Planning to fly to Dublin with your furry travel companion? If Lufthansa is on your radar, I have some crucial information that could save you hours of frustration and disappointment. As someone who travels frequently with my Shih Tzu Daisy, I was surprised to discover a little-known restriction that Lufthansa's own customer service representatives weren't clearly communicating.
My Lufthansa Pet Travel Experience
What started as a simple booking turned into a week-long ordeal that I hope you can avoid. Here's what happened.
I booked a connecting flight to Dublin through Germany, following Lufthansa's standard procedure:
- Book your flight online
- Submit a separate contact form to add your pet to the reservation
Seems straightforward, right? The next day, I received an urgent message to contact their customer centre regarding my booking. When I called, I encountered my first red flag: the representative had no idea why I was contacting them. There was no note on my file explaining the urgent message.
I explained I needed to add Daisy to my connecting flight from Munich to Dublin. What followed was a frustrating week of back-and-forth calls with different agents, all telling me they couldn't find space for my dog on any flight into Dublin airport without explaining why. I was flexible on the dates I could travel.
The Truth About Flying Pets to Dublin
After countless calls and hours wasted, I finally discovered the real issue: Lufthansa does not allow pets in cabin on flights into Dublin. This wasn't a matter of finding space or choosing a different date — it was a blanket policy that none of the customer service representatives clearly communicated.
Instead of telling me upfront about this restriction, I was repeatedly told they "couldn't add a pet" or "couldn't find space," leaving me to search for alternative dates and options that would never be available.
Lufthansa does not allow pets in cabin on flights into Dublin.
Airlines That Restrict Pets in Cabin to Dublin
Through further research, I discovered this isn't unique to Lufthansa. Swiss Airlines have similar restrictions, which I found out the hard way:
- Lufthansa: No pets in cabin on flights TO Dublin (you can fly OUT of Dublin with a pet)
- Swiss Airlines: Same restriction — pets allowed out of Dublin but not into Dublin. If you want to learn about our experience with Swiss, grab your popcorn and read this one…
What You Need to Know Before Booking
If you're planning to travel to Dublin with your pet:
- Research airline pet policies specifically for Dublin flights before booking
- Call the airline directly to confirm their Dublin pet policy (don't just rely on general pet policies)
- Consider alternative routes with pet-friendly airlines that do accept cabin pets into Dublin
- Look into ferries as an alternative if you're coming from the UK or continental Europe
Pet-Friendly Alternatives for Dublin Travel
While Lufthansa and Swiss Air won't accommodate your furry friend on flights to Dublin, you still have options:
- KLM: Our absolute favourite pet-friendly airline!
- Air France: Often permits small pets in cabin on Dublin routes
- Ferry services: If travelling from the UK, consider the ferry as a stress-free alternative
The Bottom Line
Had I known about Lufthansa's restriction from the beginning, I could have saved myself a week of frustration and uncertainty. Thankfully, Lufthansa did provide a full refund once the situation was clarified, but the lack of transparent information was concerning.
I'm sharing this experience to help other dog parents avoid the same pitfall. When planning international travel with your pet, always double-check destination-specific pet policies, even if the airline is generally known as pet-friendly.
