Pets on British Airways: How Cats, Dogs and Assistance Dogs Fly in 2026

Pets on British Airways travel only in the aircraft hold as cargo, never in the cabin. As of October 2026, British Airways (BA) states that it does not carry pets in the cabin on any route; pets leaving the UK are booked through its partner PetAir UK, and pets flying into the UK are handled by its sister company IAG Cargo. The one exception is a recognised assistance dog, which can fly free in the cabin with its owner.

In plain terms, "pets on British Airways" means the airline's policy for moving dogs, cats and other companion animals on BA-operated flights. That policy routes pets through specialist cargo channels and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animals Regulations instead of the passenger check-in desk. This guide explains how the process works, what the crate rules are, how UK entry rules apply, and where the 2026 EU changes fit in.

Can you bring a pet in the cabin on British Airways?

No. British Airways' "Travelling with pets" page says the pet "will travel in the hold of our aircraft. We don't carry pets in the cabin on any route." That makes BA stricter than many European and North American carriers that allow small cats and dogs under the seat.

BA also does not take pets as checked baggage. PetAir UK, BA's export partner, says in its 2025 guide that "British Airways 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.

So if you are flying BA with a pet, you will be on the same aircraft as your animal (when booked that way), but the pet is a separate cargo shipment with its own booking, check-in point and paperwork.

How pets fly with British Airways: the two partner routes

BA does not handle pet bookings itself. According to British Airways, the route depends on where the journey starts.

Pets flying out of the UK: PetAir UK

For departures from the UK, BA says it has partnered with PetAir UK, which it describes as run and owned by qualified veterinary surgeons and flying pets since 2004. 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." PetAir UK handles quotes, export bookings, crate supply, veterinary paperwork and customs.

Pets flying into the UK or between other countries: IAG Cargo

IAG Cargo is the cargo arm of International Airlines Group (IAG), handling freight for British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and LEVEL. IAG Cargo says it has carried pets "since the 1950s". For pets flying from countries outside the UK, owners fill in IAG Cargo's pets enquiry form and are put in touch with a partner pet travel agent who provides a quotation. Departures from Ireland use a separate IAG Cargo form.

Where your pet sits on the aircraft

IAG Cargo says pets travel in the aircraft's hold in "a temperature-controlled environment" and that the hold is unlit because "pets quickly settle down and travel better in the dark." IATA makes a similar point in its Traveler's Pet Corner guidance, noting that cats and dogs often rest better in a quieter, darkened hold.

Step by step: how to fly a pet on British Airways

1. Check the destination's entry rules first. Microchip, rabies vaccination and health certificate requirements come from the destination government, not BA.
2. Choose the right partner. Use PetAir UK if the pet leaves the UK; use IAG Cargo's pets form if it starts anywhere else.
3. Book early. PetAir UK's 2025 guide says bookings are submitted up to 14 days before departure, or up to 6 weeks ahead for USA and Canada flights. Confirm the exact lead time with your agent, because PetAir's wording is ambiguous on whether these are minimum or maximum windows.
4. Buy and train with an IATA-compliant crate. IATA recommends getting the animal used to its kennel weeks or months in advance.
5. Get a vet health check and documents. IATA notes that most airlines require a vet-issued health certificate stating the animal is fit to fly.
6. Check in at the cargo facility. PetAir UK says pets check in at the IAG Cargo facility, not the passenger terminal, around 4 hours before international departures.
7. Sign the indemnity if flying into the UK. IAG Cargo will ask you to sign a Form of Indemnity covering BA against costs if your pet fails UK pet checks and goes into quarantine.

British Airways pet crate requirements

IAG Cargo says it "strictly adhere[s] to IATA Live Animal Regulations" for moving live animals by air. Its published container guidance includes these rules:

• Cats departing from the USA and Canada need at least a series 200 kennel (68 x 50 x 48 cm, or 27 x 20 x 19 in), according to IAG Cargo.
• For all other countries, IAG Cargo says series 100 kennels are acceptable. PetAir UK gives this as roughly 53 x 40 x 38 cm.
• Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) dogs and cats need a container at least 10% larger than the minimum, a rule IATA also sets out.
• The crate must be ventilated on all four sides, with a secure door the pet cannot open.
• The pet's nose and paws must not fit through any ventilation opening or door mesh.
• A water pot must be fixed in place and fillable from outside the crate.
• Fibreboard, wire mesh and wicker containers are not suitable.
• The pet must be able to stand and sit erect without touching the roof, and turn around comfortably.

IATA's Traveler's Pet Corner (2026) gives a sizing formula for the minimum internal dimensions: container length equals nose-to-tail-root length (A) plus half the ground-to-elbow height (B); width equals shoulder width (C) times two; and height equals standing height (D) plus bedding.

Are all breeds accepted?

Not always. IAG Cargo says "some dangerous dog breeds and snub nosed breeds of cats and dogs may not be accepted" and that your pet travel agent will advise. IATA separately says it does not recommend flying snub-nosed dogs such as boxers, pugs, bulldogs and Pekingese in hot weather, because they struggle to regulate body temperature.

Should you sedate your pet?

IATA discourages sedatives and tranquillisers for pets in transit, a position it says is endorsed by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). If a vet prescribes medication for a valid medical reason, IATA says the drug, dose and time should be recorded on the health certificate. IAG Cargo advises giving only a light meal and a chance to toilet before the pet goes into its container.

Assistance dogs and emotional support dogs on British Airways

British Airways says it can carry an assistance dog free of charge in the cabin on the majority of its flights. To qualify, BA says the dog must have been trained by an organisation that is an accredited member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF), and owners must register the dog through the portal BA specifies for their destination before travel.

Emotional support dogs are treated differently. BA states it is "unable to accept emotional support dogs for travel in the cabin on any British Airways operated flights"; they can travel as pets in the hold instead. BA also notes that its approval covers the flight only. Entry rules at the destination are set by local authorities, and the UK government says its Pet Travel Scheme rules also apply to guide and assistance dogs entering Great Britain.

Comparison: how each type of animal travels with British Airways

UK entry rules for pets flying into Great Britain

BA and IAG Cargo both point customers to the Pet Travel Scheme run by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). As of October 2026, GOV.UK lists these steps for pet dogs, cats and ferrets entering Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland):

1. Check that your route is approved for pet travel. This does not apply within the UK or from Ireland, and more routes are approved for guide and assistance dogs.
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.
4. Get a pet travel document from your vet. The type depends on the country you are coming from.
5. For dogs, get tapeworm treatment from a vet between 24 hours and 5 days before arrival, where required.
6. Complete a declaration that you will not sell or transfer ownership of the pet.

GOV.UK warns that pets that fail these rules "may be put into quarantine for up to 4 months", with the owner responsible for fees. That is why IAG Cargo asks for the indemnity form. Stricter "Balai" rules apply if the pet is being sold or rehomed, arrives more than 5 days before or after its owner, or is one of more than 5 pets. IAG Cargo also suggests having a vet confirm the microchip is still readable, because chips can migrate.

Flying a pet from the UK to the EU after 22 April 2026

If your BA flight goes from Great Britain to an EU country, the documents changed this year. Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) announced on 21 April 2026 that from 22 April 2026, Great Britain residents "should no longer use EU pet passports to travel into the EU", even passports issued in the EU.

Instead, GOV.UK says owners need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from a vet for each separate trip. As of 2026, the AHC is valid for 10 days for entry into the EU, then for up to 6 months for onward travel within the EU and for re-entry to Great Britain, as long as the rabies vaccination stays valid. If someone else travels with your pet, the pet must travel within 5 days of you, and the person must carry your written permission.

Practical point: BA's job is to carry the animal safely. Whether the animal is allowed in at the other end depends on government paperwork such as the AHC, microchip and rabies records. Get the paperwork right before you book cargo space.

How much does it cost to fly a pet on British Airways?

Neither British Airways nor IAG Cargo publishes a fixed pet fare. Prices are quoted case by case by PetAir UK or IAG Cargo's partner agents. The price depends on the route, the size and weight of the crate, and services such as collection, vet paperwork and customs clearance. Ask for an itemised quote. The only published price point is that recognised assistance dogs fly free in the cabin.

Pet travel documents vs. Animal Passport: an important distinction

Searches for pets on British Airways often mix up "pet passport" with other animal ID products, so it is worth being precise. The EU pet passport, the GB Animal Health Certificate and the Defra Pet Travel Scheme are official government documents and schemes, issued or recognised by vets and authorities. Airlines and border officials check these alongside an ISO-standard microchip.

Animal Passport is something different. It is a digital animal and livestock identity record built on muzzle biometrics: an animal's nose print is unique, like a human fingerprint. Using a phone camera, the record links the animal to its 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.

The product was used in livestock flood rescue in Pakistan in August 2025, when paper tags washed away and farmers needed a way to reclaim their animals. Animal Passport is not a government-issued travel document. It does not replace a microchip, an Animal Health Certificate, an EU pet passport or any airline requirement, and it does not provide veterinary diagnosis or legal advice. For more on livestock identification, see the Animal Passport blog.

Where sources differ

The main sources agree on the core policy: no pets in the cabin, pets go as hold cargo, and assistance dogs fly free. They present some details differently. IAG Cargo describes the non-US/Canada minimum as a "series 100" kennel, while PetAir UK converts this to about 53 x 40 x 38 cm. PetAir's booking-window wording ("up to 14 days" and "up to 6 weeks") may be read as either a deadline or a limit. Treat third-party summaries as secondary, and confirm with BA, IAG Cargo or PetAir UK before you travel.

By Animal Passport. Last updated 9 October 2026. Airline and government pet rules change often; always check the official pages linked in the sources before booking.