Aer Lingus Pet Policy (October 2026): How Cats, Dogs and Service Dogs Fly

The Aer Lingus pet policy is the Irish airline's set of rules for flying with animals: pet cats and dogs travel only in the aircraft hold, booked through a pet agent working with IAG Cargo, while only trained service dogs may fly in the cabin. As of October 2026, Aer Lingus does not accept pets at passenger check-in, does not carry pets on Aer Lingus Regional flights, and requires every animal to meet the pet travel rules of the destination country, which for Ireland are set by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

This guide is written by the Animal Passport editorial team and was last updated on 4 October 2026. It summarises what Aer Lingus, its cargo partner IAG Cargo, the Irish government, the European Commission and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say on their own websites. Airline rules change often, so confirm details with Aer Lingus or your pet agent before booking.

Aer Lingus pet policy at a glance

The table below summarises the main rules for each type of animal. Every rule is drawn from the official Aer Lingus baggage and disability assistance pages, checked in October 2026.

Can you bring a pet in the cabin on Aer Lingus?

No. Aer Lingus states on its disability assistance page (2026) that it only accepts dogs as service animals in the cabin, and that "pets, emotional support animals or service animals in training will not be accepted for travel on board any Aer Lingus aircraft."

This is an airline decision rather than a government ban. The Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine says on its Pet Travel page (updated August 2026) that it has no objection to pets travelling in the cabin, but that "the ultimate decision on where in the plane an animal travels is up to the airline concerned." Aer Lingus has decided that pet cats and dogs travel in the hold.

How pets fly in the hold with Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus does not book pets itself. Its baggage information page (2026) says pets "must be booked to travel with a pet agent" and will be carried in the aircraft hold. Animals turned up at passenger check-in "will not be accepted under any circumstance."

The role of IAG Cargo

IAG Cargo is the cargo division of International Airlines Group, which handles freight for British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and LEVEL. According to IAG Cargo's Live Animals page (2026):

• Aer Lingus accepts only cats, dogs and invertebrates as live animals.
• Bookings can be made up to 14 days before departure, or up to 6 weeks before departure for USA and Canada bookings.
• Live animals must be checked in 4 hours before departure, subject to station capability.
• Most live animal bookings must go through a freight forwarder or pet relocation agent; the exception is pet bookings from North America and the Caribbean.
• All shipments follow the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animals Regulations (LAR).

For departures from Ireland, IAG Cargo directs owners to a dedicated Ireland pet form. IAG Cargo also says the hold is temperature-controlled and unlit, because pets "quickly settle down and travel better in the dark."

Routes and aircraft where pets cannot fly

• Aer Lingus Regional: Aer Lingus says that if any part of your journey is on Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Emerald Airlines, pets cannot be carried (Aer Lingus, 2026).
• A321neo LR aircraft: No live animals can travel on the Aer Lingus A321neo LR, because its cargo holds are not ventilated (Aer Lingus, 2026). Check your aircraft type before booking.
• Snub-nosed and restricted breeds: IAG Cargo says some dangerous dog breeds and snub-nosed (brachycephalic) cats and dogs may not be accepted, and the pet agent will advise.

Flying a pet from North America to Ireland

Aer Lingus's baggage page (2026) sets extra rules for pets flying eastbound across the Atlantic:

• Contact the IAG Cargo North American Pet Desk on 1 (888) 578-4806 or [email protected] to arrange the booking.
• Animals cannot be shipped from North America on Fridays or Saturdays.
• Dublin must be the final destination for all animals departing North America on Aer Lingus.
• A pet arriving from the USA must have a DAFM compliance check booked before arrival.

Travel crate requirements

IAG Cargo publishes container rules on its Pets page (2026), based on the IATA Live Animals Regulations. The main points are:

1. Cats departing the USA and Canada need at least a 200-series kennel (68 cm x 50 cm x 48 cm internal); series 100 kennels are acceptable elsewhere.
2. Snub-nosed dogs and cats need a container 10% larger than the normal minimum.
3. The pet must be able to stand and sit upright without touching the roof, and turn around comfortably.
4. The crate needs ventilation on all four sides, a secure door, and mesh small enough that the pet's nose and paws cannot pass through.
5. A secured water pot must be fillable from outside the crate.
6. Fibreboard, wire mesh and wicker containers are not suitable.

IAG Cargo also advises giving your pet only a light meal before travel and a chance to relieve itself before it goes into the container.

Aer Lingus service dog policy

Aer Lingus accepts trained service dogs in the cabin for passengers with a disability or reduced mobility. A trained service dog must be "individually trained to do work or perform a task for the passenger's benefit" (Aer Lingus disability assistance page, 2026).

Rules on all Aer Lingus flights

• The dog must be harnessed, leashed or tethered at all times, and be clean and well behaved.
• It must fit at your feet, under your seat or in your lap, and cannot sit in an exit row or block the aisle.
• Service dogs fly free if they fit the allotted space. If not, you may have to buy an extra seat, rebook, or send the dog as a pet.
• In business class, you give up the lie-flat feature so the dog can use the floor space.
• Final approval happens at the airport, once staff confirm the dog fits safely.

Flights within Europe

On European routes, Aer Lingus (2026) requires an Assistance Dog Identification Card and proof that the dog was trained by an organisation affiliated with the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) or Assistance Dogs International (ADI). Send a special assistance request at least 48 hours before travel. One service dog per passenger flies free.

Flights to and from the USA and Canada

For US flights, Aer Lingus (2026) requires the United States Department of Transportation (US DOT) Service Animal Air Transportation Form, plus the US DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form if the flight is 8 hours or longer. Travel to or from Canada, Barbados or Mexico requires a Service Animal Air Transportation Form. If you book 48 hours or more before departure, submit the forms at least 48 hours before the flight. Up to two service dogs per passenger fly free on these routes.

Where Aer Lingus pages disagree

The two official Aer Lingus pages do not say exactly the same thing. The disability assistance page says six breeds, including the German Shepherd and Doberman Pinscher, may fly as service dogs if securely muzzled and handled by someone over 16. The baggage information page says Aer Lingus "cannot accept any of the restricted breeds of dog" in the cabin or hold. Notice periods also vary: 48 hours on the baggage page and for European special assistance requests, compared with a recommended 24 hours for seating. If your service dog is one of these breeds, get written confirmation from Aer Lingus Special Assistance before you travel.

Ireland's pet entry rules for Aer Lingus passengers

Most Aer Lingus flights land in Ireland, so most passengers must meet Irish entry rules. These are set by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) under EU law. As of October 2026, DAFM's Pet Travel portal lists these core requirements for dogs, cats and ferrets:

1. Microchip: Implanted before the rabies vaccine and readable by a scanner compatible with ISO standard 11785.
2. Rabies vaccination: Given at 12 weeks of age or older, followed by a wait of at least 21 days after the primary vaccination. In practice, a pet cannot travel until it is around 15 weeks old.
3. Document: An EU pet passport if the owner lives in the EU, or an EU Animal Health Certificate if the owner does not.
4. Tapeworm treatment (dogs only): A vet must give a praziquantel treatment for Echinococcus multilocularis between 24 and 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before arrival, unless the dog comes from Finland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland.
5. Rabies blood test (some countries): Pets from countries not on the EU's list need a titre result of at least 0.5 IU/ml, then a three-month wait from the date of the blood sample.
6. Advance notice and compliance check (non-EU arrivals): Book through DAFM's Advance Notice Portal. Pets must enter through Dublin Airport, Cork Airport, Shannon Airport, Dublin Port, Ringaskiddy or Rosslare Europort.

The April 2026 EU pet passport change

DAFM says that from 22 April 2026, EU pet passports are only issued to, and valid for, owners whose main residence is in the European Union. This applies to every passport issued in an EU Member State or Northern Ireland, including ones issued before that date. Non-EU residents, including many American and Canadian Aer Lingus passengers, now need an EU Animal Health Certificate signed by an official state veterinarian within 10 days of arrival in the EU. DAFM says the endorsed certificate then covers travel between EU countries for up to 6 months, while Citizens Information (page edited September 2024) still says 4 months, so rely on DAFM's figure.

Sources currently cite different legal bases. DAFM's Pet Travel page refers to EU Regulation 576/2013, while the European Commission's pet movement page (2026) names Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 as the rulebook for non-commercial pet movements. If your vet is preparing paperwork, ask them to confirm which certificate template applies.

Owner travel and commercial movements

Because Aer Lingus pets fly in the hold, it helps to know DAFM's accompaniment rule. The pet must arrive with its owner, or with an authorised person if the owner travels within five days, and must carry original paperwork rather than copies. Travelling with more than five pets, or moving an animal for sale or rehoming, counts as a commercial movement under different rules.

Compliance check fees and hours

DAFM charges a per-animal fee for compliance checks on pets from most non-EU countries. Checks are free for pets arriving from Great Britain, and for guide and assistance dogs carrying an ADI or IGDF identification card. At Dublin Airport, DAFM staff check pets travelling as excess baggage between 07:00 and 21:00. Pets travelling as manifest cargo are cleared at the Border Control Post, open from 04:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday. If a pet fails the check, it may be refused entry or quarantined, and the owner pays the costs.

Flying a dog from Ireland to the United States

The CDC's dog import rules apply in addition to Aer Lingus's own rules. Since 1 August 2024, a dog that has only been in dog-rabies-free or low-risk countries during the previous six months needs one document: the free CDC Dog Import Form receipt (CDC, 2024). The dog must also be at least six months old, carry a microchip readable by a universal scanner, and appear healthy on arrival. Dogs that have been in a high-risk country face stricter rules, so use the CDC's Dog Importation Navigator. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and state rules may also apply.

Step-by-step: booking a pet on Aer Lingus

1. Check that every flight is on Aer Lingus mainline, not Aer Lingus Regional, and not on an A321neo LR.
2. Check the destination's entry rules: DAFM's pettravel.gov.ie for Ireland, or the CDC for the USA.
3. Book a vet appointment for the microchip, rabies vaccine, any blood test and, for dogs going to Ireland, the tapeworm treatment.
4. Contact an IAG Cargo pet agent, or the North American Pet Desk for eastbound transatlantic trips, to get a quote and booking.
5. Buy an IATA-compliant crate and get your pet used to it for several weeks.
6. Book DAFM advance notice and a compliance check if arriving in Ireland from outside the EU.
7. On travel day, check the pet in at the cargo facility the agent names, usually 4 hours before departure, carrying original documents.

Aer Lingus pet documents vs Animal Passport

The word "passport" causes confusion, so here is the distinction. An EU pet passport is an official document issued by an authorised vet under EU rules, and it is what DAFM and Aer Lingus mean by pet travel paperwork. Animal Passport, the publisher of this article, is something different. It is a digital livestock identity record that uses muzzle biometrics, because an animal's nose print is unique like a fingerprint.

With Animal Passport, a farmer photographs an animal's muzzle on a phone. The record links the owner, breed, estimated age (from a dental photo, with a confidence score), a body condition score of 1 to 5 (from a side-profile photo) and vaccination history. In August 2025 it was used in livestock flood rescue in Pakistan, so farmers could reclaim animals after paper tags washed away.

Animal Passport is not a government-issued travel document. It does not replace an EU pet passport, an EU Animal Health Certificate, an ISO microchip or a CDC form, and Aer Lingus will not accept it in their place. It also does not provide veterinary diagnosis or legal advice. More guides on animal identity and travel are on the Animal Passport blog.

Bottom line

As of October 2026, flying with a pet on Aer Lingus means hold travel only, booked through an IAG Cargo pet agent, on mainline aircraft other than the A321neo LR. Only trained service dogs fly in the cabin. Most delays come from the paperwork rather than the airline: Ireland's microchip, rabies and tapeworm rules, and the April 2026 change to EU pet passports. Start with your vet and the DAFM portal, then book the flight.