BA Pets: How British Airways Flies Dogs, Cats and Assistance Dogs (2026 Guide)

BA pets is shorthand for British Airways' pet travel policy: British Airways (BA) does not carry pets in the passenger cabin or as checked baggage, so dogs, cats and other pets fly in the temperature-controlled hold as cargo, handled by IAG Cargo or, for departures from the UK, its partner PetAir UK. The only animals allowed in the BA cabin are recognised assistance dogs, which fly free of charge on most flights.

This guide, last updated on 9 October 2026 by the Animal Passport editorial team, explains how BA pet travel works, which government rules apply in Great Britain and the European Union (EU), and what paperwork you need. Every rule below is attributed to the airline, its cargo arm, or the UK government page it comes from, so you can check the original before you book.

What does "BA pets" mean?

"BA pets" refers to how British Airways transports animals. There are three separate routes, and confusing them is the most common reason travellers get stuck:

• Pets in the hold (cargo): dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, birds and other companion animals travel as manifest cargo, not with you at check-in.
• Assistance dogs in the cabin: trained assistance dogs that meet BA's guidelines travel with their owner, free of charge, on the majority of BA flights, according to British Airways' disability assistance page (2026).
• Emotional support dogs: British Airways states that a dog that does not meet its assistance-dog guidelines, or is an emotional support dog, "will need to travel as a domestic pet and cannot be in the cabin."

This matches UK government policy. GOV.UK's guidance on bringing a pet to Great Britain (2026) says pets "have to travel as cargo on a plane" unless you are flying on a chartered private plane or travelling with a guide or assistance dog.

Can I take my dog or cat in the cabin on British Airways?

No. Unless your dog is a recognised assistance dog, it cannot travel in the cabin on a British Airways flight. PetAir UK, which describes itself as British Airways' preferred partner for flying pets from the UK, states in its 2025 guide that BA "does not accept pets as checked baggage on any route" and that all other pets, including dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, ferrets and reptiles, must travel as air cargo.

IAG Cargo, the cargo handling arm of British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and LEVEL, says pets travel in the aircraft hold "in a temperature-controlled environment." IAG Cargo adds that the hold is unlit because, in its experience, pets settle and travel better in the dark.

How BA pet travel works: IAG Cargo and PetAir UK

Who handles your booking depends on where the journey starts. IAG Cargo's pets page (2026) sets out the split:

• Leaving the UK: IAG Cargo has partnered with Pet Air UK to handle all pets departing from the UK, including quotations and export bookings.
• Arriving in the UK or flying between other countries: owners fill in IAG Cargo's pets form, and IAG Cargo connects them with a specialist pet travel agent who quotes and books the move.
• Leaving Ireland: IAG Cargo provides a separate form for departures from Ireland.

IAG Cargo says it has transported pets since the 1950s and that it strictly follows the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animals Regulations, the worldwide standard for moving animals by air.

Step-by-step: booking a pet on a British Airways flight

1. Check the destination's entry rules first. Airline acceptance and government entry rules are separate. Your pet can be accepted by BA and still be refused entry on arrival.
2. Contact the right booking partner. Use PetAir UK for UK departures, or IAG Cargo's pets form for everything else.
3. Book early. PetAir UK (2025) says bookings are submitted up to 14 days before departure, or up to six weeks ahead for flights to the USA and Canada.
4. Prepare an IATA-compliant crate. See the crate rules below.
5. Complete veterinary paperwork. Microchip, rabies vaccination, an official travel document and, where required, tapeworm treatment.
6. Sign the Form of Indemnity if flying into the UK. IAG Cargo says it will ask you to sign this to cover British Airways against costs if your pet fails arrival checks and goes into quarantine.
7. Check in at the cargo facility. PetAir UK (2025) notes that check-in is at the IAG Cargo facility, not the passenger terminal, and around four hours before an international departure.

BA pets vs assistance dogs vs emotional support dogs

Flying with an assistance dog on British Airways

British Airways says it can carry an assistance dog "free of charge in the cabin on the majority of our flights." BA defines an assistance dog as one trained to support a person with a visible or non-visible disability or medical condition, and it asks owners to register the dog so it is approved before travel, ideally before booking, to avoid being refused.

PetAir UK (2025) summarises the training standard as dogs trained by organisations that are members of Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF).

Arriving at London Heathrow with an assistance dog

Assistance dogs landing at Heathrow are checked by the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC), run by the City of London Corporation. HARC's service dogs page (updated 30 March 2026) sets out the rules:

• You must hold a HARC pre-approval letter to arrive at or transit through Heathrow with a service dog.
• HARC recognises dogs trained by IGDF or ADI members, or accredited by The Assistance Dog Assessment Association.
• Unrecognised service dogs pay a £462 checking fee and can only be pre-approved when arriving direct from the USA, according to HARC (2026).
• HARC lists a British Airways PDF acceptance letter as typical evidence of airline acceptance.
• On arrival, a HARC representative meets you at the aircraft door; HARC says final entry checks take about five minutes.

Note on notice periods: the sources differ. Heathrow Airport's FAQ (2026) says HARC approval must be in place "at least 72 hours before your flight," while HARC itself asks owners to send their first email "a minimum of seven days before your scheduled departure." Follow the longer seven-day lead time to be safe.

UK Pet Travel Scheme rules for pets arriving on BA

The UK Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) is the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) framework that lets dogs, cats and ferrets enter Great Britain without quarantine. As of October 2026, GOV.UK lists these steps:

1. Use an approved route. Only APHA-approved carriers and routes can bring pets into England or Scotland; GOV.UK states there are no approved routes to Wales. London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow are among the airports carriers can be approved for, according to APHA's air carrier guidance (last updated August 2025).
2. Microchip your pet before its rabies vaccination.
3. Vaccinate against rabies and wait at least 21 full days after the first vaccination before travelling, per GOV.UK (2026).
4. Get a pet travel document from your vet; the type depends on the country you are travelling from.
5. Treat dogs for tapeworm where required, no less than 24 hours and no more than 5 days before arriving in Great Britain.
6. Sign a declaration that you are not going to sell or transfer ownership of the pet.

GOV.UK warns that pets that do not meet these rules may be put into quarantine for up to four months, at the owner's expense. Extra "Balai" rules apply if the pet is being sold or rehomed, arrives more than five days before or after you, or you bring more than five pets.

One practical detail for BA customers: HARC's importing page (updated 5 October 2026) notes that most pets landing at Heathrow are handled at its facility, but lists IAG Cargo among the carriers whose pets are handled elsewhere. Ask your agent where to collect your pet, and bring photo ID, the air waybill and a lead and collar.

Flying from Great Britain to the EU with a pet: the April 2026 change

If your BA flight goes from Great Britain to an EU country, the paperwork changed this year. In a news release published on 21 April 2026, Defra and APHA confirmed that new EU rules took effect on 22 April 2026 for non-commercial movements of dogs, cats and ferrets:

• GB residents should no longer use EU pet passports to enter the EU; EU pet passports may now only be issued to people whose main home is in the EU.
• GB residents need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from an official veterinarian for each trip from Great Britain to the EU.
• An AHC is valid for 10 days for entry into the EU, then 6 months for onward EU travel and 6 months for re-entry to Great Britain, as long as rabies vaccination stays valid, according to GOV.UK (2026).
• Up to five pets can be listed on one AHC.
• GB residents can still use an EU pet passport for the return journey to Great Britain.

GOV.UK states plainly that if you live in England, Scotland or Wales and use a pet passport instead of an AHC, "your pet may be refused entry."

IAG Cargo crate rules for BA pets

IAG Cargo applies the IATA Live Animals Regulations to every travel container. Its published requirements (2026) include:

• Cats departing the USA and Canada need at least a 200-series kennel (68 × 50 × 48 cm internal); series 100 kennels are acceptable elsewhere.
• Snub-nosed dogs and cats need a container 10% larger than the minimum.
• Ventilation on all four sides, and a door that cannot open accidentally or be opened by the pet.
• Nose and paws must not fit through ventilation openings or door mesh.
• A secured water pot that can be filled from outside the crate.
• Fibreboard, wire mesh and wicker containers are not accepted.
• Pets must be able to stand and sit erect without touching the top and turn around comfortably.

IAG Cargo also advises a light meal and a chance to urinate and defecate before your pet goes into its container, and recommends asking your vet to confirm the microchip is still readable, as chips can migrate.

Is Animal Passport a pet passport for BA flights?

No. This is an important distinction. Animal Passport is a digital animal and livestock identity record built on muzzle biometrics: an animal's nose print is unique, like a human fingerprint. A phone captures the muzzle, and the record links the owner, breed, estimated age, body condition and vaccination history. Age is estimated from a dental photograph with a confidence score, and body condition is scored 1–5 from a side-profile photo.

Animal Passport is not an EU pet passport, an Animal Health Certificate, a GB Health Certificate or any other government-issued travel document, and it is not accepted in place of PETS paperwork by British Airways, IAG Cargo or border officials. Its field use has been in livestock identity: in Pakistan's floods in August 2025, it helped farmers reclaim animals after paper tags washed away. For pet air travel, the documents that count are the official ones listed above, issued by your vet and the relevant government authority.

Where a biometric record can help is alongside official paperwork, as an owner-held identity and health log for animals. Read more on identity, traceability and travel on the Animal Passport blog.

Checklist before you book a BA pet flight

• Confirm whether your animal is a pet (hold) or a recognised assistance dog (cabin).
• Check the entry rules for the destination country, not just BA's acceptance.
• Ask whether your breed is accepted; IAG Cargo says some dangerous and snub-nosed breeds may not be.
• Book through PetAir UK (UK departures) or IAG Cargo's pet travel partners.
• Line up microchip, rabies vaccination and the 21-day wait, then the correct travel document.
• For GB-to-EU trips after 22 April 2026, get a new Animal Health Certificate for each trip.
• For assistance dogs into Heathrow, request HARC pre-approval at least seven days ahead.

Rules change regularly; APHA updated its approved carrier and route lists on 5 October 2026. Check the British Airways travelling with pets page and GOV.UK before every trip.