Korean Air lets small dogs, cats and pet birds fly in the cabin if the pet and its carrier together weigh 7 kg (15 lb) or less, the carrier fits under the seat (up to 32 x 45 x 19 cm), and the pet is at least 8 weeks old. Bigger pets can go in the cargo hold up to 45 kg (99 lb) including the crate, if they are at least 16 weeks old. Snub-nosed breeds are refused in the hold. Every pet needs approval at least 48 hours before an international flight, and the pet fare is paid separately from baggage.
Korean Air is one of the few Asian full-service airlines that still carries pets in the passenger cabin, which is why its rules come up so often among people moving between the US and Korea. This guide sets out what Korean Air's own Traveling with Pets guide says as of October 2026, how the booking process works, and the mistakes that most often get a pet turned away at the airport. Rules vary by aircraft and route, so confirm yours when you request approval.
Korean Air pet rules at a glance
The table compares the two ways a pet can fly with you on Korean Air.
| Rule | In the cabin | In the cargo hold |
|---|---|---|
| Animals | Dogs, cats, pet birds | Dogs, cats, pet birds |
| Weight limit | 7 kg (15 lb) for pet and carrier together | 45 kg (99 lb) for pet and crate together; some countries restrict over 32 kg |
| Carrier size | Up to 32 x 45 x 19 cm (12.5 x 17.5 x 7.5 in), wheels included; soft carriers up to 25 cm high if they compress to 19 cm | Length plus width plus height up to 291 cm (114 in), no taller than 84 cm (33 in) |
| Minimum age | 8 weeks | 16 weeks |
| Snub-nosed breeds | Allowed if cabin conditions are met | Not accepted |
| Approval deadline | 48 hours before international, 24 hours before domestic | 48 hours before international, 24 hours before domestic |
| Seats | Must choose a seat designated for pet travel; no exit rows | Not applicable |
The 7 kg cabin limit includes the carrier
This is the rule that catches most owners out. Korean Air's limit is 7 kg for the pet and the carrier together, not the pet alone. A sturdy airline carrier can weigh 1 to 2 kg empty, so in practice your pet should weigh about 5 to 6 kg (11 to 13 lb) at most. Weigh your pet in its carrier at home before you book. Korean Air also says the fare can be recalculated from the weight measured at check-in, even if you prepaid online, so an underestimate costs money as well as risking refusal.
Cabin carrier rules
The cabin carrier can be up to 32 cm wide, 45 cm deep and 19 cm high (12.5 x 17.5 x 7.5 in), including any wheels, and must fit under the seat in front of you. Soft carriers can be up to 25 cm (10 in) tall as long as they squash to 19 cm when pressed down. A fabric or leather carrier must be made for in-flight use with a firm base and sides. The carrier must give your pet room to stand, lie down and move, be water resistant and well ventilated, and close securely so the pet cannot push it open. Write your name and phone number in English on the outside. Our roundup of the best airline-approved dog carriers lists models in this size range.
Where you can sit
If your pet flies in the cabin, you must select a seat designated for pet travel when you request the service. Pet owners cannot sit in exit rows. Korean Air also says pets are not allowed in First and Prestige Class on some aircraft, because the seat design leaves no space underneath for a carrier. Your pet stays in the carrier under the seat for the whole flight; it cannot come out onto your lap.
Flying in the cargo hold
Pets that are too heavy for the cabin can travel in the hold if they are at least 16 weeks old and the pet and crate together weigh no more than 45 kg (99 lb). Korean Air notes that some countries restrict hold pets heavier than 32 kg (70 lb). The crate's length, width and height must add up to 291 cm (114 in) or less, with a maximum height of 84 cm (33 in). It must be rigid metal, wood or plastic held with screws, have wheels removed, and be tall enough that your pet's head or ears clear the roof by at least 5 cm when standing. Put a blanket or pad on the floor.
The hold compartment has controlled ventilation, temperature and lighting. Even so, Korean Air warns that temperatures above 29 C (84 F) or below -7 C (19 F) on the ground can harm a pet's health. See pet cargo vs in cabin for how the two options compare on safety and cost.
Aircraft and seasonal limits on hold pets
Korean Air restricts checked pets on Boeing 737 and Airbus A321 aircraft on all international flights, and on domestic flights during the warm season from June through September. If your route uses one of those aircraft, a large dog may not be able to fly on it at all, so check the aircraft type before booking a ticket you cannot change.
Snub-nosed breeds
Korean Air does not carry brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dogs and cats in the hold, including mixed breeds with a snub-nosed parent, because of the risk of breathing problems in flight. It defines these as breeds with muzzles shorter than their skulls, which covers familiar flat-faced breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs and French Bulldogs among dogs and Persians among cats. If your pet is a mix, ask before you book. They can still fly in the cabin if they meet the 7 kg limit and other cabin rules. Our guide to the snub-nosed dog breed flying ban explains the medical reasons.
No sedatives
Korean Air's cargo rules say the pet must be healthy, free from illness or injury, and must not have been given sedatives or sleeping pills. Sedation can depress breathing and affect balance at altitude, which is why most airlines and vets advise against it. Crate training in the weeks before the flight is the safer way to reduce stress, and Korean Air itself says pets should be acclimated to their crate before departure.
How to book a pet on Korean Air
- Check your destination's entry rules and get the required documents, such as a rabies vaccination certificate and quarantine certificate.
- Find out from the quarantine office at your departure airport whether your pet must be inspected, and when.
- Buy your own ticket first; you cannot request pet travel without one.
- Request the Traveling with Pets service at least 48 hours before an international flight or 24 hours before a domestic one.
- If the pet flies in the cabin, pick a seat designated for pet travel.
- Complete the pet transportation declaration form Korean Air sends after approval.
- Arrive early, since pet check-in takes extra time and your pet will be weighed.
If your pet is not approved, the reason shows in your booking details. Korean Air is clear that a pet that turns up without approval can fly neither in the cabin nor in the hold.
Fees and how to pay
The pet fare is separate from your baggage allowance and depends on the route and the weight of the pet and carrier. Korean Air lets you pay by credit card, with SKYPASS miles or with SKYPETS points, its loyalty program for pet travelers. Because the fare can change with the weight at check-in, weigh carefully and expect a final figure at the airport. A pet stroller counts as ordinary baggage and goes free if it fits within your allowance.
Codeshares, connections and commercial pets
On codeshare flights operated by a partner, the partner's pet policy may apply, and some partners do not carry pets at all. Keep the whole itinerary on Korean Air-operated flights where you can. Korean Air also warns that pets moved for commercial purposes, such as sale, adoption, breeding, shows or research, may be refused entry by the destination country, which matters for rescue dogs flown from Korea to the US for adoption.
How popular Korean Air pet travel has become
Demand is growing fast. The Korea Times reported that Korean Air carried 33,252 pets in passenger cabins from January to July 2024, up 19.2 percent on a year earlier, and that 63.6 percent of those trips were international. Popular routes and dates fill their pet allocation, so request approval as soon as you have a ticket rather than waiting for the 48 hour deadline.
Korean Air vs other Korean airlines
Korean low-cost carriers have opened up to pets too. The same Korea Times report says Jeju Air and Korean Air both allow cabin pets up to 7 kg including the carrier, while Eastar Jet allows up to 9 kg and extended its pet policy to most international routes in July 2024. All three limit cabin pets to dogs, cats and birds kept in carriers under the seat. For long-haul flights to the US, though, the low-cost carriers are not an option, so the choice is between full-service airlines, and Korean Air's hold option matters for any dog over the cabin limit.
Entry rules: flying into South Korea
The airline's approval does not replace government rules. As the Korea Herald summarized from Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency guidance, dogs and cats entering Korea need an ISO 11784 or 11785 microchip (or you bring a scanner that reads yours), and a quarantine certificate issued or certified by the government of the departure country. From most countries, including the US, that certificate must include a rabies antibody result of at least 0.5 IU/ml from an FAVN or RFFIT test, with the blood drawn within 24 months before arrival. Pets under 90 days old do not need a prior rabies vaccine but still need a microchip, and pets from designated rabies-free areas skip the antibody test. Missing paperwork can mean extended quarantine or return at the owner's cost. Our guide to pet transport to South Korea walks through the US timeline.
Entry rules: flying into the US
Dogs flying from Korea into the US must meet the CDC dog import rules, including a microchip and the CDC Dog Import Form submitted before travel. South Korea is not on the CDC list of high-risk rabies countries, which keeps the US side simpler than for many Asian origins. Cats face lighter federal rules, but some states and airlines ask for a rabies certificate anyway. For Korea's export inspection and costs, see pet transport from South Korea to the US.
Moving two pets
Because each passenger can take one pet carrier in the cabin, two small pets usually need two travelling adults, or one pet in the cabin and one in the hold. Each animal also needs its own quarantine paperwork and inspection. Request approval for both pets at the same time so you do not end up with one confirmed and the other refused because the flight's pet allocation filled in between.
Senior pets and long-haul flights
Incheon to Los Angeles or New York is 11 to 14 hours in the air, and a pet in the cabin stays in its carrier the whole time. That is a long time for an older dog or cat, or one with a heart or airway problem. Book a vet visit a few weeks before the trip, ask whether the pet is fit for the flight length, and plan for a pad in the carrier. Korean Air says the pet must be healthy and not given sedatives, so the vet's job is to confirm fitness, not to prescribe something to keep the pet quiet.
Tips that prevent problems at the airport
- Weigh the pet in its carrier and leave a safety margin under 7 kg.
- Measure the carrier with wheels and handles, not the size on the box.
- Carry printed copies of the declaration form, vaccination record and health certificate.
- Give water before check-in, and fix a water bottle inside a hold crate.
- Walk your dog right before you leave home and again before check-in, since the pet stays in its carrier from check-in to arrival.