All Airlines have different regulations concerning animal transport. Check out the information about traveling with your pet by plane from Kraków Airport.
In the area of Kraków Airport, next to the P2 parking, there is a new “Animal Park”. The area is equipped, among others, with a self-supplementing watering bowl, a basket with toys, ramps, hurdles. It is important to mention that, in accordance with the regulations, the passenger terminal can enter only animals traveling with their owners, dogs working in the airport and guide dogs.
Animals in a basket aboard the plane
Most standard restrictions do not include small pets (up to 6-8 kg) transported in the passenger cabin. However, you must prenotify your airline that you wish to bring a pet aboard the plane as the number of passengers travelling with animals is limited.
Low-cost airlines operating at Kraków Airport, i.e. Ryanair, Easy Jet, Jet2.com, Norwegian and Eurowings all have different regulations concerning animal transport aboard their planes. For example:
- Ryanair and Easy Jet do not allow any animals aboard the plane except for guide dogs.
- Jet2.com only allows animals aboard domestic flights in Great Britain. Therefore, it is impossible to transport an animal (even a guide dog) when flying from or to Kraków.
- Norwegian does allow animals aboard their planes but they are put in special cages or containers and transported in the cargo hold.
- Eurowings transports pets (cats or dogs) up to 8 kg and only in the passenger cabin.
If your dog or cat meets the requirements listed in your airline pet policy to travel in-cabin, you will need an approved airline pet carrier. The carrier must have a waterproof bottom, have room for your pet to stand up and turn around, must fasten securely and have adequate ventilation.
Note: All airlines are required to allow guide dogs accompanying their owners aboard their planes, in the passenger cabin.
If your pet is too large to fit under the seat, it is an animal other than a dog or cat, or if it is a very long flight, airline may transport your pet in the cargo section of the aircraft according to its regulations. This section of the cargo department has the same temperature and pressure as the passenger cabin.
The pet passport
Planning in advance of traveling with your pet is key in avoiding problems when entering a country. Regulations are specific to each country worldwide, and pet owners need to be familiar with these rules. Before the travel you should create a pet passport for your dog, cat or other animal. The pet passport is a collection of all identifying and required documents for entering their destination country.
If you are traveling internationally, the first thing you must also do is to find out the rabies classification of the country your pet is leaving from according to the country your pet is traveling to. The World Organization for Animal Health classifies countries as rabies-free, rabies-controlled or high-risk. Although the European Union has a uniform list of country classifications which is considered standard, many countries have their own classifications.
Knowing pet import rules will help you to make traveling with your pet safer and more enjoyable.
To obtain detailed information, please contact your airline or the Kraków Airport Information (available 24 hours a day) at: Kraków Airport
To learn more about traveling with your pet visit also: Pet Travel| EU regulations
Photo © Anna Karahan