✈ Star Alliance📍 Switzerland · ZRH✓ Verified 11 Jul 2026
★ Moderate4.7/5
93/100 · MyDogCanFly score
Cats & small dogs in the cabin or air-conditioned hold — snub-nosed breeds cabin-only, paperwork required.
MyDogCanFly is not affiliated with SWISS. The logo is shown for identification only. We do not sell tickets and take no bookings.
⚖️ Where does your dog travel?
Cabin≤ 8 kg
Hold> 8 kg
Cargounaccompanied
Weight includes the carrier or kennel.
🐾 CabinAllowed
Dogs & cats ≤ 8 kg incl. carrier in a soft bag under the seat (max 55 × 40 × 23 cm); max 2, min 12 weeks. Signed cabin form required.
CHF 75–140
🧳 HoldAllowed
Non-snub-nosed dogs & cats over 8 kg as excess baggage in the air-conditioned hold, IATA crate. Stricter ventilation rules from May 2026.
CHF 115–440
✈️ Swiss WorldCargoVia cargo
Unaccompanied animals or countries requiring cargo (UK, Ireland, UAE, Hong Kong, South Africa). Zurich Animal Care Center.
Quote
💶 Fares
Cabin (≤ 8 kg)
CHF 75–140
Hold (by zone & crate size)
CHF 115–440
Transfer surcharge (FRA/MUC/VIE/ZRH/GVA)
€150 / CHF 170
Assistance dog
Free
CHF, by zone; a transfer surcharge applies via certain hubs. Pets are always excess baggage, never in the free allowance. ✓ Official source
⚠️ Key restrictions
🐶 Flat-faced breeds
Cabin onlyHold forbidden
Snub-nosed breeds & crossbreeds are cabin-only (barred from the hold): bulldogs (except American), pugs, Boston terrier, boxer, Brussels Griffon, chow chow, Shih Tzu, Pekingese, Shar Pei, Lhasa Apso, Japanese Chin, and Persian/Exotic/Himalayan/British Shorthair/Scottish Fold cats. Via cargo, only with a BOAS grade 0–1 certificate.
🚫 Dangerous breeds
Cargo crate onlyMin. 12 weeks
Dangerous breeds (American Bulldog, American Bully, pit bull types, Caucasian Ovcharka, Dogo Argentino, Kangal, Rottweiler) only in a reinforced cargo crate. Pregnant animals & 'teacup' dogs refused; min. 12 weeks.
🐶 Check whether your dog is snub-nosed
SWISS refuses brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds in the hold. What the airline itself wrote is in the restrictions above — that text alone says which breeds it turns away.
These 22 breeds are MyDogCanFly's own brachycephalic classification, heaviest first — it is not the list published by SWISS. Use it to situate your dog, then read the airline's own wording above and confirm with it before booking.
🌡️ Temperature & hold
Air-conditioned holdHeat limit 27 °C
Swiss WorldCargo restricts pet carriage when outside temperatures exceed 27 °C (rebooking to a cooler time). The Nov–Mar winter embargo covers cold-sensitive species but not dogs and cats. The hold is air-conditioned, similar to the cabin.
SWISS — Allowed. Dogs & cats ≤ 8 kg incl. carrier in a soft bag under the seat (max 55 × 40 × 23 cm); max 2, min 12 weeks. Signed cabin form required. Fare: CHF 75–140.
Does SWISS carry dogs in the hold?
⌄
Hold — Allowed. Non-snub-nosed dogs & cats over 8 kg as excess baggage in the air-conditioned hold, IATA crate. Stricter ventilation rules from May 2026.
Does SWISS accept flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds?
⌄
SWISS — Cabin only · Hold forbidden. Snub-nosed breeds & crossbreeds are cabin-only (barred from the hold): bulldogs (except American), pugs, Boston terrier, boxer, Brussels Griffon, chow chow, Shih Tzu, Pekingese, Shar Pei, Lhasa Apso, Japanese Chin, and Persian/Exotic/Himalayan/British Shorthair/Scottish Fold cats.…
Does SWISS suspend dog transport in hot weather?
⌄
Swiss WorldCargo restricts pet carriage when outside temperatures exceed 27 °C (rebooking to a cooler time). The Nov–Mar winter embargo covers cold-sensitive species but not dogs and cats. The hold is air-conditioned, similar to the cabin.
Are assistance dogs accepted on SWISS?
⌄
SWISS — In the cabin. One assistance dog free (two on US flights), no carrier needed, in the footwell; min. 4 months.
Answers drawn from SWISS's published conditions, last verified 11 July 2026. Airline conditions are commercial and can change — confirm at booking.
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