Norwegian Air Pet Policy 2026: Budget Carrier Rules for Flying With Your Dog or Cat

Most budget airlines in Europe shut their cabin doors to dogs and cats entirely. If you want to fly with a pet on Ryanair, EasyJet, or Wizz Air, you are out of luck—they only permit recognized service dogs. Norwegian Air Shuttle breaks this low-cost mold by letting you bring your cat or dog along, but it comes with a strict operational catch: they only allow a maximum of two pets in the cabin per flight.

If you do not secure one of those two coveted spots during the booking phase, your pet will either have to travel in the cargo hold or stay behind. Navigating these constraints requires understanding how a low-cost carrier balances cheap fares with strict pet logistics. To ensure your paperwork is flawless across borders, you can use the interactive resources at Pet Holiday Club, where checklist tool covers international documentation requirements for more than 190 countries.

Norwegian Air Pet Policy: At a Glance

For a quick reference, the core elements of the Norwegian Air pet travel framework are summarized below:

• In-Cabin Fee: 55 to 75 EUR when booked online; 60 to 85 EUR when purchased at the airport (per animal, each way).

• In-Cabin Weight Limit: Maximum 8 kg (17.6 lbs) including the combined weight of the animal and its carrier.

• In-Cabin Carrier Dimensions: Maximum 43 x 31 x 20 cm (17 x 12 x 8 inches). Soft bags must compress to fit this footprint.

• Cargo Hold Fee: 150 to 180 EUR when booked online; 170 to 200 EUR when purchased at the airport (per animal, each way).

• Cargo Hold Carrier Dimensions: Maximum 125 x 81 x 86 cm (49 x 31 x 33 inches).

• Permitted Species: Dogs and cats only.

• Route Restrictions: Pets are restricted to flights within the Schengen Area and the European Union, excluding Iceland and Ireland. Dogs only are permitted to and from Svalbard and Madeira.

In-Cabin Pet Rules (PETC)

When flying with a pet in the cabin (PETC) on Norwegian, your animal travels under the seat in front of you. Because Norwegian is a low-cost carrier utilizing high-density seating configurations on its Boeing 737 fleet, the physical space under the seat is exceptionally tight.

Species and Age Limits

Only dogs and cats are allowed to travel in the cabin. The animals must be fully weaned and at least eight weeks old. Norwegian does allow a unique exception for very small litters: up to three small, young puppies or kittens may travel in the exact same container as a single animal, provided they meet the overall weight and size limits of the container.

Weight and Carrier Limits

The maximum allowable weight for the pet and the carrier combined is 8 kg (17.6 lbs). If your pet and their container weigh 8.1 kg at the check-in desk, agents can deny boarding or force a transfer to the cargo hold (if space and temperature conditions permit).

The maximum dimensions for an in-cabin container are 43 x 31 x 20 cm. Norwegian strongly recommends using a flexible "Sherpa Bag" or a similar soft-sided pet carrier. Soft carriers are highly advantageous because they can compress slightly to fit under the lower seat frames of Boeing 737 aircraft. Hard-sided carriers are permitted but must fit the exact dimensions without bending, which can be extremely uncomfortable for the animal. The container must be completely leak-proof, securely zipped, and the animal must be able to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably inside.

Cabin Booking Capacity and Fees

As noted, Norwegian caps the number of in-cabin pets at two per flight. This limit makes early booking mandatory.

• Online Booking Fee: 55 to 75 EUR per direction.

• Airport Desk Booking Fee: 60 to 85 EUR per direction.

Cabin Baggage Adjustments

Bringing a pet in the cabin alters your personal hand baggage allowance.

• If you hold a LowFare ticket, you are normally allowed one small underseat bag. If you bring a pet, the pet carrier counts as that underseat bag. Your actual personal bag must then be stored in the overhead bin.

• If you hold a LowFare with overhead cabin bag, LowFare+, or Flex ticket, you are permitted to bring either an underseat bag or an overhead cabin bag in addition to your pet carrier.

Cargo/Hold Pet Rules (AVIH)

For pets that exceed the 8 kg cabin limit, Norwegian offers transport in the cargo hold (AVIH) on select routes. The cargo compartment is pressurized, heated, and ventilated, with air circulated directly from the cabin. However, hold temperatures still fluctuate depending on external weather conditions on the tarmac and the phase of the flight.

Route Restrictions for Cargo

Unlike major legacy carriers, Norwegian does not offer cargo pet transport across its entire network. You can only ship a pet in the cargo hold on flights operating:

1. Within the Schengen Area and/or the European Union (with the strict exclusion of Ireland and Iceland).

2. To and from Svalbard (dogs only).

If your flight involves a connection outside of these zones, hold transport is unavailable.

Container Specifications for the Hold

The pet container must be constructed of rigid plastic, wood, or metal (weld-mesh containers are explicitly banned). The maximum dimensions are 125 x 81 x 86 cm (L x W x H).

You must meet the following safety criteria at the check-in desk:

• The container must be clean, leak-proof, and lined with absorbent material like a blanket or puppy pad. Newspaper, cardboard, and straw are banned.

• The door must be secured with zip ties/cable ties to prevent accidental opening during transit.

• Any wheels on the exterior of the crate must be removed or taped down securely.

• A water bowl must be securely attached to the inside of the door and refillable from the outside without opening the crate.

• The crate must have ventilation openings on all four sides.

• Up to two cats or two dogs can share a single cargo crate if they are well-acquainted, of similar size, and the maximum weight of each animal does not exceed 14 kg (30.8 lbs).

Cargo Fees

• Online Booking Fee: 150 to 180 EUR per animal, each way.

• Airport Desk Booking Fee: 170 to 200 EUR per animal, each way.

The Connection Trap

If you book a connecting flight that transitions from an international route to a domestic route within Norway or Sweden, automatic baggage and pet transfer is not available. You must retrieve your pet from the baggage reclaim area, clear customs, exit to the public departures hall, and check your pet in again for the domestic leg of the journey. Ensure you have a minimum of 2.5 to 3 hours between flights to handle this process.

Breed Restrictions and Health Risks

Many airlines maintain strict, outright bans on brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dog and cat breeds due to the elevated risk of respiratory distress, asphyxiation, and heatstroke in flight. Norwegian Air Shuttle handles this differently. They do not issue a flat ban on snub-nosed breeds, but they impose strict liability shifts.

Snub-Nosed Release Form

If your pet is a brachycephalic breed and you choose to fly them, Norwegian requires you to sign a liability release form at the check-in desk. By signing, you acknowledge that you are aware of the heightened physiological risks of flying your pet and that you release the airline from liability should respiratory complications occur.

Common affected breeds include:

• Dogs: Bulldogs (English, French, American), Pug, Boxer, Boston Terrier, Shih Tzu, Pekingese, Lhasa Apso, Mastiff.

• Cats: Persian, Himalayan, Burmese, British Shorthair.

Sedative Warning

Norwegian and international veterinary associations strongly advise against the use of sedatives or tranquilizers for animals during air travel. Sedatives impair an animal's natural ability to balance, react to movement, and regulate their body temperature, which can prove fatal in a cargo hold.

International Route Requirements and the Norway Tapeworm Rule

Flying across borders within Europe requires meticulous attention to veterinary paperwork. If your documents are incomplete, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) or other local border inspectors can quarantine your pet, deport them, or, in extreme cases, euthanize them—all at your expense.

EU/Schengen Country ──(Microchip + Rabies Vaccine)──> Norway Border ──(Red Channel Customs)──> Entry
                                                             │
                                                   (Tapeworm Treatment 
                                                    24-120 Hours Prior)

To ensure your pet meets all entry standards, refer to the comprehensive Pet Travel Country Guides | Import & Export Rules by Country | Pet Holiday Club to find country-specific, step-by-step entry requirements.

Core European Pet Passport Rules

For any flight within the EU or Schengen zone, your dog or cat must possess:

1. ISO-Compliant Microchip: Must be implanted before or on the exact same day as the rabies vaccination.

2. Valid Rabies Vaccination: Administered at least 21 days prior to travel if it is the primary vaccine. The pet must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination.

3. EU Pet Passport: Completed, signed, and stamped by an authorized veterinarian.

The Mandatory Norway Tapeworm Requirement

If you are flying a dog into Norway from another country (with the exceptions of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta, and Finland), your dog must be treated for the fox dwarf tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis). This is a strict public health requirement monitored closely by Mattilsynet.

• Timing: The treatment must be administered by a licensed veterinarian between 24 hours (1 day) and 120 hours (5 days) before your scheduled arrival time in Norway.

• Medication: The treatment must contain praziquantel or an equivalent active ingredient approved for tapeworm elimination.

• Documentation: The administering veterinarian must record the exact date, time, and drug manufacturer in the designated treatment section of your dog's EU Pet Passport.

• Alternative 28-Day Rule: For frequent border crossers, a dog can enter on a 28-day systematic treatment protocol. The dog must be treated twice by a vet within a 28-day window prior to travel, followed by ongoing veterinary treatments every 28 days.

Arrival and the Red Channel

Upon arrival at any Norwegian airport from an international destination, you must enter the Red Channel at customs. You cannot use the Green Channel if you are traveling with an animal. Present your pet and their passport to the customs officers for verification.

Failing to follow the tapeworm or rabies rules results in immediate custody of the pet. Mattilsynet will issue a minimum fine of NOK 7,000 for tapeworm violations, plus the costs of a mandatory 24-hour quarantine. Rabies paperwork issues can lead to quarantine periods lasting several weeks, costing between NOK 8,700 and NOK 30,000.

How to Book a Pet on Norwegian Air: Step-by-Step

Because cabin and cargo spaces are highly restricted, you must book your pet’s slot as early as possible.

1.Check Pet Availability Before Purchasing Your Ticket:Prerequisite.

Before paying for your own seat, contact the Norwegian Contact Centre or attempt to initiate an online booking to verify if pet capacity has been reached. Remember, only two pets are allowed in the cabin per flight.

2. Select Your Flights Online:Step 1.

Navigate to Norwegian Air official website and select your desired itinerary. Enter your personal details and proceed to the add-ons and special requests page.

3.Add Pet to Your Booking:Step 2.

In the booking flow under 'Special Items' or 'Special Assistance', select the option to add a pet in the cabin (PETC) or pet in cargo (AVIH). The online system will automatically calculate the fee (55–75 EUR for cabin, 150–180 EUR for cargo) and add it to your total.

4.Confirm Seat Selection Restrictions:Step 3.

If traveling with an in-cabin pet, you are restricted from sitting in emergency exit rows, bulkhead rows, or seats with restricted legroom. The booking engine will guide you to an appropriate standard window or aisle seat where the underseat space is unobstructed.

5.Complete the Purchase and Print Receipts:Step 4.

Finalize the payment. Ensure your booking confirmation explicitly lists 'Pet in Cabin' or 'Pet in Hold' as a confirmed special service request (SSR).

Practical Tips for Flying Norwegian with Your Pet

To ensure a smooth travel day, keep these airline-specific guidelines in mind:

• Prep Your Cabin Carrier’s Footprint: Keep the height of your soft carrier at or below 20 cm. At check-in, agents may check the bag's dimensions. A flexible bag that can be compressed manually is highly recommended.

• Arrive Extra Early: Even if you have checked in online, passengers traveling with pets must present themselves at the physical airport check-in desk for document verification. Arrive at least two hours prior to domestic flights, and three hours prior to international flights.

• Carry Zip Ties for Cargo Crates: Norwegian requires cargo doors to be secured with cable ties. Airport security screeners may open the crate for inspection after check-in, so carry extra zip ties in your pocket to re-secure the door at the gate.

• Pack a Travel Water Bottle: Cargo crates must have an exterior-accessible water container. Empty the container before security, and use a bottle to fill it through the wire mesh just before your pet is loaded onto the tarmac.

• Manage the Cabin Temperature: Aircraft cabins can experience rapid temperature shifts. Dress your pet in layers if they are prone to cold, or ensure their soft carrier has ample mesh panels for ventilation if they run warm.

Comparison: Low-Cost and European Competitors

Choosing between airlines for pet travel depends heavily on the carrier's business model. This table illustrates how Norwegian compares to other European options:

As the comparison shows, Norwegian provides a rare middle ground in Europe: they maintain budget-friendly base fares while still offering both cabin and hold transport options for pets—a service entirely absent on ultra-low-cost carriers like Ryanair or EasyJet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many pets can I bring in the cabin on Norwegian?

You can book up to two pets per flight in the cabin. Because of this low capacity, secure your pet's reservation as early as possible.

Q: Can I fly a dog from the UK to Norway on Norwegian Air?

No. Norwegian does not accept pets on flights to or from the United Kingdom, except for recognized assistance dogs on select routes.

Q: What is the tapeworm treatment timeline for dogs entering Norway?

Your dog must receive praziquantel treatment from a licensed vet between 24 and 120 hours before landing in Norway. The vet must document this in your pet's passport.

Q: Does Norwegian allow snub-nosed dogs in the cargo hold?

Yes. Norwegian does not ban brachycephalic breeds, but they require you to sign a liability waiver acknowledging the physiological risks before boarding.

Q: Will Norwegian automatically transfer my cargo pet on connecting flights?

Only on domestic-to-domestic routes. If you connect from an international flight to a domestic flight, you must collect your pet, clear customs, and check them in again.

Q: Can three kittens travel together in one cabin carrier?

Yes. Up to three very small puppies or kittens can travel in a single container as one animal, provided they do not exceed the 8 kg limit.

Before flying with your pet on Norwegian, make sure you have the right documentation for your destination. Pet Holiday Club covers 190+ countries with government-sourced, vet-verified pet travel checklists at petholidayclub.com — so you arrive prepared, not refused.