7 Dog-Friendly Airlines in Asia (And Which Ones Don’t Allow Pets)
Want to fly with your dog as pet in cabin on your upcoming trip to Asia? It’s possible, we promise! Read on for a list of the 7 most dog friendly airlines in Asia – along with a cheat sheet of those that aren’t – to help you book your flight.
Traveling internationally with your dog is something that brings a lot of joy, but also a lot of challenges. One of those challenges is finding airlines that allow your fur baby to fly with you in cabin. In our nearly two years of full-time travel with our 7 lb (3.5 kg) cavapoo, Cali, we’ve traveled on 8 different airlines (and counting!) to countries across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. So far, airlines in Asia have been the trickiest to navigate. However, we’ve found a few that got us from point A to point B. In this post, we’ll provide an overview of these dog friendly airlines in Asia for you, along with a few of our top tips for flying internationally with your pup. We’ll also provide a list of Asian airlines that do not allow pets to fly in cabin for you to cross-reference while researching.
New to flying internationally with your dog in cabin? Check out our comprehensive guide. We’ve also got a post with all the essential dog travel gear you’ll need for flights and tips for finding the best pet friendly hotels and Airbnbs. Happy travels!
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Dog Friendly Airlines in Asia Guide - At a Glance:
What Makes an Airline Pet Friendly?
We consider an airline pet friendly if they allow your dog to fly with you in cabin. Checking our dog as cargo makes us extremely nervous, and is something we avoid at all costs. This means that our list will be tailored for people flying with small dogs (and likely cats), and not to those with larger animals that would be required to fly as cargo regardless of the airline’s pet in cabin policy. Additionally, it’s important to note that this article is meant to address dog friendly policies for pets, not for service dogs or emotional support animals. These animals may receive exceptions that pets do not, and many of the non-pet friendly airlines below may in fact allow service or emotional support animals on board.
How We Compiled Our List of Dog Friendly Airlines in Asia
Before we get into the list, it’s important to discuss how we compiled it, as the method has a big impact on the outcome:
- We defined Asia as including the East (ex. China, Japan, Korea), South (ex. India), and Southeast (ex. Thailand, Phillipines) regions of the continent. We did not include the North (ex. Siberia) or Central (ex. Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan) regions of Asia in this list, primarily due to the lower level of tourism there. Additionally, we did not include Western Asia (ex. Turkey, Saudia Arabia, UAE) in this list, as we intend to address that region separately.
- We only included airlines that are pet friendly. This means we’re not considering an airline’s policy on service animals or emotional support animals, and we don’t consider an airline that only allows checking dogs as cargo to be pet friendly.
- This is not intended to be a fully exhaustive list of every pet friendly airline you could use to fly into or within Asia. Instead, we looked at the largest airlines in the region, as well as some niche airlines that service particular tourism hotspots.
Market Overview: Pet Friendly Asian Airlines
We’ll be honest – Asian airlines are not the most pet friendly bunch in the global market. While pet travel has become increasingly common in the past few years, the Asian market has been slow to embrace the trend. But thankfully, this seems to be changing! In fact, Philippines Airlines just launched a new pet friendly policy in December 2025. We hope more Asian airlines follow suit, but in the meantime, you’ll need to pay close attention to which airlines you book if you want to fly with your dog in cabin in Asia. When possible, we actually recommend flying on a European or American airline into and out of Asia to make things easier. These airlines tend to have more generous policies than their Asian counterparts.
Picking the best pet friendly flight for you and your dog goes beyond just choosing the right airline though. You’ll want to consider the number (and location) of connecting flights, whether those airports have pet relief areas, and more. Check out our complete guide to flying internationally with your pet for all of our top tips and recommendations. You’ll also need to make sure you have an appropriately-sized, airline-approved carrier for flight. We use and highly recommend the Sherpa Original Deluxe Travel Pet Carrier – learn more about it and other essential dog travel gear for flights in our post here.
The Top Airlines in Asia That Allow Pet in Cabin
Alright, that’s enough introduction, let’s get into the list of pet friendly airlines in Asia!
Pro tip: Airline pet in cabin policies are always subject to change. Make sure to read the details on their site carefully before booking your ticket.
Asiana Airlines is one of the largest full-service carriers in Asia, and you’ll likely see them as an option if you’re traveling in East Asia. They’re also one of the few airlines that allow you to book pet in cabin with business class seats, so they’re a great choice if you’re feeling fancy. They also allow the transport of snub-nosed breeds in cabin, which not all airlines do.
- Pets Permitted to Fly: Dogs, cats, and birds older than 16 weeks
- Max Weight: 15 lbs (7 kg), including carrier
- Max Carrier Size: 12.5 in wide x 17.5 in long x 8.25 in high (32 cm x 45 cm x 21 cm). Soft-sided carriers up to 10.25 in high (26 cm) are allowed if they can compress down to 8.25 in (21 cm).
- Seat Restrictions: Specific pet friendly seats must be selected when purchasing your ticket
- Pets per Person/Flight: 1 per person, number per flight depends on aircraft
- How to Book: After purchasing your ticket, call their reservation center. Reservations must be made at least 48 hours before flight.
- Fee Range: 30K KRW (~$20) for domestic flights and 140K-290K KRW (~$95-$197) for international flights, one-way. Fees are paid at the airport on the day of travel.
- Disallowed Pets: Aggressive breeds, pregnant pets, sedated pets
If you’re traveling to Vietnam, you’re likely to see their flag carrier Vietnam Airlines in your flight options. While Vietnam Airlines allows dogs to fly in cabin, they are not the most pet friendly airline in Asia. Their fees are quite high and their carrier size limitations are very small. We booked Vietnam Airlines flying from Bangkok, Thailand (check out our travel guide here!) to Da Nang, Vietnam, only to realize that our tiny dog’s carrier was still too big and we were forced to check her as cargo. We actually could not find a carrier small enough for sale in Bangkok or online. Make sure to check your measurements carefully before booking this one! Also, notably, Vietnam Airlines does not allow pet in cabin on flights between Vietnam and the United States.
- Pets Permitted to Fly: Dogs and cats older than 10 weeks
- Max Weight: 13.25 lbs (6 kg), including carrier
- Max Carrier Size: 13.75 in wide x 11.75 in long x 7.75 in high (35 cm x 30 cm x 20 cm), hard-sided carriers only
- Seat Restrictions: Pet friendly seats will be assigned to you, so you may not receive the seat you purchased during booking
- Pets per Person/Flight: 1 per person, 4-5 per flight depending on aircraft
- How to Book: After purchasing your ticket, call or email your local service branch to request the service at least 24 hours before departure
- Fee Range: Varies, as price is calculated based on route, number of days until flight, and number of days since ticket purchase. However, the cheapest cost is 5M VND (~$190) for domestic flights. Fees are paid at the airport on the day of travel.
- Disallowed Pets: Aggressive breeds, snub-nosed breeds, pregnant pets
A crucial network for travel within South Asia, Air India is one of the pet friendliest airlines on this list. In addition to allowing larger pets on board (up to 22 lbs or 10 kg), they also have no breed restrictions for in-cabin pets and provide priority check-in and boarding for you and your fur baby! However, Air India charges pet travel fees per segment, and does not currently allow pet in cabin on flights to or from the United States, Canada, or Australia.
- Pets Permitted to Fly: Dogs and cats older than 8 weeks
- Max Weight: 22 lbs (10 kg), including carrier
- Max Carrier Size: 10 in wide x 17 in long x 9 in high (25.5 cm x 43 cm x 23 cm), soft-sided only
- Seat Restrictions: Aisle seating only, toward the back of the plane
- Pets per Person/Flight: 1 per person, 2 per flight (book early!)
- How to Book: After purchasing your ticket, request the service through customer service online. Submit your documents for advanced verification at least 48 hours before departure.
- Fee Range: 7.5K INR (~$84) for domestic flights and $140-$160 for international flights, per segment (be careful of connections!). Paid at the airport on the day of travel.
- Disallowed Pets: Pregnant pets, sedated pets
We flew Korean Air from Da Nang, Vietnam (one of our favorite cities, check out our travel guide here!) to the United States. We had a smooth experience with them, though their fees are on the higher side. Korean Air is also a notable exception in that it does allow snub-nosed breeds to fly in cabin when certain conditions are met.
- Pets Permitted to Fly: Dogs, cats, and birds older than 8 weeks
- Max Weight: 15 lbs (7 kg), including carrier
- Max Carrier Size: 12.5 in wide x 17.5 in long x 7.5 in high (32 cm x 45 cm x 19 cm). Soft-sided carriers up to 10 in high (25 cm) are allowed if they can compress down to 7.5 in (19 cm).
- Seat Restrictions: Specific “Pet friendly seats” must be selected when purchasing your ticket
- Pets per Person/Flight: 1 per person, number per flight depends on aircraft
- How to Book: After purchasing your ticket, request the “Traveling with Pets” service online. Reservations must be made at least 48 hours before flight.
- Fee Range: 30K KRW (~$20) for domestic flights and 150K-300K KRW (~$102-$204) for international flights, one-way. Can be paid online or at the airport on the day of travel.
- Disallowed Pets: Aggressive breeds, pregnant pets, sedated pets
One of the few low-cost carriers on this list, Jeju Air is a great dog friendly airline in Asia for budget travelers. In addition to selling low cost flight tickets, they also have some of the lowest pet in cabin fees on the market, though they are also applied per segment.
- Pets Permitted to Fly: Dogs, cats, and birds older than 8 weeks
- Max Weight: 20 lbs (9 kg), including carrier
- Max Carrier Size: Total dimensions must not exceed 39.25 in (100 cm), with a maximum width of 14.5 in (37 cm) and maximum height of 9 in (23 cm)
- Seat Restrictions: Not allowed in front rows, emergency exits, or aisle seats. Your seat is subject to change if other pets in cabin are also booked on the flight.
- Pets per Person/Flight: 1 per person, 6 per flight
- How to Book: After purchasing your ticket, call customer service to request the service. If your flight is domestic, you can also request pet in cabin on Jeju’s website or app.
- Fee Range: 25K KRW (~$17) for domestic flights and 70K-100K KRW (~$48-$68) for international flights, per segment. Fees are paid at the airport on the day of travel.
- Disallowed Pets: Aggressive breeds, pregnant pets, sedated pets
Another budget airline, VietJet Air is a major player in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. However, they only support pet in cabin service on domestic flights within Vietnam. And, like Vietnam’s flagship airline, they only allow small, hard-sided carriers – make sure to measure your carrier carefully before booking.
- Pets Permitted to Fly: Dogs and cats older than 10 weeks
- Max Weight: 15 lbs (7 kg), including carrier
- Max Carrier Size: 11.75 in wide x 13.75 in long x 7.75 in high (30 cm x 35 cm x 20 cm), hard-sided carriers only
- Seat Restrictions: None specifically stated, other than that the service is not allowed for Business class passengers
- Pets per Person/Flight: 1 per person, 3 per flight
- How to Book: After purchasing your ticket, request the service online, by phone, or via the VietJet Air app. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours before departure.
- Fee Range: 4M VND (~$152), paid at the airport on the day of travel
- Disallowed Pets: Aggressive breeds, snub-nosed breeds, pregnant pets, sedated pets
Philippine Airlines’ brand new FurPAL program is the first and only in-cabin pet travel service in the Philippines, and it’s a pretty good one at that! It offers a generous weight allowance, comes at a low cost, and is one of the only airlines globally that does not count your pet against your carry-on allowance. FurPAL is currently only open to small dogs (including snub-nosed breeds!), but they’ll be extending it to cats in the near future. Additionally, FurPAL is currently only available on direct flights between Manila and either Tagbilaran, Siargao, or Caticlan. Note that your pet is required to be diapered and you are required to bring potty pads, poop bags, an empty water bottle, and a muzzle in case of pet disturbance.
- Pets Permitted to Fly: Dogs older than 12 weeks
- Max Weight: 22 lbs (10 kg), including carrier
- Max Carrier Size: 10 in wide x 17.5 in long x 11 in high (25 cm x 45 cm x 28 cm), soft-sided only
- Seat Restrictions: Specific pet friendly window seats will be assigned at check-in
- Pets per Person/Flight: 1 per person, 2-3 per flight depending on aircraft
- How to Book: During the booking process, add the FurPAL service in the same way you add extra bags. You can also add the service after the fact online, by phone, or via PAL’s mobile app. Reservations must be made at least 48 hours before flight.
- Fee Range: 2.5K PHP (~$42), paid in advance of flight when the service is booked
- Disallowed Pets: None specifically stated
Airlines in Asia That Do Not Allow Pet in Cabin
Unfortunately, the list of dog friendly airlines in Asia isn’t nearly as long as the list of airlines in Asia that do not allow you to fly with your dog in cabin. To make things easy for you when you’re researching flights, here is a list of Asian airlines to avoid when traveling with your dog:
- AirAsia
- Air China
- All Nippon Airways (ANA)
- Bangkok Airways
- Biman Bangladesh Airlines
- Cathay Pacific
- Cebu Pacific
- China Airlines
- China Eastern Airlines
- China Southern Airlines
- Emirates
- EVA Air
- Garuda Indonesia
- IndiGo
- Japan Airlines (JAL)
- Lion Air Group (including Batik Air)
- Malaysia Airlines
- Qatar Airways
- Royal Brunei Airlines
- Shenzhen Airlines
- Singapore Airlines (SIA) (including Scoot)
- Starlux Airlines
- Thai Airways
- Xiamen Airlines
FAQs for Flying Internationally With Your Dog in Cabin
Is It Safe to Fly With Your Dog in Cabin?
Yes, flying with your dog in cabin is generally considered safe. After all our travels, Cali has never shown any negative effects from flying – before, during, or after. However, certain breeds are not well-suited for flights, like snub-nosed breeds. It’s also not recommended if your pet is suffering from poor health. Always consult with your vet if you’re worried about your dog’s well-being before flying.
What Kind of Documentation Do You Need to Fly Internationally With Your Pet in Cabin?
This will vary depending on your originating and destination country, but typically includes at minimum:
- A health certificate issued by an authorized veterinarian,
- Rabies vaccination record,
- Proof of an ISO-compliant microchip, and
- Completed airline waiver.
Most countries also require proof of various other vaccinations, such as distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and leptospirosis. You may also be required to apply for an import and/or export permit and pay duties or import taxes at customs. In short, there are a lot of nuances to consider and boxes to check to make sure traveling internationally with your pet goes smoothly – check out our complete guide here.
Which Pet Carrier Do You Recommend for Flying With Your Dog?
We highly recommend the Sherpa Original Deluxe Travel Pet Carrier. We use their medium size, which is the biggest size you can purchase that will still be accepted on most major airlines. It measures 11 in x 17 in x 10.5 in (28cm x 43cm x 26.5cm) and is suitable for pets weighing up to 16lbs (7.3kg), 16 in (41cm) in length, and 9.5 in (24cm) in height. So far, it’s worked on every airline we’ve flown across the globe except for Vietnam Airlines.
In addition to its airline-approved size, this dog travel carrier has several other features we love, like dual-access zippers for easy loading and a side strap that allows you to secure the carrier to the handle of your carry-on. Cali loves it, and you will too – learn more about the features of this carrier in our post Dog Travel Essentials for Flights – Top Dog Travel Carrier and Gear.
What Else Should I Bring to Make My Dog's Flight Comfortable?
We recommend bringing the following items with you on any flight with your dog:
- Collapsible Travel Food and Water Bowls
- Apple AirTag and AirTag Carrying Case
- A Short, Sturdy Leash
- Dog Poop Bags and Poop Bag Holder
- Small Dog Treats (for good behavior) and Large Dog Treats (to keep them busy on the flight)
- Bark Collar with Vibrate Mode
- A Calming Dog Toy or Dog Treats with Melatonin
Read more in our full guide to dog travel essentials for flights.
Where Can I Learn More About Flying With My Dog to Specific Countries?
Good news – if you’re interested in visiting any of the incredible destinations we’ve traveled to, we’ll be coming out with detailed guides of how to fly to each country in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
Final Thoughts on Dog Friendly Airlines in Asia
While the list of pet friendly airlines in Asia isn’t as long as we’d like it to be, Philippine Airlines’ recent announcement is proof that things are moving in the right direction! In the meantime, reference our list of dog friendly airlines in Asia to help you book the next flight for you and your fur baby. We hope you have an incredible adventure together!
Don’t forget to check out our other helpful guides for dog travel:
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