The dog travels on the seat, not in a hold.
On a charter your pet travels in the cabin with you, from the car to the aircraft steps and off again. We take care of the part with the most rules: the paperwork, and which operator is allowed to bring an animal into the country.
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Why people do it
No hold, no crate line, no separation
On a charter the animal travels in the cabin with its family. There is no cargo hold, no handover to a stranger at a freight shed, no hours in a crate on a hot apron and no collection from an animal reception building at the other end. The dog walks from the car to the aircraft steps, and it walks off the same way.
Everything else about the flight is ordinary charter: the aircraft is arranged with an operator, the cabin is yours, and the car meets you at both ends. What is not ordinary is the paperwork, and it is the paperwork rather than the aircraft that stops these trips.
Bringing a pet into Great Britain
The rules that actually decide it
- An approved operator and routeThe first thing we checkAn animal can be brought into Great Britain by air only where the aircraft operator is approved to carry pets and is flying an approved route, except on journeys from Ireland. Not every charter operator holds that approval, so we establish it before an aircraft is confirmed rather than after.
- Microchip, then rabiesIn that orderThe animal must be microchipped before it is vaccinated against rabies. A vaccination given before the chip does not count and has to be done again.
- 21 daysAfter the primary vaccinationA pet cannot travel until 21 days have passed since a first rabies vaccination. Booster vaccinations given on time do not restart the clock.
- Tapeworm treatment for dogs24 to 120 hours before arrivalDogs entering Great Britain must be treated for tapeworm by a vet not less than 24 and not more than 120 hours before they arrive, and it must be recorded in the documents. Miss the window and the dog cannot enter.
Rules change, and they differ by country of departure and by species. Treat this as the shape of the problem rather than as advice, and confirm the detail with your vet and the official guidance for the country you are leaving.
How we plan it
Paperwork first, aircraft second
- 01
Tell us about the animal
Species, breed, weight, age, where it lives now and what documents it already holds. A large dog and a small cat are different flights.
- 02
We check the route
Which operators on that route can carry the animal into the destination country, what each one requires, and whether the arrival airport is one where animals may enter.
- 03
Your vet does their part
Chip, vaccination, the certificate or passport, and the tapeworm treatment inside its window. We give you the dates to work to, in writing, and chase them politely.
- 04
The day itself
The car brings you to the private terminal, the documents are checked there, and the animal walks to the aircraft with you. At the other end the car is waiting on the same side of the building.
On board
What to expect in the cabin
- The captain has the final say on where an animal travels in the cabin, and some operators require a carrier for taxi, take off and landing
- Floor space matters more than seats for a large dog, which is often the reason to take a slightly bigger cabin
- Bring the usual things: water, a bowl, the blanket that smells of home, a favourite toy and a lead for the apron
- Operators commonly ask for the animal to be declared at booking, and some make a cleaning or pet charge, which we will tell you about before you confirm
- Claws and leather do not agree. A blanket or a mat over the seat is normal practice and avoids an argument afterwards
- Whether an animal should be sedated is a question for your vet and nobody else. We will not advise on it
- More than one animal, or an unusual one, is usually possible with notice. Horses, birds of prey and livestock are specialist work and we will say so rather than improvise
Leaving the UK
Going the other way is its own paperwork
A pet travelling from Great Britain into the European Union normally needs an animal health certificate issued by an official vet shortly before departure. It is issued close to the travel date, it has to be used within a short window for entry, and it then covers onward movement within the EU for several months and the return to Great Britain. Which vet can issue it is not a formality, so this is the part to start early.
Countries outside the EU vary enormously. Some want a rabies antibody blood test taken months in advance, some require import permits, and a few still operate quarantine. Tell us the destination at the very beginning of the conversation, because for some countries the honest answer is that the trip needs to be planned a season ahead rather than a fortnight.
The places our clients most often take dogs are the south of France, the Alps and the Balearics, all of which are straightforward once the certificate is in hand. See London to Nice, London to Geneva and London to Ibiza.
Which aircraft
Cabin space and the dog's size
Category guidance only. The right aircraft depends on the people, the animals, the luggage and the runway at each end.
Light jets
Typically 4 to 7 passengers
Fine for a small dog or a cat in a carrier on a short European sector. Tight for a large dog once the luggage is in.
Midsize and super-midsize
Typically 7 to 9 passengers
The usual answer for a family with a large dog. A flat area of floor, a stand up or near stand up cabin and room for everybody's bags.
Heavy and long range
Typically 10 to 16 passengers
For long sectors, two or more animals, or a move rather than a holiday. Space for crates to be secured properly and for a dog to lie down for hours.
Where this connects
The rest of the journey
London departure points
Where people take them
Request a quote
Tell us about the dog
The route and dates, how many of you, and the animal: species, breed, weight and what documents it already has. We check which operators can carry it on that route before we quote, so the answer you get is one that will actually fly. Nothing is booked or charged online.
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Questions owners ask
About flying with pets
Can the dog sit on the seat?
Usually yes, with a blanket over it, and the captain has the final say. Some operators ask for a carrier during taxi, take off and landing. We tell you which rules apply to your aircraft before you confirm it.
Can any charter operator bring my dog into the UK?
No, and this is the detail that catches people out. Animals may be brought into Great Britain by air only by operators approved to carry them on approved routes, other than from Ireland. We check the operator's status before confirming an aircraft.
How far ahead should we start?
For a trip within Europe, a few weeks is usually enough if the rabies vaccination is already done and in date. For anything further, start months ahead. Some countries require blood tests with long waiting periods.
Is there an extra charge for the pet?
Some operators make a pet or cleaning charge and some do not. We will tell you which applies to the aircraft we are quoting, before you decide.
What happens at the airport?
At a private terminal the documents are checked inside the building and the animal walks out to the aircraft with you. No freight shed, no separate collection point, and no hours apart.
Can the chauffeur take the dog too?
Yes, with a little notice, so that we send a car set up for it. Tell us at the time of booking rather than on the pavement. See private jet and FBO transfers.
One contact, wherever you are