Short answer: British Airways doesn’t carry pets in the cabin on any route. Dogs and cats fly in the hold as cargo, handled by its sister company IAG Cargo, and only trained assistance dogs sit with you, free of charge.
If you are flying into London, that isn’t just a BA choice. UK rules say pets arriving by plane travel as cargo, so any airline would put your dog in the hold.
There is no pet fee to add at checkout and no carrier to squeeze under the seat. With BA, your dog takes a different door at the airport, a different ticket and a different check-in time.
It sounds daunting, and it is a bigger job than a cabin pet. But it is a well-worn route, and the steps are the same every time.
Here is how it works from the US, what the UK checks on arrival, and what you need for the flight home.
British Airways pet rules at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Pets in the cabin | No, on any route |
| Pets in the hold | Yes, as cargo through IAG Cargo |
| Booking from the US | IAG Cargo’s pets form, then one of its partner pet travel agents |
| Booking from the UK | PetAir UK, BA’s partner for UK departures |
| Price | Not published; you get a quote for your pet and route |
| Assistance dogs | In the cabin, free, after registration |
| Emotional support dogs | Fly in the hold as pets |
| Snub-nosed breeds | Case by case; crate 10% larger than the minimum |
| Arriving in the UK | Heathrow or Gatwick, BA’s approved airports for pets |
From British Airways, IAG Cargo and gov.uk pages, checked 13 October 2026.
Why your pet flies separately
BA’s pet page is blunt: “We don’t carry pets in the cabin on any route.” Your dog travels in the hold, which IAG Cargo describes as temperature-controlled and unlit.
The UK goes further. Gov.uk says pets “have to travel as cargo on a plane”, with only two exceptions: a chartered private plane, or a guide or assistance dog.
So on flights into London, there is no airline that will let your dog ride at your feet. If that matters to you, the airlines that allow pets in the cabin are worth a look for other parts of your trip.
How to book a pet on British Airways from the US
You don’t add a pet to your BA booking. The pet gets its own booking with IAG Cargo, BA’s cargo arm, which has carried animals since the 1950s.
- Fill in the pets form. IAG Cargo’s form asks for your route and date, your pet’s breed, age and weight, and the size of its crate.
- Get a quote from a partner agent. IAG Cargo passes you to one of its pet travel partners, who quotes the trip and makes the booking.
- Book inside the window. Pet bookings open 14 days before departure, or up to six weeks ahead from the USA and Canada.
- Check in at cargo, early. Live animals check in four hours before departure, at the cargo terminal, not the passenger desk.
- Allow time to connect. If your pet changes planes in London, IAG Cargo needs at least 240 minutes at Heathrow or Gatwick.
Coming into the UK, IAG Cargo also asks you to sign a Form of Indemnity. It covers BA if your pet fails the arrival checks and has to go into quarantine.
Leaving from the UK works differently. BA hands those trips to PetAir UK, which it describes as run by qualified vets.
What it costs
Neither BA nor IAG Cargo publishes a price. The partner agent quotes your trip, based on your pet, its crate and the route.
Budget for more than the flight. On arrival from outside the EU, gov.uk says you usually pay an agent, travel company or airline to take your pet through customs before you can collect it.
Our guide to dog relocation costs shows where the rest of the money usually goes.
The crate
IAG Cargo follows IATA’s Live Animals Regulations, the worldwide standard for animals in the hold. Four things matter most:
- Ventilation on all four sides, with no gaps big enough for a nose or paw.
- A secure door that can’t open by accident or be opened by your pet.
- A water bowl that can be filled from outside the crate.
- Room to stand, sit up and turn around without touching the top. Snub-nosed pets need a crate 10% larger than the minimum.
Fibreboard, wire mesh and wicker crates aren’t allowed. Cats flying from the USA or Canada need at least a 200-series kennel, which is 27 x 20 x 19 inches.
IAG Cargo suggests only a light meal before your pet goes in the crate, and a chance to go to the toilet.
For crates built for the hold, see our dog travel crates guide and our Petmate Sky Kennel review.
Snub-nosed and banned breeds
IAG Cargo says some snub-nosed cats and dogs “may not be accepted”, along with some dangerous breeds. It doesn’t publish a list, so your agent decides case by case.
If a snub-nosed pet is accepted, its crate must be 10% larger than the normal minimum. Our guide to flying with a pug covers why airlines are wary.
The UK has its own list. You can’t bring a Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro or XL Bully into Great Britain without a Certificate of Exemption, and gov.uk judges the dog by how it looks, not its papers. Details are on gov.uk’s banned dogs page.
Getting your dog into the UK from the US
The US is a “listed” country for UK pet travel, so there is no rabies blood test. Do things in this order, because the dates depend on each other:
- Step 1
Microchip. The chip goes in before or at the same visit as the rabies shot, or the vaccine has to be done again.
- Step 2, at 12 weeks or older
Rabies vaccine. Then wait at least 21 full days before travel. Day one is the day after the shot.
- Within 10 days of arrival
Great Britain pet health certificate. An accredited vet fills it in and USDA endorses it. USDA’s page for the UK walks through the endorsement.
- 1 to 5 days before arrival
Tapeworm treatment (dogs). From a vet, between 24 hours and 5 days before you land, recorded on the certificate. See gov.uk’s tapeworm rules.
- Arrival day
Heathrow or Gatwick. BA is approved to bring pets into both. Gov.uk updates its list of approved routes often, so check it close to your trip.
Get any of it wrong and gov.uk warns your pet can be quarantined for up to four months, or sent back, at your cost.
The full rules are on gov.uk, and our UK dog travel guide covers life on the ground once you land.
Flying home to the US
The UK isn’t on CDC’s high-risk list for dog rabies, so the simpler rules apply on the way back.
For a dog coming back from the UK, CDC asks for four things:
- At least six months old on the day you land.
- A microchip that a universal scanner can read.
- Looks healthy on arrival.
- A receipt from the free CDC Dog Import Form. It is good for six months and repeat trips.
Fill in the form before you fly. BA’s own pages say you’ll need to show the receipt before boarding a US flight, in the cabin or the hold.
Assistance dogs on British Airways
Trained assistance dogs fly in the cabin free, on most BA flights. The dog must be trained by a member of Assistance Dogs International or the International Guide Dog Federation, or reach the same standard with evidence.
You register the dog with the Open Doors Organization first, using its separate form for travel to or from the US. BA recommends doing it at least 48 hours before you fly, and ideally before you book.
Landing in the UK, you also contact the Animal Reception Centre at least 72 hours ahead for a pre-approval letter. The steps are on BA’s assistance dog page.
Emotional support animals
BA doesn’t accept emotional support dogs in the cabin. They travel the same way as any pet, in the hold through IAG Cargo.
Gov.uk takes the same line on arrival: dogs that only give emotional support are not usually treated as assistance dogs.
Hot and cold weather
Unlike some US airlines, BA and IAG Cargo don’t publish temperature limits or summer embargoes for pets.
That doesn’t mean weather never matters. Ask your agent about it when you book, especially for a snub-nosed dog or a summer connection.
Questions people ask
Can I take my dog in the cabin on British Airways?
No. BA doesn’t carry pets in the cabin on any route. Only trained assistance dogs fly in the cabin, free, after registering with the Open Doors Organization.
How much does it cost to fly a dog on British Airways?
BA and IAG Cargo don’t publish prices. IAG Cargo’s partner agents quote each trip based on the pet, the crate and the route, and you should also budget for customs clearance on arrival in the UK.
Can my dog fly in the cabin to the UK on any airline?
Generally no. Gov.uk says pets arriving by plane travel as cargo, except on a chartered private plane or for a guide or assistance dog.
Does British Airways accept snub-nosed dogs?
Sometimes. IAG Cargo says some snub-nosed cats and dogs may not be accepted, and decides case by case. Accepted ones need a crate 10% larger than the minimum.
What changed in this update
We rewrote this guide in October 2026 from BA, IAG Cargo, gov.uk, USDA and CDC pages. It now covers booking through IAG Cargo from the US, the CDC rules for flying home, and BA’s current assistance dog process.
More airlines are in our airline pet policies A to Z.
The Nomad Paws is in memory of Woody, a great traveler and, most of all, the best, kindest and wisest friend I have ever had.
This guide is based on the airline’s and governments’ own pages, checked on 13 October 2026, not on a flight we took. Rules and routes change, so confirm with IAG Cargo and gov.uk before you book. Here is how I make my guides.
