Bologna to London with a dog in the cabin

On this route the short answer is no: pets cannot enter Great Britain in the cabin, with any airline. This is not a commercial policy but a British entry rule, and it applies even to airlines that accept pets on every other route.

The constraint on this route

This route carries the hardest constraint in Europe, and it does not depend on the airline: pets cannot enter Great Britain in the cabin. They must travel as cargo on routes and carriers approved by the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Only guide and assistance dogs are exempt and may stay in the cabin.

How your dog can still travel

• Cargo on an approved route. The pet travels as freight with carriers and routes authorised by the Animal and Plant Health Agency, arranged through a specialist agent — different timings and costs from a simple booking add-on.
• Eurotunnel or ferry from France. These are approved routes and let you stay with your pet for the whole journey: for many owners it is the least stressful option, and often the cheapest.
• Guide and assistance dogs. Still allowed in the cabin, subject to health requirements and with advance notice to the airline.

Airlines flying Bologna to London then add their own rules on top of the British ones: KLM, for instance, does not accept pets as baggage on flights to the UK in any class, and SWISS carries them as cargo only.

Frequently asked questions

• Can I take my dog in the cabin from Bologna to London?
  No. Pets cannot enter Great Britain in the cabin: they must travel as cargo on routes and carriers approved by the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Only guide and assistance dogs may stay in the cabin.
• How can I bring my dog to London then?
  Through cargo transport on an approved route, arranged with a specialist agent, or overland: Eurotunnel and ferries from France are approved routes and let you travel with your pet beside you.
• What documents do I need to bring a dog into Great Britain?
  A microchip fitted before the rabies vaccination, a valid rabies vaccination and, for dogs, tapeworm treatment within the required window. Check the UK government requirements before booking.
• Can assistance dogs fly in the cabin to the UK?
  Yes. Recognised guide and assistance dogs can use forms of transport not open to other animals, including the aircraft cabin, provided the health requirements are met.