PETS DELIVERY EXPERT
Plan pet travel
on Brussels Airlines.
Check the proposed flight and your pet’s acceptance before committing to travel.
Official sources open in a new tab.
- Published
- Sources checked
Independent planning guidance, not a booking confirmation or complete government-entry checklist.
1. Check cabin eligibility
Cabin cats/dogs have an 8 kg combined animal-and-carrier limit and a 55 × 40 × 23 cm carrier maximum. The carrier must fit under the seat without a rigid frame. Pregnant pets are excluded.
There is one cabin container per passenger and a maximum of four per aircraft. Normally one animal travels per carrier; sharing exceptions require accustomed animals, adequate movement space and the same combined-weight limit. Exceptions cover two comparably sized adults, two comparably sized young animals from twelve weeks, or a mother with one dependent 0–6-week-old. Species mixing is not expressly established.
Book ahead through My Booking or the Service Centre, subject to availability. Bring two signed declaration copies. Europe, including Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, costs EUR 80–100 one-way on Brussels-operated flights.
The page requires pets older than 15 weeks but describes younger sharing exceptions. Resolve this discrepancy before booking. Cabin pets are excluded on flights to the UK; departures from the UK are accepted except London Gatwick.
Source: Brussels: cabin. Checked October 15, 2026.
2. Check the hold crate
The hold page describes animals as unrestricted in size or weight, but limits checked crates to 125 × 75 × 85 cm; larger containers require cargo. Do not interpret this as an unlimited loaded-weight guarantee: obtain acceptance for the exact animal, crate and flight.
From 4 May 2026, ventilation openings must not exceed 25 × 25 mm for dogs or 19 × 19 mm for cats. Noncompliant crates are rejected. Review the complete hard-sided-crate specification, including ventilation, fastenings and feeding arrangements.
Hold booking is through the Service Centre. The page instructs check-in at least two hours before the latest check-in time. Its fee tables are one-way for Brussels-operated flights; ask which crate category and additional charges apply.
Dogs travelling to the USA must be at least six months old. Check the published airport restrictions and conditional Newark exception directly; this guide does not establish U.S. entry eligibility.
Source: Brussels: hold. Checked October 15, 2026.
3. Obtain a confirmed reservation
The hold checklist gives deadlines of 72 hours before departure for the online form or travel agency, and 24 hours when calling the Service Centre; U.S. deadlines may differ. An unconfirmed request is not acceptance.
Each passenger may register at most two animals in one or two permitted containers, using cabin and/or hold according to eligibility. This passenger allowance does not override the cabin container limits. Snub-nosed breeds cannot travel in the hold.
The checklist says to bring the animal to check-in approximately three hours before departure, a different timing reference from the hold webpage. Ask for the airport-specific handover time. Bring booking confirmation and veterinary/official documents. Unpaid carriage is settled at the counter.
Source: Brussels: hold checklist. Checked October 15, 2026.
4. Resolve the age discrepancy
The currently linked cabin declaration states at least twelve weeks old, or fifteen weeks for travel to, from or via Germany. This differs from the cabin webpage’s general age rule and its sharing exceptions. Obtain written confirmation of your animal’s age eligibility; do not use the form alone as permission to travel.
Source: Brussels: cabin declaration. Checked October 15, 2026.
5. Confirm the remaining details
A cabin-specific booking cutoff, hold flight quota, explicit mixed-species sharing permission, hold sharing criteria and numeric loaded-weight ceiling were not established in the reviewed sources. Ask the airline to approve the exact animals, containers and operating flights.
Request a complete itinerary quote, currency, additional charges and pet-specific change/refund terms. A published fee range does not confirm capacity. Use the airline’s separate guidance for assistance dogs and breed assessment. Government entry permission needs a separate check.
Related planning
Related reading: Airline pet travel guides · Carrier preparation.
Official sources and scope
Official sources checked October 15, 2026. Obtain current acceptance and commercial terms for your own journey.
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