British Airways Airline Pet Policy

Can my pet fly with me in the cabin? Selected flight only
Can my pet fly with me as checked baggage? No
Can my pet fly with me as manifest cargo? Yes

In-Cabin Pet Policy

British Airways does not permit pets to travel in the cabin with the exception of medically approved service animals. (Seven day notice required) First point of entry must be London Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester (accompanied pets only).

Service and Emotional Support Animals

British Airways will accept service dogs must have been certified by an organization that is a member of Assistance Dogs International or International Guide Dog Federation trained to assist a disabled person. Notification should be provided at least 7 days in advance.

British Airways will recognize emotional support dogs only on flights to or from the United States. Fourteen day advance notification must be provided. The Animal Reception Center in your destination airport must be notified at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled departure of your flight. A pre-approval letter will be issued that must be presented by the ARC must be present at check-in, along with all required documentation to enter the United Kingdom.

• Need a Pet Friendly Hotel?

Checked Baggage Pet Policy

British Airways does not offer checked baggage service for live animals.

• Insure Your Pet’s Health
• Preparing Your Pet’s Crate for Travel
• More Info on Airline Pet Policies– British Airways

Air Cargo Pet Policies

British Airways will transport live animals as manifest (air) cargo through the services of IAG Cargo and an agent is required to book the transport. Contact us if you need assistance with an agent.

Pets Allowed:

Dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, hamsters, monkeys, ferrets, snakes, tropical fish and other animals. Larger animals (cattle, horses, etc.) will be handled by an approved agent. Pets flying as cargo willl need to make arrangements with an approved agent to fly with IAG Cargo which handles British Airways live animal cargo transport.

Forms Required:

Health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian at least 10 days prior to travel will be required. All forms required for your destination country should be attached to the crate.

Check-In

Check in at a IAG Cargo cargo facility (not reservations desk) 4 hours prior to international flights and 2 hours prior to domestic flights. Health certificates issued shortly prior to travel will be required. Consigners will be asked to sign a Form of Indemnity to cover British Airways against any costs arising from any pet not passing the PETS checks on arrival and having to go into quarantine. Pet crate requirements are as stated below.

Route Restrictions

British Airways will not transport live animals from Kuwait. During summer months, pets will not be accepted on flights out of Dallas/Fort Worth. Due to high temeratures, pets will not be permitted on flights in or out of Beijing or Shanghai.

Temperature Restrictions:

British Airways understands the additional risk to live animals transported during the higher temperatures of summer and lower temperatures of winter. Your pet may not be granted boarding if the temperature in any city on your itinerary is forecasted to be above 85°F (30°C) or below 45°F (7°C).

Crate Requirements

Crates must be sized properly for pet with length being measurement from tip of nose to base of tail plus half of length from elbow to ground. There should be a clearance from the top of head OR the tip of ears, if they normally stand erect.

British Airways will not accept Series 100 crates (typically used for smaller pets) except on USA and Canada flights.

Your pet must travel in an IATA-compliant pet crate. Have a crate already? Is your crate IATA-compliant? Need accessories for your crate? Click here for more information on crate requirements.

• Need an IATA compliant pet crate?
• Need an Agent to Transport Your Pet?

Airports Served

British Airways is based in London and serves cities on six continents including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. It has the largest fleet in the United Kingdom.

British Airways is also approved to fly into London Heathrow and Gatwick which are approved Border Inspection Posts in the UK.

Puppies and Kittens

Kittens and puppies must be at least 10 weeks old. Pregnant dogs and cats are not permitted to travel past 6 weeks of their gestation period.

• Traveling with a puppy

Banned Breeds

No dangerous dogs, Bulldog breeds or Pugs are not permitted. Other snub nosed pets must travel in crates at least 10% larger than normally required.

Snub-nosed dogs will be transported in larger crates than normally required on routes where the temperature does not exceed 75°F. British Airways considers the following breeds as snub nosed: Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brussels Griffin, Chow Chow, English Toy Spaniel, Japanese Chin and Pekinese.

Other Animals

British Airways will transport larger or unaccompanied domesticated dogs and cats, fish, fowl, horses, zoo animals and most warm and cold blooded animals as manifest cargo according to destination country import requirements.