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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.