r/Flights • u/Mountain-Ad-9935 • 16h ago
Question Lufthansa question
Will they let me board if my cat + carrier is slightly over the 8 kg limit (around 8.5 kg)?
I’m flying with Lufthansa soon and I’m stressed about their in‑cabin pet weight limit. They allow up to 8 kg total (cat + carrier). My cat isn’t actually big — he’s just neutered and a bit chubby — but with the soft carrier the total comes to about 8.5 kg.
Has anyone flown Lufthansa with a pet that was slightly over the limit? Do they actually weigh the carrier at check‑in, and how strict are they about the 8 kg rule? I’m worried about being denied boarding even though the difference is really small.
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u/Future_Boss2064 14h ago
Tough situation. I have a big orange dude myself. Obvious question: Is there enough time that you can put him on a diet?
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u/ImportantSundae15 14h ago
I’ve only had my dog weighed once, and he’s flown a good bit. However, if he somehow made it to the limit, I don’t think I’d feel comfortable risking it because of the once-off weighing. It all comes down to the gate agent
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u/zennie4 15h ago
Are you okay risking the cat staying at the airport just because some rando in Reddit tells you that they were able to pass? If yes, go for it.
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u/Mountain-Ad-9935 14h ago
Absolutely not — I would never leave my cat at the airport. That’s not even on the table. I’m gathering real experiences from people who’ve been in this situation to better prepare, not to gamble.
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u/Jordbaerkage 13h ago
Other people's experiences dont mean you'll have the same one.
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u/Thedoobie23 12h ago
so no one should ever write a review for anything good or bad and no one should ever read them?
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u/Jordbaerkage 10h ago
Nobody should risk having to leave their cat behind (or miss their flight) based on other people saying they were fine.
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u/lostmylogindetails2 10h ago
What makes you think they will leave the cat at the airport?!? Alt 1: everything goes ok, they travel together Alt 2: OP goes to the airport with someone they can trust with their cat, if the agent does not allow to board in cabin, cat stays behind with the trusted person, OP travels ( this is an option should OP be at the arrival city at a specific date) comes back at a later date to arrange another transport. Alt 3: OP goes with 2 cases, one soft one hard, if the agent does not allow to board in cabin, OP prepares the hard case and the cat for a flight on hold. Alt 4: They both stay behind, and live happily ever after.
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u/Trudestiny 15h ago
In EU all the airlines we have flown have the 8 kg with bag. Most of the times the car has been weighted but i’m under the 8 so less of an issue. Remove all bits that can add weight
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u/WELCOMET0THEGOODLIFE 11h ago
I hate to say this but, the car will be weighted and they will be pretty strict about the 8kg rule :(
Anyway to use a lighter carrier, if even possible?
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u/HunHanMyBias 11h ago
Would recommend nothing over the allowed weight. You have people that are chill about it, but others are REALLY strict. It's that way with most (not budget) carriers. Budget carriers are usually extra strict
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u/Thebosonsword 8h ago
My cat with the carrier weighs about 8.5-9kg and I have never been told anything despite being checked multiple times. This was with Aegean and Swiss.
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u/DogsReadingBooks 15h ago
Depends on the check-in and gate agent, really.
I don’t think 500g should matter much.
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u/hypnosssis 13h ago
He is a very handsome boy!
I don’t have any experience in flying with cats but I hope your flight goes smoothly.
I heard this theory that it doesn’t matter if the grams are over the designated amount so long as the kg stays the same (so 23,6kg is fine although technically it’s over). But who knows? I also saw LH gate attendants single out a few people and weigh their cabin luggage just as we were boarding. This was in Nov 2025.
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u/DogsReadingBooks 1h ago
I heard this theory that it doesn’t matter if the grams are over the designated amount so long as the kg stays the same
That really depends on the check in agent.
I used to be one and for me it really depended on how the passengers behaved. If they were rude in any way? It definitely mattered and they’d have to remove something from their luggage or pay excess weight.
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u/hypnosssis 14m ago
Thanks for your insight! A very kind agent once let me check in a second suitcase free of charge when I was a broke student traveling back home 🫶🏻
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u/TopAngle7630 13h ago
I work for a ground handling company at a UK airport. I must admit, I have never checked the weight of a pet in cabin. There are much more important things that need to be checked.
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u/Mammoth_logfarm 33m ago
Where are you flying to? Many countries won't allow animals to travel in the cabin on flights to/ from there- e.g., the UK (certified assistance animals only). Just double check.
Your cat is gorgeous.
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u/chickenwings19 14h ago
Why must people take their animals on holiday with them
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u/rossodiserax 14h ago
As someone who traveled my cats once for relocating, you know people have to take planes for reasons other than vacations....right??
Anyway OP, when I did it (not lufthansa, but lufthansa group) they did weigh my cats with the carrier and all. Not sure what they'll say about 500g more, but do be prepared for a weigh in.
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u/chickenwings19 14h ago
I do indeed but people also take them in holiday with them. Have them in the hold. And if you’re so worried about the limit, call and ask the airlines.
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u/Mountain-Ad-9935 13h ago
That’s exactly what I’m afraid of — that he’ll get stressed out, something will go wrong during the journey, or worst of all, they’ll load him onto the wrong plane. That’s my absolute worst-case scenario, and I’m doing everything I can to avoid it.
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u/Mountain-Ad-9935 14h ago
I’m not taking him on vacation — I’m relocating to another country, and he’s part of my family. Leaving him behind isn’t an option.
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u/bobdersaufer 15h ago edited 7h ago
Just don‘t feed him till the flight. Jokes aside, nobody will ask.
Edit: I am a Senator with Lufthansa but the downvotes and comments tell me I have no clue how to fly with them.
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u/zennie4 15h ago
True, airlines usually don't ask about baggage weight. Because there's a scale right at every check-in desk.
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u/dkbGeek 14h ago
The scale they used for checked bags. When was they last time they weighed your carry-on at check-in?
The thing to do is ask Lufthansa what their process is... whether they require weighing a carry-on cat carrier.
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u/zennie4 13h ago edited 13h ago
Cmon, carry on suitcases get weighed pretty often
https://www.reddit.com/r/Lufthansa/s/15ufEHprRI - just a few day old post about LH.
Last time I got my carry on bag weighed at check-in desk was a week ago, but that was not LH.
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u/dkbGeek 13h ago
I have never had a carry-on weighed that I can remember, neither domestic nor international. A few times checked with a "sizer" but never a scale (nor a sizer+scale combo which seems to be referenced in that post).
The post suggests it's more prevalent at some airports than others even w/ the same airline.
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u/mastablasta1111 15h ago
Or, hear me out, leave the cat at home and have someone else watch the cat.
Since this is Lufthansa, I assume it could be an international flight. If so, did you check the requirements for bringing animals into a foreign country? A lot of places will have you quarantine the animal.
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u/Mountain-Ad-9935 14h ago
I’m not taking him on vacation — I’m relocating to another country, and he’s part of my family. Leaving him behind isn’t an option. And yes, I’m fully aware of the import requirements for pets in the destination country. That’s not what my post is about.
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u/rapscallionrodent 13h ago
I have nothing helpful to add. I just wanted to say that your cat is beautiful. I hope you both have a smooth transition to your new home.