Planning your next holiday, but don’t want to leave the dog at home? We explain how to travel with your pooch here

Did you know that it’s now easier than ever before to fly with your dog? So when summer arrives, you can forget the costly and stressful alternatives and take your best friend on the adventure of a lifetime with you instead. 

Whether you’ve got a six-month old pup or a pooch heading into their senior years, it’s never too late to fly together. If you’re thinking about your next holiday now, it’s always worth knowing about the best ways to travel with your four-legged friend. 

Why should you take your dog on holiday?

We’re a nation of dog lovers. It’s thought that almost one in three UK households have a pet dog, so it’s hardly surprising that more holidaymakers now seek ways to travel together. While weekend trips to the beach still prove popular, it’s understandable if you’ve got more ambitious plans on the horizon for 2024 and beyond. 

Taking your dog with you means that you can still benefit from all the relaxation and exploration you’d expect on a long break – just with your best friend by your side. 

What puts owners off going on holiday with the dog?

Occasionally, it can be difficult to see the benefits of flying with a dog. An exclusive study by Airport Parking and Hotels revealed the main reasons why people choose not to fly with their dog:

• A quarter believe that it’s too expensive to take a dog on holiday
• 24% don’t want to put their dog through extra stress
• Nearly one in five refuse to keep their dog in the hold section
• 16% said it’s too much effort

One standout statistic is that a small percentage of owners simply didn’t know that they could take their dog on holiday. What’s more, over a quarter (26%) of us would pay between £500 and £750 to take the dog, so what’s holding you back?

What else can I do with the dog while I’m on holiday?

Your options include:

• Boarding kennels: Putting a dog in kennels is the most convenient solution for owners, but it’s not usually preferred. In kennels, dogs are often kept in small enclosures. This can cause stress and pent-up energy, especially if the kennel staff don’t exercise the dogs properly.
• Pet sitters: Many families choose to hire a house sitter to look after their pets from their own home. This gives owners more peace of mind than sending their dog to kennels, but it can be difficult to find a trusted sitter. 

Or you could take the dog with you to avoid the extra stress and worry, high overnight boarding costs, and missing out on amazing memories made together. And if you’re flying from the north of England, you can now enjoy a seamless transfer with your dog from Manchester Airport Terminal 1 parking to the gate.

Every dog owner faces the holiday dilemma. Taking the dog with you is often tied to reduced flexibility and particular requirements, but that’s not always the case. What’s more, leaving them at home can feel even worse for both you and your pooch.

How do you fly with a dog?  

It’s a relatively simple process, but you need to be patient through the first steps.

First, you’ll need to get a pet passport, which involves visiting your vet to make sure that your dog has a clean bill of health before their travels, often with some vaccinations and treatments. The rules can vary depending on where you live, but you’ll always need to apply for a pet health certificate, which could cost at least £180.

Airport and Parking Hotels’ study suggests that you’ll need to meet costs for the following treatments for your dog pre-departure:

• Rabies vaccination: £50
• Tapeworm treatment: £30
• Microchip: £16 to £30

Once your dog’s documentation has been approved, you can get on with booking your holiday. It’s always worth learning which airlines accept dogs in the cabin – or you could choose to fly on a private jet with your pooch.

The verdict: It’s good news for toy dog owners

If your dog is a small or toy breed weighing in under 8kg, both KLM and Lufthansa will allow you to take your dog on as carry-on. A similar rule applies for the airline TUI, which allows dogs up to 6kg to join their owners in the cabin too.

For owners of larger dog breeds, the process is a little bit more complicated – but it’s still possible to fly with your dog. You might need to buy a private jet ticket to comfortably fly with bigger dogs in the cabin, but if you’re comfortable with them being in the hold, then there’s still a solution. 

No matter where you’re headed, just remember to get your dog covered with a comprehensive travel insurance before you set off.