FAQs Animals

Depending on the Airline, dogs and cats up to a maximum weight of 6 kilos can be transported in the passenger cabin in an appropriate container. Some animal species however, such as birds or rodents, will not be accepted by most Airlines as travel companions in the cabin. These animals must be transported in the cargo compartment.

Please be aware that the maximum weight and dimension limits of the respective Airline must not be exceeded. Depending on the aircraft type, some of the large transport boxes can eventually not be loaded.

Please contact your Airline early enough regarding these issues.

If your animal must be transported in the cargo compartment of the aircraft, rigid wooden or plastic boxes are mandatory for loading; water bowls and absorbent material must be inside. The transport box must be well-ventilated, escape and leak-proof. Your animal should have enough room to move and stand up inside it.

To ensure a smooth and easy flight for your pet, you should let the animal get used to the transport container, so go and buy the transport crate in advance.

For emergencies, transport boxes are available for sale at the Airport. You can find FGS in Terminal 1, Arrival hall B, baggage belt 11). Please call them early enough: +49 69 690 51211

Business Hours

NOTE ! Office hours vary during Covid-19 pandemic. Monday – Sunday 06:00 to 22:00

Reduced business hours from December 24-26 and December 31 to January 1. Please call and ask for actual business hours.

Travelling to and from EU Member States

To facilitate traveling with pets to holiday destinations or elsewhere, the EU regulation requires a standardized EU Pet Passport for each animals since 2004. You can obtain this document from any veterinary practitioner who is been authorized by the Veterinary Health Authority to issue such a document. It contains information on your pet’s health status and a rabies vaccination record.

Travelling to third countries or returning to an EU Member State

Depending on your destination and duration of your travel, it might be necessary to present additional documents for the return flight, i.e. a rabies antibody titer test.

Plan your travel with your pet early enough, so that required tests can be done at your trusted veterinary practitioner’s office.

Further information regarding the EU Pet Passport and the EU regulations can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, www.bmelv.de/en  

All animals travelling as excess baggage (checked in at the Airline’s counter) are labelled with a baggage tag. Upon arrival in Frankfurt, these animals can be picked up in the same arrival terminal as you pick up your bags. The delivery point for animals in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 is the bulky baggage counter. The Customs officials will check the documents and the microchip of your animals at the customs exit.

Animals travelling alone as Cargo shipment (eventually involving a cargo forwarding agent) are transported under an Air Waybill (11-digit number, i.e. 123-1234 5670) and have to be picked up at the Animal Lounge (Building 463, access via Gate 26).

Depending on the involved Airline, you might have to get to the airline’s cargo office first to pick up the freight documents before you can pick up your animals at the Animal Lounge. Please be aware that costs occur and you need time.

Contact

Veterinary Service at the Airport

Veterinary Border Inspection Office of the State of
Hesse

Phone:            +49 (0) 69 696 46041

E-mail:            poststelle.tgsh@lhl.hessen.de

Animal Welfare Office of Fraport AG

Phone: +49 (0) 69 690 74331 and +49 69 690 21366

E-mail: avi-services@fraport.de

Please note that the Dog Hotel is not available for animals in transit through Frankfurt Airport. During transit times of more than 3 hours, our Ground Handling staff will bring your pet to the Animal Lounge – and back to your connecting flight. During transit times under 3 hours your pet will be kept in a safe and quiet facility under supervision.

More information about our dog hotel directly at Frankfurt Airport will be available soon.

Size of the transport box

Each animal in the container must have enough space to turn about normally while standing, to stand, to sit erect, and to lie in a natural position. Some Airlines have stricter criteria when transporting snub nosed dogs or cats. Approach your Airline regarding this.

Material of the transport box

The transport box must be sturdy and safe to ensure that the animal cannot escape. Most transport boxes are made of non-toxic plastic material or wood. Wicker baskets, cardboard boxes or wire mesh cages are not permitted.

Some Airlines have special provisions when transporting certain dog breeds. Approach your Airline regarding this.

Furnishing of the transport box

Absorbent material, this could be absorbent mats, old towels from home, old t-shirts or even newspaper. That smells like home and helps to calm down the animal.

Food and water container made of harmless, non-toxic material and they must be safely fastened on the door so they can be filled from the outside. Water bottles or similar dispensers are not permitted as the single source of water.

Check the inside of the transport box for any sharp edges or projections (nails) upon which the animals can injure itself.

If a container has wheels, they must be removed; keep them in your luggage.

Ventilation of the transport box

The container must be adequately ventilated on at least three sides. Ensure that the ventilation openings are small enough to prevent any part of the animal protruding (paws). Eventually cover the ventilation openings with mesh.

Leash, harness or spiked collars

The leash must not be inside the transport box, keep it in your hand luggage. A leash or harness can lead to possible strangulation of the animal inside the transport box. Regular fitted collars are allowed, however some Airlines do not even tolerate them. Spiked collars are not permitted. 

Use of sedatives

There is considerable risk in sedating animals transported by air and according to EU law this is only permitted under veterinary supervision. This can have fatal consequences. Do not use sedatives, a slow paced crate training and familiar smells (i.e. old towels as absorbent material) can reduce anxiety.

Other medication

If your animals requires regular medication (i.e. diabetes, thyroid problems, epileptic seizures), put a note on the transport box.

Generic name of the drug/medication

Dose and method of administration

Time of the last administration

Time of the next planned administration