LOT Polish Airlines carries dogs, cats and ferrets in the cabin and in the baggage hold. A pet can fly in the cabin if it weighs 8 kg or less with its carrier; heavier pets go in the hold, and the largest crate LOT takes is 122 x 81 x 89 cm on its Boeing 787 and 777. Flying a dog to the US on LOT takes extra steps: you send CDC documents for approval, wait up to 48 hours for a decision, then buy the service at least 48 hours before the flight. LOT bans a long list of short-muzzled breeds from the hold, including the Chihuahua and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and has not accepted emotional support animals since April 2021.
This guide follows LOT's own pet in the cabin page, its animal in the hold page and its help center answers as read in October 2026. Rules and prices change, so confirm with LOT before you book, and check the entry rules for every country on your route.
LOT pet rules at a glance
The table brings together the numbers most people look for first.
| Rule | Cabin | Hold |
|---|---|---|
| Animals accepted | Dogs, cats, ferrets | Dogs, cats, ferrets |
| Weight | 8 kg including carrier | Above 8 kg, limited by crate size |
| Size, Boeing 787 and 777 | 55 x 40 x 20 cm | 122 x 81 x 89 cm |
| Size, Boeing 737 | 55 x 40 x 20 cm | 102 x 69 x 76 cm |
| Size, Embraer jets | 45 x 30 x 20 cm | 102 x 69 x 76 cm |
| Animals per container | 1 per passenger (2 small same-species pets allowed in one carrier within 8 kg) | 1 adult, or up to 3 littermates aged 6 months or less |
| Minimum age | 3 months; 6 months for dogs to the US | 3 months; 6 months for dogs to the US |
| Booking | Online or up to 12 hours before departure in Manage My Booking | Same; US dogs need approval first |
| Snub-nosed breeds | Allowed within cabin limits | Not accepted |
Which animals LOT accepts
LOT takes dogs, cats and ferrets on board, in the cabin or the hold depending on their size. The number of animals on each aircraft type is limited, so check availability when you book your ticket on lot.com or add the pet later in Manage My Booking, up to 12 hours before departure. Other animals are not carried as pets.
The pet must be at least 3 months old, and at least 21 days must have passed since its last valid rabies vaccination. Bring an up-to-date vaccination record, a pet passport from a vet describing the animal's colour, breed and sex with its microchip or tattoo number, and a suitable container. Dogs flying to the US have stricter rules, covered below.
Flying with a pet in the LOT cabin
In the cabin, your pet stays in a container for the whole trip, either a hard transporter or a soft bag. Every part of the animal must fit inside, and it must be able to stand, turn and lie down. The pet and container together cannot weigh more than 8 kg.
Each passenger can bring one animal in the cabin. LOT makes one exception: two small animals of the same species can share one carrier if their combined weight with the carrier stays within 8 kg and the carrier fits the aircraft limit. That suits a pair of kittens, for example.
Carrier size depends on the aircraft. On the Boeing 787, 777 and 737 it is 55 x 40 x 20 cm. On LOT's Embraer regional jets (E70, E75, E90 and E95) it is only 45 x 30 x 20 cm. If your trip includes a short European connection on an Embraer, size the carrier for that leg. The carrier goes under the seat in front of you for take-off, landing and turbulence.
For security reasons LOT will not seat a passenger with a cabin pet in the front section: on the Boeing 787 that means the first rows of each cabin class, and on other aircraft the first row of Business Class. Our guide to flying with a dog in the cabin covers how to prepare a small dog.
Flying with a pet in the LOT hold
Pets over 8 kg, or pets that cannot travel in the cabin, go in the baggage hold. LOT says the temperature there is controlled for the animal's safety and comfort. The crate must meet the IATA Live Animals Regulations, and LOT can refuse a pet at check-in if the crate is too small or does not comply.
The crate must be big enough for the animal to move freely, stand, turn and lie down; clean, tight and securely closed; lined with absorbent material; fitted with water and food containers; ventilated on at least three sides; and made of fibreglass, metal, rigid plastic, solid wood or plywood. Remove any wheels at check-in. A crate made entirely of welded or wire mesh is not allowed. Only one adult animal can travel in each crate, except littermates up to 6 months old, of which up to three can share.
The maximum crate size depends on the aircraft: 122 x 81 x 89 cm on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777, and 102 x 69 x 76 cm on the Boeing 737 and 737 MAX 8 and on the Embraer jets. A giant breed in an extra-large crate may fit on a long-haul Dreamliner but not on a connecting 737. Our guide to choosing a pet transport crate explains sizing.
Hot weather and the hold
LOT checks the weather and operating conditions at the departure, arrival and transfer airports before accepting a pet in the hold. If high temperatures put the pet at risk, LOT will not accept it in the hold and will offer to move your trip to a cooler day. For summer travel, check the forecast for every airport on the route and choose early morning or late flights where you can. Our guide to pet transport in hot weather explains why.
LOT pet fees
LOT does not publish a fixed fee table on its pet pages. Its help center says the cost depends on the animal's weight, size and breed, which also decide whether it goes in the cabin or the hold, and you see the exact price while booking or in Manage My Booking. Price the pet before you pay for the ticket if you are comparing airlines.
LOT also notes that on flights to the USA and Canada, airport restrictions mean fewer animals can travel in the hold. Space on transatlantic flights is the tightest part of the network, so book the pet the same day as your seat.
Flying a dog to the US on LOT
Since the CDC rules changed on August 1, 2024, LOT runs a separate approval process for dogs going to the US, in the cabin or the hold. Every dog must be healthy, at least 6 months old and microchipped, with proof of rabies vaccination. The steps are:
- Gather the documents the CDC requires for your dog's category: rabies-free or low-risk countries, US-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries, or foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
- Send all of them through LOT's form at least 48 hours before departure.
- Wait up to 48 hours for LOT's email with the result.
- If approved, buy the dog service through LOT's messaging channels or hotline. It must be bought no later than 48 hours before the flight.
- Bring every document you sent to the airport.
Dogs that have been in a high-risk country can only fly to New York JFK, Los Angeles or Miami. LOT's tips for a fast approval: send everything in one form, do not attach extra items such as photos of the dog, enter dates on the CDC Dog Import Form in US format (MM-DD-YYYY), send the form receipt as a PDF or image rather than a text file, match the microchip, weight and arrival date to your booking, and double-check the crate dimensions. The CDC dog import page has the full rules, and our guide to importing a dog into the US walks through them.
Cats flying to the US face no extra LOT restrictions beyond the standard documents, but at the moment the cat service to the US can only be booked through the LOT Contact Center.
Flying a pet from the US to Poland
Going to Poland, EU rules apply: an ISO microchip, a rabies vaccination given after the chip, a 21-day wait after a first vaccination, and an EU animal health certificate from a USDA-accredited vet, endorsed by USDA APHIS. The European Commission's pet movement page sets out the rules. LOT's 21-day vaccination rule matches the EU's, so a dog that meets EU entry rules usually meets LOT's age and vaccination rules too.
Snub-nosed breeds: the hold ban
LOT does not carry short-muzzled dogs or cats in the hold, because they are more prone to breathing problems from heat and stress. They can still fly in the cabin if they meet the 8 kg and carrier limits, or as cargo. LOT's list is broader than most airlines' and includes the American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Boxer, Boston Terrier, all bulldogs, Bullmastiff, Cane Corso, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Japanese Chin, Chow Chow, American Cocker Spaniel, Dogue de Bordeaux, Brussels Griffon, King Charles Spaniel, Lhasa Apso, all mastiffs, all pugs, Pekingese, Affenpinscher, Shar Pei, Shih Tzu and Tibetan Spaniel. The cat list is the Persian, Exotic, Himalayan, British Shorthair and Scottish Fold. The ban also covers crosses and animals with a short muzzle. LOT's brachycephalic breeds page has the full list, and our guide to snub-nosed breeds and flying covers the alternatives.
The Chihuahua and Cavalier are on the list, which surprises owners. Most Chihuahuas fit the 8 kg cabin limit anyway, but a Cavalier is often heavier and would need cargo.
Emotional support and assistance dogs
LOT has not accepted emotional support animals since April 1, 2021. An untrained dog can still fly as a pet, in the cabin or the hold, for the usual fee. Trained assistance dogs, including guide dogs for blind and deaf passengers, travel under separate rules; see LOT's assistance dog page before booking. Our guide to emotional support animals and flying explains how the rules changed across airlines.
Travel day tips from LOT
LOT suggests getting the pet used to its carrier a few days before the flight, attaching a label with the pet's name and feeding instructions, and arriving at the airport at least 3 hours before departure because pet check-in takes longer. Walk the pet beforehand, hold back food for a few hours, offer a little water just before departure, and keep the leash and muzzle outside the carrier or in your cabin bag. Ask your vet before giving any tranquilliser.
A sample plan: Warsaw to New York with a 30 kg dog
- Check the dog is at least 6 months old, microchipped and vaccinated against rabies at least 21 days before travel.
- Buy a rigid IATA crate within 122 x 81 x 89 cm, and confirm the flight is on a Boeing 787 or 777.
- Complete the CDC Dog Import Form with US-format dates. Because Poland is not on the CDC high-risk list, a dog that has only lived in Poland has the simpler document set.
- Send all documents through LOT's US dog form at least a week before the flight, not just 48 hours, to leave time for any corrections.
- After approval, buy the hold service through the hotline or messaging channel and confirm the price.
- Arrive 3 hours early with every document you sent.
Codeshares and other airlines
LOT's pet rules apply only to flights it operates. On a codeshare operated by another airline, that airline's rules apply, and if your trip involves more than one airline you need approval for the pet from each one.
Common mistakes with LOT pet bookings
- Buying a 55 cm carrier for a connection on an Embraer, where the limit is 45 x 30 x 20 cm.
- Leaving the US dog approval until the last two days before the flight.
- Sending CDC form dates in European format.
- Planning the hold for a Chihuahua mix, Cavalier or other listed breed.
- Booking a summer hold trip without checking the heat at every airport.