Finnair in-cabin pet policy — and the carriers that fit
Finnair allows small pets in the cabin in a carrier up to 21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in, stowed under the seat in front of you. Already own a carrier? Enter its measurements below to check it against this limit. The in-cabin fee is Within Europe: €60 or 7,800 Avios (7 days or more before departure) / €65 or 8,500 Avios (6 days or less). Intercontinental: €120/$130 or 15,800 Avios (7 days or more) / €130/$140 or 17,100 Avios (6 days or less). Charged per pet carrier, per journey. 0 of the 15 carriers we track clear that published limit.
That means no carrier on our list clears it outright — the closest is the Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) (flexes — 0.6" over), with 5 others in the same range. Measure yours and expect an agent to check it. Finnair's 7.9" height ceiling sits mid-pack among the 77 airlines we track (shared with LOT Polish, Norwegian, Royal Air Maroc): Aegean, Air Canada, Air Europa and Air France allow more, while EL AL Israel allows only 7".
Will your carrier fit Finnair?
Measure the outside of your carrier (bulges included) and enter it below. The check uses Finnair’s published 21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in limit — height is checked strictly, the footprint may rotate.
Finnair pet rules
| Max soft-sided carrier | 21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in |
| Max hard-sided kennel | 13.8 × 11.8 × 7.9 in |
| Carrier size caveat | Finnair publishes three limits: soft carriers 55 x 40 x 23 cm (21.7 x 15.7 x 9.1 in) on flights operated by Finnair, 55 x 40 x 20 cm (21.7 x 15.7 x 7.9 in) on flights operated by Norra, and hard carriers 35 x 30 x 20 cm (13.8 x 11.8 x 7.9 in). We match against the smaller soft figure so a fit here holds on either operator. |
| Soft-sided required? | Soft recommended; hard allowed within its limit |
| In-cabin fee | Within Europe: €60 or 7,800 Avios (7 days or more before departure) / €65 or 8,500 Avios (6 days or less). Intercontinental: €120/$130 or 15,800 Avios (7 days or more) / €130/$140 or 17,100 Avios (6 days or less). Charged per pet carrier, per journey · compare all airlines → |
| Species allowed | cats, small dogs, pet rabbits, tortoises, hedgehogs |
| Weight | 8 kg (17.6 lb) total for the carrier plus up to two pets |
| Pets | Maximum one pet carrier per customer, with up to two pets in that carrier; Finnair usually accepts only two customers with pets in cabin per flight |
| Booking | Buy online in the Travel extras step when booking, or add later via Manage booking — must be done before check-in opens; Business Class short-haul, Premium Economy long-haul and Jettime-operated flights require contacting customer service · what to book, buy and pack → |
Source: official Finnair pet policy · verified 2026-08-25 · how Finnair ranks on fee and space →
Carriers that fit Finnair
Matched to Finnair's published 21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in limit (height checked strictly; footprint may rotate). See the full Finnair carrier shortlist →
Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our specs or which carriers we list.
This table ranks by Finnair’s size limit — not by your pet. The weight under each carrier is what that size is rated to hold. A bag can clear the airline and still be the wrong size for the animal, which is the most common reason one goes back — measure your pet first →
| Carrier | Size | Fit | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) up to ~8 lb · max pet 13″ long × 7.5″ tall | 15 × 10 × 8.5 in | Flexes — 0.6" over | See on Amazon → |
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Mini (Low-Profile) up to ~15 lb · over Finnair's 17.6 lb limit once the bag is counted | 17 × 11 × 9 in | Flexes — 1.1" over | Not available on Amazon right now |
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Standard (Expandable) up to ~20 lb · over Finnair's 17.6 lb limit once the bag is counted | 18 × 11 × 10 in | Flexes — 2.1" over | Not available on Amazon right nowIn stock and fits the same airlines: Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Medium) |
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Medium) up to ~16 lb · max pet 16″ long × 9.5″ tall · over Finnair's 17.6 lb limit once the bag is counted | 17 × 11 × 10.5 in | Flexes — 2.6" over | See on Amazon → |
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Large) up to ~22 lb · max pet 18″ long × 10.5″ tall · over Finnair's 17.6 lb limit once the bag is counted | 19 × 11.75 × 11.5 in | Flexes — 3.6" over | See on Amazon → |
SturdiBag Pro (Large, Flexible Height) pet size not published | 18 × 11.5 × 11.5 in | Flexes — 3.6" over | Not available on Amazon right nowIn stock and fits the same airlines: Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Medium) |
9 carriers too big for Finnair
Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Medium) up to ~10 lb | 17 × 10 × 10 in | Too tall (10" > 7.9") | View on Amazon |
Diggs Passenger pet size not published · Diggs discontinued this carrier — link goes to similar carriers | 17 × 12 × 10.5 in | Too tall (10.5" > 7.9") | Compare similar on Amazon → |
ibiyaya JetPaw Expandable Backpack up to ~17 lb | 18 × 12 × 10.5 in | Too tall (10.5" > 7.9") | View on Amazon |
Sleepypod Atom up to ~12 lb | 17 × 8.5 × 10.5 in | Too tall (10.5" > 7.9") | View on Amazon |
Away The Pet Carrier pets up to ~18 lb | 18.7 × 10.8 × 10.75 in | Too tall (10.75" > 7.9") | Compare similar on Amazon → |
Petsfit (Medium) Expandable Soft-Sided up to ~13 lb | 17 × 11 × 11 in | Too tall (11" > 7.9") | View on Amazon |
Bergan Comfort Carrier (Small) pet size not published | 16 × 8 × 11 in | Too tall (11" > 7.9") | View on Amazon |
Frisco Premium Airline-Compliant Carrier up to ~22 lb | 18 × 11 × 11 in | Too tall (11" > 7.9") | Compare similar on Amazon → |
Sleepypod Air up to ~18 lb | 22 × 10.5 × 10.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
How to confirm your actual under-seat space
Finnair's number is its published maximum, not a guarantee for your exact seat. Before you buy or fly:
- Check which aircraft operates your flight (in your booking or on a seat-map site).
- Avoid bulkhead and exit rows — bulkheads have no under-seat storage and most airlines ban pets there — and check this airline's seat rules above.
- Call Finnair to confirm under-seat dimensions for that aircraft, or
- Choose a collapsible / flexible-height carrier that adapts to a tighter space.
More airlines: Air Canada · Alaska Airlines · Allegiant Air · American Airlines · Breeze Airways · Delta Air Lines · Frontier Airlines · Southwest Airlines · United Airlines · JetBlue · JSX · KLM Royal Dutch Airlines · all →
Common questions
What size pet carrier does Finnair allow in the cabin?
Finnair's recommended maximum in-cabin carrier is 21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in (soft) or 13.8 × 11.8 × 7.9 in for a hard-sided kennel. It must fit fully under the seat in front of you. Source: the Finnair pet policy.
How much does Finnair charge for an in-cabin pet?
Within Europe: €60 or 7,800 Avios (7 days or more before departure) / €65 or 8,500 Avios (6 days or less). Intercontinental: €120/$130 or 15,800 Avios (7 days or more) / €130/$140 or 17,100 Avios (6 days or less). Charged per pet carrier, per journey. Always confirm the current fee on the official Finnair pet page before you fly.
Which pet carriers fit Finnair?
No carrier we track clears Finnair's published 21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in outright — the closest is the Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) (flexes — 0.6" over). Full shortlist: /fits/finnair/.
Is Finnair's 21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in limit guaranteed on every aircraft?
No. Finnair publishes four different cabin maxima in a single table rather than one number. Soft pet carriers: 55 x 40 x 23 cm on Finnair-operated flights but 55 x 40 x 20 cm on Norra-operated flights. Hard pet carriers: 35 x 30 x 20 cm on both. The smallest of these (hard carrier, 35 x 30 x 20 cm) is recorded here. Finnair also states 'the aircraft type, weather in the destination or allergic passengers on the flight may limit the number of pets', that 'pets cannot travel in Business Class on our long-haul flights, since there is not enough room under the long-haul Business Class seat', and that on Jettime-operated flights 'The carrier size requirements may vary from Finnair'. Treat the published figure as a fleet-wide maximum, not a promise for your seat, and prefer a collapsible or flexible-height carrier.
How many pets can I bring in the cabin on Finnair?
Maximum one pet carrier per customer, with up to two pets in that carrier; Finnair usually accepts only two customers with pets in cabin per flight. Species accepted: cats, small dogs, pet rabbits, tortoises, hedgehogs. Weight limit: 8 kg (17.6 lb) total for the carrier plus up to two pets. Buy online in the Travel extras step when booking, or add later via Manage booking — must be done before check-in opens; Business Class short-haul, Premium Economy long-haul and Jettime-operated flights require contacting customer service