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Travelling with a service dog
We're able to carry a service dog free of charge in the cabin of all our flights. Here's more information about how to plan and book your flight with your service dog.
What is a service dog
A service dog is one that has been trained to assist a person with a disability or medical condition and has been determined as being able to travel safely in the aircraft cabin. For your service dog to travel with you in the cabin on British Airways your service dog must:
- be individually trained in specific tasks to assist you with your disability or medical condition
- have had behavioural training and show appropriate behaviour in public and onboard an aircraft
- wear an identifying jacket/harness, and
- remain under your control at all times
Be aware that we will ask you to send documents confirming the service dog training your dog has completed.
If your dog does not meet these criteria, or is an emotional support dog, it will need to travel as a domestic pet.
Booking your service dog
It’s currently not possible to book this service online as we need additional information to enable us to confirm your service dog for travel. You will need to book your service dog at the same time you book your flight and at least 48 hours prior to your date of travel.
If you’ve already booked your flight and you wish to travel with your service dog, you will need to contact us to add your service dog at least 48 hours prior to your travel date.
Travelling to the UK
Due to entry regulations into the UK, you will need to ensure that you have contacted and received approval from the UK animal reception centre at least 72 hours before your flight. Failure to comply with this requirement may mean we are unable to accept you for travel to the UK.
Details of the UK Animal Reception Centres can be found below under preparing for your trip.
Travelling to or from the US
Customers travelling to or from the United States of America must complete a U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Travel Form detailing their dog’s health, training, and behaviour.
In addition, for flights over eight hours in duration, customers must also complete a U.S. DOT Relief Attestation Form confirming their dog will not need to relieve itself during the flight or detail how the dog will relieve itself in a sanitary way.
Copies of both documents must be emailed to our accessibility team at least 48 hours before your flight. We will review these documents and contact you to let you know if we will accept your dog for travel.
Our accessibility team may also ask to see documents that confirm your dog has had appropriate training to behave in a public setting, as well as the training they have had to work or perform tasks that assist you with your disability.
If we do not receive the completed US DOT forms in time or your dog has not had the appropriate training, we will not permit your dog to travel in the cabin onboard our aircraft.
You can contact the accessibility team using the details below.
Travelling on other airlines
If your flight is operated by one of our airline or franchise partners, they may have different processes so please contact them directly before you travel.
Contact details
- Speak to our accessibility team Monday – Saturday 09:00-17:00 (GMT) on 0800 408 1100.
- Send us a message by selecting the ‘Email us’ tab and fill out the form provided ensuring you select the ‘request to carry a service dog’ from the topic options.
- If you have a hearing or speech impairment, you can contact us at 0845 700 7706 (Minicom), or you can send us a message by selecting the 'Email us' tab and filling out the form provided.