China Eastern Airlines, one of China's three big carriers, carries cats and dogs only in the cargo hold, and only on nonstop flights operated by China Eastern or its sister airline Shanghai Airlines. There is no cabin option for pets. You must apply at least 48 hours before departure and get approval before buying your ticket, the animal and crate can weigh up to 32 kg, and the crate rules are among the strictest of any airline. For travelers between China and the US, the key fact is that China Eastern has temporarily suspended accepting dogs on flights to the United States because of the CDC rules.
This guide follows China Eastern's own information for air transportation of small animals, including its expanded boarding instructions and quarantine notes, as read in October 2026. China Eastern is a different airline from China Airlines, which is based in Taiwan. Confirm the details with China Eastern before you book.
China Eastern pet rules at a glance
The table brings together the rules most people look for first.
| Rule | China Eastern policy |
|---|---|
| Animals | Domesticated cats and dogs |
| Where pets travel | Cargo hold only; no cabin pets |
| Flights | Nonstop China Eastern or Shanghai Airlines flights only |
| Dogs to the US | Temporarily suspended |
| Minimum age | 6 months |
| Weight | 32 kg animal plus crate, food and water |
| Crate size | Length plus width plus height no more than 203 cm |
| Pets per passenger | 2 on domestic flights, 1 on international |
| Application | At least 48 hours before departure, approved before ticket purchase |
| Temperature | May refuse at or below -12 C or at or above 30 C on the route |
Dogs to the United States: suspended
China Eastern's page carries a special notice: because of policies issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it has temporarily suspended accepting dogs on flights to the United States. It says it will keep talking with the CDC to restore the service. Until then, a dog cannot fly to the US on China Eastern as checked baggage.
China is on the CDC's list of high-risk countries for dog rabies, which brings strict US entry rules for dogs, including a rabies titer from an approved lab and entry through specific airports. Families moving a dog from China to the US usually work with a pet relocation company that ships the dog as cargo on an airline that accepts it. The CDC dog import page has the official rules, and our guide to pet transport from China to the US walks through the options. Cats are not covered by the suspension.
Which flights accept pets
The service is only available on nonstop flights operated by China Eastern or Shanghai Airlines and carrying their flight numbers. Connections are not covered, so a trip that changes planes is not eligible. Animals also cannot fly on aircraft types without an oxygen-equipped cargo compartment. Because aircraft can change, the final confirmation comes at the airport on the day you fly.
China Eastern can also refuse a pet if the route is a long-haul nonstop or the aircraft's hold is unsuitable, so long-distance nonstop flights are not guaranteed even when they are operated by China Eastern.
Temperature limits
If the forecast temperature at any point on the itinerary is -12 C or lower, or 30 C or higher, on the day of travel, China Eastern can refuse the pet, and it advises passengers to think carefully before checking an animal in those conditions. For domestic departures, it uses the China Meteorological Administration forecast published on the day you apply; for international departures, the local weather authority. If your application was approved but you decide the temperature makes travel unsafe, you can ask airport staff for a written statement and then request a refund or rebooking, or call 95530 before departure on the day. Our guide to pet transport in hot weather explains why airlines set these limits.
How to apply
You apply through a China Eastern ticket office, the customer service hotline (+86 21 20695530), or the website or app, at least 48 hours before departure for both domestic and international flights. The application must be approved before you buy your ticket. China Eastern reviews applications and calls back between 9:00 and 19:00 every day; if you hear nothing within 4 working hours, resubmit or call 95530. Submitting the request does not mean it is approved, since flights have limits on animals.
If you need to change or cancel after approval, call 95530 at least 48 hours before departure. If you change your ticket and still need the service, you have to apply again.
Documents
For domestic flights within China, you need the application form and an animal quarantine certificate from the relevant authority. For international and regional flights, you need:
- The application form for air transportation of small animals.
- A health certificate for entry-exit inspection and quarantine issued by China's customs inspection authority.
- Valid export and import documents for the destination and any transit points.
- A health declaration and rabies vaccination certificate.
- Any entry or transit permits and other documents the countries on your route require.
At check-in, bring two printed copies of the application form and the originals of every other document. Arrive and finish check-in at least 120 minutes before departure, and keep copies of everything in your hand luggage.
Limits and fees
Each passenger can check up to two animals on domestic flights within China, and one animal on international or regional flights. There is one animal per crate, and each crate is checked and weighed at the counter before it is accepted. Fees are collected at the airport based on the combined weight of the animal, crate and any food, under China Eastern's excess baggage rules, so the price depends on the route and weight. The declared value service is not available for animals.
China Eastern states that passengers bear full responsibility for a checked animal, and that the airline is not liable for injury, illness, escape or death under normal conditions of carriage.
Crate rules
China Eastern's crate requirements are detailed. The crate must be designed for air transport and made of sturdy material, with:
- A fixed top and ventilation on at least three sides.
- A door with a solid metal lock the animal cannot open; plastic or fibreglass doors are not accepted.
- Metal vents securely fitted; vents of other materials must be circular or another safe shape.
- Strong hardware, handles or raised edges, a flat stable base, and wheels removed or fixed.
- A size that follows IATA rules: length equal to the animal's nose-to-tail length plus half its leg height, width twice its shoulder width, and height to the top of its ears or head when standing.
- Absorbent pads inside; newspaper is not allowed.
- A water drinker on flights longer than 6 hours.
The crate also has to be packed in a specific way: both sides of the lock reinforced with self-locking nylon cable ties at least 3.6 x 100 mm, a nylon protective net around the crate with mesh smaller than the animal's head and rope over 2 mm, and, for medium and large crates, packing straps in a grid pattern. The animal and crate cannot exceed 32 kg including food and water, and the three sides added together cannot exceed 203 cm; anything larger has to go through a freight forwarder.
China Eastern does not accept crates made entirely of welded wire, crates with plastic or fibreglass doors, combination crates, crates with a door or vent on top, folding crates, or soft-sided crates. Our guide to choosing a pet transport crate covers sizing, and the IATA live animals page explains the standard China Eastern refers to.
Animals China Eastern refuses
China Eastern will refuse an animal that is pregnant or due to give birth within 48 hours, or that is less than 6 months old. It also refuses flat-faced dogs and cats, aggressive dogs, and breeds that are sensitive to heat and altitude. Its list includes terriers, Affenpinschers, Boxers, bulldogs, spaniels, mastiffs, pugs, the American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Boston Terrier, Brussels Griffon, English Cocker and Toy Spaniels, Cavalier and King Charles Spaniels, Bullmastiff, Lhasa Apso, American Bully, Pekingese, Chow Chow, Japanese Chin, Dogue de Bordeaux, Shar Pei, Shih Tzu, Dogo Argentino, Samoyed, Tosa and Fila Brasileiro and their mixes, and the Burmese, Himalayan, Persian, Exotic and British Shorthair cats.
That list is broad: it names whole groups such as terriers and spaniels, and includes the Samoyed, which most airlines do not restrict. Check carefully if you have any of these breeds or mixes. If your pet is on the list, a specialist shipper using another airline may be the only way to fly it. Our guide to snub-nosed breeds and flying covers the alternatives, including ground travel for shorter routes.
Bringing a pet into China
China Eastern's page summarizes China's customs rules (General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 5 of 2019, in force since May 1, 2019):
- Only dogs and cats can be brought in, one per person per trip.
- The pet needs a quarantine certificate and rabies vaccination certificate from the official animal health authority of the exporting country.
- It needs an ISO 11784/11785 microchip with a 15-digit numeric code; otherwise you must bring your own reader.
- Pets are quarantined for 30 days at a designated site, unless they come from one of 19 designated countries or territories (including Hawaii, Guam, the UK, Japan, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand) and pass inspection, or come from elsewhere with a microchip and a rabies antibody result above 0.5 IU/ml from an accredited lab.
- Pets that need quarantine must arrive through a port with a quarantine facility, such as Beijing Capital, Shanghai Pudong or Shanghai Hongqiao.
Because the mainland US (apart from Hawaii and Guam) is not on the designated list, a pet from the US needs a rabies titer to avoid quarantine. Our guide to the rabies titer test explains how it works. China's customs authority publishes the current rules at customs.gov.cn.
Flying a cat between China and the US
The US suspension covers dogs only, so a cat can still fly on a nonstop China Eastern flight to the US if it meets the airline's rules. The same conditions apply: an approved application before you buy the ticket, a compliant crate in the hold, an age of at least 6 months, and the export health certificate and rabies certificate. The US does not require a CDC import form for cats, though you should still check the rules of the US state you are moving to. Remember the temperature limits: a summer flight from a hot Chinese city, or a winter flight into a cold US airport, can trigger a refusal on the day.
A sample plan: Shanghai to Beijing with a cat
- Pick a nonstop China Eastern or Shanghai Airlines flight, and check the forecast for both cities.
- Apply through the website, app or hotline at least 48 hours before departure, and wait for approval before buying the ticket.
- Get an animal quarantine certificate for the domestic trip.
- Prepare a rigid crate with a metal door lock, cable ties and a protective net, with absorbent pads inside.
- Arrive at least 120 minutes before departure with two copies of the application form and the original certificate, and expect to pay the excess baggage charge at the airport.
Common mistakes with China Eastern pet bookings
- Buying a ticket before the pet application is approved.
- Planning a connecting trip; only nonstop flights are eligible.
- Trying to fly a dog to the US while the suspension is in place.
- Using a crate with a plastic door, a top vent, or soft sides.
- Booking a pet under 6 months old.
China Eastern compared with nearby options
For trips between China, Taiwan or Hong Kong and the US, compare China Airlines, which flies pets in the hold from Taipei with its own breed and season rules, and Cathay Pacific, which moves pets through its cargo arm with approved agents.