Flying KLM With a Dog or Cat From the UK in 2026: Bag, Rules and Price

The night before Mochi's first flight, her bag stood packed by the front door. Mochi is my toy poodle and weighs about three kilos. I'd rung customer service more than once, and I still lay awake picturing her barking at 10,000 metres.

If you're flying KLM from the UK with a cat or small dog, the bag is probably on your mind too. KLM is one of the few airlines that takes a pet in the cabin out of a UK airport. Here's what applies, and what I've learned from flying with a dog and a cat.

The rules below come from KLM's pet page. Rules can change, so check the page yourself before you book.

The short version

• A cat or dog can travel in the cabin in a bag under the seat in front of you.
• The bag may measure up to 46 × 28 × 24 cm (length × width × height).
• Pet and bag together may weigh up to 8 kg.
• Book the pet at least 48 hours before departure, ideally with your ticket.
• The fee is EUR 70 to EUR 500 per one-way flight, depending on the route. The exact price shows when you book.
• Economy, and Business within Europe. No cabin pets in Premium Comfort or intercontinental Business.
• From the UK: yes. Into the UK: no. A UK Government rule stops pets arriving in the cabin.

The size

46 × 28 × 24 cm is narrower than many people expect. A bag sold as "airline approved" at 50 × 30 cm won't meet it.

Measure the outside of your bag at its biggest points, with pockets and the handle base. A soft bag gives a little when you push it under the seat, and the top presses down a centimetre or two. With a bit of space above your pet that makes the difference. Most important is that your pet can lie down comfortably.

The bag I'd choose for KLM

Our P8114 measures 43 × 28 × 22 cm, so it sits inside KLM's limit as it is. It weighs 1.45 kg, leaving about 6.5 kg for your pet under the 8 kg limit. It has a cushioned mat, a safety tether and a non-slip base.

For a smaller cat or dog, the P8113 (40 × 25 × 25 cm, 0.82 kg) also fits once you press the soft top down to 24 cm.

The weight: 8 kg for everything

The 8 kg counts the pet and the bag together. A 6.5 kg cat in a 2 kg bag is already over. Check the bag's own weight before you buy, the same way you check its size.

Weigh your pet at home in the bag: stand on the bathroom scale holding it, then take off your own weight. The blanket and pad add a few hundred grams.

Booking from the UK

Add the pet when you book, or through KLM at least 48 hours before departure. Cabin pet places per flight are limited, so book the pet with the ticket if you can.

If your trip continues on another airline after Amsterdam, that airline's rules apply on its flight. Compare the others in our guide to flying with a pet from the UK.

The trip home

KLM can't fly your pet back into the UK in the cabin, and neither can any other airline. Pets arrive in Great Britain as cargo on approved routes, or with you by ferry or Eurotunnel. Many people fly out to Amsterdam with the pet in the cabin and come home by car and ferry.

Dogs need a tapeworm treatment from a vet one to five days before they enter Great Britain. The papers for the way out and the way back are on GOV.UK.

What I've learned from flying with a dog and a cat

Let your pet get used to the bag early. Mochi rode in her bag on long car trips, about two hours at a time, before she ever saw an airport. After a few trips she lay down and slept.

Find a quiet corner after security. I laid a pee pad on the floor of a toilet in the departure area and let Mochi go before boarding.

Put a blanket over the bag. With the airline blanket over her bag she couldn't see everyone walking past, and she settled much faster than I expected.

Keep a favourite treat close. Twice Mochi got restless. I opened the zip a little, gave her a piece of apple, and she settled again.

Common questions

Can my cat fly in the cabin with KLM from London?

Yes. Cats and dogs can travel in the cabin from UK airports in a bag up to 46 × 28 × 24 cm, with pet and bag together up to 8 kg.

How much does KLM charge for a pet in the cabin?

EUR 70 to EUR 500 per one-way flight, depending on the route. The exact price is shown when you book.

Can I fly back to the UK with my pet in the KLM cabin?

No. A UK Government rule stops pets arriving in the cabin. Plan cargo on an approved route, or a ferry or Eurotunnel crossing.

How late can I book the pet?

At least 48 hours before departure. Places are limited, so book with the ticket if you can.

The bag for the KLM cabin

P8114 is a soft 43 × 28 × 22 cm carrier for cats and small dogs up to 7 kg.

A short note: entry and exit rules and airline requirements change, and the official information always applies.