Qatar Airways Explains How to Transport Pets on Its Flights

Qatar Airways has clarified that service dogs, emotional support or psychological service dogs can travel free in the cabin only on Qatar Airways flights to or from the USA, Europe, Switzerland, Norway, and Georgia.

And Qatar Airways said - on its website - that on all other flights, service dogs, emotional support or psychological service dogs may travel free of charge as checked baggage.

If the passenger plans to travel with this pet, he must:

Notify Qatar Airways at least 48 hours prior to departure

- Arrive at the airport, at least 2 hours (3 hours for flights from the US) before departure

- Passengers are required to provide evidence at the time of booking or at the time of check-in at the airport that the accompanying dog will not need to relieve itself during the flight or that it can adequately manage the dog's waste

If the passenger is accompanied by a psychological service dog, then in addition to the mentioned requirements, you need to provide a certificate from a licensed mental health professional, and the certificate must be on a paper written for this purpose and signed, and its date of issue is no more than one year from the date of the scheduled flight.

Qatar Airways has made it clear that it does not accept certain breeds of domestic dogs and cats that cannot maintain a normal body temperature and are therefore at increased risk of heat stroke.

These include:

- Cats: Burmese, Exotic, Himalayan, Persian

- Dogs: (mainly pure breeds of snub-nosed dogs) American Staffordshire Terrier, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brussels Griffin, Bull Mastiff, Bull Terrier, Chinese Pug, Chow Chow, English Bulldog, King Charles Spaniel, French Bulldog, Lhasa Aspro, Japanese Chin, Pekingese, Pug, Shar-Pei, Shih Tzu, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tibetan Spaniel, American Bulldog, Pitt Bull Terrier, Bulldog, and Japanese.

For the transportation of cats and dogs, Qatar Airways recommends obtaining a veterinary certificate proving that the animal does not fall into any of the aforementioned categories.

It also does not accept:

- Animals transported for research purposes.

- Animals under eight (8) weeks old.

- Fragile/weak animals.

- Pregnant animals are not permitted to enter either, except based on a veterinary certificate stating that the mother and fetus are suitable for travel.

- Cats or dogs over (16) weeks old - carriage will not be accepted unless a veterinary certificate proves that the animal is fit for travel and there is no risk of birth during the flight.

- Rodents such as mice, rats, marmots, and rabbits are not allowed as excess baggage, and these animals must be transported as cargo.

For the safety and comfort of the animal, Qatar Airways recommends transporting your pet as cargo during the hottest months (May-October).

Harmless dogs, cats, and birds rented as excess baggage can be carried if customers wish to travel on the same flight.

All other animals and livestock must be transported as cargo.