How to bring service dog on plane

Your guide dog, hearing dog or service dog is warmly welcome to travel with you on board all our flights free of charge.

Assistance and service dogs

Certain types of assistance and service dogs are allowed to travel in the cabin on our flights. 

* On our direct flights to or from the United States, passengers are permitted to travel with a psychiatric service dog that is individually trained to perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability. Please note that you need to fill in the U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form. In addition, please fill in the U.S. DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form if the animal will be on a flight that takes 8 hours or more.  

Please note that emotional support animals are no longer classified as service animals under the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, and Finnair will no longer accept or accommodate the emotional support animal classification. 

* Service dogs that are not travelling on an official search or rescue mission need to travel in the hold of the aircraft. 

During the flight 

Your assistance or service dog can travel in the floor space in front of your seat. When the fasten safety belt sign is on, the dog should be placed under the seat in front of you. In case you’re wondering if there is enough room for your dog in the cabin, please contact our customer service to have more information.  

We hope that this checklist will help you to prepare for your flight with your assistance or service dog: 

• To ensure smooth departure and arrival to your destination, please make sure that your dog complies with all the sanitary requirements in the departure and arrival countries.  
• Make sure you have all the necessary paperwork ready. 
• As flying can be exciting for animals, it is good to make sure that your dog is comfortable with travelling and accustomed to different circumstances on the way.  
• To show others that your dog is travelling on duty, we recommend it wears a harness or something similar. 

Let us know you are travelling with your dog 

Please let us know about your dog at least 48 hours before your flight through the special assistance form or by contacting our customer service. We will ask some details about your dog, including its breed and size. You can track the status of your assistance or service dog request in Manage booking and see the confirmation there once it is given. 

Service Dogs

Find information when travelling with a Guide, Assistance or Hearing Dog. Including definitions, criteria and conditions of carriage you need to know.

On this page

Welcoming Service Dogs onboard

Qantas recognises the important role accredited Service Dogs play in the community and welcomes Service Dogs in the aircraft cabin when they meet our Criteria for Carriage. These criteria reflect our safety obligations and requirements under the Civil Aviation Act.

Criteria for Carriage

Qantas’ focus is always on providing a safe travel experience and the aircraft environment can present unique challenges, so we need to be satisfied that Service Dogs can safely and competently work with their handlers in this environment.

A dog is permitted to travel in the aircraft cabin on a Qantas flight if it:

• is a Service Dog (Guide, Hearing or Assistance Dog) that has been trained to assist a person with a disability, to alleviate the effects of that disability; and
• has been trained and certified or accredited by a training organisation or trainer that:

1. is a full member of Assistance Dogs InternationalOpens external site in a new window (ADI); or
2. is approved under the Queensland Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009Opens external site in a new window (Queensland Act); and

• has a current Public Access Test (PAT) and meets the appropriate standards of hygiene, behaviour and safety for an animal in a public place, including an aircraft cabin; and
  
• has not been declared a dangerous dog or restricted breedOpens external site in a new window; and
• does not have an infectious disease or pose a threat to public health or the health of other animals; and
• does not exceed 45kg in weight; and
• does not exceed the applicable length limit for the operating aircraft cabin, as determined by Qantas during the application and booking process.

These are the minimum requirements that Qantas considers necessary to meet its safety obligations, including its civil aviation safety obligations.

Dogs undertaking Service Dog training may be permitted to travel in the aircraft cabin at Qantas’ discretion if they are being trained by a training organisation or trainer that is a full member of ADI or approved under the Queensland Act, where the dog has achieved a standard suitable for travel on public transport, including an aircraft cabin, and the flight is being taken as part of the dog’s final training or for the purpose of delivery. Review the Service Dogs Conditions of Carriage (Section C: Service Dogs Under Training) prior to completing the Application Form.

Application to travel

If the dog meets all of the Criteria for Carriage

1. Complete and submit the Application Form [PDF]  at least 14 days prior to travel. Once the Service Dog is approved, this form is valid for future travel and you will not need to complete a new form every time you fly with the approved Service Dog, provided you inform us if there is any material change in your circumstances or those of the dog, such as the dog has retired due to age or illness.
2. Give Qantas advance notice that you wish to travel with the Service Dog at the time of booking, each time you make a booking, to ensure the appropriate seating arrangements can be made.
3. Additionally, review and complete the International Declaration Form [PDF] every time you make an international booking at least 14 days prior to travel, as there may be further requirements and limitations depending on your travel destination. 

If the dog does not meet all of the Criteria for Carriage

If the Service Dog has not been trained and certified or accredited by an organisation or trainer that is a full member of ADI or approved under the Queensland Act, we will need More Information [PDF] from you at least 14 days prior to travel to assist Qantas to determine if it is safe to carry the Service Dog in the aircraft cabin.

If the dog is not approved to travel in the aircraft cabin, it may be able to travel as a pet in the cargo hold with Qantas Freight.

Preparing for travel

Once the Service Dog has been approved and you have given advance notice that you wish to travel with the Service Dog at the time of booking, follow these simple tips to ensure your journey with us is hassle-free:

• Bring your identity documents in your carry-on baggage, such as a current identity card issued by your training organisation or trainer.
• The dog should be wearing its harness, vest, coat and/or medallion to identify it as a Service Dog.
• On the aircraft, the dog is to be seated on the floor in the space allocated by Qantas adjacent to your seat. Qantas will provide a moisture absorbent mat and the dog is to be secured by its leash to the aircraft seat leg, seat track ring or other tether point approved by Qantas.
• Review the Service Dogs Conditions of Carriage for more information.
• Watch this video for what to expect when travelling with a Service Dog on a Qantas aircraft.

Guide Dog Access - Qantas and Guide Dogs Victoria This video by Guide Dogs Victoria demonstrates what you could expect when you are travelling on a Qantas aircraft with your Service Dog, from check-in to boarding the aircraft.

Using Qantas Points

Using Qantas Points for a Classic Flight Reward

You can use Qantas Points when booking via qantas.com or Qantas Contact Centres. If booking via qantas.com, you still need to contact us to advise that you are travelling with a Service Dog.

Upgrading with Qantas Points for a Classic Upgrade Reward

If you’re booked to travel with a Service Dog and you are opting for a Classic Upgrade Reward, you should contact us at least 48 hours in advance of travel to make your request. See how many Qantas Points are required for a Classic Reward Upgrade.

Due to the preparation and planning required to carry the dog in the cabin, passengers travelling with a Service Dog are not eligible for the following:

• Domestic On Departure Point Upgrades (upgrade at the lounge) using Qantas Points
  
• International Opt in for upgrades at the airport using Qantas Points.

Service Dogs FAQs

Important information

Refer to the Service Dogs Conditions of Carriage for more information.

Can service dogs sit next to you on a plane?

Can service dogs board the plane?

Can I buy a seat for my dog on an airplane?

How do I fly with my dog 2022?