Vueling airlines won the "Pet Friendly à la française" trophy in the (new for 2021) transport category at the Animal Expo - Animalis Show held in Paris last weekend.
The judges decided to reward the low-cost Spanish airline for the ways it made travelling with pets easier for passengers.
Earlier this year, Vueling became the only European airline to accept up to three pets (including dogs, cats, certain birds and turtles/tortoises) on its flights.
There are specific rules governing guide dogs and assistance dogs, but full details can be found on the official website.
The carrier has also increased the maximum weight allowance from 8kg to 10kg per pet (inclusive of their transport box and any accessories).
The policy applies to all flights within Europe, excluding those to and from the UK and Ireland.
In addition, Vueling offers pet insurance in partnership with EuropAssistance, covering such eventualities as veterinary expenses, search costs if your pet gets lost and compensation in case of theft or death while in transit.
Once at the airport, passengers travelling with pets need to present themselves at the check-in desks in order to be allocated appropriate seats.
The Animal Expo - Animalis Show celebrated its 30th anniversary this year, introducing a new ‘adoption area’ for the occasion.
How much does it cost to travel with your pet?
Vueling charges €40 for domestic flights and €50 for international flights, but does not carry animals in the hold.
Air France offers the option of transporting animals in the cabin or in the hold. Domestic flights cost €40 for the cabin or €80 for the hold, rising to €55 and €200 respectively for flights within Europe.
The cost for transporting pets with KLM ranges from €75 to €400 each way, depending on the departure airport and destination.
EasyJet does not accept pets, apart from recognised registered guide and assistance dogs.
On trains, guide dogs can travel for free without a ticket, while tickets for small dogs (under 6kg) cost €7. Tickets for larger dogs (which must be muzzled), cost 50% of the full price of a 2nd class ticket. Further information can be found on the SNCF website.
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