Pets

As of 16th January 2023 customers are required to pre-book pet in the hold (AVIH) latest 1 week before the departure.

Please note that there might be country specific restrictions regarding embargos and document requirements, so kindly always check additional information on Finnair.com and consult the authorities of the country of departure and destination already before booking flight. 

Finnair allows transportation of small pet animals both in cabin (as PETC) and in hold (as AVIH). A pet can only be transported in the cabin or cargo hold if following conditions are met:

1. The customer is travelling on the same flight (animals travelling alone can only be sent by air cargo)
2. The flight is operated by Finnair or Norra (in most cases must also be marketed by AY)
3. There is space available on the flight.
4. There are no destination specific restrictions
5. The animal is at least 8 weeks old (must be weaned off its mother and able to eat on its own)
6. All the necessary documents required for transport are ok.
7. No go-show PETC or AVIH shall be accepted without a prior confirmation from Finnair.

ANIMALS ACCEPTED AS PETC/AVIH	ANIMALS ACCEPTED ONLY AS CARGO (UNDER AIR WAYBILL)
cats	aquatics
dogs	birds
pet rabbits	snakes
tortoises	lizards
hedgehogs	insects
ferrets only as AVIH	rodents (mice, rats, hamster, guinea pigs etc.)

Note 1: Any kind of test animals are never accepted as baggage but must always be sent as cargo.
Note 2: AVIH is not accepted as cargo under air waybill on Finnair's domestic flights.

Information about the animal must always be marked in the PNR as SR PETC or SR AVIH with additional information about the size and weight of the container.

SR AVIH AY NN1-1 DOG IN HARD BOX 50KG DIM 122X81X89CM/S3/P1

SR PETC AY NN1-1 CAT 5KGS DIM 30X30X20CM IN HARD BOX/S3/P1

For itineraries to/via Sweden, Norway, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Thailand and the U.S. you need to check with the customer that the documents required for the animal are ok. SR AVIH or SR PETC can't be confirmed without this information. Please insert the information to the PNR: OS AY DOCUMENTS OK.

The validity of documents is always on customer's responsibility.

Pets are never included in the free baggage allowance. Fares are available in GDS and at Finnair.com.

Travel agencies can charge the fee with EMD-A:

1. Create the SSR element
2. Price with FXG
3. Add form of payment TMI/M1/FP-VI4012XXXXXXXXXXXX/1217*CV123
4. Issue EMD: TTM/M1/RT (Only EMD allowed).

Please note:

• The ticket needs to be issued before or at the same time as the EMD-A, so that the EMD-A will get associated with the ticket.
• These services are all quota based, and they will be confirmed upon availability.
• EMD-A issuance is not possible before SSR has been confirmed. EMD creation is only possible from SSR element (not from SVC).
• EMDs are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. However, EMDs can be voided during the issuance day until the sales report has closed.

 

Animal in hold (AVIH):

An acceptable transportation box for AVIH must meet IATA requirements and shall be of hard plastic or wood (show cages, metal surfaces or chicken wire not allowed).  If the container has wheels, they must be removed or rendered inoperable for the transportation.

The box must be large enough for the animal to lie down, stand with its head upright and turn in the box. If the container is found to be too small, a new larger container needs to be obtained by the passenger before the animal is allowed to continue its journey. This results in delays and extra costs. 

The container must be strong enough so that the pet cannot escape during the journey. The container must also be durable with leak proof bottom and holes for feeding and ventilation.

The maximum weight for the animal and box together is 75kg on Finnair operated flights and 50kg on Norra operated flights (ATR/E90). The maximum dimensions of the transportation box (length x width x height cm) depend on the aircraft type, please see details further below.

Direct transfer of AVIH is not possible at Helsinki airport. Transfer time must be at least 3 hours as AVIH must be taken out in Helsinki and checked in again for the connecting flight. All travel documents must be valid to enter Helsinki.

Direct interline between AY + other airline is not allowed and will not be confirmed.

Maximum dimensions for AVIH per aircraft type:

	A330/A350	A321-319	E90	AT7
Maximum dimensions	122x81x89	122x81x89	101x68x76	81x57x53

Maximum dimensions for AVIH in ATR:  81x57x53

 

Pet in cabin (PETC) 

PETC is confirmed automatically according to quota (2 PETC per flight, also on ATR). Flights must be both marketed and operated by AY. Maximum quota for PETC cannot be exceeded and no exceptions will be made. 
Exceptions to automatic confirmation: India (DEL) and Egypt have been left outside the automation, so all requests will be handled manually. Also requests for short haul business are handled manually according to quota. 

The combined weight of the transportation bag/box and animal is max 8 kg (17.64 pounds). Only one PETC-container per passenger is allowed.

• Maximum dimensions for soft bags on Finnair operated flights: 55 x 40 x 23 cm, weight 8 kg. 
• Maximum dimensions for soft bags on Norra operated flights:  55 x 40 x 20 cm, weight 8 kg. 
• Maximum dimensions of hard containers on Finnair/Norra operated flights: 35 x 30 x 20 cm, weight 8 kg.

The bag must be solid with no hole for the head to stick out and there must a breathable mesh in the front. A pet must be kept in its container at all times and the container shall strictly not be opened at all when onboard. An IATA-approved soft bag that has been designed for transportation of small dogs, cats and pet rabbits is recommended and they are available at most pet shops. Other types of soft bags may not be used for PETC transportation.

A maximum of two adult animals of comparable size may travel in the same pet carrier (total weight max 8 kg). Animals up to six months old from the same litter up to a maximum quantity of three may also travel in the same pet carrier (total weight max 8 kg).

A pet cannot be transported as PETC on A330/A350 business class due to the full flat seats. 

Passengers travelling with PETC can make an advance seat reservation with standard charges for all seats except exit row and 1st row seats. If there are 2 PETC (unknown to each other) on same flight, approx. 10 rows will be kept between the animals (monitored by Finnair). NOTE! PETC shall be seated on aisle seats on ATR in the rear of the cabin. Window seats in ATR have limited leg space.

Assistance and service dogs (SVAN) are not counted to PETC quota.

 

Preparations and restrictions concerning animals in international traffic

When transporting pets, the animals’ welfare has to be taken into consideration as well as all the country-specific regulations. Puppies should, for example, be weaned off their mother and be able to eat on their own to be accepted for transportation. In Finland, the minimum age for air transportation of puppies is 8 weeks. For country-specific regulations, e.g. regarding minimum age of puppies, and required documents, the passenger should contact national authorities. 

The passenger must have an advanced booking in Finnair’s reservation system and he/she has to provide all necessary documents (pet passport, export/import/transit permits, health/vaccination certificates etc.) and other possible preparations (tattoo or microchip, quarantine, veterinary meeting on arrival etc.). Finnair does not assume any responsibility if an animal is refused entry into or transit through a country. 

The importation of pets as baggage is totally prohibited to/via some countries, e.g. Great Britain, South Africa, Hong Kong and Australia. To these countries live animals must be transported solely as air cargo under an appropriate air waybill. It is also forbidden to travel with a pet to/via Ireland from outside of EU. It shall also be noted that even when the Finnair policy allows transportation of certain animal species as AVIH or PETC, country regulations may differ from Finnair policy when they shall naturally be honoured. Due to these differing regulations it is most important to check TIM (Travel Information Manual) and/or the TIMATIC display which show detailed information on customs and health regulations of individual countries. 

 

Pet in cabin and passengers with animal allergies

Cabin will not be closed from pet animals or assistance/service dogs if requested by an allergic customer. In case of severe allergy Finnair Medadesk will evaluate the case via MEDIF process. Please advise customer to submit Special assistance form online in severe cases.