Flying with your pet to Thailand: KLM rules
October 30, 2013
When you leave for Thailand for a longer period of time, you may want to take your pet, such as your cat or dog, with you. The costs for this are generally reasonable. However, flying with your pet to Thailand or elsewhere is subject to rules. These rules differ per airline.
At KLM, flying with your pet costs between 20 and 200 euros. You must also take into account the following conditions:
- Animals must not be given sedatives and no longer eat or drink from 4 hours before the flight.
Transport in the passenger cabin
- On most flights, small dogs and cats can be taken in the passenger cabin when traveling in Economy Class. Travel in Business Class is also possible on many European flights.
- The cage or bag may have a maximum height of 20 cm, provided that the animal can stand and lie down.
- The cage or bag should fit under the passenger seat.
- Reservations must be made at least 48 hours before departure, as only a limited number of animals can be taken on each flight.
Transport in the baggage hold
- Dogs and cats can be checked in as baggage, provided the transport kennel meets IATA guidelines.
- The animal may not weigh more than 75 kg, including the transport kennel.
- Between 1 November and 31 March, no animals can be transported in the hold.
- Each passenger is allowed to carry a maximum of 3 pets in the hold, but the number of available spaces is always limited.
- Animals weighing more than 75 kg, including the transport kennel, must be transported as freight.
Costs
- Costs depend on the destination and are between €20 and €200.
- If you have to transfer during the trip, you have to pay an extra €150 for the care.
I do wonder if you fly to Thailand with a dog or cat in about 12 hours, the animal will also have to do its business. How does that work? Which of the readers has experience flying to Thailand with a pet? Leave a comment.
I flew with KLM 3 months ago with my dog, must say it went perfectly, he was not stressed when we arrived in Bangkok. And the paperwork was arranged by my wife at the airport in Bk, but it was not easy, she said. And the domestic flight to Chiang Mai was completely easier, too bad that it was on the baggage carousel with the Bench on arrival.
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I flew to Thailand with the dog in June, just not with KLM but with Lufthansa and that went fine, the dog was in the luggage hold and was treated perfectly. Only at Chiang Mai did he arrive on the baggage carousel with bench and all and I thought that was strange, but hey he saw me and everything was fine. And if you have all the papers in order, the handling would have happened, stood outside with the dog in half an hour. And yes the dog will do his / her needs in the bench, so keep in mind that you put enough newspapers in the bench or bag ....
Hi Margaret
You write "And if you have all the papers in order, the handling would have happened, stood outside with the dog in half an hour" Do you mean the vaccinations and papers of the NVWA or also papers that you must request in advance in Thailand? please help?
greetings, also from my 2 little sweethearts (so dogs)
Dear Thailand bloggers
We will also travel to Bangkok at the end of November 2013 for 6 months with my 2 dogs with KLM.
Tickets booked and dogs in the luggage hold (together in a bench), cost 200 euros per dog one way, payable at Schiphol on the day of departure. When booking a ticket, the dogs were on request, of which you will receive confirmation 2 days later that they can really go on the same flight, after which you can only finalize the booking.
So the information in the article is not entirely correct "No animals can be transported in the hold between November 1 and March 31.".
Sorry, adding one more question/comment to those who already have experience.
Everything has been arranged for the dogs, last week a health statement from the vet and NVWA legalization. But my uncertainty is still “do you need a pre-approved form for customs clearance from Thai authorities?”
I get mixed information about this via the internet, the Thai embassy also does not give an unequivocal answer. And of course, for the sake of the dogs, I want to be able to do the settlement at Suvarnabhumi as quickly as possible.
Thank you in advance
In June I flew with Malaysia Airways via Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok, dog (Jack Russel Parson) in bench for 17 hours, upon arrival in Bangkok I was able to pick him up immediately at the large luggage department.
He had not put anything in the bench, and after paying 25 euros he walked out without checking papers / passport.
Immediately watered and peed, he is doing great here in Hua Hin.