British Airways Pet Cargo: How BA Flies Dogs and Cats in the Hold in 2026

British Airways pet cargo is the service through which British Airways (BA) flies dogs, cats and other pets in the temperature-controlled hold as manifest cargo, because BA does not carry pets in the cabin on any route. Pets leaving the UK are booked through BA's partner PetAir UK; pets flying into the UK are handled by IAG Cargo, BA's cargo arm. You book your own seat separately, and the pet must meet the UK Pet Travel Scheme to enter Great Britain.

As of October 2026, that is the core answer. The rest of this guide explains each step with the official source behind it, so you can check the rules yourself before you pay a deposit or book a vet appointment. Rules change, so always confirm with the airline partner and GOV.UK close to your travel date.

How does British Airways pet cargo work in 2026?

British Airways states on its Travelling with pets page (2026) that a pet "will travel in the hold of our aircraft" and that BA does not carry pets in the cabin on any route. Who arranges the booking depends on where the journey starts.

Flying a pet out of the UK: PetAir UK

For departures from the UK, British Airways has partnered with PetAir UK, a company that says it is run and owned by qualified veterinary surgeons and has flown pets worldwide since 2004 (PetAir UK, 2026). IAG Cargo confirms the same arrangement: "We have partnered with Pet Air UK to take care of all pets that are departing from the UK" (IAG Cargo, 2026).

PetAir UK's FAQ (2026) adds several practical points:

• PetAir arranges the pet's travel only. You book your own passenger ticket separately.
• Pets travel as manifest cargo, so they have no baggage allowance and no personal luggage can go with them.
• In many cases you can be on the same flight, but PetAir advises waiting until the pet's flight is confirmed before booking your own seat.
• Owners usually need to be at the airport around 4 hours before departure.
• Not every aircraft is approved or equipped to carry pets as manifest cargo, so flight choice can be limited by route and aircraft type.

Flying a pet into the UK: IAG Cargo

For pets travelling to the UK, British Airways refers owners to its sister company International Airlines Group Cargo (IAG Cargo). IAG Cargo says it has transported pets since the 1950s as the cargo handling arm of British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and LEVEL, and that it follows the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animals Regulations (IAG Cargo, 2026).

IAG Cargo works through specialist pet travel agents. Owners outside the UK fill in a pets enquiry form, and IAG Cargo passes the details to a partner agent who provides the quotation. Departures from Ireland use a separate form.

The indemnity form for UK arrivals

One detail many owners miss: IAG Cargo states it will ask you to sign a Form of Indemnity covering British Airways against any costs if your pet does not pass the pet checks on arrival and has to go into quarantine (IAG Cargo, 2026). In practice, paperwork errors become your financial responsibility, which is consistent with GOV.UK's statement that owners are responsible for any fees or charges if rules are not followed.

Can pets fly in the cabin on British Airways?

No ordinary pet can fly in the BA cabin. British Airways states it is unable to accept emotional support dogs in the cabin on any BA-operated flight; an emotional support dog can travel as a pet in the hold (British Airways, 2026).

The exception is a trained assistance dog. BA says it can carry an assistance dog free of charge in the cabin on the majority of its flights, provided the dog is trained to support a person with a visible or non-visible disability or medical condition and stays under the owner's control. BA recommends registering the dog before booking and notes that destination entry rules are set separately by local authorities (British Airways, 2026).

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

British Airways pet transport options compared

What documents does a pet need to enter the UK on British Airways?

British Airways does not set the entry rules; the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) does, through the Pet Travel Scheme. GOV.UK's Bring your pet to Great Britain guide (2026) lists these steps for dogs, cats and ferrets:

1. Check the route is approved. Air arrivals must use an approved route and company, except within the UK or from Ireland.
2. Microchip first. The microchip must be implanted before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccination. Airport checkers read chips that meet ISO 11784 and ISO 11785.
3. Vaccinate against rabies. The wait is at least 21 full days after the first vaccination, depending on the vaccine.
4. Get a rabies blood test if required. Pets from countries that are not part of the EU and not "listed" need a blood test showing at least 0.5 IU/ml, then a 3-month wait from the sample date.
5. Get the right pet travel document. Depending on origin, this is an EU-issued pet passport, a Great Britain pet health certificate, or another accepted document.
6. Treat dogs for tapeworm. A vet must give a praziquantel-based treatment no less than 24 hours and no more than 5 days (120 hours) before arrival, unless arriving directly from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway.
7. Sign the non-commercial declaration. Selling, rehoming, transferring ownership, or a pet arriving more than 5 days before or after its owner triggers stricter commercial (Balai) rules.

GOV.UK warns that a pet may be put into quarantine for up to 4 months if these rules are not followed. If your BA flight is delayed past the 120-hour tapeworm window, GOV.UK says the dog may need retreatment, so check with your airline or agent.

Taking a pet from Great Britain to the EU

For the outbound leg, GOV.UK (2026) says residents of England, Scotland or Wales cannot use a pet passport to enter the EU, even one issued in the EU. They need an animal health certificate, valid for 10 days for entry into the EU and 6 months for onward EU travel and re-entry to Great Britain. Sources disagree here: the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre's Pet Travel Scheme page, last updated in 2024, still says return within 4 months, so follow the current GOV.UK figure and confirm with your vet. Destinations outside the EU set their own rules, which PetAir UK checks as part of its quote.

Crate rules for British Airways pet cargo

All hold travel follows the IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR). IAG Cargo's container guidance (2026) for BA and its sister airlines includes:

• Cats departing the USA and Canada need at least a 200-series kennel (internal 68 cm x 50 cm x 48 cm); elsewhere, 100-series kennels are acceptable.
• Snub-nosed dogs and cats need a container 10% larger than the minimum.
• Ventilation on all four sides, a secure door, and a water pot that can be filled from outside.
• Fibreboard, wire mesh and wicker containers are not accepted.
• The pet must be able to stand, sit upright without touching the roof, and turn around comfortably.

IATA's Traveler's Pet Corner (2026) gives the sizing formula: container length equals nose-to-tail-base length plus half the height to the elbow; width equals shoulder width times two; height equals standing height plus bedding. IATA also says animals over 14 kg must be crated individually.

Which breeds may be refused?

IAG Cargo says some dangerous dog breeds and snub-nosed breeds of cats and dogs may not be accepted, and that a partner agent will advise after an enquiry (IAG Cargo, 2026). IATA separately advises against flying snub-nosed dogs such as boxers, pugs and bulldogs in hot seasons. Banned breeds cannot enter Great Britain without a valid Certificate of Exemption (GOV.UK, 2026).

What happens when a pet lands at Heathrow?

The Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC), run by the City of London Corporation, is the live animal Border Control Post at Heathrow. It says about 22,000 dogs and cats arrive through Heathrow each year (City of London, 2026). Its import guidance, updated May 2026, states:

• Pets flying to Heathrow must be booked as manifest cargo in the hold.
• Every owner needs a UK customs clearing agent, even without a full-service pet shipper.
• Non-commercial pets are checked by HARC staff; commercial shipments are checked by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
• On average, pets are ready to collect 2 to 4 hours after arrival.
• Bring photo ID, the air waybill, and a lead and collar for a dog.

HARC lists IAG Cargo among the carriers whose pets are not handled at the HARC facility itself, so confirm the exact collection point for a British Airways arrival with your agent rather than assuming HARC.

How much does British Airways pet cargo cost?

British Airways and IAG Cargo do not publish a fixed price. PetAir UK (2026) says costs vary by destination, route, pet size, timelines and services, and that freight is calculated from the crate's measurements. Final payment is due about one week before the flight.

The only published fixed fees we found are HARC's (City of London, 2026): £104 to collect pets from the aircraft, plus £213 boarding with a paperwork pre-check or £293 without, and £55 for each additional pet. HARC notes these may not apply to IAG Cargo arrivals. HARC's Pet Travel Scheme page adds a £99 administrative fee when paperwork errors require contacting the issuing vet.

Sedation, food and trackers

• Sedation: IATA (2026) discourages sedatives for animals in transit, a view it says is endorsed by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). PetAir UK says airlines will not accept a pet that appears sedated, and prescribed drugs such as gabapentin or trazodone must be declared at least two weeks ahead. Ask your own vet.
• Food: IAG Cargo advises only a light meal before travel; PetAir UK does not recommend food in the crate in transit because of choking risk.
• Trackers: PetAir UK says lithium batteries are not allowed in the hold with pets, so AirTag-style trackers cannot go on the crate.

Sources differ slightly on the hold environment. IAG Cargo describes the hold as temperature-controlled and unlit, while PetAir UK says lighting is often dimmed. Both agree the space is climate-controlled.

Step-by-step: booking British Airways pet cargo

1. Check destination entry rules on the official government site at least 4 months ahead if a rabies blood test may be needed.
2. Confirm microchip, rabies vaccination and any blood test dates with your vet.
3. Request a quote from PetAir UK (leaving the UK) or IAG Cargo's pets form (other origins).
4. Measure your pet and buy or order an IATA-compliant crate; start crate training weeks in advance, as IATA recommends.
5. Wait for the pet's flight confirmation, then book your own BA seat to match.
6. Get the pet travel document issued in the correct window, plus tapeworm treatment for dogs entering Great Britain.
7. Sign the IAG Cargo Form of Indemnity if flying into the UK, and appoint a UK customs agent.
8. On travel day, carry original documents; PetAir UK says copies are not accepted.

Pet passports vs Animal Passport: not the same thing

Because of the name, people sometimes confuse official pet passports with Animal Passport. They are different.

An EU pet passport, an animal health certificate or a Great Britain pet health certificate is an official document issued by an authorised or official vet. It is what UK and EU border checkers and British Airways' partners will ask for. Animal Passport is not a government-issued travel document and cannot replace any of them.

Animal Passport is a digital animal and livestock identity record. It uses muzzle biometrics, because an animal's nose print is unique like a fingerprint, captured on a phone. The record binds 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 to 5 from a side-profile photo. In August 2025 it was used in livestock flood rescue in Pakistan so farmers could reclaim animals after paper ear tags washed away.

For BA pet cargo, the legal identifier remains the ISO microchip recorded in your pet's official document. Read more on identification and animal travel on the Animal Passport blog.

Bottom line

British Airways pet cargo means your pet flies in the hold, never the cabin, booked through PetAir UK when leaving the UK or IAG Cargo when arriving. Success depends less on the airline and more on paperwork: microchip, rabies timing, the right travel document and tapeworm treatment for dogs. Start early, use official sources, and keep originals with the crate.

By Animal Passport. Last updated 9 October 2026. This article is general information, not veterinary or legal advice.