Everything you need
to fly together.

Yes, and it's more achievable than most people fear. The cabin limit is usually 8kg for your dog and carrier combined, and that combined part is the catch: most carriers weigh a kilo or more on their own, so in practice your dog wants to be around 7kg. Weigh your dog ahead of your first trip on proper scales at a pet shop or your vet, rather than guessing at home. Choose a soft, mesh-sided carrier, and if your dog is on the heavier side, many have removable inner linings that free up room and weight. The weight only matters at one moment: check-in, where your dog is weighed sitting inside the carrier (and the combined figure often reads a touch heavier than the simple sum). So keep the bag light for the weigh-in, then add your fan, water bowl, treats and blanket once you're through. Larger dogs travel in the hold on some airlines, or you take a ferry or road route instead.

About nine times out of ten, yes. In our experience your dog and the carrier go on the scale together at check-in, and the only times they haven't are when the staff were distracted saying hello to Daisy. The calmest route by far is business class, where check-in is quick and relaxed. Know your dog's weight, know what your carrier weighs, and travel with a compliant carrier either way.

In Europe the in-flight perks of business are small, but for travelling with a dog it's the single best decision you can make. There's little or no queue, so check-in is twenty minutes at most, even when the agent has never processed a dog before and has to find the form you sign (confirming your dog will behave and stay in the carrier). You get fast-track security and priority boarding, your handbag goes in the overhead because the dog doesn't count as your cabin bag, and you have the space so you and your dog aren't crammed against a stranger. It quietly removes nearly every stress point of the day. If business isn't possible, book a premium seat near the front instead.

KLM first, then Air France. They've welcomed dogs the longest and it shows: if there's space on the aircraft they will actively give you an extra seat, and they'll do their utmost to make it work. We were once given an entire row to ourselves. Yes, KLM often means routing through Amsterdam and an extra leg, but it's worth it, especially with a heavier dog. Some airlines are harder work (our Swiss review explains exactly why), and occasionally a single staff member on a power trip can make life difficult, which is another reason we lean on business class and on the airlines that have truly seen it all.

This is the part you cannot skip. Train your dog to genuinely love the carrier, weeks or months ahead, not the night before. Daisy was a complete lunatic at first, biting the bag and losing her mind. We practised every single day, fed her meals inside it, kept it by the desk, and turned it into the most normal object in her world. On travel days we also use Sileo, a vet-prescribed calming gel that takes the edge off the stress without sedating her. You cannot simply put an untrained dog in a bag and expect calm.

A soft, airline-approved, mesh-sided carrier that fits under the seat in front of you, within your airline's stated dimensions. The mesh keeps your dog cool and visible, and for a heavier dog look for one with removable inner linings so you can reclaim a little space and weight. Our carrier guide covers exactly which bags suit which airline.

In most airlines the dog travels at the window, and you're never permitted in the first row or beside the emergency exit. Occasionally an aisle is possible, but window is the norm. Pack a small clip-on electric fan, because the cabin floor where your dog sits gets surprisingly hot. And board last, every time: there's no benefit to extra minutes crammed into your seat.

Officially no, the dog stays in the carrier for the whole flight, and you sign to confirm it. Plan for exactly that, because more often than not it's how it goes. In all our flights, only once were we actually told Daisy could come out; usually the crew are simply happy to see her, while stricter airlines will come over and remind you of the rules. What we sometimes do is sit with the bag unzipped at our side, since Daisy is calmer when it's open, but that isn't the same as having her out. You'll see people online lift their dogs out, almost always timed discreetly when the crew aren't looking. We wouldn't tell you to count on it. Slip a hand inside to reassure them and plan for the carrier.

Take-off and landing themselves are fine, but don't expect your dog to sleep through them. Some do, most won't, so know your own dog. The noisier moment is the preparation on the ground, with all the clanks and beeps of the aircraft getting ready, so slip your hand into the carrier and keep your voice low and steady. By this point Daisy has had her Sileo, so she's calm and settled. The one thing to watch for is landing: a dog's ears pop, just like ours. You'll often see them suddenly look alert out of nowhere, and that's your cue to slip a hand in and gently massage their ears until it passes.

Within the EU, a pet passport with a microchip and an up-to-date rabies vaccination. Some destinations, including Ireland, Malta, Norway and Finland, also require a tapeworm (worming) treatment given by a vet within a set window before you travel, and you may be checked on arrival. Rules vary by country and route, so confirm the exact requirements with your vet well ahead of your date.

Let your dog walk and explore the airport rather than living in the bag. At security with the newer scanners you'll usually put your dog on a lead and collar so they can be held while you complete the full check. (Daisy once bolted toward a crowd she wanted to greet, so keep a firm hold.) It's much like going through with a small child. In the lounge your dog may need to be in the carrier, but open, not zipped shut.

Give your dog a really good long walk first, then head straight to the airport. Let them pee, check in, let them pee again, and only then go through to the lounge. Arrive earlier than usual so pet check-in and paperwork stay calm. Onboard, a collapsible water bowl is all you need: offer small sips, a few long-lasting treats, and feed only lightly beforehand.

Yes, you absolutely can. There's no rule stopping you. The real risk isn't permission, it's a tight connection, which is how flights get missed. Within the Schengen zone it's usually easy, and your onward gate can be right where you landed. But connecting out of Dublin or the UK means a passport recheck and a walk to a different part of the airport, which is stressful on a short clock. Give yourself plenty of time and never book a tight connection unless you're genuinely willing to risk it. It's one more reason we favour KLM through Amsterdam: there are so many onward flights that if you do miss one, you're simply put on the next. On an airline that runs the route only once a day, a missed connection is a real problem, so don't gamble on a short one.

A clip-on electric fan above all, because the cabin floor gets hot. Then a collapsible water bowl, long-lasting treats, your dog's food, and a calming gel you've already tested at home (we use Sileo, prescribed by our vet). And if you can, pee-pad train your dog: if a flight is delayed, Daisy will use her pad without a second thought, which removes one more worry entirely.