Flying with dogs in SA.
Every carrier's rules are different. Here's what each SA airline actually allows, with weight caps and fees.
FlySafair
Domestic SA (Jhb, Cpt, Dbn, George, PE, Bloemfontein, East London)
Only service dogs travel in cabin. General pets fly as checked hold cargo with Safair Pet Freight. Book at least 5 days ahead.
Breed notes: snub-nosed breeds restricted in summer heat (Pug, Bulldog, Boxer, etc.)
Kulula (Comair-era routes)
N/A — service currently suspended
Kulula is no longer operating general pet transport. Use FlySafair or a dedicated pet transport service.
Airlink
Regional SA + Southern Africa (Namibia, Bots, Moz, Zim)
Small dogs (<8kg incl. carrier) may travel in cabin. Larger dogs as checked. Book 48hr ahead.
CemAir
SA regional (Margate, Hoedspruit, Plett, Bhisho, etc.)
Useful for smaller towns not served by majors.
LIFT
Jhb, Cpt, George — pets not accepted
LIFT currently does not accept pets on any flight. Use FlySafair, Airlink, or a pet transport service.
Heads up: Airline pet policies change frequently. Always re-confirm by phoning the carrier 48 hours before travel.