Traveling To England? Fly With Your Pets

how to travel to england with pets in airlines

Travelling to England with a pet can be a stressful experience, as there are many rules and regulations to follow. The rules are different depending on whether you are travelling to England, Scotland or Wales, or to Northern Ireland. The UK government does not allow pets to travel in the cabin of a plane, only in the hold, and only on approved routes. This is because the UK wants to prevent rabies from entering the country.

If you are travelling from outside the EU, your pet will need a Great Britain health certificate, which must be completed by a vet within 10 days of your departure. If you are travelling from within the EU, your pet will need a pet passport or an Annex IV document. In both cases, your pet will need to be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies.

Some airlines, such as British Airways, do not allow pets on their planes at all, even in the hold. Others, such as Aer Lingus UK, will allow pets to travel in the hold as cargo.

Characteristics Values
Airlines that allow pets in the cabin None
Airlines that allow pets as checked baggage Loganair
Airlines that allow pets as cargo Aer Lingus UK, BA CityFlyer, BA EuroFlyer, British Airways, TUI Airways
Airlines that don't allow pets Eastern Airways, EasyJet, Jet2.com, Norse Atlantic UK, Ryanair UK, Virgin Atlantic, Wizz Air UK
Airports that allow pets London Heathrow (HARC), London Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Biggin Hill, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, London Stansted, London Oxford, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Humberside, Glasgow International, Farnborough, Carlisle, Aberdeen, Belfast, Inverness, Exeter, Norwich, Southampton, Newquay, Sumburgh, Kirkwall, Stornoway

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Airlines that allow pets to fly in the cabin to England

When flying to England with a pet, there are a few options to consider. Firstly, it is important to note that no UK-based airlines allow pets to fly in the cabin, only service animals. However, some airlines do allow pets to travel as cargo or checked baggage.

Airlines that allow pets to travel as cargo

  • TUI Airways
  • Loganair
  • Aurigny Air Services
  • British Airways
  • Aer Lingus UK
  • BA CityFlyer
  • BA EuroFlyer

Airlines that allow pets to travel as checked baggage

Loganair

Airlines that allow pets to fly in the cabin when leaving the UK

  • Lufthansa
  • KLM
  • Air France
  • Aegean Airlines
  • Air Canada
  • Air Europa
  • Alaska Air
  • American Airlines
  • French Bee
  • JetBlue Airways
  • Lufthansa
  • Southwest
  • TAP Air Portugal
  • Turkish Airlines
  • United Airlines
  • Vueling

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Airlines that allow pets to fly as checked baggage to England

When flying to England with a pet, it's important to note that most UK airlines do not allow pets to fly in the cabin or as checked baggage. However, there are a few airlines that offer this service, providing different requirements are met. Here is a list of some airlines that allow pets to fly as checked baggage to England:

Loganair

Loganair is a Scottish regional airline that permits pets to travel as checked baggage on most of its domestic flights within the UK, including the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and the Republic of Ireland. Only cats and dogs are permitted, with a weight limit of 32kg, including their crate. The cost to fly with your pet as checked baggage on Loganair is £50 one way and must be booked in advance. It's important to note that Loganair does not allow certain breeds, such as pugs, bulldogs, and Pekinese, on board.

TUI Airways

TUI Airways is another UK airline that allows pets to travel as checked baggage. They offer a comfortable and pressurised cargo compartment for pets. To book your pet on a TUI Airways flight, you need to contact their Cargo Department in advance to confirm space availability and cost. TUI Airways also has specific requirements for pet carriers, including the need for a water bowl and funnel fitted on the outside of the travel container. Additionally, pets cannot be medically sedated but are allowed herbal calming options.

Aurigny Air Services

Aurigny Air Services, Guernsey's Airline, allows pets to travel as checked baggage on their flights between Guernsey and Southampton. The fee for this service is £35 each way. However, it's important to note that only one pet is permitted per flight due to space limitations, so early booking is recommended.

While the above-mentioned airlines are UK-based, there are also some non-UK airlines that offer pet travel as checked baggage to England. These include:

  • Lufthansa
  • KLM
  • Air France
  • American Airlines
  • Air Canada
  • Delta
  • British Airways
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Airlines that allow pets to fly as cargo to England

When flying to England, pets are not allowed to fly in the cabin, but must be transported as cargo. Here are some airlines that allow pets to fly as cargo to England:

British Airways

British Airways does not allow pets to fly in the cabin or as checked baggage. However, they do offer a pet cargo service, allowing a broad range of animals to be transported in the hold, including dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, hamsters, monkeys, ferrets, snakes and tropical fish. This service is run by PetAir UK, which is owned by fully-qualified veterinary surgeons.

Aer Lingus UK

Aer Lingus UK, based in Manchester, flies pets as cargo. Only trained service dogs are allowed to fly in the cabin, subject to requirements. Pets are accepted for travel in the hold as cargo, with bookings through IAG Cargo.

TUI Airways

TUI Airways is a charter airline that flies pets in the cargo hold, except for snub-nosed and dangerous breeds, including cross-breeds. The cargo hold is temperature and pressure-controlled. Bookings should be made through their Cargo Department, run by ECS Group.

American Airlines

American Airlines Cargo offers the American PetEmbark™ service for pets that don't qualify to travel as carry-on or checked pets. This service consists of your pet being safely stowed away in a temperature-controlled, pressurised and oxygenated cargo compartment.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa has its own lounge for pets, so if you're stopping over in Frankfurt, your pet will have access to the Animal Lounge where they can eat, drink and exercise. Lufthansa does not allow pets to travel as cargo to the UK.

KLM

KLM works together with Air France to provide a pet cargo service. Fees range from $75-400 USD one way. To be able to transport your pet via cargo with KLM, your pet will need to be at least 10 weeks old and fully weaned.

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Requirements for pets flying to England

England has strict rules for pets entering the country, and it's important to follow these to avoid your pet being quarantined for up to four months. These rules apply to England, Wales and Scotland, but there are different rules for entering Northern Ireland.

Firstly, your pet must be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and have a pet passport or health certificate. Dogs also usually need a tapeworm treatment.

Your pet must also arrive via an approved route, unless you're travelling within the UK or from Ireland.

Flying with pets in the cabin

Unfortunately, no airlines allow pets to fly in the passenger cabin on flights into England. The only animals permitted to fly in the cabin are registered assistance dogs.

Flying with pets as checked baggage

The Scottish airline Loganair allows pets to travel as checked baggage on most of its domestic flights, including flights to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Only dogs and cats are permitted, with a weight limit of 32kg including their crate.

Flying with pets as cargo

Out of the remaining UK airlines, less than half allow pets to travel as manifest cargo, both on domestic flights and international flights. This includes Aer Lingus UK, BA CityFlyer, BA EuroFlyer, British Airways and TUI Airways.

Transporting pets with a pet shipper

If you're sending a dog, cat or ferret to the UK, you'll need to secure a pet shipper or broker to handle the process in the UK. You are also welcome to transport reptiles, fish, amphibians, insects and crustaceans into the UK with proper documentation.

Taxes and fees

The UK requires most pets travelling to the country to pay Value Added Tax (VAT). The formula for estimating this cost is:

Value of animal + Cost of transport + UK VAT adjustment [£100.00]) = VAT valuation @ 20% of total

There are also additional fees, such as the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC) which charges £260 per AWB, £177 to transport your pet to the quarantine station and £83 to collect your pet from the aircraft.

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Transporting pets to England from non-EU countries

When transporting pets to England from non-EU countries, there are a number of steps that need to be followed. Here is a detailed and instructive guide on how to do this:

Firstly, it is important to note that different rules apply when transporting pets to Northern Ireland, as opposed to Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland).

To bring a pet dog, cat or ferret into Great Britain from a non-EU country, the following steps need to be completed:

  • Microchipping: Ensure your pet is microchipped. This is to ensure that your pet can be identified and traced.
  • Pet Passport or Health Certificate: Your pet will need either a pet passport or an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). The AHC must be issued in Great Britain within the last 4 months.
  • Rabies Vaccination: Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies. Depending on the country you are travelling from, a blood test may also be required. There is a waiting period after the vaccination before your pet can travel, so this needs to be done in advance.
  • Tapeworm Treatment: If you are travelling with a dog, it may also need to be treated for tapeworm. This depends on the country you are travelling from.
  • Authorised Route: You must use an approved transport route when bringing your pet into Great Britain.
  • Declaration: If you are not selling or transferring ownership of your pet, you will need to fill in a declaration.

It is important to note that there are additional rules if you are going to sell, rehome or transfer ownership of your pet, or if you are bringing more than 5 animals.

When choosing an airline to transport your pet, it is important to check the specific rules of the airline, as these can vary. Some airlines only allow guide and assistance dogs, while others may allow pets to travel as checked baggage or cargo. It is also important to note that emotional support animals are often not recognised and may not be allowed.

  • Aer Lingus UK
  • British Airways (including BA CityFlyer and BA EuroFlyer)
  • TUI Airways
  • Virgin Atlantic (temporarily unavailable)

Some airlines that do not allow pets on board include:

  • Eastern Airways
  • EasyJet
  • Jet2.com
  • Norse Atlantic UK
  • Ryanair UK
  • Wizz Air UK

If you are travelling with your pet, it is important to book in advance and be aware of the specific requirements and procedures of the airline and transport companies.

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Frequently asked questions

Your pet must be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies, and have a pet passport or health certificate. Dogs also need to have tapeworm treatment.

The post-Brexit rules have affected airline policies and required documents leading to a rule variance between Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) and Northern Ireland. The EU pet health certificate is no longer required to enter the UK with your pet, having been replaced by the Great Britain health certificate.

Unfortunately, no airlines allow pets to travel in the cabin on flights to the UK. The only exception is for assistance or service dogs.

The cost of flying with a pet to the UK can vary hugely, with prices ranging from €500 to €4000.

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