LATAM Airlines Pet Policy: The Complete 2026 Guide

LATAM Airlines allows small dogs and cats in the cabin, larger pets in the hold, and other animals via LATAM Cargo. Pets must be booked in advance through LATAM’s Contact Center or WhatsApp. Fees range from USD $45 (domestic) to USD $250 (long-haul). Key requirements include a health certificate issued within 10 days of travel, minimum age of 16 weeks, and an approved carrier.

Planning a flight with your dog or cat on LATAM Airlines? You’re not alone. LATAM is the largest airline in South America, serving passengers across Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and beyond including routes to Europe and North America. With millions of pet owners traveling its network each year, understanding LATAM’s pet policy isn’t optional. It’s essential.

Miss one requirement and your pet won’t board. That’s the reality.

Does LATAM Airlines Allow Dogs and Cats?

Yes, LATAM Airlines allows dogs and cats on most of its operated flights, subject to size, health, age, and route conditions. Dogs and cats can travel in the cabin, in the aircraft hold, or via LATAM Cargo depending on their size and breed. Other animal species are only accepted through LATAM Cargo.

LATAM offers three pet transport options:

• Cabin travel   for small dogs and cats that fit under the seat
• Hold (checked baggage) travel  for larger dogs and cats in rigid kennels
• LATAM Cargo  for animals exceeding weight/size limits or other species

One critical rule applies across all options: pet travel must be confirmed in advance through LATAM’s Contact Center, WhatsApp, or a sales office. Walk-up requests at the airport are not accepted.

Is LATAM Airlines Pet Friendly for International Travel?

LATAM Airlines is considered pet-friendly for international travel, especially within South America and on routes to/from Europe and North America. However, LATAM’s international pet policy involves country-specific documentation, CDC restrictions for US-bound dogs, and route-based service limitations that require careful pre-trip planning.

LATAM operates pet transport on routes to and from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Spain, the United States, Uruguay, and more.

Routes where pet service is unavailable or restricted include:

• Galápagos Archipelago (including flights sharing the same flight number)
• Aruba, Australia, Curacao, England, Mount Pleasant, New Zealand, and South Africa
• Fernando de Noronha (FEN)  guide dogs and accredited police dogs only
• Codeshare or interline flights with other airlines

What Are the Pet Transportation Options on LATAM Airlines?

Option 1: Pets in the Cabin

Small dogs and cats may travel in the LATAM Airlines cabin if they fit inside an approved carrier placed under the seat in front of you. The pet must be able to stand, turn, and move without touching the walls or ceiling of the carrier. Cabin pets are available in Economy and Premium Economy only.

Who qualifies for cabin travel?

What are the LATAM approved pet carrier dimensions for cabin travel?

This is one of the most common points of confusion for travelers. LATAM accepts two carrier types for cabin travel:

Important carrier rules:

• No wheels allowed
• Must be made of durable material your pet cannot destroy
• Leak-proof, absorbent base required
• Adequate ventilation on all sides
• Rigid kennel gate must be metal with double locks (top and bottom)
• Ventilation slots must be small enough to prevent nose or paws from protruding
• Modified or altered carriers will not be accepted

Real-world example: If you have a Chihuahua that weighs 2 kg, a standard soft-sided carrier measuring 38 cm × 26 cm × 23 cm would likely fit within LATAM’s dimensions provided the dog can stand and turn without touching the walls. Always verify by measuring your specific carrier before booking.

What is the seat location rule for cabin pets?

Your pet must be placed under the seat in front of you. For safety reasons, LATAM cannot assign:

• First-row seats
• Emergency exit row seats
• Aisle seats (window seats are preferred, especially for emotional support animals)

Pets must remain inside their carrier for the entire flight. No exceptions.

How do you book a cabin pet on LATAM Airlines?

1. Purchase your ticket first
2. Contact LATAM’s Contact Center or book via WhatsApp
3. Ensure your carrier and documentation meet requirements
4. Confirm no later than 4 hours before departure
5. On departure day, check in at the airport counter boarding passes cannot be issued online when traveling with a pet

Booking window: You can book from the moment your ticket is purchased up to 4 hours before departure.

How much does it cost to bring a pet in the LATAM cabin?

Fees can be paid through the Contact Center, via WhatsApp, or at the airport counter. Taxes may apply depending on your country of departure.

Option 2: Pets in the Hold (LATAM Pet in Hold)

Dogs and cats that exceed cabin size limits may travel in the LATAM aircraft hold inside a rigid kennel. The combined weight of the pet and kennel must not exceed 45 kg on twin-aisle aircraft or 32 kg on single-aisle aircraft for flights up to 4 hours.

This option is not available for brachycephalic or potentially dangerous breeds.

Weight limits for LATAM hold transport by aircraft type

Practical example: A Labrador Retriever weighing 30 kg in a kennel weighing 10 kg would total 40 kg. This pet could fly in the hold on a B787 (max 45 kg), but not on a long-haul to Europe, where the limit drops to 32 kg. Always weigh the kennel before booking.

What are the hold kennel dimensions for LATAM Airlines?

• Maximum linear size: 300 cm (total of length + width + height)
• Maximum height: 115 cm
• Minimum headroom: 5 cm between your pet’s head and the kennel ceiling

The kennel must comply with IATA (International Air Transport Association) standards. Key specs include:

• Made of fiberglass, metal, or rigid plastic
• Spring-loaded metal door with locking pins
• Waterproof, absorbent floor
• No wheels
• No toys, blankets, or clothing inside (absorbent material or pad is allowed)
• Labeled with LIVE ANIMAL stickers and a feeding/watering instruction card

What breeds are banned from the LATAM hold?

LATAM prohibits two categories of breeds from hold travel:

Brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dog breeds not accepted in the hold:
Affenpinscher, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Bull Mastiff, Bulldog (all breeds), American Bully, Chow Chow, Dogue de Bordeaux, Griffon Bruxellois, Lhasa Apso, English Mastiff, Italian Mastiff (Cane Corso), Neapolitan Mastiff, Pekingese, Pitbull (all breeds), Presa Canario, Pug (all breeds), Shar Pei, Shih Tzu, Japanese Spaniel (Chin), Tibetan Spaniel, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and English Toy Spaniel.

Potentially dangerous dog breeds not accepted in the hold:
American Akita, Akita Inu, Boxer, Bull Mastiff, Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, American Bully, Doberman, Dogo Argentino, Dogue de Bordeaux, Fila Brasileiro, Italian Mastiff (Cane Corso), Neapolitan Mastiff, Anatolian Shepherd (Karabash), Pitbull (all breeds), Presa Canario, Rottweiler, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Tosa Inu.

Brachycephalic cat breeds not accepted in the hold:
American Burmese, Himalayan, Exotic Shorthair, and Persian (all types).

Important: Brachycephalic breeds are still allowed in the cabin, since the breathing concerns primarily arise from temperature and pressure conditions in the hold. One traveler confirmed on BringFido that her Boston Terrier was successfully booked for cabin travel after an initial misunderstanding with a LATAM agent who attempted to book the dog as cargo instead.

How do you book a hold pet on LATAM Airlines?

Contact LATAM’s Contact Center or visit a sales office. For most routes, book up to 48 hours before departure. For domestic flights within Brazil, book up to 60 days in advance.

Currently, hold transport is suspended on the Santiago (SCL)–Guayaquil (GYE) route until further notice.

What does it cost to transport a pet in the LATAM hold?

Hold fees are weight-based. Based on available data from PetTravel.com:

Regional flights:

• 0–23 kg: USD $125
• 24–32 kg: USD $200
• 33–45 kg: USD $275

Long-haul flights:

• 0–23 kg: USD $150
• Higher weights: Contact LATAM directly for pricing

Country-specific pricing also applies for domestic routes within Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

Option 3: LATAM Cargo for Pets

LATAM Cargo accepts dogs, cats, horses, fish, and other animal species that exceed the weight and size limits for hold travel, or belong to species not permitted in the cabin or hold. Transport is booked through LATAM Cargo offices and managed under an air waybill, with IATA regulations governing all procedures.

LATAM Cargo transport is different from hold travel in one key way: your pet is checked in and claimed at the cargo facility on airport grounds, not at the passenger terminal. The airline takes responsibility for your pet throughout the journey, including layovers.

For bookings, contact a LATAM Cargo office directly or work with a licensed pet transport agent. Pricing is based on the linear dimensions of the crate plus the weight of the animal and the route.

All LATAM Cargo kennels must meet IATA Container Requirement 1 (CR1) standards.

Service Animals (SVAN) and Emotional Support Animals (ESAN) on LATAM

How Does LATAM Handle Service Animals?

LATAM Airlines allows trained service dogs (SVAN) to travel in the cabin at no additional charge. These are dogs individually trained to perform specific tasks for a passenger with a physical disability or health condition, such as guide dogs or medical alert dogs.

Service dogs must:

• Wear suitable identification, harness, and leash
• Fit in the space at their owner’s feet without obstructing aisles or other passengers
• Be clean, calm, and non-aggressive
• Not be seated in exit rows

The same international health documentation requirements including CDC requirements for US-bound dogs apply to service animals, regardless of breed.

To request service animal accommodation, contact LATAM’s Contact Center at least 48 hours before departure.

What Is LATAM’s Emotional Support Animal Policy?

LATAM Airlines accepts emotional support animals (ESAN) on a limited range of routes. Dogs are accepted on flights to/from Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia, and on domestic Colombian routes. Cats are accepted on flights to/from Argentina and Colombia only. No emotional support animal fee is charged.

Emotional support animals provide therapeutic benefit to passengers diagnosed with psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD.

Emotional support dog conditions on LATAM

• Maximum weight (without container): 12 kg. Over 12 kg, the dog must travel in the hold at no extra cost
• Anti-bite muzzle is mandatory, unless the dog travels in a carrier meeting cabin pet size requirements
• Dog must sit at your feet or under the seat; cannot occupy a seat or block aisles
• Window seat selection is required
• Minimum age: 16 weeks (6 months for US-bound flights)
• One ESAN per passenger
• Potentially dangerous breeds are prohibited (same list as hold transport)

Emotional support cat conditions on LATAM

• All cat breeds accepted
• Must remain inside a carrier that meets cabin transport requirements for the entire flight
• Carrier placed under the seat in front of you
• Only Economy and Premium Economy, starting from the second row
• Routes: Colombia and Argentina only

How do you request an emotional support animal on LATAM?

1. Download LATAM’s ESAN requirement form and medical certificate format
2. Have your treating physician (psychiatrist, psychologist, or licensed clinical social worker) complete the medical form
3. Submit both forms through LATAM’s Help Center (under “Requests or Suggestions”) at least 48 hours before departure
4. Bring all original documents to the airport on travel day
5. Final boarding approval happens at the airport counter

The medical form remains valid for one year from the signing date, so you can use it across multiple flights during that period.

LATAM Pet Policy International: Country-Specific Requirements

What documents does my pet need to travel internationally on LATAM?

Every pet traveling internationally on LATAM Airlines requires two categories of documents: a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of travel, and any import/export documentation required by the destination country. Passengers are solely responsible for meeting all country-specific regulations.

Required documentation typically includes:

• Veterinary health certificate   issued no more than 10 days before departure, including the pet’s name, age, breed, vaccinations, and a statement of good health. Bring the original and one copy.
• Vaccination certificates   particularly rabies vaccination for international travel
• Import permits or entry authorizations   country-specific, obtainable from the destination country’s agricultural or health authority
• Microchip  required for US-bound travel and strongly recommended for all international routes
• Blood tests and serology reports  required for certain high-risk country routes to the US

What are LATAM’s CDC requirements for dogs traveling to the United States?

All dogs entering the United States on LATAM Airlines must be at least 6 months old, microchipped, in good health, and carry a CDC importation form. Dogs from or transiting through high-risk rabies countries including Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru face additional vaccination and entry point requirements.

Dogs from non-high-risk rabies countries (e.g., Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay)

• Must be at least 6 months old
• Must have a CDC importation form
• Must be microchipped (number must appear on all forms)
• Can enter the US at any airport listed on the importation form

Dogs from high-risk rabies countries (e.g., Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela)

If vaccinated in the United States:

• Rabies vaccination form issued in the US
• USDA-accredited veterinarian health certificate for exportation
• Can enter at any US airport matching the declared entry point on the CDC form

If vaccinated outside the United States:

• Must enter only at airports with a CDC Animal Care Facility (ACF): New York JFK, Atlanta ATL, Los Angeles LAX, or Miami MIA
• Confirmation of ACF reservation required
• Foreign rabies vaccination form and microchip document (certified by government veterinarian)
• Valid rabies serology report from a CDC-approved laboratory (in English or with certified translation)

Pet travel between the US and Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia is currently temporarily suspended by LATAM due to CDC restrictions. Certain exemptions exist at airports with CDC facilities. Orlando and Boston cannot receive dogs vaccinated outside the US from high-risk rabies countries under any circumstances.

Important transit note: If your itinerary connects through a high-risk rabies country even if your dog never leaves the boarding area the dog must comply with the requirements for that transit country. Plan layovers carefully.

Country-specific documentation requirements

Always verify requirements with official country authorities or IATA’s travel center before booking. Regulations change without notice.

Copa Airlines Pet Policy vs. LATAM Pet Policy: Key Differences

Many travelers flying between Latin America and the US compare Copa Airlines and LATAM. Here’s how their pet policies differ at a glance:

Note: Copa Airlines policies are subject to change. Always verify directly with Copa Airlines before booking.

What Is the 24-Hour Rule for LATAM Airlines?

LATAM Airlines does not have a specific “24-hour pet rule,” but it does have time-sensitive booking deadlines that vary by pet transport type. Cabin pet bookings must be confirmed at least 4 hours before departure. Hold pet bookings must be made at least 48 hours before departure (60 days maximum for domestic Brazil routes).

For emotional support animals, the 48-hour submission deadline for required forms is firm no exceptions.

Does LATAM Check You In Automatically?

LATAM Airlines offers automatic check-in for eligible passengers, but passengers traveling with pets cannot use online or automatic check-in. Any passenger with a pet must check in at the airport counter, where an agent will verify carrier compliance, pet documentation, and health condition before issuing a boarding pass.

Arrive early. LATAM recommends arriving at least 3 hours before departure for domestic Brazilian flights and at least 4 hours before departure for international flights when traveling with a pet.

LATAM Customer Service: How to Contact LATAM About Pet Travel

LATAM Customer Service  Contact Center

LATAM’s Contact Center handles all pet travel bookings and inquiries. Phone numbers vary by country. You can find the number for your country on the LATAM Airlines website under “Contact Center.” US travelers can also call the number listed on BringFido: (866) 435-9526.

LATAM Customer Service Chat and WhatsApp

LATAM offers WhatsApp support for pet bookings and general inquiries. The LATAM WhatsApp number for 24 hours is +56 9 6825 0850. Through this number, you can interact with LATAM’s virtual assistant to request pet transport service, ask about requirements, and get booking support.

LATAM Airlines Contact – Summary

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can I bring my dog in the cabin on a LATAM long-haul international flight?
Yes, if your dog is small enough to fit in an approved carrier under the seat, meets the minimum age of 6 months for US routes (16 weeks for others), and is in good health. Long-haul cabin pet fees are USD $250. Confirm with the Contact Center at time of booking.

Are emotional support animals allowed on LATAM flights to the US?
No. LATAM’s ESAN service is only available on routes involving Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico. For US-bound travel, your pet must book under the standard cabin or hold pet service, subject to CDC restrictions.

Can a French Bulldog fly on LATAM Airlines?
French Bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed and are not accepted in the LATAM hold or as cargo. However, if small enough to fit in an approved cabin carrier, they may fly in the cabin. Always verify with LATAM before booking.

What happens if my pet misbehaves during a LATAM flight?
If your pet shows aggressive behavior (barking, growling, or biting) at any point from check-in through landing, LATAM reserves the right to deny boarding or remove the animal from the cabin. The pet would then need to travel in the hold, or the trip may be cancelled without refund.

Can two pets fly together in one kennel on LATAM?
No. LATAM allows one pet per carrier. Each pet requires its own approved carrier and its own booking.

Does LATAM allow pets on connecting flights with other airlines?
No. LATAM’s pet transport service applies exclusively to flights operated by LATAM. If any segment of your itinerary involves another airline, your pet cannot be transported under LATAM’s pet policy for that segment. You must contact the operating airline directly.

Can I sedate my pet for a LATAM flight?
No. LATAM explicitly prohibits pet sedation for all transport options cabin, hold, and service/emotional support animals. Sedation can compromise breathing, particularly in the hold, and is a safety risk at altitude.

What happens in a cabin emergency will my pet get an oxygen mask?
No. LATAM’s official policy states that oxygen masks are not available for pets in the event of an in-flight emergency. This is an industry-wide standard.

Can a minor traveling alone add a pet to their LATAM booking?
No. Minors traveling with an adult companion or using the Unaccompanied Minor (UMNR) service cannot add a pet to their reservation, either in the cabin or in the hold.

 How far in advance do I need to get a health certificate for LATAM?
The health certificate must be issued by a licensed veterinarian no more than 10 days before your travel date. Bring the original and one copy to the airport. Certificates older than 10 days will not be accepted.