In the UK the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) allows dogs and cats to travel between certain countries and certain UK aiports without the need to go through months of quarantine.
UK Dog Friendly Airlines
Most airlines are happy for you to travel by air with your dog. Each airline will have a different pet policy in place, so you will need to check with each airline individually. The airlines that do allow pets to travel may let you take your small dog into the passenger cabin with you as long as they are in a travel carrier. Large dogs will always be held within the cargo hold.
Some of the UK airlines that do not take pets include Easyjet and Ryan Air.
Cabin or Cargo Hold?
Some airlines are very pet friendly, and the others are not. Airline companies vary and may have different policies when it comes to travelling with your pets. Some airlines differ on where your dog will be placed when you fly. Some will allow your small dog to travel with you on the plane whereas larger dogs will be placed in the cargo hold. It’s a good idea to check out the different airline companies before you buy your ticket. Below is some useful information on the difference between your dog travelling in the cabin or in cargo.
Cabin
Your dog will also have to be placed in an airline approved pet carrier. They will have to remain inside the carrier for the duration of the flight. They must never be taken out to be petted or to stretch their legs. There will also be a combined weight limit of your dog and the carrier. Generally, the combined weight of your pet and carrier cannot be more than 15 pounds (6.8 kg) and the carrier must fit underneath the seat in front of you.
If you have two small dogs, they are usually allowed to share the same carrier as long as there is enough room for them both.
The airline may not ask you to pay for your dog’s airfare until you check in, but you MUST book a space for your dog well in advance.
Cargo Hold
You will be pleased to know that the process of your pets travelling in cargo is done with extreme professional care and attention. There are strict guidlines that must be follwed by you and the airline staff to ensure that your dog has a safe and comfortable journey when being placed in the cargo hold.
Take a look at the following video made by the American airline company Midwest Airlines. You will see that every care is taken to make sure your dog flies securely and safely.
Your responsibilities as the owner of your dog are as follows:
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You must drop off your dog at the approriate time, usually no more than 4 hours before the flight
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Sign the approriate documents to state that you have offerred your dog food and water within those four hours before dropping them off.
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You need tp provide the airline with the appropriate documentation including a pre flight health certificate, pet passport, vaccination papes, which have been completed by a professional vet no more than 10 days prior to departure.
Your airline approved pet carrier must:
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Be airline approved or be expected to safely and comfortably contain the dog without causing suffering or injury.
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It should have handles to allow the handlers to carry the carrier without coming into contact or touching your dog.
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It should be designed so it will keep level at all times and not flip over.
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It should have a leak proof bottom incase of any toilet accidents inside.
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It should also be able to be opened easily in case of emergency.
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The carrier must have good ventilation and be labelled including a “LIVE ANIMALS” tag
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It should always be in a clean and sanitized condition everytime it is used.
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Be big enough for your pet to move around inside. It should be able to stand inside the carrier without touching the sides. Allow for extra space for bedding and blankets when buying your carrier.
It should be well ventilated and have a food and water supply that will not spill or flip over. If your pet is going into cargo hold, the food and water supply must be acessible from the outside of the carrier.
The door of the carrier must have a secure fastening so your dog cannot escape from inside. Your pets nose or claws must NOT be able to fit through any part of the carrier or it’s door mesh.
Here is a helpful video on how to measure your dog so that you can obtain the correct size of carrier for your flight.
Your carrier must also be prepared for the flight so that the handlers know there is a dog inside. Attach a label that includes your name, contact details and destination address in addition to a LIVE ANIMALS sticker. It’s also a good idea to put your dogs name on the crate, so that the handlers can talk to your dog if your dog becomes distressed. You must also prepare your carrier so that food and water can be easily given to your dog without having to open the carrier.
Below are some pet carrier essentials to be aware of, especially if they are to be stored within the cargo hold. If your pet carrie does not fit within the airlines guidelines, your pet may be refused travel.
Some airline pet carrier essentials:
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Minimum requirement for cats ex USA and Canada is a series 200 kennel. (200 series = 27″ x 20″ x 19″, 68cm x 50cm x 48cm)
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Minimum requirement for snub nosed dogs and cats is a 10% larger container than the minimum.
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The container must be strong enough to protect your pet during transport, be secure enough to contain it and have sufficient ventilation on all four sides, to ensure the air quality in the container will not deteriorate.
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The door must be secured in such a manner that it will not open accidentally or your pet cannot open it during handling and transport.
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Your pet’s nose and paws should not be able to fit through any ventilation opening or door mesh.
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The container must have a water pot and a food container accessible from the outside.
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The water pot must be secured and in proportion to the size of the pet but not take up too much of the floor space.
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Fibreboard, wire mesh and wicker containers are not suitable for air transportation.
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These dimension are minimum internal dimensions, please allow extra room if you are placing a blanket or bedding into the kennel. Pets must be able to stand , sit erect without touching the top of the kennel.
For the cargo hold section where your dog or pet will be placed, there are very strict rules and regulations that the airline must follow. Your dog or pet will be placed in a designated area within the cargo hold and NOT be be placed with other the types of cargo.
The cargo space in which the pets are contained must:
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Be designed, constructed and maintained in a manner that at all times protects the health and well-being of the animals.
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It has to ensure the animals safety and comfort.
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Prevent the entry of engine exhaust.
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It will have a supply of air that is sufficient for normal breathing.
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Be heated or cooled as necessary to maintain an ambient temperature and humidity that ensures the health and well-being of the animals.
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The area must be pressurized.
Even the cargo handling staff dealing with live animals are highly trained. They too have to follow certain rules and regulations when dealing with your pet during cargo handling and during the flight.
The Airline handlers must:
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Observe and check up on your pets no less than once every four hours or upon landing and departing. They must ensure that all the minimum standards are being met.
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Offer food to the animals at least once every 24 hours and water at least every 12 hours.
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Arrange any veterinary care if your pet should need it.
Try not to worry about your dog
All airlines do transport animals on a daily basis. Each airline have dedicated and trained staff who will transport your dog on and off the plane with as much care and attention as they can offer. To safeguard the wellbeing of your pet, all animals are handled in full compliance with the IATA Live Animal Regulations (LAR) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Even though your pet dog will be held in the cargo hold, do not worry, they are placed within a designated clean, warm and ventilated areas and do not come into contact with other forms of cargo.
There are some factors to consider before flying with your dog, and these should be followed. Below is some useful tips and a handy checklist to help you plan a flight with your dog.
Planning air travel with your dog – Some great useful TIPS
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Is your dog healthy enough to fly?Flying by plane is extremely stressful to dogs and should only be done if absolutely necessary. Only fly with your dog if they are healthy and up for it. Dogs that are in the high risk category are:
Short nosed breeds like boxers, pugs, Pekinese, Shih Tzu and bull dogs
Dogs with severe health problems like heart or lung conditions
Very young puppies
Elderly senior dogs
Pregnant dogs or dogs on heat
Fearful dogs
Before you plan any massive trip, it’s always best to consult your vet beforehand. They can check over your dog and give you their professional opinion on whether your dog should fly or not. -
Check with the airlineFirst thing to do is check with the airline to see if they are happy to carry pets. If they do ask them for their Pet Travel Policy. It will be a list of rules and regulations that you must adhere to.
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Cabin or Cargo?Depending on the size of your dog, your canine may be able to stay in the passenger cabin with you. This is usually for small dogs only. But some airlines put ALL dogs inside the cargo hold. Check with your airline to see where your dog will be put before you buy your ticket.
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Check the pet check in, drop off and pick up timesCheck with the airline to see what their policies are for checking in your dog or dropping them off. Some may require you to be at the airport 3 to 4 hours earlier so all the necessary paperwork can be checked.
For cargo flights, you will typically drop your dog off at the cargo desk of the pet friendly airlines. This is often at a location that is completely separate from the passenger terminal, so be sure to get the address for and directions to your pet friendly airlines cargo desk.
It can take at least an hour after your arrival to get your pet from the plane to the cargo desk. Ask your airline the arrival details so you can pick up your dog as quickly as you can. -
Check how you pay for your dog’s flightAlways check with the airline on how you pay for your dog’s air fare. Some airlines may ask you to pay when you check in. Sometimes they ask you not to prepay in case weather conditions or inappropriate preparations (i.e. forgotten health certificate) may prevent the pet friendly airline from accepting your dog.
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Pre Flight Health CertificateBefore you travel you will need to obtain a Pre Flight Health Certificate from your vet. Vets are very familiar with this request. Pre Flight Health Certificates will confirm to the airline that it is safe for your dog to travel. Make sure that you get this certificate within 10 days of your pet travelling. This certificate will need to be produced when you check in. It may also need to be seen by cargo crew or the cabin crew. Remember the Pre Flight Health Certificate must be dated no sooner than 10 days before the trip.
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Dog EU Pet PassportIf flying out of the UK you will need to obtain a EU Pet Passport for your dog. These are issued by your vet. Pet passports can only be issued to your dog after they have been micro chipped and treated for parasites like tapeworms. See our useful article on Five steps on how to get an EU Pet Passport
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Book direct flightsBecause you are travelling with your dog, it’s always best to book direct flights that are the quickest. That way it reduces the amount of travel time for you and your dog. Also book either early morning or evening flights. These type of flights are so much more comfortable for your dog. Avoid the hottest times of the day as pets can get very overheated when travelling in hot weather.
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Airline approved Dog CarrierAirlines are very strict on what type of pet carrier you use when flying with your dog. They have to be strong, ventilated and give your dog enough room to move around in. They need to be able to turn around in them, have enough room lie down or curl up to sleep. They should also have a very secure door fastening which should stop it from opening and letting your dog out. The carrier should also have good food and water supplies for your dog during the flght. We have more information on airline approved carriers at the bottom of this article.
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Prepare the CarrierIt’s essential to prepare your dog carrier for the flight, especially if they are to be put into cargo hold. Always ‘pimp’ your carrier so you draw attention to the special cargo inside. Securely attach clear labels like “My name is Bobby. I am very friendly!” This will also put the cargo handlers at ease. Also attach your name and flight details, mobile number, emergency number and your destination details. Also attach a small bag to the outside of the carrier that contains a spare leash, food and poop bags. If for some reason your dog needs to be taken out of the carrier by someone else, they will have all the essentials that they need. Attach any labels and essentials with strong duct tape.
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Make the carrier comfortable for your dogYour dog maybe inside their carrier for a long period of time, so make it as comfortable as possible for them. First of all line the carrier with a kennel pad or soft bedding. Put some toys inside to keep them occupied. A Kong filled with a few treats may keep them occupied and busy for a while. Make sure they have a good non spill water bowl so that they have enough water to drink during the flight. A good top tip is to include an item of your clothing inside the carrier. This clothing will smell of you and give them some comfort due to your separation.
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Get your dog used to the carrierIt’s vital that you get your dog acclimatised to their airline approved pet carrier. Keep popping them inside the carrier every now and then. By the time you fly, they will be no stranger to the carrier and will hopefully be lessed stressed by it.
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Trim your dogs nailsIt’s a good idea to trim your dog’s nails before placing them in a travel carrier. Long over grown nails may get caught if your dog decides to claw at the mesh door of the carrier.
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Fresh water supplyYour dog will need a clean fresh water supply during the flight. Use a non spill bowl and a good tip is to freeze a bowl of water the day before. Place the frozen bowl inside the carrier before you check in.
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Pimp a nylon safety collarAnother great tip is to buy a safety nylon collar and write your dogs information on it like it’s name and your contact number. Use a KeepSafe breakaway collar or Tazlab safe-t-stretch collar. Avoid collars that have tags attached to them, these can get caught on the mesh door of the carrier.
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Before the flightMake sure your dog has a good deal of exercise before the flight. Give them enough adequate time to eat, drink and do any toilet business before they go into the carrier.
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Confirm drop off and pick upTo keep your seperation from your dog to a bare minimum, make sure you are aware of where you check them in at before you travel and the location of where to pick them up from when you have landed.
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Be friendly with the airport staff and flight teamAlways be friendly to your flight team and the baggage handlers who are looking after your dog. It may be a good idea to tip the baggage handlers, that way they may give your dog some extra attention due to your kindness.
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Take a good photo of your dog with youIt is very very rare that a dog escapes it’s carrier or gets loose at an airport, but just to be on the safe side take a good clear photo of your dog with you incase they go missing. A photo can help the airport staff look for them.
