British Airways
Please note that British Airways has announced major changes since July 5, 2006, and now has new simpler baggage policies.
Transportation of a much loved pet (cats and dogs only) can be a worrying experience. With British Airways you have the reassurance of knowing that you are dealing with experienced professionals and when your pet flies with us, it will experience a caring and reliable service.
How will my pet travel?
British Airways offers two different ways for your pet to travel:
Accompanied Pets - allows you and your pet to travel together on the same flight. The pet checks-in with you at the passenger terminal and rejoins you on arrival in the baggage hall at the destination airport. This service is available to most British Airways destinations. Please see below for restrictions.
Unaccompanied Pets - This product is available when you are unable to travel with your pet, or your pet is not a cat or dog, or your pet is travelling into the UK on the Pets Travel Scheme. Your pet must be taken to our cargo terminal and should be collected by you, or a nominated person, from the cargo terminal at the destination airport.
Please contact your local (airport of departure) British Airways World Cargo office for Fees and Charges.
To make a Pet Travel Scheme booking for cats and dogs returning to UK - Contact your local overseas British Airways World Cargo office maximum 13 days - minimum 2 days prior to date of departure with all details of the Pet.
For Pets ex USA contact the New York Call Centre telephone 1-888-578-4806.
In both cases, Unaccompanied pets are carried in the cargo hold, which is located underneath the passenger cabin, in the aircraft. This hold is temperature controlled and provides a comfortable environment during the flight. The hold is not lit, because experience shows that pets quickly settle down and travel better in the dark.
Pets are not permitted in the passenger cabin.
Documentation and health requirements
Before making any transport arrangements, you must make sure that all applicable documentation, such as possible import licenses required by country of destination, have been obtained. Vaccinations or health and quarantine requirements must also be met.
In the UK, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) - Telephone: +44 (0) 8459 335577 - has information on import requirements to many countries. Alternatively, contact the applicable local High Commission or Embassy for further advice.
Container requirements
You must have a correctly sized container to carry your pet, otherwise We may refuse travel for your pet. The following requirements must be met:
- The container must be large enough for the pet to stand up, turn around and lie down in a natural manner. Your pet will be in the container for some time and therefore, it should be as comfortable as possible.
- The container must be strong enough to protect the pet during transport, be secure enough to contain it and have sufficient ventilation on all four sides to ensure the air quality in the container will not deteriorate.
- The door must be secured in such a manner that it will not open accidentally or your pet cannot open it during handling and transport.
- Your pet’s nose and paws should not be able to fit through any ventilation opening or door mesh.
- The container must have a water pot and a food container accessible from outside.
- Fibreboard or wiremesh containers are not suitable for air transportation.
Detailed instructions on the container specifications can be found in the IATA (International Air Transport Association) Live Animals Regulations. Most pet stores and many kennels sell containers or they can be made to measure to the IATA specification.
How do I make a booking?
Accompanied Pets:
Call your local British Airways Passenger Reservations. We will advise you of costs, check-in times and if your pet can travel on the flight of your choice. You need to have the dimensions and weight of the container (container weight must include weight of your pet) in order to confirm availability of space.
Local restrictions mean that British Airways is unable to offer this service to the following countries:
- Australia
- Cyprus
- Fiji
- Hong Kong
- Irish Republic
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Mauritius
- New Zealand
- Oman
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- South Africa
- United Kingdom
Unaccompanied Pets:
Call your local British Airways World Cargo Reservations Department (in the UK call 08457 222 777). They will check the flight availability and advise you of check in times. We need to have the dimensions and weight of the container (container weight must include weight of your pet) to enable us to give you a quotation.
Reservations for Unaccompanied Pets can be made within a maximum of 14 days and minimum of 3 days in advance of flight departure. Details of the person who will collect your pet at its final destination will be required, as they will need to be contacted before the booking is confirmed.
Most animals can be carried unaccompanied, but there are some exceptions and different rules apply for different countries. Your local British Airways World Cargo office can advise you.
For further information on the Unaccompanied Pets Service, and the location of your local British Airways World Cargo office, please see the British Airways World Cargo web site.
What can I do to prepare my pet for its journey?
- Get your pet used to the container a few days before its flight. A favourite blanket should help it feel at home in a strange environment.
- Give only a light meal to your pet a few hours before flight departure. Most pets are house trained and do not wish to soil their bedding. It is therefore kinder not to give them too much food. If the flight duration is over 12 hours, water needs to be provided, but care should be taken not to overfill the water container. Water is checked before loading and during transit stops.
- Pets travel very well and do not usually need a sedative. If sedation is required, it must only be carried out under strict veterinary supervision and the details should be clearly shown on the pet ’s container.
- Puppies and kittens must be at least 10 weeks old and must be weaned and able to eat on their own. (Please note that for some countries the minimum age is 12 weeks). Cats and dogs up to the sixth week of pregnancy can be carried. However, they must have a veterinary certificate confirming the pregnancy and that the pet is fit to travel.
Guide to travel container requirements
To ensure you select the correct size of container for your pet, please follow these guidelines. They relate to an animal standing in a natural position.
- A maximum of two adult animals of comparable size (maximum 14kg each), that are used to co-habitating, may be shipped in the same container. Animals exceeding this weight must travel individually.
- A maximum quantity of three animals, up to six months old, from the same litter, can be shipped in the same container.
- Measurements A, B, C and D for the largest animal should be used to determine the container dimensions. The width of the container is calculated as follows: for two animals, C x 3; for three animals, C x 4.
- For two or three animals, the height and length are the same as for a single animal.
Pets that cannot be accepted for travel
The following pets cannot be accepted for travel on British Airways flights:
- Puppies or kittens under 10 weeks old
- Mothers more than 6 weeks pregnant
- Pets so sedated that they cannot stand up
Restricted dog breeds
The following types of dogs cannot be accepted for travel, including cross-breeds:
- American pit bulls
- Pit bull terriers
- Japanese tosas
- Fila Brazileiros
- Togo Argentinos
Snub-nosed dogs
These snub-nosed dogs suffer from respiratory problems that increase with stress and so cannot be accepted for travel:
- All Bulldogs
- Pugs
- Pekinese
This restriction does not apply to cross-breeds. Travelling with Guide Dogs
Certified Service Dogs for blind, deaf or disabled passengers travel free of charge in the aircraft cabin on all British Airways routes approved by DEFRA.
On other routes, Certified Service Dogs for blind, deaf or disabled passengers travel free of charge but are carried in the aircraft hold. To avoid quarantine in the UK, they must travel under the Pets Travel Scheme. British Airways currently offers this cargo service on a limited number of routes to the UK; more routes are awaiting approval by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
