Information about taking assistance dogs with you

You can take your assistance dog with you on board Lufthansa flights free of charge.

We distinguish between:

  • Assistance dogs on non-stop flights to/from the United States
  • Assistance dogs on all flights outside the United States

When taking an assistance dog with you into the cabin, the general advice for transporting animals in an aircraft applies.

To the general advice for transporting animals in an aircraft

General requirements for taking an assistance dog into the cabin with you

To ensure the safe and undisturbed operation of the flight, your dog must be trained to be obedient to your commands and must behave appropriately in a public space (in other words, no barking, growling, or jumping up at people or other animals).

On no account may the dog relieve itself in the cabin or at the boarding gate, or may only be permitted to do so in such a way as to cause no health risk or hygiene problems.

If your dog does not behave in an appropriate manner, Lufthansa may transfer the dog to the cargo hold at an additional cost or refuse to transport the animal. You are liable for any damage and additional costs arising from the transport of your dog.

On board:

  • Your dog must fit in the footwell of your seat and be attached to your seat belt with a pet harness provided by Lufthansa.
  • The animal may on no account sit on a passenger seat.
  • We recommend securing the dog with a harness rather than a collar.
  • While it is not a requirement for travelling with an assistance dog, we strongly recommend that you also bring a muzzle with you for your dog as an added precaution and out of consideration for other passengers.
  • You will be asked to muzzle your dog if a situation arises where your dog poses a risk to the safety of other passengers. Otherwise your dog will be denied travel on Lufthansa flights.

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 way and to the extent required and as defined by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations. Lufthansa will transport 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.

Definition of assistance animal and person with a disability (for purposes of compliance with 14 CFR 382):

Assistance animal

  • A dog, regardless 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: Pursuant to 14 CFR Part 382, emotional support animals are no longer classified as assistance animals under U.S. Department of Transportation regulations, and Lufthansa will no longer accept or allow this category.

Person with a disability

  • A person with a physical or mental impairment that, on a permanent or temporary basis, substantially limits significant life activities
  • Or is accepted as a person with such an impairment pursuant to 14 CFR § 382.3
  • (a) who, as a passenger, with regard to the purchase (1) of a ticket for transportation by an airline, offers or endeavours in good faith to purchase such a ticket, to purchase or in an otherwise valid way to obtain such a ticket, or (2) air transportation or other services or accommodations required by 14 CFR Part 382 (i) buys or otherwise validly obtains, or attempts in good faith to obtain a ticket for transportation with an airline and presents himself or herself at the airport for the purpose of using the flight to which the ticket pertains; and (ii) meets reasonable, non-discriminatory contract of carriage requirements applicable to all passengers; or
  • (b) who uses the ground transport or facilities of a terminal to accompany or collect a person who is travelling, or seeks information about timetables, fare offers, reservations or guidelines, takes steps that are necessary for the use of facilities or services offered to the general public by an airline, and by appropriate means which are provided on demand by the airline.

Forms required

To travel with an assistance dog, as a precondition of transportation, you are required to complete and submit the following forms to Lufthansa. This must be done on or after the date you purchase your ticket.

Note:

  • If you are travelling with an assistance dog and have made a reservation more than 48 hours before the first scheduled departure time of your itinerary, you must transfer these forms to Lufthansa electronically or in hard copy at least 48 hours in advance of your date of travel.
  • If you are travelling with an assistance dog and have made a reservation less than 48 hours before the first scheduled departure time of your itinerary, you must hand over these forms to Lufthansa at your departure gate on the day of travel.

Please complete the following forms and send them via email to the Lufthansa Medical Operation Centre (specialservice@dlh.de):

Download U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form (PDF)
Download U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Relief Attestation Form (PDF)
Send forms to the Lufthansa Medical Operation Centre
Send forms to the Lufthansa Medical Operation Centre in the USA

If you have a connecting flight/feeder flight outside the USA, we will additionally require a training certificate to book your assistance dog. Please send us the certificate together with the above-mentioned forms via email.

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 utilise 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 at all times by their owners or handlers (if applicable) while on board Lufthansa aircraft and in airport areas that are owned, leased, or controlled by Lufthansa.

Refusal to transport an assistance dog: Lufthansa may refuse to transport 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 persons.
  2. The assistance dog is causing a significant disturbance in the cabin or gate area of the airport, or 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 of a foreign government.
  4. The passenger with a disability who wishes to travel with an assistance dog in the cabin of the aircraft does not present the completed relevant forms required by Lufthansa.

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

Approved assistance dogs (service animals [SVAN] – e.g. guide dogs, hearing dogs, diabetic alert dogs, seizure alert dogs) can be taken into the cabin free of charge on all flights operated by Lufthansa. Please register the animal for transport in the cabin up to 48 hours before departure if possible.

You have these options to register your assistance dog:


Requirements for registering approved assistance dogs on flights outside the USA:

1. You must present a training certificate for your dog from a recognised training institute. You will receive confirmation from the Lufthansa Medical Operation Centre once this has been checked.

2. For flights outside the USA, we also require your written confirmation that the dog fulfils 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.

Download form for the transport of an assistance dog in the passenger cabin (PDF)

Checklist for taking an assistance dog with you into the cabin

To make your preparations easier, we have prepared a checklist for you with all the important points.

  • You have made sure that taking your dog with you on your journey (outbound and return flight) as additional carry-on baggage in the cabin conforms to the current entry and exit regulations of all the countries concerned.
  • Any necessary veterinary examinations or treatments (e.g. vaccinations, microchipping) have been completed in good time before your journey.
  • The official and veterinary documents required for your pet (e.g. pet passport) are ready.
  • You have made sure that you can also take your dog with you into the cabin of other airlines involved in your journey.
  • You have booked your flight and registered your dog for carriage in the cabin with Lufthansa or at your travel agency and have received a corresponding booking confirmation.
  • 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)
    • if applicable, proof that the animal has been trained as an assistance dog (not for flights to/from the USA)
  • You have your booking confirmation or passenger receipt in your carry-on baggage.
  • You pay the costs for transporting your dog when checking in or at the Lufthansa service counter.
  • Your dog is wearing a harness (recommended) or collar.