Information about taking assistance dogs with you

On direct flights to/from the USA, passengers are permitted to travel with an assistance dog, including a psychotherapeutic assistance dog. The dog must be individually trained to perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, including a visual, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability, in the manner and to the required extent as specified by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations. Lufthansa will carry assistance dogs free of charge. Lufthansa limits the number of assistance dogs per passenger to a maximum of two (2) assistance dogs.
Please note that we only accept assistance dogs that are at least six months old.

Assistance animal

• A dog, irrespective of type or breed
• A dog that is individually trained to support a person with a disability
• This includes a visual, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability.
• Animal species other than dogs, emotional support animals, comfort animals, companionship animals and assistance animals in training are not assistance animals. 

Note: In accordance with 14 CFR Part 382, emotional support animals are no longer classified as assistance animals under U.S. Department of Transportation regulations. Lufthansa will no longer recognise or accept this category.

Person with a disability

• Any individual who has a physical or mental impairment that, on a permanent or temporary basis, substantially limits one or more major life activities
• Or is regarded as having such an impairment under 14 CFR 382.3
• (a) who, as a passenger, (1) with respect to obtaining a ticket for air transportation on an air carrier, offers, or makes a good faith attempt to offer, to purchase or otherwise validly to obtain such a ticket; or (2) with respect to obtaining air transportation, or other services or accommodations required by 14 CFR Part 382: (i) purchases or otherwise validly obtains, or attempts in good faith to obtain a ticket for air transportation on an air carrier and presents himself or herself at the airport for the purpose of travelling on the flight for which the ticket has been purchased or obtained; and (ii) meets reasonable, non-discriminatory contract of carriage requirements applicable to all passengers; or
• (b) who, with respect to accompanying or meeting a traveller, use of ground transportation, using terminal facilities, or obtaining information about schedules, fares or policies, takes those actions necessary to avail himself or herself of facilities or services offered by an air carrier to the general public, with reasonable accommodations, as needed, provided by the carrier.

It is a federal crime to knowingly and wilfully make false, fictitious or fraudulent statements on the Service Animal Air Transportation Form or the Service Animal Relief Attestation Form in order to claim disability support provided under the U.S. Department of Transportation regulations.

Travel permission: in accordance with the U.S. Department of Transportation regulations, Lufthansa may check whether an animal is recognised as an assistance dog. To determine whether an animal is an assistance dog, Lufthansa may (1) observe the animal to ascertain whether it displays disruptive or aggressive behaviour that demonstrates that it has not been successfully trained to behave properly in a public setting, or (2) check for certain physical indicators.

Size of assistance dogs: all assistance dogs must fit in the footwell at the passenger’s seat unless this would conflict with U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety requirements or German/European law, or would restrict the space of another passenger.

Tethering/restraining/leashing: Lufthansa requires that all assistance dogs be kept on a lead by their owners or handlers (where applicable) at all times while on board Lufthansa aircraft and in airport areas that are owned, leased or controlled by Lufthansa.

Refusal to carry an assistance dog: Lufthansa may refuse to carry an assistance dog in accordance with the U.S. Department of Transportation regulations in the following circumstances:

1. The assistance dog poses a direct threat to the health or safety of other people.
2. The assistance dog is causing a significant disturbance in the cabin or gate area of the airport, or if its behaviour in the aircraft or gate area of the airport indicates that it has not been adequately trained to behave appropriately in public areas.
3. Carriage of the assistance dog would violate applicable safety or health requirements of a US federal agency or US territory, or those of a foreign government.
4. The passenger with a disability who wishes to travel with an assistance dog in the aircraft cabin does not present the completed relevant forms required by Lufthansa.

Damage: Lufthansa reserves the right, in accordance with the U.S. Department of Transportation regulations, to take legal action against a passenger travelling with an assistance dog for any damage caused by the assistance dog.

Approved assistance dogs (service animals [SVAN]: e.g. guide dogs, hearing dogs, diabetic alert dogs and seizure alert dogs) can be taken into the cabin free of charge on all flights operated by Lufthansa. 

Please register the animal for carriage in the cabin no later than 48 hours before departure wherever possible.

We also request that you send us the following documents:

1. The training certificate for your assistance dog

• A training certificate from a training institution that holds accreditation from the following organisations:
  • Messerli Research Institute
  • Assistance Dogs International (ADI)
  • Assistance Dogs Europe (ADEu)
  • International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF)

or

• A certificate issued by a training institution and/or a dog trainer
  • stating the name and address,
  • details of the nature and duration of the training, and
  • the task for which the dog has been trained and has successfully completed.

Please note that a certificate of completed obedience training or the completed DOT Form is not sufficient for travel outside the USA. Teach-yourself and online training sites are also not recognised.

If you are unable to present this, your dog will travel under the usual conditions of carriage for pets, either in the cabin or in the cargo hold depending on its size and weight.

Please also submit the breed, weight and age of the animal.


2. For flights outside the USA we also require your written confirmation that the dog meets the requirements for travelling as an approved assistance dog. Please present two printouts of this completed and signed form at check-in to confirm this.

You will receive confirmation of your booking request from the Lufthansa Medical Operation Centre once this has been checked.

• You have made sure that carrying your dog with you on your journey (outbound and return flight) as additional carry-on baggage in the cabin complies with the current entry and exit regulations of all the countries concerned.
• Any necessary veterinary examinations or treatments (e.g. vaccinations or microchipping) have been completed in good time before your journey.
• The official and veterinary documents required for your animal (e.g. pet passport) are available to hand.
• You have made sure that you can also take your dog with you into the cabin of other airlines involved in your itinerary.
• You have booked your flight and registered your dog for carriage in the cabin with Lufthansa or your travel agency and have received a passenger receipt to this effect.
• You have two completed and signed printouts of our form for the carriage of an animal in the passenger cabin. Please note that the form is not required for assistance dogs on direct flights to/from the USA.

• If you are travelling with an approved assistance dog: you have a certificate proving your dog has been trained as an assistance dog (not required for flights to/from the USA).
• If you are travelling to/from the USA: you have completed and submitted the following forms to the Lufthansa Medical Operation Centre:
  • U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form (PDF)
  • ​U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Relief Attestation Form (PDF)

• Please bring your dog in a suitable transport container (where appropriate) to the check-in counter no later than two hours before departure.
• Please present the following documents for your animal at the check-in counter:
  • The official and veterinary documents for your dog (e.g. pet passport)
  • Proof that the animal has been trained as an assistance dog, where applicable (not for flights to/from the USA)
  • Two completed and signed printouts of our form for the carriage of an animal in the passenger cabin. Please note that the form is not required for assistance dogs on direct flights to/from the USA.

• You have your booking confirmation or passenger receipt in your carry-on baggage.
• You must pay the costs of carriage of your dog at check-in or at the Lufthansa service counter.
• Your dog is wearing a harness (recommended) or collar and a muzzle, if possible.