends to fly safely and comfortably, whether in the passenger cabin with you or, in the hold as checked baggage or registered cargo.
Safety is EL AL’s top priority, and their dedicated staff has undergone special pet care training. They follow strict IATA (International Air Transport Association) guidelines to ensure that every pet’s flight goes smoothly!
In conclusion, flying with pets requires an airline that combines safety and comfort, and EL AL ticks all those boxes. Their commitment to providing a pet-friendly flight experience makes them a great choice for pet owners.
When it’s time to fly with your pets, choose EL AL and fly with confidence, knowing that your beloved friend is in good hands!
We would love to hear from you!