Dog in Cabin vs Hold vs Cargo: What’s the Difference?
If you’re researching flying with a dog, you’ll quickly come across a confusing collection of terms.
Pet in cabin.
Dog in the hold.
Checked baggage.
Accompanied baggage.
Excess baggage.
AVIH.
Air cargo.
Manifested cargo.
Unaccompanied cargo.
It can sound as though there are half a dozen completely different places on an aircraft where your dog might travel.
There aren’t.
One of the biggest sources of confusion in pet air travel is that “cabin”, “hold” and “cargo” don’t all describe the same thing.
In simple terms:
Cabin and hold primarily describe where your dog physically travels.
Baggage and cargo primarily describe how your dog is booked and processed for the journey.
This means a dog travelling as accompanied checked baggage and a dog travelling as manifested air cargo may potentially travel in a similar part of the aircraft – but the way they are booked, checked in, handled and collected can be completely different.
Whether you’re taking your dog on holiday, travelling to an international dog show or sports competition, relocating overseas or importing or exporting a puppy, understanding these terms makes planning air travel much easier.
The Simple Version: Cabin vs Hold vs Cargo
There are three arrangements you’re most likely to encounter when flying with a dog.
Dog in Cabin – PETC
Your dog travels inside the passenger cabin with you, usually in a soft carrier underneath the seat in front.
This is normally only available for small dogs.
Dog in the Hold as Accompanied Baggage – AVIH
Your dog travels in an appropriate rigid aviation crate in a suitable aircraft compartment beneath the passenger cabin.
You normally travel on the same flight and your dog is booked in association with your passenger journey.
Dog as Manifested Cargo – AVI
Your dog is booked through an airline’s cargo or freight system as a live animal shipment.
Your dog will normally still travel in a suitable aircraft compartment, but the booking, check-in, handling and collection process can be very different.
The important thing to remember is:
A dog travelling in the hold is not automatically travelling “as cargo”.
What Does “Pet in Cabin” Mean?
Pet in cabin is probably the easiest option to understand.
Your dog travels inside the passenger cabin with you.
You may see the abbreviation:
PETC – Pet in Cabin
used by airlines and booking systems.
This option is generally limited to small dogs and cats.
Your dog travels inside an appropriate carrier which normally needs to fit completely underneath the seat in front of you.
Airlines set their own rules regarding:
- Maximum carrier dimensions
- Combined dog and carrier weight
- Carrier construction
- Ventilation
- Number of pets permitted on each flight
- Seating restrictions
- Aircraft type
- Routes on which pets are accepted
There is no universal cabin-pet size or weight limit.
One airline may allow a combined dog and carrier weight of 8 kg, while another may allow 10 kg.
The carrier dimensions can also vary considerably between airlines.
Always check the requirements for the exact airline and flight you intend to use.
Is a Dog in the Cabin Really “Hand Luggage”?
You’ll often hear people say:
“My dog is travelling as hand luggage.”
It’s an easy way of describing the arrangement, particularly when explaining it to someone unfamiliar with flying with pets.
Technically, however, your dog isn’t simply another piece of cabin baggage.
Airlines have specific rules for animals travelling in the passenger cabin.
Your dog will normally need to remain inside their carrier throughout the flight, and the carrier usually needs to stay underneath the seat in front of you.
So while “travelling as hand luggage” is a useful informal description, pet in cabin is more accurate.
Choosing a Carrier for In-Cabin Travel
For cabin travel, you’ll normally need a lightweight carrier that fits within your airline’s permitted dimensions.
Soft carriers are particularly useful because they are lightweight and can provide a little flexibility when fitting underneath an aircraft seat.
At Pet Connection, our soft airline carriers provide practical options for eligible small dogs and cats travelling in the passenger cabin.
However, there is no such thing as one universally accepted airline carrier.
Always compare:
- Carrier length
- Carrier width
- Carrier height
- Carrier weight
- Your dog’s weight
against the airline’s current requirements.
What Does “Dog in the Hold” Mean?
This is where the terminology starts becoming confusing.
The aircraft hold is a physical location.
It is beneath the passenger cabin.
Dogs travelling outside the passenger cabin are transported in an appropriate aircraft compartment suitable for live animals.
Your dog travels inside a secure rigid aviation crate rather than a soft under-seat carrier.
But saying:
“My dog is travelling in the hold”
doesn’t necessarily tell us how the dog has been booked.
A dog in the hold might be travelling as:
accompanied checked baggage
or:
manifested cargo.
Both dogs may physically be travelling beneath the passenger cabin.
The administrative arrangements can be completely different.
Is the Aircraft Hold Heated?
Suitable aircraft compartments used to transport live animals are designed differently from simply putting an animal into an unsuitable luggage space.
The aircraft and compartment must be appropriate for live-animal transport.
Depending on the aircraft, the relevant compartment can be:
- Ventilated
- Pressurised
- Temperature controlled or heated as required
This is one reason pet acceptance can vary between aircraft operated by the same airline.
An airline may accept dogs on one aircraft type but not another.
A particularly large aviation crate may also physically fit through the cargo door of one aircraft but not another.
So when travelling with a large dog, it’s important to check not just the airline but the specific aircraft and route where possible.
What Is Accompanied Baggage?
Some airlines allow dogs that are too large for the passenger cabin to travel as accompanied baggage in the aircraft hold.
You may see several terms used for this, including:
- Accompanied baggage
- Checked pet
- Checked baggage
- Excess baggage
- Pet in hold
- AVIH
AVIH is an airline industry abbreviation commonly used for an animal in hold.
The important distinction is that your dog is travelling in association with your passenger journey, rather than being booked independently through an airline’s cargo system.
What Happens When a Dog Travels as Accompanied Baggage?
The exact process varies between airlines and airports.
Generally, however, you:
- Book your passenger flight.
- Reserve a place for your dog.
- Tell the airline your dog’s weight and crate details.
- Arrive at the passenger airport with your dog and aviation crate.
- Complete the airline’s pet check-in procedure.
- Your dog and crate are accepted for the flight.
- Your dog is transferred to the aircraft.
- You travel as a passenger.
- Your dog travels in the appropriate aircraft hold.
- You collect your dog according to the arrival airport’s procedure.
The dog is therefore in the hold, but has not necessarily been booked as cargo.
Loganair: A Good Example of Accompanied Baggage
For dog owners in the North of Ireland, Loganair provides a particularly useful example.
On eligible flights, Loganair accepts ordinary pet dogs and cats as accompanied baggage.
The owner travels as a passenger.
The dog travels in an appropriate container in the aircraft hold.
The dog checks in through the airline’s passenger arrangements and is reunited with their owner after arrival.
Loganair does not transport ordinary pets as manifested live-animal cargo.
So saying:
“My dog travelled in the hold with Loganair”
would be correct.
Saying:
“Loganair sent my dog as cargo”
would not accurately describe how that service operates.
This is exactly why understanding the terminology matters.
What Is Manifested Cargo?
Manifested cargo is different.
Instead of your dog being booked as part of your passenger arrangements, your dog is booked through an airline’s cargo or freight system as a live-animal shipment.
You may see the abbreviation:
AVI – Live Animal
used within the air-cargo industry.
The dog still needs an appropriate aviation crate.
They will normally still travel in a suitable aircraft compartment.
But administratively, they are travelling as cargo rather than passenger baggage.
Does “Cargo” Mean My Dog Is Put in With the Suitcases?
No.
This is probably the biggest misconception surrounding dogs travelling by air.
The word cargo can sound frightening because we tend to associate cargo with boxes, pallets and freight.
Live animals are a specialist category of air transport.
Airlines transporting live animals must have procedures for their acceptance, handling and carriage.
The fact that a dog is booked as cargo describes the transport and handling arrangement.
It doesn’t mean:
“Your dog is treated like an ordinary suitcase.”
Can an Accompanied Dog and a Cargo Dog Travel in the Same Part of the Aircraft?
Potentially, yes.
Imagine two dogs.
Dog One – Bella
Bella is flying abroad with her owner.
Her owner has a passenger ticket.
Bella is booked with the airline as an animal in hold/accompanied baggage.
Dog Two – Finn
Finn is being transported internationally to his new owner.
Finn has been booked through the airline’s cargo operation as a manifested live-animal shipment.
Both dogs travel in appropriately sized aviation crates.
Both may physically travel in a suitable aircraft compartment beneath the passenger cabin.
But they have been booked completely differently.
Their:
- Booking references
- Check-in locations
- Acceptance procedures
- Drop-off times
- Documentation
- Handling procedures
- Collection locations
- Customs procedures
- Charges
may all be different.
That’s why:
Hold and cargo are not interchangeable terms.
Can My Dog Travel as Cargo While I’m on the Same Flight?
Yes, potentially.
Another common assumption is:
Accompanied baggage = owner on the aircraft
and:
Cargo = owner isn’t on the aircraft.
The first description is generally useful.
The second isn’t necessarily true.
Your dog could potentially be booked as manifested cargo while you are travelling as a passenger on exactly the same aircraft.
You might be sitting upstairs in the passenger cabin while your dog is travelling in the appropriate compartment beneath you.
The fact that you’re both on the same aircraft doesn’t automatically make your dog accompanied baggage.
It’s the booking arrangement that matters.
Can a Dog Fly as Cargo Without Their Owner?
Yes.
This is one of the major reasons live-animal cargo services exist.
Dogs can potentially travel as unaccompanied cargo, subject to the airline, route and destination-country requirements.
This may be relevant for:
- International relocation
- Owners importing dogs
- Responsible breeders exporting puppies
- Preservation breeding programmes
- Dogs moving to new owners
- Working dogs
- Professional handlers
- Specialist training
- Dogs travelling when their owner cannot accompany them
The person sending the dog is generally known as the shipper or consignor, while the person receiving the dog at the destination may be referred to as the consignee.
Does My Dog Have to Travel as Cargo If I’m Not Flying?
It depends on the airline.
Many passenger pet services require the owner or accompanying person to travel on the same flight.
If nobody is travelling with the dog, a live-animal cargo booking or specialist pet-shipping arrangement may be required.
This is particularly important for breeders sending puppies overseas.
Don't assume you can simply book a puppy onto a passenger flight without someone travelling with them.
Check:
- Airline requirements
- Export requirements
- Import requirements
- Whether the movement is commercial or non-commercial
- Whether a pet shipping agent is required
well in advance.
Why Would My Dog Travel as Cargo If I’m Flying Too?
Sometimes the owner has no choice.
Cargo may be required because:
- The airline doesn’t offer accompanied hold travel
- The route doesn’t allow accompanied pet baggage
- The dog or crate exceeds the airline’s passenger-pet limits
- The destination requires animals to arrive through cargo
- The airline requires a specialist pet shipping agent
- The animal is travelling under an arrangement requiring cargo processing
- The itinerary doesn’t support accompanied baggage
So if an airline or pet shipper tells you:
“Your dog needs to travel as cargo”
that doesn’t necessarily mean the dog will physically travel somewhere different from a dog travelling as accompanied baggage.
It may be the booking, acceptance and handling process that is different.
Is Cargo More Dangerous Than Hold Travel?
The words alone don't tell you whether one journey is safer or more appropriate than another.
A dog travelling as accompanied baggage and a dog travelling as manifested cargo both need appropriate live-animal transport arrangements.
Much more useful questions are:
- Which airline is carrying my dog?
- What aircraft is being used?
- Is that aircraft suitable for live animals?
- How long is the flight?
- Is it direct?
- How many times will my dog be handled?
- Are there connections?
- What happens during the connection?
- What will the temperatures be at each airport?
- Who is responsible for the dog during delays?
- Is the aviation crate correctly sized?
- Where will my dog be collected?
- What happens if the flight is cancelled?
These tell you considerably more about the journey than simply asking:
“Is my dog going cargo?”
What Happens When a Dog Travels as Cargo?
The exact process varies enormously by airline, airport and country.
A typical cargo journey may involve:
- Booking the dog with an airline cargo department or pet shipping agent.
- Providing the dog's details and veterinary documentation.
- Providing the aviation crate dimensions and total weight.
- Receiving a cargo booking or Air Waybill.
- Taking the dog to a cargo terminal or animal handling facility.
- The dog and crate undergoing an acceptance check.
- The dog being transferred through the cargo handling system.
- The dog travelling on the aircraft.
- The dog being transferred to the appropriate arrival facility.
- Veterinary, customs or import checks where required.
- The consignee collecting the dog.
This can look very different from ordinary passenger check-in.
What Is an Air Waybill?
If your dog is travelling as manifested cargo, you may hear the term:
Air Waybill – AWB
An Air Waybill is an important transport document used for air cargo.
It contains information relating to the shipment and its journey.
For a dog travelling as manifested cargo, this forms part of the cargo process.
An accompanied dog travelling under an airline’s passenger baggage arrangements would not normally be treated in exactly the same way.
Do I Check My Dog in at the Passenger Terminal When They Travel as Cargo?
Often, no.
This can surprise owners.
Your own flight might leave from:
Terminal 1
while your dog needs to be delivered to an airline cargo facility somewhere completely different around the airport.
Cargo facilities can sometimes be a significant drive from the passenger terminal.
You may also need to deliver your dog several hours before your own flight.
Always establish:
- Exact drop-off address
- Required arrival time
- Who is accepting the dog
- Required documents
- Where you need to go afterwards
before travel day.
Where Do I Collect a Cargo Dog?
Again, this varies.
Your dog might be collected from:
- Airline cargo terminal
- Freight handling facility
- Animal reception centre
- Customs facility
- Specialist live-animal facility
- Pet shipping agent
There may also be:
- Veterinary checks
- Import checks
- Customs clearance
- Handling charges
- Storage charges if collection is delayed
If you’re importing a dog or puppy, find out exactly where collection takes place before the dog departs.
Don't simply arrive at the passenger baggage carousel expecting their aviation crate to appear beside your suitcase.
Does Cargo Mean Commercial Travel?
No.
This is another very important distinction.
Cargo is an airline transport/booking term.
Commercial and non-commercial movement are legal animal-health classifications.
They are not automatically the same thing.
A privately owned pet could potentially need to travel as manifested cargo because of the airline or route without the movement automatically becoming a commercial sale.
Equally, an animal being sold or having ownership transferred may be subject to commercial movement rules even if somebody physically accompanies the animal.
This is particularly important for:
- Breeders
- Puppy imports
- Puppy exports
- Dogs being sold
- Dogs changing ownership
- Flight nanny arrangements
Always establish the correct legal movement category separately from how the airline has booked the animal.
What About a Flight Nanny?
A flight nanny accompanies a dog or puppy during their journey on somebody else’s behalf.
For a sufficiently small puppy, this may allow them to travel in the passenger cabin with the flight nanny where the airline permits it.
The flight nanny meets the breeder or sender, travels with the puppy and hands them over to the new owner at the destination.
However, using a flight nanny does not automatically determine the legal classification of the animal movement.
If a puppy is being sold or ownership transferred, check the relevant import/export and commercial movement requirements.
Does My Dog Need an Aviation Crate for Hold or Cargo Travel?
Generally, yes.
Dogs travelling outside the passenger cabin need an appropriate rigid aviation container suitable for the animal, airline and journey.
The dog needs sufficient space to:
- Stand naturally
- Sit erect
- Turn around normally
- Lie in a natural position
The crate must also satisfy the relevant construction, security and ventilation requirements.
At Pet Connection, our Petmode Aviation Carriers are available in sizes from L50 through to L120, providing options for puppies and small dogs through to many large breeds.
Don't choose your crate simply because:
“My dog weighs 25 kg.”
A tall, lean 25 kg dog can require a very different crate from a short, stocky 25 kg dog.
Measure the individual dog.
Our How to Choose the Correct Size Aviation Crate for Your Dog guide explains how to take the relevant IATA measurements and calculate the minimum internal crate dimensions required.
Preparing an Aviation Crate for Travel
A correctly sized crate is only part of the preparation.
The crate may also need:
- Appropriate water bowls
- Food bowl where required
- Absorbent bedding
- Live Animal identification
- Directional labels
- Pet identification information
- Secure door fastenings
- Food attached for longer journeys where required
Always check the requirements of your individual airline or pet shipper.
Our Pet Connection Air Travel Essentials Kit brings together many of the useful smaller items needed when preparing for an airline journey.
It includes:
- Live Animal labels
- Directional labels
- Pet details label
- Cable ties for additional door security
- Blunt-ended scissors for removing cable ties after arrival
- Additional clip-on bowl
- Lightweight 6 ft emergency slip lead
- Food storage bag
- 500 ml water bottle
- 2.5 litre travel storage bag
- Double-sided adhesive pads
It's particularly useful alongside our Petmode Aviation Carriers.
Should I Crate Train My Dog Before Flying?
Absolutely.
Whether your dog is travelling as accompanied baggage or manifested cargo, the physical experience of being inside their aviation crate is incredibly important.
Don't make the airport the first time your dog spends several hours inside it.
Ideally, purchase the crate well in advance.
Allow your dog to:
- Investigate it voluntarily
- Eat meals inside it
- Sleep inside it
- Relax with the door open
- Relax with the door closed
- Spend gradually longer periods inside
- Travel in it appropriately before the flight
For a well crate-trained dog, their aviation crate can become a familiar little bedroom in a very unfamiliar environment.
Which Option Is Best for My Dog?
There isn't one universally best option.
Cabin may be ideal for:
- Very small dogs
- Small puppies
- Dogs comfortable in soft carriers
- Routes where the airline permits PETC travel
Accompanied Hold Travel may be ideal for:
- Medium and larger dogs
- Dogs too large for cabin travel
- Owners travelling on the same flight
- Airlines offering straightforward AVIH arrangements
Manifested Cargo may be necessary or appropriate for:
- Unaccompanied dogs
- International puppy exports
- Large dogs
- Routes without accompanied pet arrangements
- Countries requiring cargo arrival
- Airlines requiring live-animal cargo bookings
- Relocations
- Dogs travelling through specialist pet shipping agents
The best arrangement depends on:
your dog + your airline + your route + your destination.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cabin, Hold & Cargo Pet Travel
What is the difference between a dog in the hold and a dog travelling as cargo?
Hold describes where the dog physically travels. Cargo describes how the dog is booked and processed.
A dog travelling as accompanied baggage and a dog travelling as manifested cargo may both physically travel in a suitable aircraft compartment beneath the passenger cabin.
What does PETC mean?
PETC means Pet in Cabin.
The dog or cat travels inside the passenger cabin in an appropriate carrier, normally beneath the seat in front.
What does AVIH mean?
AVIH commonly means Animal in Hold.
It is used in airline systems for animals travelling in an aircraft hold rather than the passenger cabin.
What does AVI mean?
AVI is an air-cargo special handling code used for Live Animals.
You may encounter it when arranging manifested live-animal cargo.
Is accompanied baggage the same as cargo?
No.
An accompanied dog is generally booked in association with a passenger travelling on the flight.
A manifested-cargo dog is booked through the airline’s cargo system as a live-animal shipment.
Does a dog travelling in the hold go in with the luggage?
Dogs travel in an appropriate aircraft compartment suitable for live-animal carriage.
Aircraft type and airline arrangements matter, which is why not every aircraft can necessarily carry pets.
Is the aircraft hold heated for dogs?
Aircraft carrying live animals need an appropriate compartment for them. Depending on the aircraft, the relevant hold can be ventilated, pressurised and temperature controlled or heated as required.
Always confirm that your particular flight can accept a live animal.
Can my dog travel as cargo on the same flight as me?
Yes, potentially.
You can travel as a passenger while your dog is booked separately as manifested cargo on the same aircraft.
Can my dog travel as cargo without me?
Yes, where the airline and destination permit it.
This is known as unaccompanied live-animal transport and is commonly arranged through an airline cargo department or specialist pet shipping agent.
Does my dog have to travel as cargo if I’m not flying?
Often a cargo or specialist shipping arrangement will be required because many accompanied pet services require a passenger to travel with the animal.
Check the individual airline.
Is cargo only for dogs being sold?
No.
A privately owned pet may travel as cargo because of airline, route, size or destination requirements.
Does travelling as cargo make my dog a commercial movement?
Not automatically.
The airline booking method and the legal classification of the animal movement are separate issues.
Can a puppy travel as cargo?
Potentially, provided the puppy meets the airline's minimum age and all applicable animal-health, import and export requirements.
Minimum legal travel ages can vary substantially according to the countries involved.
Can a puppy travel in the cabin?
Yes, potentially, if they meet the airline's age requirements and fit within its permitted carrier and weight limits.
Can I send a puppy with a flight nanny?
Potentially.
A flight nanny can accompany an eligible puppy, often in the passenger cabin where permitted.
However, using a flight nanny doesn't remove the need to comply with the correct import, export and animal-movement rules.
Do cargo dogs need an IATA-approved crate?
You'll often see the phrase “IATA-approved crate”, but IATA doesn't individually approve or certify commercial pet crate brands.
Instead, IATA publishes standards for containers used to transport live animals.
Your crate needs to meet the applicable requirements of the airline and journey.
Do accompanied dogs in the hold need an aviation crate too?
Yes.
A dog travelling in the hold needs an appropriate rigid aviation container, even when travelling as accompanied baggage rather than cargo.
Can I use a soft carrier in the aircraft hold?
Generally, no.
Soft airline carriers are primarily intended for eligible passenger-cabin travel.
Dogs travelling in the hold require an appropriate rigid aviation container.
How do I choose the right aviation crate size?
Measure your individual dog rather than relying solely on breed or weight.
Our How to Choose the Correct Size Aviation Crate for Your Dog guide explains the IATA A, B, C and D measurements and how to calculate the minimum internal dimensions your dog requires.
Where do I drop off a dog travelling as cargo?
This depends on the airport and airline.
It may be at an airline cargo terminal, freight handling facility or specialist animal reception facility rather than the passenger terminal.
Confirm the exact address before travel day.
Where do I collect a dog arriving as cargo?
Again, this varies by airport and country.
Collection may take place at a cargo terminal, animal reception centre, customs facility or specialist live-animal handling facility.
Is cargo worse than accompanied baggage?
Not inherently.
They are different booking and handling arrangements.
Instead of judging the journey by the word “cargo”, look at the airline, aircraft, route, connections, handling arrangements, journey duration, temperatures and your individual dog's needs.
Which is better: cabin, hold or cargo?
There isn't one answer for every dog.
A tiny dog may be ideally suited to cabin travel.
A larger dog travelling with their owner may have a straightforward accompanied hold option.
Another dog may need to travel as manifested cargo because of the airline, destination or nature of the journey.
Choose according to the individual dog and complete itinerary.
Cabin, Hold or Cargo: The One Thing to Remember
If all the airline terminology starts becoming confusing, remember this:
Cabin and hold tell you primarily WHERE your dog travels.
Accompanied baggage and cargo tell you primarily HOW your dog is booked and processed.
A dog in the cabin travels with you in the passenger compartment.
A dog travelling as accompanied baggage can travel in an appropriate aircraft hold while remaining linked to your passenger booking.
A dog travelling as manifested cargo is booked through the airline’s cargo system – whether you're sitting on the same aircraft or thousands of miles away.
And two dogs booked in completely different ways could potentially travel in a similar part of the same aircraft.
So don't simply ask an airline:
“Does my dog have to go in cargo?”
Ask:
“Will my dog be travelling as accompanied baggage or manifested cargo?”
Then find out:
- Where do I check them in?
- Where do I collect them?
- Can I travel on the same flight?
- What documentation is required?
- Which aircraft will carry them?
- What crate is required?
- What happens during connections?
- What happens if the flight is delayed?
Those answers tell you far more about your dog's journey than the word cargo ever will.
At Pet Connection, you'll find Petmode Aviation Carriers for appropriate hold and cargo travel, Trixie soft airline carriers for eligible in-cabin travel, and our Air Travel Essentials Kit to help prepare your dog's crate and travel equipment before departure.
