Pets on British Airways: How Dogs and Cats Fly With BA in 2026

Pets on British Airways travel only in the aircraft hold, never in the cabin. British Airways (BA) is the UK's flag carrier. It flies pet dogs and cats as cargo in a temperature-controlled hold, through two partners: PetAir UK for pets leaving the UK and IAG Cargo for pets flying into the UK. As of October 2026, pets arriving in Great Britain must also meet the UK government's pet travel rules: a microchip, a rabies vaccination, the correct health document and, for dogs, tapeworm treatment.

This guide sets out what British Airways and its cargo partners publish, what the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) require, and where the two sets of rules meet. It also explains how official pet travel documents differ from the biometric livestock identity records that Animal Passport builds. The two are easy to confuse, and they do different jobs.

Does British Airways allow pets in the cabin?

No. British Airways says on its official Travelling with pets page (2026) that your pet "will travel in the hold of our aircraft" and that the airline does not "carry pets in the cabin on any route." This applies to small dogs and cats in soft carriers too. BA has no under-seat pet option.

The only animals BA accepts in the cabin are trained assistance dogs. British Airways says it can carry "an assistance dog free of charge in the cabin on the majority of our flights" (British Airways, What assistance is available?, 2026). Emotional support dogs are not accepted in the cabin on any BA-operated flight. They can still travel as pets in the hold.

How British Airways books pets: PetAir UK vs IAG Cargo

You cannot add a pet to a passenger booking on ba.com. BA hands pet bookings to one of two partners, depending on where the trip starts.

Flying a pet out of the UK: PetAir UK

For departures from the UK, British Airways partners with PetAir UK. BA describes the company as run and owned by qualified veterinary surgeons and flying pets worldwide since 2004. PetAir UK's own BA partner page confirms that it arranges "your pet's travel through British Airways" but that "you'll need to book your own passenger ticket separately." PetAir UK does not publish a fixed price. It says costs depend on destination, route, pet size and timeline, and gives quotes through an online form.

Flying a pet into the UK: IAG Cargo

For pets travelling to the UK, BA refers owners to its sister company IAG Cargo. IAG Cargo handles cargo for British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and LEVEL, and says it has carried pets "since the 1950s." IAG Cargo states that every live animal shipment follows the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animals Regulations (LAR) and, where relevant, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

IAG Cargo's Live Animals page (2026) gives these operating rules:

• Booking window: up to 14 days before scheduled departure, or up to 6 weeks for bookings from the USA and Canada.
• Check-in cut-off: live animals must be checked in 4 hours before departure, depending on what the station can handle.
• Who books: apart from pet bookings from North America and the Caribbean, live animal bookings must go through a freight forwarder with animal experience. IAG Cargo points owners to the International Pet and Animal Transport Association (IPATA) or the Animal Transport Association (ATA).
• Transfers: London Heathrow and London Gatwick need at least 240 minutes for a live animal connection, and Madrid needs 360 minutes.
• Indemnity: owners bringing a dog, cat or ferret to the UK sign a Form of Indemnity. It covers British Airways for any costs if the pet fails its arrival checks and goes into quarantine.

Comparison: BA pet routes at a glance

Which UK airports accept pets arriving on British Airways?

Pets entering Great Britain have to arrive on an APHA-approved carrier and route. The GOV.UK list of approved air routes (last updated 5 October 2026) names British Airways as approved for London Heathrow (AAC) and London Gatwick (AAC). Other airlines on the list fly into Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle, but BA's entry covers only the two London airports. GOV.UK warns that approved routes "can change or may only operate at certain times of the year," so check the live list before you book.

GOV.UK says carriers on these routes run under a Required Method of Operation (RMOP) agreed with APHA. The RMOP sets out how authorised pet checkers inspect each animal on arrival. You do not need an approved route if you travel to Great Britain from elsewhere in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

UK pet travel rules your pet must meet before flying BA

British Airways calls these rules the Pet Travel Scheme. The steps below follow the GOV.UK guide Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain, as published in October 2026.

1. Check the route is approved. Confirm that BA and your arrival airport appear on the APHA list.
2. Microchip first. The microchip must go in before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccination. Otherwise the vaccination has to be repeated. GOV.UK says staff on approved routes read chips that meet ISO 11784 and ISO 11785.
3. Vaccinate against rabies. Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old. You must wait at least 21 full days after the first vaccination (or the last dose of the first course) before you travel.
4. Rabies blood test if needed. Pets from countries that are neither in the EU nor "listed" need a blood sample taken at least 30 days after vaccination, with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml. You then wait 3 months from the sample date before travelling (GOV.UK, 2026).
5. Get the right document. Depending on where you start, this is an EU pet passport, a GB animal health certificate (AHC) issued in the last 6 months, or a Great Britain pet health certificate. The Great Britain certificate must be used to enter within 10 days of issue.
6. Tapeworm treatment for dogs. A vet must treat your dog with praziquantel or an equivalent no less than 24 hours and no more than 5 days (120 hours) before arrival. Dogs coming directly from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway are exempt.
7. Sign the non-commercial declaration. Stricter "Balai" rules apply if you are selling or rehoming the pet, if the pet arrives more than 5 days before or after you, or if you bring more than 5 pets and are not going to a competition or show.

GOV.UK warns that a pet that misses these steps "may be put into quarantine for up to 4 months," and that the owner pays any fees. This is why IAG Cargo asks owners to sign its indemnity form.

Timing tip: tapeworm treatment and flight delays

The 24-to-120-hour tapeworm window is easy to miss on a long-haul BA itinerary. GOV.UK gives an example: a dog treated at 1pm on Monday cannot arrive before 1pm Tuesday or after 1pm Saturday. If a delay takes you past 120 hours, your dog may need a new treatment, and GOV.UK tells owners to check with their airline.

Crate, breed and welfare rules for BA pets

IAG Cargo publishes container rules based on the IATA LAR. IATA says a new edition of the LAR took effect on 1 January 2026. The IAG Cargo container rules are:

• Cats departing from the USA and Canada need at least a 200-series kennel (68 x 50 x 48 cm internal). Series 100 kennels are acceptable from other countries.
• Snub-nosed dogs and cats need a container at least 10% larger than the minimum.
• The crate needs 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 and turn around without touching the top.

On breeds, the two IAG Cargo pages are worded slightly differently. The Pets page says some dangerous dog breeds and snub-nosed (brachycephalic) cats and dogs "may not be accepted" and tells owners to ask a pet travel agent. The Live Animals page says only that "certain cat and dog breed restrictions apply." Neither page publishes a full breed list, so get written confirmation for a brachycephalic breed before you pay for anything. Separately, GOV.UK says you cannot bring a banned dog breed into Great Britain without a valid Certificate of Exemption.

IAG Cargo says the hold is temperature-controlled and unlit, because pets "quickly settle down and travel better in the dark." It recommends a light meal and a toilet break before crating. IATA's long-standing guidance, which it says the American Veterinary Medical Association endorses, discourages sedating pets for air travel. Ask your own vet about this.

Assistance dogs vs emotional support dogs on British Airways

British Airways treats the two very differently:

• Assistance dogs: carried free in the cabin on most BA flights. BA says the dog must be trained to support a person with a visible or non-visible disability or medical condition, and owners must register the dog for approval, ideally before booking (British Airways, 2026).
• Emotional support dogs: not accepted in the cabin on any BA-operated flight. They must travel as pets in the hold.

GOV.UK adds that UK and EU airlines must carry a recognised assistance dog, and owners should give at least 48 hours' notice. Assistance dogs must still meet the same microchip, rabies and tapeworm rules as pets. GOV.UK says "dogs that only provide emotional support are not usually considered recognised assistance dogs."

Pet passports vs Animal Passport: don't confuse the two

Searches for "pets British Airways" often bring up the term "pet passport." In UK and EU law that means a specific official document: an EU pet passport issued by an authorised vet, a GB animal health certificate, or a Great Britain pet health certificate signed by an official veterinarian. Only these documents, with a readable ISO microchip, are accepted by British Airways' partners and UK border checkers.

Animal Passport is a different product. It is a digital animal and livestock passport that identifies an animal by its muzzle biometrics: the nose print, which is unique like a fingerprint. Using a phone, a farmer or field officer captures the muzzle, and the record links owner, breed, estimated age, body condition and vaccination history. Age is estimated from a dental photograph with a confidence score. Body condition is scored 1 to 5 from a side-profile photo.

Our own field use has been in livestock. In August 2025 Animal Passport records helped farmers in Pakistan's floods reclaim animals after paper ear tags washed away. That is the problem Animal Passport is built for: proving which animal belongs to whom when physical tags fail.

Animal Passport is not a government-issued travel document. It does not replace a microchip, rabies certificate, EU pet passport or GB health certificate, and it is not a veterinary diagnosis or legal advice. For any BA pet journey, follow the official GOV.UK, APHA and airline requirements described above. More on livestock identification is on the Animal Passport blog.

Practical checklist before booking a pet on British Airways

1. Choose the right partner: PetAir UK if you are leaving the UK, IAG Cargo (through an IPATA or ATA agent) if you are flying into the UK.
2. Check that BA and your arrival airport (Heathrow or Gatwick) are on the current APHA approved routes list.
3. Work backwards from the flight date: microchip, then rabies vaccine, then at least 21 days' wait. Add a 3-month wait if a blood test is needed.
4. Book within IAG Cargo's window: up to 14 days ahead, or 6 weeks from the USA and Canada.
5. Buy an IATA-compliant crate early so your pet can get used to it.
6. For dogs, book the tapeworm treatment for 1 to 5 days before arrival.
7. Carry original documents. GOV.UK says photocopies are not accepted.

Rules and partner arrangements change. This guide reflects British Airways, IAG Cargo, PetAir UK, IATA and GOV.UK pages as published in October 2026. Confirm the details with the airline partner and the APHA Pet Travel helpline before you travel.