Traveling with Animals
Travelling with Animals
If you are planning to travel with an animal through Terminal 4, please contact Kuwait Airways well in advance of your journey. Terminal 4 is dedicated to Kuwait Airways, and animal carriage is subject to Kuwait Airways rules, route restrictions, aircraft acceptance, health documents, vaccination records, entry permits, and the requirements of the country of entry or transit.
Kuwait Airways may accept animals such as dogs, cats, household birds, and other pets when properly crated and accompanied by valid health certificates, vaccination certificates, entry permits, and any documents required by the destination or transit country. Accepted animals are not included in the passenger’s free baggage allowance and may be charged as excess baggage.
Kuwait Airways Animals on Board
Before You Travel
The earlier you contact Kuwait Airways, the smoother the journey will be for you and your animal. Last-minute requests may not be accepted, especially if the animal requires special handling, route approval, documentation, or cargo/baggage arrangements.
Before travelling, please confirm:
Whether your animal is accepted on your route
Whether the animal must travel as checked baggage or cargo
Health certificate requirements
Vaccination certificate requirements
Entry permit requirements
Destination and transit country rules
Container / crate requirements
Applicable charges
Kuwait Airways advises passengers to contact the Kuwait Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources, also known as PAAF, for details regarding health certificates, vaccination certificates, entry permits, and other documents required by the country of entry or transit.
Pets in the Passenger Cabin
Pets are not allowed to be carried in the passenger cabin on Kuwait Airways. Emotional support animals are no longer treated as service animals and are handled as pets in the cargo compartment / animal-in-hold service, subject to applicable charges.
This means household pets such as cats, dogs, and birds should not be presented as cabin pets at Terminal 4 unless Kuwait Airways has confirmed a specific exception in writing.
Service Animals
Kuwait Airways provides specific cabin rules for service and psychiatric service animals on flights to and from the United States, including KU117 / KU118. A service animal is defined as a dog individually trained to perform work or tasks for a qualified person with a disability.
For U.S. flights, passengers travelling with a service animal may need to submit the required U.S. DOT service animal forms. For flights of eight hours or more, a relief attestation form may also be required. Kuwait Airways also states that service animals must remain harnessed, leashed, or otherwise tethered in airport-controlled areas and onboard the aircraft.
Household Pets
Household pets are generally not allowed in the passenger cabin on Kuwait Airways. If accepted by the airline, pets may travel as checked baggage or cargo, depending on the route, aircraft, documentation, and airline approval.
Pets must travel in a suitable container. Kuwait Airways states that the pet container should match the animal’s size, allow the animal to stand, sit, turn, and lie down naturally, be leak-proof, have no wheels, be properly ventilated, and include separate food and water troughs accessible during the journey.
Check-In at Terminal 4
When departing from Terminal 4 with an approved animal booking, please proceed to the Kuwait Airways check-in area and inform the check-in staff that you are travelling with an animal.
Please keep the following ready:
Passenger passport and ticket
Animal booking confirmation or airline approval
Health certificate
Vaccination records
Entry permit, if required
Transit or destination documents, if required
Animal container / crate meeting airline requirements
Payment method for applicable charges
If documentation is incomplete, Kuwait Airways may not be able to accept the animal for travel.
Collecting Your Animal on Arrival
If your animal arrives at Terminal 4 as checked baggage or approved animal-in-hold carriage, please follow Kuwait Airways and baggage service instructions in the baggage claim area. Animals may be delivered separately from regular baggage depending on handling requirements.
After collecting your baggage and animal, proceed to customs and present any animal travel documents if requested by the relevant authorities.
Birds and Falcons
Kuwait Airways’ general conditions of carriage mention household birds and other pets as animals that may be accepted when properly crated and accompanied by valid health, vaccination, entry permit, and destination/transit documents. However, Kuwait Airways’ current public animal page does not list a confirmed cabin falcon service for T4.
For the T4 website, do not state that falcons are allowed in the cabin unless Kuwait Airways confirms this service officially. Passengers travelling with birds or falcons should contact Kuwait Airways before booking.
Things to Remember
Contact Kuwait Airways well in advance before travelling with any animal.
Do not bring an animal to Terminal 4 without airline approval.
Pets are not allowed in the passenger cabin on Kuwait Airways.
Service animal cabin rules are route-specific and especially relevant for U.S. flights.
Live animals are currently not accepted for transit through Kuwait as cargo or baggage.
Carry all required health certificates, vaccination records, entry permits, and destination documents.
Use an approved animal container that allows the animal to stand, sit, turn, and lie down naturally.
Check Kuwait, destination, and transit-country rules before travelling.