Flying to Mallorca with a Guide Dog / Assistance Dog

Guide Dogs / Assistance Dogs

Most airlines distinguish between specifically trained assistance dogs and emotional support dogs. While assistance dogs are usually allowed to travel in the aircraft cabin, emotional support dogs are classed as pets and the standard rules for travelling with a pet apply in this case.

What is an assistance dog?

An assistance dog, also known as a service dog, is a specially trained canine that provides support and assistance to individuals with disabilities. These dogs undergo extensive training to perform specific tasks that directly assist individuals with disabilities, and they are granted certain legal protections and access rights in public.

For an assistance dog to be recognised as such, for the purpose of air travel, most airlines request that

• The dog was trained by an organisation accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF).
• You are able to provide the relevant paperwork/certificates to prove the above.

Is your dog ready for air travel?

Before deciding to go on a plane journey with your dog, you may need to think about whether “your assistant” is ready for this task. If in doubt, you can discuss this with the organisation that provided the training.

What are the requirements for flying with an assistance dog?

Notify your airline

You must let your airline know that you are intending to travel with an assistance dog. Ideally, this should be done at the time of booking and no later than 48 hours prior to departure.

Your dog

To be permitted for travel on an aircraft, your dog must

• Wear a standard identifying jacket or harness throughout the journey.
• Have a suitable harness that can be attached to your seat belt and will provide your dog with an effective level of restraint whenever the seat belt signs are on.
• Sit on the floor at your feet and remain under your control at all times.

Vaccination, microchipping and documentation

In addition to the above, your assistance dog must meet all the requirements with regards to vaccinations, microchipping and relevant documentation as any other pet that is taken on air travel. These may differ, depdending on which country you are travelling from. You can find details about this on our page Flying to Mallorca with your Pet.

Further information about flying with your guide dog can be obtained at:

Guidedogs.org.uk

Civil Aviation Authority

Guidedog.org