Pet Travel at Heathrow Airport

Travelling with a pet through London Heathrow Airport can be different from using many other airports. Heathrow has animal relief areas in all four passenger terminals, but the United Kingdom also has special rules for animals arriving by air.

The most important thing to know

There is a difference between flying from Heathrow and bringing a pet into Great Britain. Your airline may normally allow pets in the cabin on some routes, but regular pets entering Great Britain by plane must normally travel as cargo. Guide and assistance dogs have different rules.

Before travelling, check your airline, terminal, pet documents and destination rules.

Heathrow Pet Travel Essentials

Heathrow has more pet facilities than many passengers may expect. Dedicated animal relief areas are available in Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. Heathrow says these facilities are open for all flights.

Terminals
T2 · T3 · T4 · T5
Animal relief facilities available
Departures
After Security
Relief areas are available airside
Arrivals
Available
Separate arrival facilities are provided
Hard & Soft Surfaces Yes Waste Bins Yes
Pet Waste Bags Not provided Pets Arriving by Air Normally cargo

Heathrow Pet Relief Areas by Terminal

One of the biggest advantages at Heathrow is that there is not only one animal relief area for the whole airport. The location depends on your terminal.

Terminal 2
After Security

T2A: Level -2, outside the lifts on the right-hand side, near the walkway to B Gates.

T2B: Level 1, near Gate 46.

Arrivals

There are also animal relief facilities in the arrivals passenger areas of both T2A and T2B.

Terminal 3
After Security

Level 1, next to Gate 27.

Arrivals

Level 1, on the route to the Flight Connection Centre.

Terminal 4
After Security

Level 0, behind the escalator.

Arrivals

Level 1, outside Gate 16 on the walkway towards passport control.

Terminal 5
After Security

T5A: Level -2

T5B: Level -2

T5C: Level -2

Arrivals

Level 0 in the Assistance Area near the coach gates.

Find your terminal first
T2 → T2A or T2B relief area
T3 → Gate 27 area
T4 → Level 0
T5 → Check T5A, T5B or T5C

Pet Entry Rules for Heathrow Airport

This is one of the most important rules to understand. If you are bringing a regular pet into Great Britain by plane, the pet normally has to travel as cargo. There are exceptions for animals travelling on chartered private planes and for guide or assistance dogs.

From Heathrow

London → Another Country

Your airline's pet policy is important.
The rules of your destination country are important.
To Heathrow

Another Country → London

Great Britain's pet-entry rules also apply.
Regular pets arriving by plane normally travel as cargo and must use an approved route and carrier.
Important: An airline saying “pets allowed in cabin” does not automatically mean that a normal pet can enter Great Britain in the cabin.

Airline Pet Fees and Weight Limits From Heathrow

Heathrow is served by many international airlines with very different pet policies. For departures from Heathrow, passengers should check both the airline's normal pet policy and the rules of the destination country. For arrivals, Great Britain's cargo-entry rules must also be considered.

Airline Cabin Pet Cabin Limit Larger Pets Published Fee / Status
British Airways Regular pets no — Cargo Quote-based cargo
Virgin Atlantic Currently unavailable — — Pet service currently unavailable
Lufthansa Eligible routes 8 kg incl. carrier Aircraft hold Route / size based
KLM Eligible routes 8 kg incl. carrier Hold €70–€500 one way
Air France Eligible routes 8 kg incl. carrier Hold up to 75 kg incl. carrier Route-based
Turkish Airlines Eligible routes 8 kg incl. carrier AVIH Route & weight based
Emirates Generally no — Hold / Cargo
≤23 kg: $500
24–32 kg: $650
32 kg+: $800
Qatar Airways Restricted — Checked baggage / Cargo
≤32 kg: $200 to/from Qatar
Other routes: $350
32–75 kg: $300 / $450
Etihad Airways Not on London routes — London route restriction Normal pet service unavailable for London
SWISS From UK eligible 8 kg incl. carrier Aircraft hold
Europe cabin: €80
Hold: €100 / €200 by crate size
Austrian Airlines From UK eligible 8 kg incl. carrier Aircraft hold
Europe cabin: €80
Europe hold: €100 / €200
LOT Polish Airlines Eligible routes 8 kg incl. carrier Aircraft hold
Short / mid-haul cabin: from €65
Long-haul cabin: from €100
Aegean Airlines From UK eligible 8 kg incl. carrier Aircraft hold available from UK
International cabin: €65
Hold 8–25 kg: €110 direct
Hold 25 kg+: €180 direct
Iberia Eligible routes Airline size / weight rules apply Aircraft hold
Europe cabin: £55 online
Airport: £60
Long-haul: from £160 online
TAP Air Portugal Eligible routes 8 kg incl. carrier Aircraft hold
Europe cabin: from €80
Intercontinental cabin: from €170
Hold: route & weight based
Air Canada UK restrictions apply Carrier must fit under seat Up to 45 kg incl. kennel Route / service based
UK entry requires approved pet arrangements
American Airlines No normal UK cabin pet service — Cargo / eligible military checked pets
Eligible checked pet from UK: $200
Cargo: quote-based
Korean Air UK rules apply Under 7 kg incl. carrier on eligible routes Hold up to 45 kg
Europe / Asia long-haul: $300 up to 32 kg
33–45 kg: $600
ANA No regular cabin pets — Cargo section / checked pet service
Europe–Asia: €300 per cage
Advance reservation required
Singapore Airlines No regular cabin pets — Checked baggage / Cargo Weight & route based
Charged under excess baggage / cargo rules

The UK approved-route list includes British Airways, Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, American Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Air France/KLM Cargo, Korean Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, Turkish Airlines and many other carriers for approved pet arrivals at Heathrow. Airline acceptance, however, still depends on the exact flight, route and pet transport method.

The Heathrow Rule Pet Owners Should Know

There are three different checks to think about when travelling internationally with a pet.

01

Airline

Does the airline accept your pet?

The airline decides which animals it accepts, how they can travel and which carrier or kennel is needed.

02

Route

Is the route approved?

Pets entering Great Britain must use an approved travel company and route where required. The official list can change, so it should be checked before travel.

03

Documents

Does your pet meet UK entry rules?

Correct airline arrangements are not enough if the animal does not have the documents and health requirements needed to enter Great Britain.

Airline Approval + Approved Route + Correct Documents = Ready for Travel

Documents for Bringing a Pet Into Great Britain

The exact document depends on the country your pet is travelling from. For example, pets arriving from an EU country can use certain EU pet passports, a valid Animal Health Certificate in eligible circumstances or a Great Britain pet health certificate. Other countries can have different document requirements.

Microchip
Your pet needs to meet the UK microchip rules.
Rabies Vaccination
Dogs, cats and ferrets must meet the rabies vaccination requirements. There is also a waiting period after a first vaccination.
Pet Travel Document
The correct document depends on where the journey starts.
Tapeworm Treatment
Some dogs need tapeworm treatment before entering Great Britain.
Approved Route
Check that the airline and route can legally be used to bring the animal into Great Britain.

What Happens When Your Pet Arrives at Heathrow?

Pet arrival is not exactly the same as collecting a suitcase. When a pet enters Great Britain, its microchip and documents are checked.

01
Land at Heathrow
02
Pet Document Check
03
Microchip Check
04
Customs / Animal Entry
05
Pet Collection

For pets arriving from outside the EU, the animal can only be collected after it has been taken through customs. An agent, airline or travel company can normally manage this process.

Incorrect documents can cause serious problems. A pet may be put into quarantine or sent back to the country it travelled from if the animal has not been properly prepared or does not have the correct documents.

Pet Travel Through Heathrow Terminal 5

Terminal 5 deserves extra attention because it has three main gate areas: T5A, T5B and T5C. The good news for passengers travelling with animals is that Heathrow provides a relief facility in each area.

T5A
Animal Relief Area
Level -2
T5B
Animal Relief Area
Level -2
T5C
Animal Relief Area
Level -2

So if you are departing from Terminal 5, check your gate area before deciding when to visit an animal relief facility.

Connecting Through Heathrow With a Pet

A connection can make pet travel more complicated.

New York Heathrow Paris

Before travelling, check:

Which Heathrow terminal you will use
Whether you change terminals
Where the animal relief facility is located
How your airline handles the pet during the connection
Whether UK transit or entry requirements apply
Whether the second airline accepts the pet

Do not assume that the pet arrangements for the first flight automatically continue to the second flight.

Before Flying From Heathrow With Your Pet

A few Heathrow-specific checks can make the airport experience easier.

Check Your Terminal
Know whether you are using Terminal 2, 3, 4 or 5.
Find the Relief Area
Check its location before going through the airport.
Bring Waste Bags
Heathrow provides disposal bins but does not provide pet waste bags.
Confirm the Pet Booking
Pet space and transportation should be arranged with the airline before travel.
Check Your Destination
The country you are flying to may have its own microchip, vaccination, document and animal-entry rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Dedicated animal relief facilities are available in Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Departure animal relief areas are available after security. There are also separate facilities in passenger arrival areas.

No. Passengers should bring their own bags. Heathrow provides bins for disposal.

There are facilities in T5A, T5B and T5C, all on Level -2. There is also an arrivals facility on Level 0.

Regular pets entering Great Britain by plane normally have to travel as cargo. Guide and assistance dogs have different rules.

Potentially, yes. This depends on the airline, destination, route and animal. The UK rule about regular pets travelling as cargo applies specifically to bringing pets into Great Britain by plane.

Not always. The correct pet travel document depends on the country the animal is travelling from.

Yes. The animal's microchip and documents are checked when entering Great Britain.

It may be possible, but the airline arrangements, terminals, onward flight and applicable UK rules should all be checked before travel.

The animal could be placed in quarantine or sent back to the country it travelled from, and the owner is responsible for the related costs.