News & guides

Why most airlines won’t fly your pet to the UK in the cabin

October 23, 2026

Taking pets to the UK works differently from the rest of Europe. For example, the cabin is rarely an option.

If you try to book a dog or cat in the cabin to London, most airlines will say no. That’s not the airlines being difficult: Great Britain only lets pets arrive on approved routes, and most passenger cabins aren’t one of them. Here’s what that means and what you can do instead.

The UK rules in plain English

The rules for bringing pets to the UK are set by the government, not by the airlines.

According to GOV.UK, to bring a pet dog, cat or ferret into Great Britain you must:

1. Use an approved route (not needed if you travel within the UK or from Ireland).
2. Microchip your pet before its rabies vaccination.
3. Vaccinate against rabies and wait at least 21 full days after the first vaccination before traveling.
4. Get a pet travel document from your vet.
5. For dogs, get tapeworm treatment no less than 24 hours and no more than 5 days before you arrive.
6. Fill in a declaration that you won’t sell or transfer the pet.

If you don’t follow the rules, your pet can be put into quarantine for up to four months, at your cost.

Which airlines won’t fly pets to the UK

These airlines don’t carry pets as cabin baggage on UK routes (and most not in the hold either):

• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines: UK embargo: pets can't fly to the UK as cabin or hold baggage on KLM.
• Austrian Airlines: To the UK and South Africa, animals must travel as freight regardless of size.
• Brussels Airlines: Pets aren't accepted on Brussels Airlines flights to the UK; cargo only.
• Turkish Airlines: No pets on Turkish Airlines flights to the UK, including connections.
• TAP Air Portugal: TAP doesn't fly pets into Britain in the cabin or hold (assistance dogs only).
• Eurowings: No pets on Eurowings flights to or from the UK and Ireland.
• Delta Air Lines: Pets can't fly in the cabin to the UK, Hawaii, South Africa or Hong Kong: cargo only.
• WestJet: No pets to, from or through London, Glasgow, Ireland, Iceland, Barbados, Jamaica or Hawaii.

Others have special rules: Lufthansa may refuse pet bookings to the UK and Ireland, Iberia doesn’t carry pets in the hold to UK airports, Royal Air Maroc allows the cabin only on flights from Gatwick, and EL AL carries pets to Britain only as cargo.

Your options for taking pets to the UK

• Air cargo with a pet shipper. Specialist pet transport companies book your pet on an approved cargo route. It’s the standard way to fly a pet into the UK. British Airways works with PetAir UK, for example.
• Drive and take an approved ferry or rail route. Many owners traveling from mainland Europe drive and cross on a route from the GOV.UK approved list.
• Assistance dogs have more approved routes and are carried in the cabin by many airlines. Check the GOV.UK list for assistance dogs.

Leaving the UK is a different story: KLM, for example, says there are no restrictions on traveling with pets from the UK. The tight rules apply to arriving.

A realistic timeline

Moving pets to the UK takes time, so plan backwards from your travel date.

Start at least two months ahead. First, check the microchip and book the rabies vaccination. Then wait the full 21 days, and meanwhile get quotes from two or three pet shippers or check your ferry or rail route. Next, book your vet for the travel document and, for dogs, the tapeworm treatment one to five days before arrival. Finally, keep every document in one folder and carry copies, because border staff will check them on arrival.

Check which airlines take your pet

Rules checked against each airline’s official page on 15 October 2026. Airlines change their pet policies often, so always confirm with the airline before you book.