Top 4 Pet-Friendly Airlines UK Edition – 2025 AirAdvisor Ranking
Learn about the UK’s best airlines for traveling with pets. Check out our 2025 overall rating and get to know the top four most pet-friendly carriers.
While not usually something that comes up every time you travel, sometimes you need to fly with your furry friend to and from the United Kingdom. When you can’t leave your beloved pet at home, you’ll need to know which airlines allow pets in the cabin or as cargo in the hold. Can dogs fly on planes in the UK? Yes, and cats, too, but there are some overall rules and exceptions to consider.
As part of a more extensive study on the Top Overall UK Airlines, we determined which UK-based carriers allow pets in the cabin. Unfortunately, the answer is none currently, except for service animals. But all is not lost, as four airlines do permit pets to travel as cargo. Wondering which ones they are? Read on…
British Airways
British Airways partners with pet travel experts based on your destination. For flights departing from the UK, the company is called PetAir UK, and for flights arriving in the United Kingdom, it’s IAG Cargo.
We’ve put them at the top of our list as these companies will offer a pet-focused experience, where your furry friend isn’t just an afterthought. The service is so well-reviewed that it’s more like a pet VIP lounge than anything else.
Pets are routinely the last on and the first off the plane; everything is temperature-controlled, including the vehicles that bring the pets to and from the aircraft, and the animals always have access to water. It’s just a shame you can’t fly with them in the cabin with you.
To be compliant, your pet carrier must meet IATA requirements and be sturdy enough to sustain the entire trip. Both the closure and water bowl must be secure. Also, note that your pet may or may not travel on the same flight as you – it isn’t guaranteed.
TUI Airways
TUI UK is considered one of the top UK airlines for pet travel because they allow your cat or dog to travel in the hold. This compartment is as comfortable as the passenger one in terms of temperature and is pressurised.
Call or email TUI UK’s Cargo Department in advance to book your pet on your next flight. They’ll confirm that there is space; if so, your pet can travel on the same flight. They will also confirm the cost.
You’ll need to make sure you have the appropriate vaccinations and documentation for the country you’re visiting, and it’s ultimately up to you to conform to any pet importation requirements.
As for the TUI UK requirements, carriers need to be appropriately sized for your pet and have a water bowl and funnel that are fitted on the outside of the travel container. Pets cannot be medically sedated to travel, but herbal calming options are permitted.
Have you travelled with your pet on a recent UK flight and encountered a delay of three hours or more? If so, we can help you claim up to £520 compensation.
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Loganair
Loganair is the UK’s largest regional airline based out of Glasgow Airport. The Scottish carrier recognises how necessary it can be to travel with your pet on a plane in the UK, and as long as you don’t need to travel internationally, Loganair is a good bet.
Loganair is another UK airline that allows pets to be checked as accompanying baggage on domestic flights, except on flights where the aircraft is a Twin Otter going to Tiree, Barra, and Campbeltown.
The cost to fly with your pet as domestic cargo is £50 (one way) for all flights except the Orkney Inter-Isles routes, where the fee is £10 each way. Loganair doesn’t allow any pugs, bulldogs, Pekinese, or crossbreeds of these dogs on board.
Important information to consider:
- Only one pet per flight is permitted.
- Although not every aircraft allows pets, most do, so call ahead to confirm and book.
- The carrier must be hard-sided and large enough for the dog or cat to stand and turn around.
- The carrier and pet can’t weigh more than 32kg combined.
- If you have two adult pets from the same household, they can travel in a single carrier without falling foul of the “one pet per flight” rule. The pets can’t be more than 10kg each in this case.
Aurigny Air Services
Toted as Guernsey’s Airline, Aurigny Air Services is another on the list of which airlines allow pets in the cabin or hold in the UK. The airline’s policies are similar to the others we’ve mentioned in that your pet won’t be permitted to sit with you in the cabin. Instead, your dog or cat will be put into a cage in the front hold.
Aurigny’s United Kingdom pet policy has another limit as well. The only route that welcomes cats or dogs is the one that travels from Guernsey to Southampton (and back). You can only have one pet per flight due to the space in the front hold cage, so always call ahead to book as soon as you know you need to travel. The fee is fairly reasonable at £35 each way.
We would be amiss if we didn’t mention that, as part of our more in-depth study on the overall top UK airlines, Aurigny Air Services did not score well reliability. This means your chances of encountering a flight disruption, especially a cancellation, are high. Certainly not ideal when travelling with a pet. If you experience a disruption, we can help. Whether you need to claim compensation for a delayed flight or understand your compensation rights after a cancelled flight, we’re here to guide you.
Cheat Sheet - Which Airlines Allow Pets in Cabin (UK)
Airline | Pets in the Cabin? | Pets in the Hold? | Cost (one way) | Weight Restrictions |
British Airways | No | Yes | Contact PetAirUK or IAG Cargo for a quote. | Not specified |
TUI Airways | No | Yes | Contact the airline | Not specified |
Loganair | No | Yes | £10 or £50 | 32kg |
Aurigny Air Services | No | Yes | £35 | Not specified |
If you don’t see the airline you’re looking for in this list, they don’t currently allow pet travel of any kind. But keep checking back with the airlines themselves. For example, Virgin Atlantic has previously offered the service, but it is currently suspended.
Travelling with Pets Can be Simple
Perhaps the lack of choice in UK airlines that allow pets to travel on board is good. It saves travellers from endlessly searching for flights on dozens of airlines. And if the four carriers listed here don’t offer the routes you need, check with KLM compensation‑eligible flights, Air France, or Lufthansa, as they all allow pets in the cabin and the hold. They offer many routes to and from the UK, even though they are not Britain-based.
FAQ
Which UK airlines allow pets in the cabin?
Currently, no UK-based airlines allow pets to accompany you in the cabin on your next flight. British Airways allows pets to travel as cargo to or from the United Kingdom. But if you’re traveling within the UK, TUI, Loganair, and Aurigny Air Services also permit pets on your flight – they just have to ride in the hold.
Can dogs fly on planes (UK)?
Yes, but only as accompanied baggage in the hold. British Airways, TUI Airways, Aurigny, and Loganair are your only options for this service.
I can’t find a UK-based airline route for my pet - what should I do?
Branch out. Many Europe-based airlines have extensive routes to and from the United Kingdom. Look for flights from European airlines like KLM, Lufthansa, and Air France, as these all allow pets in the hold and as travel buddies in the cabin.
Author:
Amy Lancelotte
Job/Position: Senior Writer & Content Strategist
Amy Lancelotte is a Senior Content Writer and editorial contributor at AirAdvisor with over seven years of experience producing research-based articles for international audiences. Her work focuses on travel, aviation, and air passenger rights, with an emphasis on factual accuracy, verified data, and clear, reader-first explanations.
