LOT Polish Airlines Pet Policy: Cabin, Hold and Cargo Rules

Under the LOT Polish Airlines pet policy, a dog, cat or ferret can travel in the cabin if the pet and carrier weigh no more than 8 kg and fit the aircraft-specific size limit. Larger eligible animals may travel in the baggage hold, subject to route, weather, carrier and availability rules. Animals other than dogs, cats and ferrets must travel as cargo. Space is limited, so check availability before paying. On a trip involving another airline, each operating carrier must approve the pet separately. Airline approval also does not replace the import or export rules set by governments. Start with the LOT pet overview, then confirm the exact aircraft, every operating airline and the current border requirements for the full itinerary.

Information verified October 14, 2026. Rules can change, and availability is not guaranteed.

Should your pet travel in the cabin, hold or as cargo?

Choose the travel route in this order:

1. Identify the animal. LOT allows a dog, cat or ferret in the cabin. Animals other than those three species travel only as cargo under the LOT pet overview.
2. Weigh the pet with the carrier. The combined cabin limit is 8 kg. A dog, cat or ferret over that limit cannot use the cabin option described by LOT. Check the hold route and live availability instead on the LOT hold page.
3. Check fit, not just weight. A cabin pet must fit fully inside the carrier and be able to stand, turn and lie down. The carrier must also fit the limit for the exact aircraft on the booking. The pet must stay inside throughout the flight, according to the LOT cabin rules.
4. Check the route. Some destinations require cargo, restrict a species or do not permit animal transport under LOT's current hold rules. Border authorities apply their own rules separately.

LOT normally allows one cabin animal per passenger. Two small animals of the same species may share one carrier if their total weight with the carrier remains within 8 kg and the carrier fits. During takeoff, landing and turbulence, the carrier goes under the seat in front. LOT also restricts front-section seating for travelers with an in-cabin animal. On a B787, this means the first rows of each cabin class. On other aircraft, it means the first row in LOT Business Class. Confirm the seating arrangement on the live cabin page.

What are LOT's aircraft-specific carrier limits?

The aircraft matters because LOT publishes different maximum carrier dimensions. LOT lists all dimensions as length × width × height.

Check the exact aircraft before choosing a carrier. The cabin measurements come from the LOT cabin page, while the larger hold measurements come from the LOT hold page. Do not assume a carrier that fits one LOT aircraft will fit another.

For the hold, the animal must be able to stand, turn and lie down. LOT says the carrier must be clean, tight, securely closed and lined with absorbent material. It must have water and feed containers, ventilation on at least three sides, and a permitted rigid construction. Wheels must be removed. All-wire or welded-mesh containers are not accepted. LOT may refuse a carrier that is too small or does not meet IATA requirements. Review the live hold specifications and use our air-travel dog crate guide as a planning aid.

How do you book a pet and check a codeshare?

LOT says you can check the pet service while booking or add it later through Manage My Booking, up to 12 hours before departure. Space is limited and is not guaranteed. Check the displayed fee in the booking flow or Manage My Booking because pricing is dynamic. The LOT pet overview is the source for this booking window.

For a multi-airline or codeshare itinerary, read the “operated by” line for every flight. LOT's rules cover only LOT-operated flights. You need separate approval from every operating airline, as explained in LOT's multiple-airline FAQ.

Keep these three decisions separate:

• LOT acceptance: Is the animal, carrier, aircraft and route accepted, and is space available?
• Operating-airline approval: Has every airline actually operating a flight approved the animal under its own rules?
• Government entry or exit permission: Does the animal meet the current requirements of each relevant country?

Do not treat one approval as proof of another. If you are still comparing carriers, see our broader airline pet policy guide.

When can LOT refuse hold travel?

LOT can refuse or move hold transport if temperatures at departure, arrival or a transfer airport make carriage unsafe. Check conditions at every airport on the route, not only the two endpoints. LOT recommends arriving at least three hours before departure. It also advises consulting a veterinarian before giving tranquilizers. These are airline instructions from the LOT hold page, not a promise that the animal will be accepted.

LOT also prohibits brachycephalic dogs and cats, their crossbreeds, and animals showing brachycephalic traits from the baggage hold. LOT says they may use the cabin only when they meet the cabin weight and carrier rules. Check the live LOT hold page for its current breed guidance rather than relying on a copied list.

For hold carriers, LOT allows one adult animal per carrier. Up to three animals from the same litter may share one carrier if each is no older than six months, under the current hold rules.

Which route restrictions need an extra check?

LOT's hold page showed the following restrictions when verified on October 14, 2026:

• The United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates require cargo.
• Iceland does not allow animal transport.
• Canada accepts cats and dogs but not ferrets.
• The United States and Canada have reduced hold limits, so live availability must be checked.
• Japan and Thailand have additional destination processes.

Treat this as a dated snapshot, not permanent clearance. Recheck the LOT hold page and the relevant destination authority before paying. LOT's transport decision, approval from any other operating airline and government admissibility remain separate.

Which documents and border rules apply?

LOT's live page says transported animals must be at least three months old and at least 21 days past the last valid rabies vaccination. That is LOT's airline rule. It is not a universal border rule, and a government may use a different pathway or impose additional requirements. The traveler remains legally and financially responsible for the animal under LOT's rules for pets traveling in the cabin and in the hold.

For pets leaving the United States, USDA APHIS says the destination country sets its import requirements. Use the live USDA APHIS destination tool to identify the current government process. Our USDA pet travel guide can help you organize the check, but airline acceptance does not make a pet admissible at the border.

What must travelers with U.S.-bound dogs do?

LOT requires advance document review for dogs flying to the United States. It says the documents must be submitted no later than 48 hours before departure and the service must be purchased no later than 48 hours before departure. LOT also says the dog must appear healthy, be at least six months old, be microchipped and have the required rabies evidence. Verify the submission process and airline requirements on the LOT pet overview.

In addition, LOT's live pet overview states that dogs which have been in high-risk countries can be accepted only on flights to the United States landing at JFK, LAX or MIA. This route condition does not confirm acceptance. Verify the restriction on LOT's live pet page for your itinerary.

Then use the live CDC dog import hub to determine the current government pathway based on the dog's travel history and vaccination status. Completing LOT's document review does not replace CDC compliance. Approval from another operating airline, if present, is a third separate check.

What should you check before going to the airport?

Use this checklist before paying and again before departure:

• Confirm whether the animal will travel in the cabin, hold or as cargo.
• Confirm live pet-space availability with LOT.
• Verify the exact aircraft and the matching carrier dimensions.
• Measure and weigh the animal with the cabin carrier when using the 8 kg option.
• Check that the hold carrier meets LOT's construction, ventilation and equipment rules.
• Review every departure, transfer and arrival airport for route and temperature restrictions.
• Identify every operating airline and obtain its separate approval.
• Complete the current government entry and exit process for the itinerary.
• For a U.S.-bound dog, complete LOT's advance review and determine the current CDC pathway.
• Recheck the current charge in the booking or Manage My Booking.
• Plan to arrive at least three hours before departure, as LOT recommends for hold travel.

Travel disruption and veterinary costs are separate from airline acceptance. If you are assessing coverage for a trip, compare terms in our pet insurance comparison without assuming a policy covers a specific event.

Frequently asked questions

Can my dog, cat or ferret fly in the LOT cabin?

Yes, if the pet and carrier together weigh no more than 8 kg, the pet fits comfortably inside, the carrier meets the exact aircraft limit and LOT confirms space. The pet must remain in the carrier for the flight. See the LOT cabin rules. Government requirements and any other operating airline's approval are separate.

Can two pets share one cabin carrier?

LOT allows two small animals of the same species in one carrier if their combined animal-plus-carrier weight stays within 8 kg and the carrier fits. Confirm availability and the aircraft limit on the LOT cabin page.

How late can I add a pet to a LOT booking?

LOT says the service can be added through Manage My Booking up to 12 hours before departure, subject to limited space. U.S.-bound dogs have a separate 48-hour purchase and document-review deadline. Verify both on the LOT pet overview.

Does LOT approval mean my pet can enter the destination country?

No. LOT acceptance, approval from every other operating airline and government entry permission are separate decisions. Check the destination authority. For pets leaving the United States, use the USDA APHIS destination tool.

Can a brachycephalic pet travel in the hold?

No. LOT prohibits brachycephalic dogs and cats, their crossbreeds and animals showing those traits from the baggage hold. LOT says a qualifying dog or cat may travel in the cabin only if it meets the cabin weight and carrier rules. Recheck the live hold page.

Written by the FG Team, the Furry Guardian editorial team, who keeps these border rules current.