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The Information on This Page Is Only for Informational Purpose. We Only Provide Road Transport.

Know More About Pet Friendly Airlines

Thinking of flying with pets? Learn about pet friendly airlines UK. Check out the full details on air pet transport from the biggest cat and dog airlines, including British Airways, Ryanair, and easyJet, and know your options before you fly.

 

Travelling abroad to EU countries and Northern Ireland with your pet changed on January 1, 2021. Any pet passports issued in England, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man are now invalid for travel to Northern Ireland or any destination within the European Union. Instead, your pet will need a new document known as an animal health certificate when travelling through road or pet friendly airlines UK.

 

However, you can still use your pet passport issued in an EU country or Northern Ireland if you’re travelling to another EU country. You’ll find answers to other frequently asked questions about travelling with pets.

Can I take my pet on a plane and how much does it cost?

Aegean Airlines

Only cats and dogs (exceptions). Max. weight for a pet (or pets of the same species) with their container is 8 kg.

The container must not exceed 55×40×23 cm. For DH8-100, DH8-400 and ATR aircraft, 40×25×25 cm max. If a pet with its container exceeds the 8 kg limit, then it should only be transported in the aircraft hold.

Animals may not be accepted for a connecting time of more than 3 hours. 

Charges for air travel:

  • €30–€120 in the cabin

  • €90–€190 in the hold

Fees depend on the route and your pet’s weight.

Aer Lingus

Not allowed. Pets must be booked through a pet agent at IAG Cargo for carriage on Aer Lingus flights in the aircraft hold. Roughly €60–€160, depending on your route and pet’s size.

Air France / KLM allows only cats and dogs weighing no more than 8 kg, including a travel bag of 46×28×24 cm max.

Starting March 15, 2022, your pet must be at least 15 weeks old to travel on Air France and KLM flights. A dog or cat weighing more than 8 kg and up to 75 kg must be transported in the hold.

Snub-nosed animals are not permitted.

Read the full pet travel policy. 

  • For metropolitan France: €40 in the cabin; €80 in the hold

  • For pet friendly airlines Europe: €55 in the cabin; €200 in the hold

  • Other flights: €125 in the cabin; €400 in the hold

American Airlines

You can bring 1 kennel as your carry-on bag.

Read the full pet travel policy. Dogs and cats can be transported as cargo on a first-come basis. 2 pets at least 8 weeks old per passenger. Combined weight for the carrier and pet shouldn’t exceed 45 kg. $125 per kennel in the cabin.

Cargo fees vary depending on distance and will be confirmed at time of booking.

British Airways

Not allowed. All pets must travel in the hold.

From the UK: PetAir UK

To the UK: IAG Cargo£800–£3500, depending on the size of a pet and destination.

Delta

Small dogs, cats, and household birds can travel in the cabin for a one-way fee, collected at check-in. They must be able to fit in a small ventilated pet carrier that fits under the seat in front of you. If your pet doesn’t fit in a carrier in the seat in front of you, you can ship them with Delta Cargo. 75–200 USD/CAD/EUR in the cabin, depending on the route.

For cargo fees, contact Delta Cargo.

EasyJet

Not allowed, apart from recognised registered guide and assistance dogs.

Emirates

Not allowed, except for guide dogs. A pet must be 4 months or older. The total dimensions of your pet carrier must be 300 cm (118 in) or less. Otherwise, your pet must be transported as cargo.

You have to fill in this form at least one week before your scheduled departure. The charges are roughly $500-$800, depending on your pet’s weight.

For cargo rates, please contact SkyCargo directly.

Etihad Airways

You can pay to bring your cat or dog on board Etihad operated flights to and from Abu Dhabi. For all other destinations, check with the relevant country authorities if your pet can travel in the cabin. Most pets must be transported as manifested cargo with Etihad Cargo $200, or 29,000 Etihad Guest Miles.

Flybe

Not allowed. Flybe is not a dog friendly airlines.

Currently, Flybe doesn’t accept even assistance dogs. Not allowed.

Read the full policy.

Jet2.com

Not allowed, except for registered assistance dogs. Not allowed.

Lufthansa

Dogs and cats that weigh less than 8 kg, including their transport container, can travel in the cabin.

They must be 12 weeks or older (15 weeks or older for transportation to/from Germany). Pets weighing over 8 kg, including their container, may be transported under certain conditions as excess baggage in the aircraft’s air-conditioned cargo hold.

The minimum age of the animals — over 12 (15 for flights to/from Germany) weeks.

Charges for air pet travel service in Lufthansa:

  • €60 in the cabin

  • €100-€200 in the cargo hold

Qantas

Not allowed. Currently suspended.

Qatar

You can only carry one falcon in the Economy Class cabin. Qatar Airways is a pet friendly airlines and accepts domesticated dogs, cats, and birds as checked baggage, either on your flight or separately.

Pet travel container info. $200–$450, depending on your pet’s weight and your destination.

Ryanair

Not allowed, except for guide and assistance dogs on certain routes.

TUI

Not allowed. Your pet can usually go on the same flight as you, but it’ll need to travel in the cargo hold, where the temperature and air pressure are controlled. About €80.

There’s an additional €7.50 surcharge per pet and per leg of the trip if the pet booking isn’t notified in advance.

Turkish Airlines

If your pet doesn’t weigh more than 8 kg in its cage and the cage dimensions don’t exceed 23 cm high, 30 cm wide, and 40 cm long, they can be transported in the cabin of the aircraft.If the crate exceeds 23×30×40 cm or your pet with its cage weighs over 8 kg, it will be transported in the aircraft hold.

Some species can be transported through Turkish Cargo only. 120 TRY (£5.80) in the cabin

Charges for air travel:

  • 120 TRY (£5.80) in the cabin

  • 200–350 TRY (£9.60-£16.90) in the cargo hold.

RyanairUnited Airlines

RyanairUnited Airlines is a pet friendly airlines. Domesticated cats and dogs that can fit in a travel carrier underneath the seat in front of you. You can bring aboard your in-cabin pet’s kennel in addition to your carry-on bag allowance. Currently suspended.

Charges for air travel: $125 in the cabin

Virgin Atlantic

Not allowed, except for assistance dogs or guide dogs. Currently unavailable. You can contact IPATA for approved travel crates agents and advice —

Vueling Not allowed on flights to/from the UK.

Cats, dogs, birds (excl. birds of prey), and turtles/tortoises are allowed in the cabin on all other routes.

Limits are 45×39×21 cm and no heavier than 10 kg with the pet inside. For flights operated by Iberia, the standard limit of 8 kg applies. Not allowed.

Charges for air travel: 

  • €40 for domestic flights within Spain

  • €50 for international and Canary Islands flights

What Our Happy Clients Say
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Repatriation after 16 years.
After 16 years living & working overseas, we recently repatriated from Hong Kong to Somerset, 
Wow, what can we say about Darren,  apart from running a great legitimate & fully licensed business, with all requisite knowledge of the trade & border formalities, Darren showed absolute care & consideration not only to his paying customers, but also our furry friends. Nothing short of SUPERB, 10/10.  It’s not easy moving 10,000km, but this leg of the journey, whilst long, was utterly seamless & ultimately stress-free.

Iain Brymer, HK

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Great Service

"We live in Oman and from a rescue organisation we brought 2 dogs (rescues) and a cat back with us to the Netherlands. Darren and his wife met us at the arrival hall and drove them to their forever homes in the UK. The communication went smoothly and we all received updates on their well-being.  It was a pleasant experience for all! Can highly recommend the service.”

Maggie, NL

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An absolute trooper

Sunderland to Plymouth

​

Great price, very competitive. Our cats arrived totally chilled, didn't seem bothered about the journey at all. Darren was also very understanding and easy to deal with.  It all went really smoothly and he didn't even need to take us up on the offer of a cup of tea when he arrived!  Also, I'm pretty certain that if anyone tried to nab the cats, it wouldn't have gone well for them! 

Rob, GB

  • Does My Pet Have to Be with Other Pets?
    No. We offer options where your pet can travel exclusively with pets from your own family or even alongside you as the owner. This allows for a more personalised and stress-free experience for both pets and owners.
  • Do Owners Have to Travel with Their Pets?
    While pets generally experience less stress when travelling with their owners, we understand that it's not always feasible. Therefore, we also offer a dedicated service where pets can travel alone, ensuring they are well-cared for even without the owner's presence.
  • Does My Dog Have to Be in a Crate?
    Not necessarily. We appreciate the company of well-behaved dogs and allow them to sit with their owners, provided they are harnessed and securely hooked in. This ensures safety while allowing some freedom for the dog to relax.
  • Why Are Some Transporters Offering a Pet to Travel for £600 from Spain to the UK?
    This rate is typically offered by transporters who operate multi-pet transport services, meaning your pet would travel with several others. Our approach differs as we prioritise the welfare of animals by not crowding them with many others, which we believe is more conducive to their well-being.
  • I Want to Bring a Puppy to the UK. What Should I Know?
    Importing a puppy to the UK should be handled by a commercial importer to ensure compliance with all regulations. It's risky to accept services from those who are not certified as commercial importers, as there is a possibility of the puppy being impounded upon arrival due to improper documentation or procedures.
  • I Have Been Offered Cheap Transport. Why Should I Not Take the Offer?
    Be very careful. It's estimated that 80% of pet transport companies operating in the EU might be doing so illegally. Many people have encountered problems with such services and end up needing rescue operations. Always verify the transporter's licence and legal status before engaging their services.
  • Do Pet Transportation Companies Need to Be Licensed?
    Yes, licensing is required for pet transportation companies both in the EU and the UK. Some necessary licences include: Driver Competence Certificate Vehicle Inspection Certificate DEFRA Operators License EU Operators License EU Vehicle Inspection Certificate Additionally, proper insurance for hire and reward must be in place to operate legally. Many unlicensed taxi services might offer pet transportation without these credentials, which means their insurance might also be invalid. Always ensure that any service you consider has all the required licence and insurance to avoid legal and safety issues.
  • How long does it take for my pet to be transported via road?
    The duration of transport depends on the distance to be covered, and it varies from one location to another. However, we offer estimated timelines based on the pickup and delivery locations provided. This way, you can have a better idea of the expected duration for your pet's transport.
  • How do I prepare my pet for transportation?
    You should ensure that your pet is up-to-date on their vaccinations, has identification tags, and is crate-trained. Our pet transport service will provide you with more specific instructions depending on the mode of transport.
  • What documents are required for my pet's transportation?
    You will need to provide proof of ownership, vaccination records, and any necessary travel documents. As a dependable pet transportation services we will share with you a detailed list of required documents for your specific situation.
  • How much does it cost to transport my pet?
    The cost of dog and cat transport services depends on several factors such as the chosen mode of transport, distance to be covered, and size of your beloved pet. Rest assured, we will provide you with a detailed quote that takes into account these specific requirements.

Too Expensive? Considered Travelling by Road?

Exec Pets helps you travel throughout Europe and the UK, where you can exclusively be on your own with your pet. We can collect you or take you to all major pet friendly airlines UK, including Schiphol Amsterdam, Charles de Gaulle Paris, Frankfurt, and many others. This is far less stressful for your pet and more enjoyable for you. Click here to see all of our destinations.

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