Airline pet policy

Air China pet policy

Air China takes dogs and cats as checked baggage (1 per passenger), but not in the cabin on the routes we cover. 1 of 4 policy rows still needs the airline's confirmation before you book.

Policy checked Oct 26, 2026Source: Air China By the CollarPass team
In cabinNot acceptedNot carried on the routes we cover.Read the route rules Checked baggageConfirm before bookingDogs and cats1 per passengerRead the route rules

In the cabin

Pets in the cabin travel in a carrier under the seat in front of you. The rows below are per route, so check yours.

Dogs, cats, rabbits and ferrets

As checked baggage

Pets in the hold as checked baggage check in with you at the desk and fly on the same flight.

Dogs

Not acceptedTo United States and Hawaii

Air China has suspended carrying dogs on flights to the United States since 1 February 2025, including pet dogs and service dogs.

  • The English desktop page doesn't mention the suspension; the Chinese pages (which prevail) and the mobile page do. No restart date is given.
  • Dogs on flights from the US to China aren't covered by the notice.

Sources: 小动物运输 (Pet transport, Chinese) · 小动物运输 (Pet transport, Chinese) · Pet Transportation · Checked Oct 26, 2026

Dogs and cats

Confirm before booking

Air China carries domestic cats and dogs as checked baggage in an oxygenated hold, one per passenger, up to 32 kg including the carrier, food and water. Snub-nosed and aggressive breeds (and their mixes), pregnant or nursing pets, pets that gave birth in the last 7 days and pets 8 weeks old or younger are not accepted. Fees are paid at check-in.

  • 1 per passenger
  • 1 per crate
  • Max 32 kg incl. crate
  • At least 8 weeks old

Not for snub-nosed breeds

Fees: USD 600 — International routes, per carrier of 2–8 kg (CNY 3,900) · USD 800 — Per carrier over 8 kg up to 23 kg (CNY 5,200) · USD 1200 — Per carrier over 23 kg up to 32 kg (CNY 7,800)

Before you fly: Ask for it when you book and wait for Air China’s approval (its website gives a cut-off of 2 hours before departure). Book each flight of a connection separately. Bring the pet to the airport at least 120 minutes before departure.

  • Not on A319, A320, 737-8 MAX or C909 (ARJ21) aircraft, whose holds have no oxygen supply.
  • Connections only at the same airport in Beijing Capital, Shanghai Pudong or Chengdu (Shuangliu or Tianfu) with 2.5+ hours; over 4 hours you collect the pet and check it in again. No pet transport with other airlines or on Air China wet-leased flights.
  • The fee table is the 2022-06-10 edition; it doesn’t say whether it’s charged per flight or per journey.
  • Air China limits pets per aircraft but publishes no number.
Confirm with the airline before booking

Air China's website says to apply up to 2 hours before departure, but its mobile page says to ask when booking and get approval first. Ask when you book and confirm the cut-off with Air China (95583).

Sources: 小动物运输 (Pet transport, Chinese) · 作为行李托运的小动物 (Pets as checked baggage, mobile page) · 旅客、行李运输总条件 (General conditions of carriage, July 2026) · 国航实际承运航班特殊托运行李收费标准一览表 (special baggage fees, 2022-06-10 edition) · Checked Oct 21, 2026

Rabbits and ferrets

Country pages for these routes

Entry rules for the countries named in the rows above.

🌺Hawaii🇺🇸United StatesCountries

Official sources

Every row above cites one of these pages. Dates show our last check, not the page’s own update.

Put this policy on a dated plan

A Trip Pack turns your route into steps counted back from the flight, with the airline rules to check.