Japan Airlines does not let dogs or cats fly in the passenger cabin. On both international and domestic flights, pets travel in the climate-controlled bulk cargo hold, checked in at the same counter as their owner. JAL accepts dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, chinchillas and some other small animals, but it refuses French Bulldogs and Bulldogs on every flight. Dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks old, space must be reserved in advance, and on domestic routes the fee is JPY 5,500 to 7,700 per crate per flight.
JAL's rules are clear on its own pages but scattered across an international page, a domestic page and a cargo site, and many third-party summaries still describe an older in-cabin policy that no longer applies. This guide pulls together what JAL's own international pet page and domestic pet page say as of October 2026, plus the Japanese government entry rules that decide whether your pet can land at all. Confirm details with JAL before you book, since aircraft and routes change.
JAL pet rules at a glance
The table sums up the main points from JAL's published pages.
| Rule | International flights | Japan domestic flights |
|---|---|---|
| Pets in the cabin | No (service dogs only) | No for dogs and cats |
| How pets travel | Checked in, carried in the bulk cargo hold | Checked in, carried in the bulk cargo hold |
| Animals accepted | Dogs, cats, small seed and fruit eating birds, rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, marmots, squirrels, chinchillas | Dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, guinea pigs and similar small animals |
| Breeds refused | French Bulldogs and Bulldogs | French Bulldogs, Bulldogs and their hybrids |
| Minimum age | 8 weeks (dogs and cats) | 8 weeks |
| Fee | Quoted at check-in; varies by route | JPY 5,500 to 7,700 per crate per sector |
| Check-in | At least 120 minutes before departure | At least 40 minutes before departure |
| Weight | Varies by aircraft | Pet and crate over 32 kg go as cargo; 45 kg limit on JAC, HAC and RAC flights |
Why there are no pets in the JAL cabin
Many travelers expect a Japanese carrier to allow small pets under the seat, as most US and European airlines do. JAL does not. After the January 2024 runway collision at Tokyo Haneda, in which two pets in the hold of the burning JAL aircraft died, there was public pressure to allow pets in the cabin. Both JAL and ANA said they had no plans to change their policy, citing safety during evacuation and the comfort of other passengers, as the South China Morning Post reported at the time. JAL's current pages still list carry-on of dogs and cats as not acceptable.
The practical result is that every dog or cat on JAL rides in the hold, however small. If you want your pet beside you on a trans-Pacific trip, you need a different airline or route; see pet cargo vs in cabin for how the two compare.
Which animals JAL accepts
On international flights JAL lists dogs, cats, small birds that eat seeds, fruit and insects, rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, marmots, squirrels and chinchillas. Domestic flights accept dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, guinea pigs and similar small animals that meet its conditions, and treat birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish under separate rules. Venomous animals are refused. Pregnant animals are not accepted, and pets must be healthy, unlikely to harm other animals or baggage, and free of strong odor.
Rabbits, hamsters and other strong-toothed animals must travel in a rodent crate lined with wire mesh, because they can chew through plastic.
The bulldog ban and other snub-nosed breeds
JAL refuses French Bulldogs and Bulldogs on all flights because they are more vulnerable to the changes in temperature and pressure during air travel. Its domestic page goes further and refuses Bulldog and French Bulldog hybrids too. Other short-nosed breeds, such as Pugs, Japanese Chins and Boston Terriers, are listed as acceptable on domestic flights, but JAL still asks owners to take extra care with them in summer. Our guide to the snub-nosed dog breed flying ban explains why airlines treat these dogs differently.
Summer and winter restrictions
JAL defines summer as May 1 to October 31 and advises against daytime travel in that period, especially for puppies, older dogs and snub-nosed breeds. The hold is air-conditioned in flight, but loading and unloading on a hot ramp is where heat stress happens. In winter, JAL asks owners of cold-sensitive pets to take care too. Book early-morning or evening departures in summer where you can.
What the cargo hold is like
JAL is unusually open about conditions. The bulk cargo room is air-conditioned to the same temperature and humidity as the cabin in flight, but lights are off for the whole flight. Cabin pressure is set to about 0.8 bar, roughly what you would feel near the top of a 2,000 meter mountain, so pets can get the same ear discomfort people do on climb and descent. Pets will also hear wind, engine and ramp noise. A towel or familiar item in the crate helps, and JAL allows these unless staff think the item is unsafe.
Crate rules
JAL follows IATA crate standards. The crate must let the animal stand on all four legs, turn around and lie down naturally, and be made of durable plastic, fiberglass, wood or similar. Soft crates, folding crates and all-wire cages are not accepted. It must be leak-proof, well ventilated, lockable and escape-proof, the door's locking pins must stick out at least 1.6 cm past the frame, bolts must be tight, and wheels must be removed or locked. As a rule there is one pet per crate. JAL rents disinfected crates on domestic routes, though L and XL sizes are limited. For sizing help, see how to choose a pet transport crate.
Water and food
JAL staff do not give pets food or water after check-in, so feed and water your pet beforehand. You may attach a watertight, durable water dispenser to the crate, and one is required when the trip from departure to arrival is longer than 12 hours, which covers every US to Japan journey. Flights from Frankfurt need a bowl-type dispenser the pet can drink from directly, and JAL warns that nozzle-type bottles may be refused.
Health conditions JAL asks you to check first
JAL recommends talking to your vet before booking if your pet has a respiratory condition, has trouble regulating its body temperature, lost its appetite or had diarrhea after earlier flights, has any condition that makes air travel unsuitable, or gets stressed in dark places. The last one matters more on JAL than you might think, since the hold is dark for the whole flight. JAL also says plainly that animals have died during or after air travel, and links its own record of those cases from the pet page, which is more candid than most airlines.
Ask your vet about the trip length and your pet's age, weight and heart and airway health. Most vets and airlines advise against sedating a pet for a flight in the hold, because sedatives can affect breathing and balance at altitude; see should you sedate a dog for travel before you ask for any medication.
Getting your pet ready for a long hold flight
A US to Tokyo flight is 11 to 14 hours, plus check-in and quarantine time, so your pet may spend 16 hours or more in its crate. Start crate training weeks ahead: feed meals in the crate, then close the door for short periods, then longer ones, so the crate is a familiar den rather than a trap. Put an absorbent pad and a worn T-shirt or towel inside. Give a light meal and water a few hours before check-in, walk your dog right before you leave for the airport, and fix the water dispenser so it cannot spill. Label the crate with your name, phone number and the pet's name in English.
Connections and codeshares
JAL accepts pets on its own flights, but if any leg is a codeshare operated by another airline, that carrier's pet rules apply, and many will not take a pet checked by a different airline. Keep the whole trip on JAL-operated flights where you can, and allow a long enough connection for your pet to be moved between aircraft. JAL's domestic page also warns that it may refuse pets routed on certain international connections, so ask about the full itinerary when you book. Our guide to connecting flights with a pet covers layover length and transfers.
If something goes wrong at the airport
JAL says it works with local veterinarians and pet hotels to help in an emergency at Japanese domestic airports, though not every airport has these services and some facilities need proof of vaccination. If your pet cannot fly because hold space runs out, JAL may ask you to take a different flight. Keep vaccination records, the microchip number and your vet's contact details in your carry-on, not in checked bags.
How to book a pet on JAL
Space in the hold is limited by aircraft, so a pet needs a reservation in advance through the JAL Contact Center. JAL asks for the crate's length, width and height, the combined weight of pet and crate, and the animal's type and age. It then checks the aircraft and tells you whether your pet can be carried, which JAL says can take several days. Do not assume your pet is booked until you have that confirmation. On codeshare flights operated by another airline, that airline's pet rules apply instead.
Check-in day
Bring a signed letter of consent, which you can download from JAL's page, along with all export and import documents. On international flights arrive at least 120 minutes before departure so your pet can adjust to the airport temperature; on domestic flights the minimum is 40 minutes. Your pet checks in at the same counter as you, and the agent tells you the fee. JAL keeps checked pets in air-conditioned rooms where possible and takes them to the aircraft close to departure. On arrival, an agent brings your pet to you in the baggage claim area, and on international arrivals you then go to the animal quarantine counter.
Domestic fees and weight limits
On Japan domestic flights JAL charges JPY 5,500 to 7,700 per crate per flight sector, depending on route and day, and members can pay with miles. The total weight of all pets and checked bags is capped at 100 kg per passenger. If a pet and its crate together weigh more than 32 kg, it travels as cargo rather than as passenger baggage, and flights operated by JAC, HAC and RAC have a 45 kg limit. International fees are quoted at check-in and vary by route.
Japan's entry rules come first
The airline booking is the easy part. Dogs and cats flying into Japan from the US, which is not a rabies-free designated region, must meet the Animal Quarantine Service rules: an ISO microchip implanted before the first rabies shot, two rabies vaccinations, a rabies antibody test of at least 0.5 IU/ml, a waiting period of 180 days or more from the blood draw, and advance notification to the arrival airport at least 40 days before landing. Pets that arrive early without the full wait face quarantine for the shortfall. Our full guide to pet transport to Japan walks through the timeline month by month.
Flying a dog from Japan to the US
For the return trip, Japan's export inspection and the US Centers for Disease Control rules both apply. JAL's international page points travelers bringing dogs to the US to the CDC dog import requirements, which include the CDC Dog Import Form and a microchip. Japan is not on the CDC high-risk list, which keeps the US side simpler. See pet transport from Japan to the US for the export steps and costs.
When JAL is not the right choice
If your dog is a Bulldog or French Bulldog, JAL is not an option, and other airlines often refuse them in the hold too. If your pet is too big for a standard crate on the aircraft serving your route, or you are moving several animals, a professional pet shipper booking JAL Cargo or another carrier may be simpler than checking pets as baggage. For a single small to medium dog or cat with a booked hold space and the Japanese paperwork done, JAL's process is one of the more transparent in Asia.