Flying with a small dog from the UK: which airlines let her sit in the cabin
People see my airport photos and ask how I fly. The honest answer is: carefully, and never on easyJet.
The big catch
No UK airline flies pets in the cabin. And on the way back, dogs can only enter the UK by plane as cargo (assistance dogs are the exception). So flying out of the UK in the cabin is possible. Flying back in the cabin is not.
Airlines that allow small dogs in the cabin from the UK
These are the airlines travellers report as taking small dogs in the cabin on flights leaving the UK. The limit is usually 8kg including the carrier, and the carrier must fit under the seat in front.
- Air France and KLM: the classic choice for Paris and Amsterdam connections
- Lufthansa: strict paperwork, but reliable
- Finnair, LOT, TAP, Iberia, ITA Airways, Aegean, Croatia Airlines
- Air Canada (and Air Transat from Manchester and Glasgow): handy for Canada, which is where I was born, so obviously I’m biased
Always check with the airline directly before you book. Policies change, some routes are excluded, and on codeshares it’s the operating airline’s rules that count.
Airports: Gatwick doesn’t allow pets in the terminal at all. Heathrow, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh are your friends.
How we get home
Because dogs can’t fly into the UK in the cabin, the options are:
- Fly into Paris or Amsterdam, then take the Eurotunnel or a ferry home. The most popular workaround. A night in Paris is not a punishment.
- Cargo with a specialist pet shipper. Safe and well run, but expensive and stressful for a dog my size, so we avoid it.
- Private pet-friendly charters. Lovely, if you have the budget.
Paperwork
- EU countries: an Animal Health Certificate (see my guide to the 2026 EU rules).
- Outside the EU: an Export Health Certificate, plus whatever the destination country asks for. Some places, like Japan, take months of planning.
Cabin survival tips from a professional
- Practise with the carrier at home for weeks before the flight. Treats inside. Lots of them.
- Soft-sided carrier, mesh on at least two sides, with your dog’s own blanket.
- Weigh dog and carrier together before you go. 8kg goes faster than you’d think once you add a cashmere jumper.
- Skip the big meal before flying. A small breakfast and water is plenty.
- Book a window seat so the carrier is out of the aisle and nobody steps on your handbag. I am the handbag.
- Ask your vet before you use anything for travel anxiety. Never sedate a small dog without vet advice, especially for flying.
Next time you see me at an airport looking unimpressed, now you know why. I’ve probably just been told I’m going home by train.
Sources: Flying out of the UK with a dog (Travelnuity) · Bringing your pet to Great Britain (GOV.UK)
