Flying with a Guide Dog or Assistance Dog
Flying with your guide dog or assistance dog can be an anxious time for you both. We want your journey to be as stress free as possible.
Top Tip for Flying with Your Guide Dog or Assistance Dog:
- Make your Travel Arrangements as soon as possible
- Inform your Airline
If you are planning on flying with your guide dog or assistance dog you should inform your airline in advance.
Your airline will need to know at least 48 hours in advance of your travel date.
If you have made your booking less than 48 hours in advance, the airline will endeavour to accommodate your needs. There is limited space on board the airline for guide dogs and assistance dogs therefore it is essential that you make your booking as soon as possible.
As with all passenger requirements, each airline varies with their specific requirements. You need to check beforehand your airline’s specific requirements for flying with a guide or assistance dog to ensure your travel arrangements go smoothly.
Your airline has the right to ask for evidence of your guide or assistance dog’s training.
The International Guide Dogs Federation (IGDF) and the Assistance Dogs International (ADI) websites provide details of the qualifying training organisations.
Request Assistance When Flying With A Guide Dog or Assistance Dog
If you are flying with a guide dog or assistance dog you will need to request PRM assistance at the airport beforehand.
Check our page on how to request PRM assistance at Tenerife South Airport.
Documentation Required for Guide Dog or Assistance Dog
All dogs flying out of the UK are required to comply with the European Pets Travel Scheme (PETS) for the new Pet Passport which was introduced in 2013. Check the Guidance Notes on the Defra website for changes to the Pets Travel Scheme.
The following documentation is required for departure and entry into Tenerife:
- Your dog must possess a European Pet Passport
- Your dog must be micro-chipped or tattoo (if placed before 3rd July 2011).
- Your dog must have a current valid proof of rabies vaccination.
- Also advisable to ensure your dog has had a tapeworm treatment.
Travel Tips When Flying with a Guide Dog or Assistance Dog
- Check with your local vet for their advice when flying with your guide dog.
- Check out the UK Government Defra website on pet travel abroad.
- Ask your guide dog instructors advice when travelling with your dog.
- Check with your assistance dog instructor for any directions they may have.
- Check with your vet that your dog is fit and healthy to travel.
- Before you arrive at the airport limit your dog’s water. This will avoid the need for the dog to relieve itself when you are in the airport or on the airplane.
- Exercise your dog before going to the airport.
- Arrive at the airport early so airport staff have enough time to check your dog’s documentation.
- Take some treats or your dog’s favourite toy for take off and landing to calm them down and chew on to reduce pressure on their ears.
- Take an absorbant mat for your dog to sit on during the flight in case of accidents.
Medication for your Guide Dog or Assistance Dog
If your dog requires any regular medications (e.g., if they are diabetic), make sure you take these with you when travelling.
As with any personal medication, these should be carried in their original packaging in order to identify the same if you are asked.
Ask your vet for the “unbranded” name of the drug, should you require more when you reach your destination.
Requirements When Flying with your Guide Dog or Assistance Dog
You are required to provide a car harness to secure your dog to a seat belt or seat. This will ensure your dog’s safety on take-off, landing or at times where the seatbelt sign is illuminated.
Your dog will also require water during the flight. You can purchase this in the departure lounge, or your airline may provide this free of charge when on-board. Remember to restrict the amount of water your dog drinks whilst on the flight.
Below are some of the airlines specific requirements for flying with a guide/assistance dog.
Ryanair Requirements when flying with a Guide Dog or Assistance Dog
Guide and assistance dogs are accepted on all Ryanair EU/EEA and domestic flights.
Due to restrictions beyond their control they are not accepted on the following routes:
- Flights to/from Morocco
- Flights to/from Israel
The dogs must have a pet passport.
In countries that don’t issue pet passports, they must have an official veterinary health certificate.
If you wish to travel with a guide/assistance dog you must advise in advance. Preferably on the day of booking. This can be done online or via the Ryanair Special Assistance Line.
The following rules apply to guide/assistance dogs flying with Ryanair:
- The dog must be trained to perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability (physical, sensory or psychiatric).
- The dog should wear a standard identifying jacket or harness throughout the journey.
- Guide/assistance dogs travel in the aircraft cabin and must sit on the floor at the passenger’s feet.
- A maximum of four guide/assistance dogs are permitted per flight.
- The dog along with containers and food are carried free of charge.
EasyJet Requirements when flying with a Guide Dog or Assistance Dog
Guide and Assistance Dogs
A Guide Dog is one trained to provide mobility assistance to people who are blind or vision impaired. An Assistance Dog is specifically trained to assist a person with a disability, including hearing dogs for people who are Deaf or hearing impaired.
To be carried as a Guide or Assistance Dog on an easyJet Flight, the Guide or Assistance Dog must: Be trained to accompany and must assist people with a disability (including people who are vision impaired, hearing impaired or who have mobility limitations); Be trained by a recognised training organisation; Be in possession of an official identity document provided by a recognised training organisation confirming that the dog is a fully trained service dog or is under the control of a verified trainer; Wear an identifying jacket/harness; and Remain under the control of the Passenger at all times, (“Guide or Assistance Dog”).
Passengers should advise easyJet in advance if they will be travelling with a Guide or Assistance Dog during the booking process or by contacting easyJet via the Sales Desk or via the Customer Service Team at least 48 hours prior to departure.
EasyJet will accept a Guide or Assistance Dog accompanying people who are blind, vision impaired, Deaf, hearing impaired or otherwise have a disability that is assisted by the Guide Dog or Assistance Dog on flights to/from UK to mainland Europe from all of the UK airports.
Guide or Assistance Dogs, together with containers and food, will be carried free of charge in addition to the normal free Baggage allowance on all domestic journeys on all flights starting and finishing within mainland Europe (excluding UK routes and Kosovo) and to/from United Kingdom to mainland Europe from all of the UK airports that we serve, subject always to Our Terms and Conditions.
Acceptance for carriage of Guide or Assistance Dogs in the aircraft cabin is subject to the Passenger assuming full responsibility for the Guide or Assistance Dog, ensuring that the Guide or Assistance Dog meets the requirements of the UK Pet Travel Scheme.
We will not accept liability for any Guide or Assistance Dogs that are not properly documented when they present for carriage, including any liability for injury to, or loss, delay, sickness or death of the animal generally or for any costs incurred in the event that the Guide Dog or Assistance Dog is refused entry into or passage through any country, state or territory.
Guide or Assistance Dogs will be accommodated free of charge on the floor of the aircraft at the feet of the handler. Guide or Assistance Dogs must wear a harness, to be supplied by the handler, at all times whilst in the airport terminal and whilst on board the aircraft. The harness must be tied to the owner’s seat belt during take-off, landing, turbulence and when the “fasten seat belt” sign is illuminated.
To ensure that all necessary procedures are completed, passengers with Guide or Assistance Dogs are recommended to present themselves at the Bag Drop Desk 90 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time of their Flight. Please refer to Article 12 (Check-in and Airport Procedures) for further information.
Jet2 Requirements when flying with a Guide Dog or Assistance Dog
Except where national rules in the country you are travelling to do not permit it, we are pleased to carry registered guide dogs free of charge on all flights when accompanying a passenger with seeing or hearing disabilities. If a registered guide dog is to be carried please contact our dedicated Assistance team on +44 (0) 800 408 5591 or +44 (0) 203 059 8337 so that appropriate arrangements can be made (open Mon – Fri 09:00 – 21:00 and Sat 09:00 – 18:00).
You agree that you assume full responsibility for any guide dog and accept that we are not liable for injury to or loss, delay, sickness or death of any guide dog unless caused by our negligence.
With the exception of registered guide dogs accompanying a guided passenger, no animals are permitted to be carried in the cabin.
British Airways Requirements when flying with a Guide Dog or Assistance Dog
