Pets

General Provision

  • 1. Small animals refer to tamed and small animals such as domesticated dogs, cats, birds and other household pets.

  • 2. If the animal is too small in size (such as marines or spectacular fish), or too large in size (the size of whose cage exceeds the maximum size restriction), and may therefore cause hazard to the safety of carriage, it will not be accepted for transportation. Any wild/feral and/or aggressive animals (such as snakes) will not be accepted for air transportation.

  • 3. Short-nosed canines and felines as well as aggressive breeds of these animals cannot be carried onto a flight.

    The aggressive dog breeds and breeds of short-nosed felines and canines that are prohibited from using luggage transportation are as follows:

    Short-nosed felines：Burmese、Exotic shorthair cats、Persian、Himalayan.

    Short-nosed canines：Affenpinscher、Boston Terrier、Boxers(all breeds)、Brussels Griffin、 Bulldog(all breeds)、Bull Terrier、Pug(all breeds)、Cane Corso、Chow Chow、Dogue de Bordeaux、English Toy Spaniel、Japanese Chin/Japanese Spaniel/Chin Chin、Cavalier King Charles Spaniel、Lhasa Apso、Mastiff(all breeds)、Pekinese、Presa Canario、Shar Pei、Shih Tzu、Tibetan Spaniel、American Bully、YankeeTerrier、Gull Ter、Staffordshire Terrierr.

  • 4. All small animals must be transported as checked baggage in the cargo hold that allows oxygen to circulate and reach the animals (not applicable to guide dogs, hearing dogs). Any animals which are not suited to a journey in the aircraft’s cargo hold will not be allowed to transport.

  • 5. Acceptance for carriage of small animals (include service dogs) is subject to the conditions that the passenger assumes full responsibility for such animal. Except for the CSN reasons. CSN shall not be liable for injury, sickness or death of animals.


Transportation Requirements

  • 1. Due to certain requirements related to the transportation of small animals, passengers should make an application at least 4 hours prior to their domestic flight departure time or 6 hours for international flight departure time. Small animals may only be transported after a confirmation has been received from China Southern Airlines.

  • 2. The actual restrictions on the number which may be carried on board must be confirmed with the Engineering Department of China Southern Airlines.

  • 3. On domestic flights Each small animal should be placed in a single cage, while a pair of birds can be placed in the same cage.

    Each passenger can carry small animal in their checked baggage on international flights (depending on the entry and exit regulations of the departing and destination countries). Each small animal should be placed in a single cage, while a pair of birds can be placed in the same cage.

  • 4. The cage size used to transport a single small animal must not be larger than 90x60x66cm or smaller than 5x15x20cm. The maximum weight should not exceed 32kg.

  • 5. If the baggage storage area on the aircraft model used for a flight is not suitable for transporting small living creatures, passengers cannot apply to have their animals transported. Ground personnel must check that the aircraft model being used for a flight is suitable for carrying a small living creature on board before agreeing to do so.

  • 6. China Southern Airlines cannot currently carry small living creatures on connecting flights.

  • 7. Small living creatures brought on board by passengers must be in good health, harmless, clean, and not have a pungent odor. Pregnant animals may not be brought on board.The animal which is under 8 weeks of age may not be brought on board.

  • 8. Passengers should take their small animals to the airport for check-in 120 minutes before their flight departure time.

  • 9. Passengers who check in a dog or cat must sign a waiver of liability for the transportation of their animal.

  • 10. Extreme caution is advised when transporting pets as checked baggage when temperatures at any point during transit (origin, stopover, destination) are forecast to fall below -12°C (inclusive) or exceed 30°C (inclusive). Weather information should be taken from the temperature forecast published on the China Meteorological Administration's website on the day of the flight (http://www.cma.gov.cn/). For temperatures at overseas airports, please consult meteorological agency websites for the destination.


Required Documentation

1. Domestic flights: Passengers must present an animal quarantine certificate from a quarantine department at county (or regional) level or above.

2. International/Regional flights:

  • a. A “Certificate of Quarantine” and “Certificate of Rabies Immunization” issued by the department responsible for plant and animal immunization in the People's Republic of China;

  • b. A departure and arrivals card or transit permit;

  • c. Any additional documentation required by the destination or transiting countries (please refer to TIM for national regulations).

    Note: Some airports (such as Hong Kong, Cina) only allow small living creatures to arrive or depart as cargo. Please check this carefully before you depart.


Requirements for pet carriers

Small animals must be kept in a suitable and sturdy carrier made of metal, tough plastic, or wood. The carrier used must also meet the following requirements:

  • 1. The carrier should be used specifically for checking in pets onto a flight. It must be made of sturdy materials, with a fixed top and ventilation on at least three sides. The door must be lockable and made of metal to prevent pets from escaping.

  • 2. All parts and accessories of the carrier (including the nuts, latches, rivets, and locks, etc.) must be strong and in good working order.

  • 3. The base of the crate should be flat and must be able to be kept stationary on an even surface. If a crate with wheels is used, its wheels should be fixed or removed in advance to prevent the crate from moving.

  • 4. Please ensure the small animal being transported has adequate food and water and enough space to move freely, stand, turn around, sit upright, and lie down comfortably inside the carrier. Carrier sizes are determined according to values A, B, C, and D. The carrier should be twice the value of C, with a length of A + (B/2).

    • A: The distance from nose to rump.

    • B: From the elbow to the ground.

    • C: The maximum width of the pet.

    • D: The height from the ground to the top of the head, taking into account the ears. When the pet is standing naturally, their ears should not touch the top of the carrier.

  • 5. Cages used for animal transportation must have an absorbent mat (such as a towel or blanket) placed on the bottom to prevent urine and feces coming into contact with other baggage.


Requirements for packaging pet carriers

  • 1. When land-based animals such as cats and dogs are checked in, a protective net should be used to line and fasten their carrier before the animal is placed inside.

  • 2. When a packing belt is used, it should bind the carrier evenly in a grid shap.

    Pet Carrier

    Volume (Specification)

    Requirements

    Small-size Carrier

    Between 5×15×20cm and 48×32×30cm

    The top and bottom should have at least 2 straps bound horizontally and vertically

    Medium-sized Carrier

    Between 48×32×30cm and 81×55×58cm

    The top and bottom should have at least 2 straps bound horizontally and vertically

    Large Carrier

    Between 81×55×58 cm and 90×60×66 cm.

    The top and bottom should have at least 3 straps bound horizontally and vertically

    There should be 20 and 30 cm between the packing straps

  • 3. To prevent the carrier tipping over and agitating your pet, the carrier should be packed using binding belts on its sides in a vertical and horizontal style. To make the package more secure, these belts should pass through the door and protective grid on the carrier. The belts going through the grids should be even to securely fasten the door, the body, and the protective net.


Feeding and Exercise

Passengers who have checked an animal onto a flight should remember to feed, water, and exercise their animal at every stop during the entire length of their journey.


Application Procedures

1. Charges for small animals

Baggage sales takes effect from April 6, 2023 (inclusive)

Domestic Route:

The weight of small animals, their containers and food to be carried shall not be counted into the passenger's free baggage allowance and shall be charged according to applicable rules.

Types

Departure Airport

Fare

Pet Consignment

Guangzhou、Beijing、Shenzhen、Changchun、Haikou、Sanya、Dalian、Shenyang、Wuhan、Zhengzhou、Urumqi、Nanning、Harbin、Shanghai Pudong、Shanghai Hongqiao、Changsha、Guiyang、Chongqing、Zhuhai、Shantou

Charging Rules ①

Domestic airports other than those mentioned above

Excess baggage is charged by each kilogram at a rate of 1.5% of the published normal fares of an adult Economy Class ticket price (one-way) applicable on the day the excess baggage ticket is filled

Charging Rules ①

Flight distance (km)

Weight ((including the weight of the pet, carrier, food, etc.) and fare (yuan) per pet

Less than 8kg (included)

8-15kg (included)

15-23kg (included)

23-32kg (included)

Flight distance ≤ 800

398

498

698

898

800＜Flight distance≤1600

498

598

798

998

1600＜Flight distance≤2400

598

698

898

1098

2400＜Flight distance

698

798

1098

1398

Note: Charging Rules ① means the price you paid covers the following services: pet consignment counter service, protective net for container, pet lounge, query of pet status in transportation, query of pet photos before loading, priority pet collection service, and pet travel insurance up to 5,000 yuan.

International flights:

Weight ((including the weight of the pet, carrier, food, etc.)

Charging Standard

RMB

USD

EUR

2KG≤ Small Animal as Baggage ≤8KG

1380

200

190

8KG＜ Small Animal as Baggage ≤23KG

2100

300

280

23KG＜ Small Animal as Baggage ≤32KG

3500

500

470

The cost of transporting small animals is calculated separately and is not included in the free baggage allowance or excess baggage fee standards.

USD applies to the transportation of small animals originating from the United States;

EUR applies to the transportation of small animals originating from the Eurozone;

RMB applies to the transportation of small animals originating from the countries not mentioned above. When the transportation of small animals overseas is not charged in RMB, the fee shall be converted from RMB into local currency at the exchange rate of the day.

2. Service dogs, together with its cage and food, can be carried free of charge, without taking up the free baggage allowance.


Transportation of Service Dogs

1. Service dogs refer to dogs trained to provide assistance to people with a disability, including assistance dogs, hearing dogs, and guide dogs for the blind. 

2. The carriage of guide dogs shall be dealt as small animals. Service dogs, if they meet CSN’s requirements, may accompany with passenger(s) with a disability who are eligible to travel in the passenger cabin.

3. Service dogs which board a flight with a passenger must be muzzled and placed on a lead before they board. They must also remain beside the disabled passengers with disability they are traveling with, and are not permitted to occupy a seat or run around the cabin.

4. Service dogs cannot be given a declared value.


Quarantine Requirements for Pets Entering China

According to Announcement No. 5 [2019] of the General Administration of Customs, P. R. China Announcement on Further Regulating the Supervision of Pet Importation and Quarantine, pet importation at all ports of entry will be subject to new quarantine regulations, effective on May 1,2019.In this context, China Southern Airlines kindly reminds you that:

I. Only dogs or cats are allowed for importation (including service dogs for the disabled), and only one pet per passenger is allowed.

II. Valid quarantine certificate and rabies vaccination certificate issued by an official animal quarantine organ of the exporting country or region shall be presented to the China customs for pet importation.

III. Pets must have microchips that meet the international standards of ISO 11784 and 11785. The 15-bit microchip code shall contain only numbers and must be readable with a reader. For any non-compliant microchip, the pet owner may prepare a reader to read the implanted chip.

IV. Pets shall be under 30-day isolation and quarantine in a quarantine station designated by the customs except for the following circumstances where pets are exempt from isolation and quarantine:

  • (I) Pets arrive from 19 designated countries or regions, i.e., New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, USA (Hawaii and Guam only), Jamaica, Iceland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Cyprus, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR(China), and Macao SAR (China), hold valid microchips and pass on-site quarantine.

  • (II) Pets arrive from non-designated countries or regions (any countries or regions other than the designated ones), hold valid microchips and rabies antibody test report (blood titer or antibody amount must be above 0.5IU/ml) from an approved laboratory, and pass on-site quarantine.

  • (III) Guide dogs, hearing dogs or rescue dogs hold valid microchips, as well as corresponding owner certificate and professional training certificate, and pass on-site quarantine.

V. Pet owners bringing pets to be isolated and quarantined shall enter China via a port of entry equipped with isolation and quarantine facilities. Ports of entry equipped with isolation and quarantine facilities are listed and updated on the official website of the General Administration of Customs, P. R. China. As of the effective date of the new regulations, ports of entry equipped with isolation and quarantine facilities are listed as below:

Port of Entry

Customs in Charge

Beijing Capital International Airport

Customs at Beijing Capital Airport

Beijing West Railway Station

Customs at Beijing West Railway Station

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport

Customs at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport

Shanghai Pudong International Airport

Customs at Shanghai Pudong International Airport

Shanghai Railway Station

Customs at Shanghai Railway Station

Shanghai International Cruise Terminal

Pujiang Customs

Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal

Wusong Customs

Urumchi Diwopu International Airport

Customs at Urumchi Airport

Alataw Pass

Customs at Alataw Pass

VI. In case of any non-compliant importation for which pets are returned or destroyed by the customs within a specified period, China Southern Airlines shall not assume any responsibility thereof.

VII. For details, please visit the official website of the General Administration of Customs, P. R. China at http://www.customs.gov.cn, and refer to Announcement No. 5 [2019] Announcement on Further Regulating the Supervision of Pet Importation and Quarantine.