Pet travel FAQs

Pets include the animals listed below, which should be booked under Q-GO Pets.

• Domestic animals including dogs (excluding service dogs), cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, small and medium caged birds, and live fish with no aeration requirements. Brachycephalic breeds (snub-nosed or flat-faced) must be booked through a pet travel specialist.
• Mice and rats (<10 boxes)
• Small reptiles (<5kg)
• Insects
• Mini pigs
• Wallabies/joeys
• Worms
• Day old chicks (<10 boxes)

Any other animal that isn't included on this list should be booked under Q-GO Animals.

Qantas Freight does not uplift active racing greyhounds. However, retired racing greyhounds can be uplifted on selected routes and must be booked through approved pet travel specialists due to the strict conditions associated with their travel.

Other breeds of dogs cannot be imported into Australia as they’re classified as ‘dangerous animals’ under Australian federal legislation, including:

• Pit Bull and American Pit Bull Terriers
• Dogo Argentino
• Japanese Tosa
• Brazilian Fila and Mastiff
• Presa Canario

American Staffordshire Terriers (full or cross breed) must be transported in a CR-82 reinforced cage or an airline approved guard dog cage before flying. Dogs travelling with military or correctional facilities officers are considered working dogs and therefore must also travel in an airline approved guard dog cage.

All pets need to be at least 12 weeks old before they are able to fly and for pets older than 12 years will need a vet certificate stating your pet is healthy enough to fly.

We understand that you may want to travel on the same flight as your pet or animal.  We’ll do all we can to have your pet fly on the same service as you, however due to operational requirements, we can't guarantee you'll travel on the same service.

Not all aircraft can accommodate pet travel, so we recommend you review your flight options online for your pet as a first step to see which services are available. Pet bookings can be updated or cancelled via Manage Booking up to 24 hours prior to departure without penalty. Qantas also offers flexibility to change travel plans for passengers for many fare types and we suggest you familiarise yourself with the options when making a passenger booking.

Yes, you can change your pet’s flight at no cost up to 24 hours before flight departure via Manage Booking. Within 24 hours and up to 90 minutes prior to departure, changes can be made by calling us on 13 12 13. Any changes to bookings within 90 minutes of departure will be charged the full rate.

Any changes or cancellation for your flight will be governed by the applicable fare conditions and booking channel. For direct bookings on qantas.com, you can review the fare conditions via Manage Booking. You pet booking can be changed or cancelled without charge up to 90 minutes before departure -online (up to 24 hours prior to departure) or within 24 hours by calling us on 13 12 13. 

• Domestic connection: We require 120 minutes to transfer your pet safely from one aircraft to the next in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. For all other ports, 90 minutes is required. Qantas Freight is unable to meet a connection to any flight that is less than these required times.

• Domestic to International connection: If the planned itinerary requires a transfer between domestic to international flights, you’ll need to book your pet with a pet travel specialist.

• International to International connection: If the planned itinerary requires a transfer between international flights, you'll need to book your pet with a pet travel specialist.
   

Just like all other air freight items, how much your pet weighs as well as the size of the crate will determine the cost.

Bookings do not include a crate as they need to be purchased separately if required. If you wish to purchase a crate from us, please call us on 13 12 13 to discuss a suitable crate size and its availability. 

You cannot earn Qantas Points for your pet travelling on a Qantas domestic or international flight.

No, it’s your responsibility to provide a suitable IATA-approved crate to keep your pet safe and comfortable. Review our tips for choosing the right crate for your pet.

Yes, we do not accept pet bookings on any Jetstar services and only selected Qantas domestic flights (QF400 and above) will be available for pet bookings as not all aircraft types offer the conditions required for the safe transport of pets which limits the flight options on display during the booking. Capacity is also limited and your preferred flight might have reached its allocation.

For information on multiple pets travelling together in the same crate, visit the IATA website.

Qantas recognises the important role accredited Service Dogs play in the community and welcomes Service Dogs in the aircraft cabin when they meet our Criteria for Carriage.

Each pet and animal is unique and can react very differently to the environment around them, especially when travelling. We've prepared a pet travel checklist to help you plan your pet's travel.

All pets need to be at least 12 weeks old before they are able to fly and for pets older than 12 years will need a certificate stating your pet is healthy enough to fly.

Each crate has a maximum weight limit, depending on size. If the combined weight of your pet and crate exceeds 50kgs, we'll need to check the compatibility of the aircraft type and your crate, so please call us on 13 12 13. We cannot accept pets travelling on Rex (ZL) aircraft if the total weight is over 32kgs.

It’s your responsibility to be aware of any state quarantine requirements that may restrict interstate transportation of your pet. As state laws and regulations are subject to change, we strongly recommend that each time you’re planning pet travel that you check the current state rules:

Domestic - find these on the Australian Interstate Quarantine site.
International - check requirements with appropriate departments in the country of destination. 

From 1 August 2024, a new policy is in place for dogs being transported to the US. For further information, visit the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

It’s your responsibility to provide a crate for your pet. Please note bookings do not include a crate as they need to be purchased separately if required. If you wish to purchase a crate from us, please call us on 13 12 13 to discuss a suitable crate size and its availability. If you have booked through a pet travel specialist, please contact them directly for assistance.

Yes it does. While we do all we can to provide shelter and comfort for animals travelling with us, the tarmac and areas around the aircraft aren’t covered and are exposed to weather. For this reason, it’s wise to consider the forecast weather at your pet’s points of departure, arrival and any transit stops in between.

We do not recommend transporting pets during extreme weather:

• If your pet is travelling in summer, avoid flights during the middle of the day, and in winter avoid early or late flights.

• Qantas Freight will not carry any animals when the temperature is expected to be higher than 35°C or below 5°C. In these instances, pets can be rebooked at no additional cost.
   

No, please don’t sedate your pet as we need to make a health assessment on arrival at our freight terminal to determine fitness to fly. Sedated pets can appear sleepy and unwell which may impact travel as sick pets cannot be accepted for uplift.

As cargo holds are regulated to a temperature between 18 and 22°C, placing a coat or blanket on your pet may increase body heat and lead to dehydration, so there's no need for a coat or blanket.

Forms can be found in our Forms Library.

Qantas Freight does not provide insurance for your pet’s travel. Please contact an insurance company offering such cover to consider the conditions, premium, exclusions and options available.

There are strict guidelines regarding the transportation of pets by air.  Airlines and transport providers – in consultation with animal welfare agencies and veterinary practitioners – have created the (IATA) Live Animal Transport Regulations to standardise the policies surrounding pet travel by air.

It’s your responsibility to provide a crate for your pet. Please note bookings do not include a crate as they need to be purchased separately if required. If you wish to purchase a crate from us, please call us on 13 12 13 to discuss a suitable crate size and its availability. If you have booked through a pet travel specialist, please contact them directly for assistance.

Airlines use measurements relating to the pet’s size to make sure there is enough room inside the crate for the pet to travel comfortably, with enough room to stand, sit and turn around. Visit our pet crates page for information on choosing the right crate, sizes and prices. 

Contact us if you wish to purchase a crate from us.

View our list of breeds covered our brachycephalic policy.

Bookings for brachycephalic breeds must be made with a Qantas Freight-approved pet travel specialist as health requirements and flight restrictions apply. This is due to the compromised respiratory systems of these particular breeds, which means they have a significantly higher risk of health complications when travelling. Pet travel specialists will conduct all the necessary pre-flight checks to certify that your pet is fit to travel.

If you would like to be able to move specialist breeds, your company must be a member of the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) or the Animal Transport Association (ATA) and have the ability to:​

• Have a qualified vet who is a member of the Australian Veterinary Association complete the Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) check

• Lodge and collect the animal at point of departure and arrival

• Have suitable indemnities in place

• Have a signed agreement in place with Qantas

For more information, send us an email with your company details and we’ll be in touch.   

To be able to perform all other pet or animal movements, you will first need to open an account with us. Simply visit our page on how to open a business account and follow the instructions.

The temperature and noise levels experienced by your pet are similar to what you’d experience in the passenger cabin of the aircraft. Any lighting is switched off as this will encourage your pet to rest.

Our freight terminals are not air conditioned and can be quite noisy. Transportation from terminal to aircraft will be in uncovered vehicles so please take into consideration the weather conditions and your pet’s temperament when planning their transportation.

• If travel has not commenced, you will be notified that the original flight has been changed or cancelled and asked to contact us on 13 12 13 to discuss alternate options.

• If travel has commenced, your pet's wellbeing is our first priority and will be kept in a comfortable area and regularly checked. Our staff will also top up water containers as needed.

• If the delay exceeds 5 hours, we may engage the services of an expert animal care company to provide a comfort stop including giving your pet time outside of their crate and cleaning the crate for the onward journey.

• If a flight is cancelled, we’ll book your pet for the next available flight that day. If there are no suitable options, our team will contact you to pick your pet up for re-lodgement the following day as we’re unable to care for animals in our terminals overnight.

• If a connection is missed in a transit port resulting in an overnight stay, we’ll have an expert animal care company provide an overnight comfort stop and they will re-lodge your pet for travel on the following day.
   

Check terminal details and lodge your pet between 90–120 mins (regional ports 65–90 mins) prior to flight departure.

Pets are usually ready around 60 mins after arrival in all domestic ports except Brisbane where more than 60 mins may be needed (regional ports 10-30 mins after arriving flight has departed).  Collections must be made within 3 hours after arrival, otherwise Qantas Freight may require the services of a dedicated pet care specialist to ensure animal welfare at the customer’s expense.

As most of our freight terminals are adjacent to busy, airport operational areas, pet drop off and pick up locations are not suitable for anyone requiring supervision. For the safety of all customers and staff, children under 17 years of age are required to remain within the vehicle with an accompanying adult.  

Information on our terminals can be found on our Terminals page. 

Pets and animals must remain securely in their crates until they have completely exited our facilities, including the car park areas. This is a critical safety measure to protect the wellbeing of the animals, as well as the smooth operation of our terminals.

We recommend that all pets engage in some light exercise before being placed in the crate. This is because pets will need to stay in the crate for the entire duration of the trip, including during lodgement and collection, until they have left the premises.

Our flexible extreme weather policy allows you to rebook flights at no extra cost. As we won’t carry animals if the temperature is expected to be higher than 35°C or below 5°C, last-minute rebooking options are available, even on the day of travel, if required. To avoid the hottest parts of the day, we recommend booking early morning or late afternoon/evening services. 

To ensure the safety and comfort of all pets, crates must be in good condition—clean and damage-free upon acceptance. We also recommend preparing the crate with a full water bowl to keep your pet hydrated throughout the day.

Familiarise your pet with the crate before travel so they feel comfortable in the confined space and are well-prepared for the journey.