You are leaving before your pet, it is too big for the cabin, or the destination requires cargo arrival (UK, Australia, South Africa…)? Your dog or cat can travel alone, as air cargo. It is our specialty: here is how it works.
Cargo vs hold: what's the difference?
- Hold (accompanied baggage): the pet flies on the same flight as you, checked in as special baggage.
- Cargo (manifest cargo): the pet travels as a shipment with an air waybill, whether or not the owner is on board. It goes through the airport's cargo terminal.
In both cases the pet is in a pressurised, temperature-controlled area, not an ordinary baggage compartment.
The steps of a cargo shipment
- Health file for the destination: microchip, vaccines, titer test, import permit, ONSSA certificate.
- Booking with an airline that accepts live animals as cargo, on the most direct flight possible.
- IATA crate of the right size, with a water bowl and "Live Animal" labels. See our IATA crates.
- Drop-off at the cargo terminal, usually 3 to 4 hours before departure, with a document check.
- Customs clearance on arrival and a veterinary check, then hand-over to the designated person.
How is the price calculated?
Cargo is charged on chargeable weight: the higher of the actual weight (pet + crate) and the crate's volumetric weight (length × width × height in cm ÷ 6,000). For a large dog, volume almost always wins. Terminal, clearance and document fees come on top. See our indicative prices.
In the European Union: the "commercial" case
If the owner does not travel within 5 days of the pet, the move is treated as commercial: a TRACES certificate and a veterinary border control post (for example at Paris-CDG) are required. We prepare these formalities.
Welfare during the trip
- No sedation: it is not recommended in flight.
- A light meal a few hours before, water available.
- Summer heat embargoes on some routes, and restrictions for snub-nosed breeds (bulldogs, pugs, Persians…).
For cabin and hold travel, read our guide to flying with your dog or cat.
Prefer to hand it over? Our IATA-certified team in Casablanca handles the vet file, ONSSA, the crate and the flight. Ask for a free quote: answer within 24 hours.
