China Airlines, the Taiwanese carrier based at Taipei Taoyuan, flies pet cats and dogs only in the cargo hold as checked baggage. There is no cabin option for pets; only trained service dogs fly in the cabin. You must contact China Airlines at least 48 hours before departure, each flight takes no more than 8 pet crates, and each passenger can check up to 2. The airline bans several fighting breeds, accepts snub-nosed breeds only on a few short routes in certain months, and does not carry pets between Taipei and Phoenix from April through October because of the heat. For dogs flying into the US, China Airlines now issues an air waybill that you must print, sign and carry.
This guide is based on China Airlines' own pets page and its container and restriction tabs as read in October 2026. China Airlines is not the same company as Air China, which is based in Beijing and has its own rules. Confirm current details with China Airlines before you book.
China Airlines pet rules at a glance
The table brings together the rules most people look for first.
| Rule | China Airlines policy |
|---|---|
| Animals accepted | Household cats and dogs (psychiatric assistance dogs on some routes) |
| Where pets travel | Cargo hold as checked baggage (AVIH); no cabin pets |
| Minimum age | 10 weeks |
| Booking | Contact China Airlines at least 48 hours before departure |
| Crates per flight | Up to 8 |
| Crates per passenger | Up to 2 (passengers occupying a seat) |
| Pets per crate | 1 |
| Crate outer limits | 70 cm high, 90 cm wide |
| Fee | By total weight and route zone; extra if crate dimensions exceed 292 cm |
| Not accepted | Taiwan to Hong Kong; Taipei to Phoenix Apr 1 to Oct 31; B738 and 32C aircraft |
Which pets China Airlines carries
The checked pet service covers household cats and dogs, plus psychiatric assistance dogs on specific routes. A few health and condition rules apply:
- Puppies and kittens under 10 weeks old are not accepted.
- Pets with a strong odor are not accepted, in the hold or the cabin.
- A pregnant pet is accepted only if it has been pregnant for no more than 40 days.
- A pet is not accepted within 7 days after giving birth.
The service is only available on flights operated by China Airlines and its sister airline Mandarin Airlines. If your itinerary includes an immediate connection to or from another airline, the checked pet service does not apply.
No cabin pets
China Airlines does not carry pet cats or dogs in the cabin. Trained service dogs that accompany a passenger with a disability fly in the cabin free of charge, under separate rules. Every other pet, however small, goes in the hold. If you were hoping to keep a small dog at your feet on a transpacific flight, you will need a different airline, and many Asian carriers have the same hold-only rule. Our guide to pet cargo versus in-cabin travel explains what the hold experience is like.
Booking a pet with China Airlines
You cannot add a pet online. Contact the China Airlines booking department at least 48 hours before departure to confirm the terms and the fee; the service is not provided without this prior application. Earlier is better, because the limits are tight: no more than 8 crates per flight, and no more than 2 crates per passenger who occupies a seat, including children and infants with their own seat.
Weight limits are not one number. China Airlines says local airport authorities can set different limits based on their handling facilities, so if your pet and crate are heavy, the booking department has to check every airport on the route. Some countries and airports also require pets to travel as cargo rather than checked baggage, which means a separate booking through a cargo agent.
Plan to arrive at the airport 2 hours before departure so the staff have time to accept the pet.
Fees: by weight and zone
China Airlines charges by the total weight of the pet and its crate, and by route zone. Pets and crates are not part of your free baggage allowance. The airline groups destinations into three zones from Taiwan:
- Zone 1: Japan, Korea, Palau, Guam, Hong Kong, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia.
- Zone 2: Myanmar, Australia, New Zealand and India.
- Zone 3: Los Angeles, Ontario, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Vancouver, Phoenix, Hawaii, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Vienna, Rome, London and Prague.
The exact amount comes from the fee calculator on the pets page and is collected in local currency at the exchange rate on the departure date. On top of the pet charge, if the crate's total dimensions (length plus width plus height) exceed 292 cm (115 in), China Airlines adds 2 pieces of excess baggage, and the pet is accepted only if there is space in the hold. Ask for the full price when you call to book.
Routes and aircraft with no pets
Three restrictions stand out on the China Airlines page:
- Pets are not accepted as checked baggage between Taiwan and Hong Kong.
- Pets are not accepted between Taipei and Phoenix from April 1 to October 31 each year, because of high temperatures.
- Pets are not accepted on the Boeing 737-800 (B738) or the aircraft China Airlines codes 32C, because of temperature control in their holds.
The aircraft rule matters on regional routes, where the type can change. Ask which aircraft is scheduled when you book, and check again a few days before the flight. Our guide to pet transport in hot weather explains why airlines set summer limits like the Phoenix one.
Banned breeds
China Airlines will not carry the following fighting breeds or their mixes:
- Pit bull types: American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier.
- American Bully.
- Fila Brasileiro.
- Japanese Tosa.
- Dogo Argentino.
- Mastiffs: Neapolitan Mastiff, Tibetan Mastiff, Bullmastiff, Cane Corso and Dogue de Bordeaux.
Snub-nosed breeds: only a few routes
Flat-faced breeds have a higher risk of breathing trouble in the hold, and China Airlines accepts them only in narrow cases. They can fly on routes between Taiwan and China (except Beijing), Japan (except Sapporo) and Korea from December to March, or between Australia and New Zealand from April to November. In both cases the total trip, including transit and ground time, must be under 6 hours, and the crate must be one size larger than normal.
The listed dogs are the Affenpinscher, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brussels Griffon, Bull Terrier, pugs (Chinese, Dutch and Japanese), Chow Chow, English Bulldog, English Toy Spaniel, French Bulldog, Japanese Chin, Lhasa Apso, Pekingese, Shih Tzu and Tibetan Spaniel. The listed cats are the British Shorthair, Burmese, Exotic, Himalayan, Persian and Scottish Fold. The rule covers mixes too. Because no US route fits these windows, a snub-nosed dog or cat cannot fly China Airlines between Taiwan and the US. Our guide to snub-nosed breeds and flying covers the alternatives.
Crate requirements
China Airlines is strict about crates, and a crate that fails the check means the pet does not fly. The crate must:
- Be rigid plastic meeting IATA rules, with only one door.
- Be held together with nuts and bolts or be one piece. Crates assembled with screws or snap latches are not accepted.
- Have ventilation on all four sides and absorbent bedding on the floor.
- Have the door secured on all four sides with zip ties. A protective net or packing straps around the outside is recommended.
- Carry a Live Animal sticker and containers for water and food.
- Have no wheels.
The pet must be able to stand without touching the roof, lie down and turn around. China Airlines uses the IATA formula: length equals the pet's nose-to-tail-base length plus half its leg height, width equals twice the shoulder width, and height equals the standing height to the top of the head or ear tip plus bedding. Because pets go in the bulk hold, the crate's outside height cannot exceed 70 cm and its outside width cannot exceed 90 cm. That cap rules out the largest crates for giant breeds. Our guide to choosing a pet transport crate explains the measurements in more detail.
Documents and the Passenger's Declaration
China Airlines makes clear that it only provides transport; whether your pet is allowed in is decided by customs and quarantine on arrival. Before booking, check the destination's document, vaccination and quarantine rules and any limits on the number or type of pets. False or incomplete documents can lead to refusal of entry, return or quarantine, at your cost.
You also need two copies of China Airlines' Passenger's Declaration for Live Animals (Baggage). Hand one in at check-in and fix the other to the crate.
Flying a dog to the US on China Airlines
Dogs entering the US, including Hawaii and Guam, must meet the CDC rules that took effect on August 1, 2024. The dog must be at least 6 months old, microchipped and travelling with a CDC Dog Import Form receipt, and Taiwan's status on the CDC country list decides which further steps apply. China Airlines says it will refuse a dog if any CDC form is missing or incomplete, at booking, at check-in or on arrival. The CDC dog import page has the current rules, and our guide to importing a dog into the US walks through them.
Since February 1, 2025, China Airlines also gives you an air waybill (AWB) for a dog flying to the US when you book the pet service, because the CDC requires one. Print it, sign it, and show it at check-in and at US entry. If you do not have it, contact a China Airlines office before travel day, or the dog will not be accepted.
Flying a pet from the US to Taiwan
Taiwan is rabies-strict. A dog or cat flying from the US usually needs a microchip, rabies vaccinations, a rabies antibody blood test with a waiting period, an import permit and a period of quarantine on arrival, plus a USDA-endorsed health certificate. Start the process months ahead. The USDA pet travel export page lists the steps for each destination, and the IATA live animals page explains the crate standards China Airlines follows.
A sample plan: Taipei to Los Angeles with a 15 kg dog
Say you are moving from Taipei to Los Angeles with a 15 kg mixed-breed dog that is not on the banned or snub-nosed lists. A workable order looks like this:
- Check the CDC requirements for a dog coming from Taiwan and complete the CDC Dog Import Form well before the flight.
- Measure the dog, then buy a one-piece or bolted rigid crate that fits within the 70 cm height and 90 cm width limits.
- Book your own ticket on a China Airlines-operated flight with no connection to another airline.
- Call the booking department as soon as the ticket is issued, giving the crate size and the combined weight, and ask for the fee and the air waybill.
- Print two copies of the Passenger's Declaration for Live Animals and the signed air waybill.
- Arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before departure with the crate zip-tied and labeled.
On travel day
Line the crate with absorbent bedding and attach the water and food containers, leaving the water container empty or nearly empty so it does not spill during loading. Fix the Live Animal sticker and one copy of the declaration to the crate. Walk the dog before check-in. Keep the vaccination records, the CDC receipt and the air waybill in your hand luggage, not in a checked bag, since you will show them at check-in and again on arrival.
Common mistakes with China Airlines pet bookings
- Expecting to keep a small pet in the cabin, which China Airlines does not allow.
- Using a crate with snap latches or screws instead of nuts and bolts.
- Calling less than 48 hours before the flight, or after the 8 crates are taken.
- Booking a connection to another airline on the same trip.
- Planning a Phoenix flight between April and October.
- Forgetting the signed air waybill for a dog flying to the US.
China Airlines compared with nearby options
EVA Air, the other Taipei carrier, also flies pets only in the hold, with its own seasonal limits; see our EVA Air pet policy guide. Cathay Pacific moves pets only through its cargo arm, booked by approved agents, which suits complex relocations; see our Cathay Pacific pet policy guide.