Traveling with pets
You can take your dog, cat or ferret with you if you're flying on a UK Domestic flight or you're flying from the UK on an International service. Exceptions to this are if you are travelling on an Economy Saver or sale fare on shorthaul routes, where you will need to purchase an Economy fare or higher, or on some of our regional services operated by an Embraer aircraft.
All you have to do is notify our passenger reservations team when you book your ticket. We do charge for this service and you'll be told about this when you book.
Your pet must be carried in an IATA approved pet carrier and must be big enough to allow your pet to turn about normally while standing, to stand and sit erect, and to lie in a natural position. They may be carried as accompanied baggage within or outbound from the UK.
Pet Travel Scheme
If you want to come back to the UK with your pet, then to avoid the pet being admitted to quarantine, you must only use a route that has been approved for the Pet Travel Scheme. If you enter the UK on other routes or outside of the scheme, your pet will be subject to the usual government quarantine laws on arrival.
You'll need to ensure you that your pet has been micro-chipped and has all the necessary paperwork required by the government, under the rules of the scheme. Your pet must travel as cargo in the hold of the aircraft when you return whether or not you are travelling at the same time. It is not always possible for pets to travel on the same flight as the owner due to limits to the number of animals allowed.
Appointed agents to help you
If you want to arrange to bring your pet into the UK under the rules of the Pet Travel Scheme you must make a booking with the appropriate cargo agent at the airport from which your pet will be flying.
Details of cargo agents are displayed in the table below.
bmi pet travel scheme overseas contacts |
|---|
Brussels - London Heathrow
Skyfast N.V. /S.A
Brucargo
Building 706, Room 7325
1931 Zaventem
Belgium
Tel: (32) 2 752 9500
Fax: (32) 2 752 9505 | Amsterdam - London Heathrow
DHL Global Forwarding BV
Live Animal Logistics
Prestwickweg 1
1118 LC Schiphol-Rijk
The Netherlands
Tel: (31) 20 3169505
Fax: (31) 20 3169588
Email: nlanimals@dhl.com |
Palma - London Heathrow
Transitos y Aduanas Palma SL
Palma de Mallorca
Balleares
Spain
Tel: (34) 971 763032
Fax: (34) 971 296800
Contact: Miguel Frontera or Jordi Palmer | Hanover - London Heathrow
Air Services Hanover
Cargo area
Hanover Airport
Germany
Tel: (49) 511 977 2731 |
Chicago - Manchester
Globe Air Cargo
c/o Menzies Aviation
90 Division Street
Bensenville
Illinois 60106
Tel: (00) 1 773 992 0523 | |
It's a good idea to book your pet in as early as possible, preferably at the same time you make your booking and before leaving the UK.
Your agent will also advise you where, and when, the pet should be handed over for the return flight. Pets will not be accepted at check-in.
The cost of bringing your pet back to the UK is usually more than the cost to take your pet out of the UK. This is because of the detailed procedures that have to be followed to comply with the Government rules of the scheme.
For detailed information about the pet travel scheme contact the PETS helpline on +44 (0) 870 241 1710 or visit DEFRA.
bmi cargo for quotes and advice
telephone 1-630-766-2725
email cargo.reservations@flybmi.com
Assistance dogs
bmi has government approval to carry assistance dogs trained to provide assistance to customers with reduced mobility free of charge within the aircraft cabin. Find out more about assistance dogs.