SEAMAD
Flying with your pet from Seattle (SEA) to Madrid (MAD)
What to check before booking: which airlines take your pet, at what price, and what entry into Madrid requires.
5 airlines accept your pet on this route, 4 of them in cabin. Minimum lead time: 25 days.
Rules verified on September 16, 2026
Blockers on this route
- A clinical examination by an authorised or official veterinarian within the 48 hours before departure, or on the last working day before it. Separate from the health certificate and the tapeworm treatment: a third clock, and it runs from departure, not arrival.
- New EU health certificate model. A certificate issued BEFORE 1 October 2026 on the old model stays valid for entry into the Union until 31 March 2027 — it does not lapse on 1 October. Issued on or after 1 October, it must follow the new model. Passports are unaffected until 2028.
- Heat embargo likely: most airlines close the hold above 27-29 °C on the ground, May to September.
Minimum lead time
25 Allow at least 25 days between the first vet step and departure.
The dated plan for your pet
Free search: the airlines that accept your pet on this route, their transport mode and their fees. The full dated plan is €19, a single payment.
See the airlines for SEA → MADAirlines on this route
| Airline | Travels as | Pet fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | Cargo | PetEmbark® | Verified at source |
| Delta | In cabin | 150$ dom · 200$ intl | Verified at source |
| United | In cabin | 150$ | Verified at source |
| Air Europa | In cabin | 35 EUR Spain · 50 EUR Europe/Africa/Americas · 150-175 EUR long-haul | Verified at source |
| Iberia | In cabin | 40 EUR Spain · 60 EUR Europe/Afrique du Nord/Israel · 180 EUR Amérique/Asie (en ligne, par segment) | Verified at source |
From $35 to $200 depending on airline and travel mode. These are the carriers' published amounts; they cover neither vet work nor the crate.
Derived corridor The rules below follow from the same official sources, but this specific route was not re-verified individually — only 9 corridors were. Confirm with your airline and the destination authorities.
What this means in practice
Of the 5 airlines serving Seattle → Madrid with a pet, 4 take it in the cabin, 2 in the hold as checked baggage and 3 through cargo — a single airline may offer more than one of these.
The highest cabin weight limit on this route is 8 kg, with Air Europa. Above that, 2 airlines still take the animal in the hold.
3 of these airlines apply a restriction on short-nosed breeds (American Airlines, Delta, Air Europa) — a carrier policy, unrelated to the destination country's rules.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take my dog in the cabin from Seattle to Madrid?
Yes, with Delta, United, Air Europa, Iberia. The highest limit on this route is 8 kg with Air Europa. The others publish a lower limit or none at all, and in every case the pet must fit under the seat.
How long does it take to prepare the trip?
Allow at least 25 days between the first vet step and departure.
What paperwork is required to enter Madrid?
ISO 11784/11785 microchip, a valid rabies vaccination given after the chip, and an EU health certificate endorsed by the departure country's veterinary authority.
Can a large dog travel in the hold on Seattle → Madrid?
Yes, with Air Europa, Iberia. Above the published limits, cargo remains — a shipment separate from the passenger ticket.
How much does it cost to fly the pet?
From $35 to $200 depending on airline and travel mode. These are the carriers' published amounts; they cover neither vet work nor the crate.
Are short-nosed breeds accepted?
3 of the 5 airlines on this route restrict short-nosed breeds: American Airlines, Delta, Air Europa. This is a carrier policy driven by respiratory risk, unrelated to the destination country's rules.