Accepted breeds

We can only accept cats and dogs on our flights. However, we can’t accept snub or pug nose breeds like Pekingese or Persians, or any dog listed under the Dangerous Dogs Act. Please take a look at our conditions of carriage.

Booking

We’ll need to take your pet’s booking at least a week before your flight.

Checking in

You should check your pet in with Virgin Atlantic Cargo four hours before your departure time.

Pets flying alone

You don’t have to be on the flight with your pet. The only exceptions are if you’re travelling from Orlando or Barbados into Gatwick – on these routes, your pet must be accompanied.

Sedation

Virgin Atlantic Airways will not be able to accept any pets who are under sedation.

Food before the flight

It’s best not to feed your pet up to five hours before check in, although you should make sure it has water. We provide water prior to take off and on arrival at destination.

Barbados, Boston, Chicago, Cape Town, Dubai, Hong Kong, JFK, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, Orlando, San Francisco, Sydney, Washington.

Please note:

Chicago and Cape Town are seasonal.

For the following 3 routes, you can only travel with pets on the flight numbers listed below:

JFK - VS045 / VS046.
Los Angeles - VS007 / VS008.
Newark VS001 - / VS002 .

There is an embargo on these flights into the UK between 01 June - 30th September 2011:

Miami - VS005 / VS006.
Orlando - VS015 / VS016.

There is a lot of paperwork to consider when flying with your four legged friend.

If you’re flying to the UK, your pet should have passed the UK’s Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). Please visit the DEFRA website or call the Pets Travel Scheme helpline on + 44 (0) 870241 1710 (open Monday to Friday between the hours of 8am and 6pm, UK time).

There are significant changes to the scheme being implemented from 1st January 2012, so please check the website to ensure that your pet is compliant.

Here’s more on the paperwork you’ll need, according to your destination:

Flights to the USA

Obtain an Export Health Certificate from your vet, within 10 days before your flight. This is basically a ‘fit-to-fly’ letter and must be on the vet’s letter-headed paper. Alternatively, if you have a pet passport you can get it stamped by the vet and use this as the Export Health Certificate.
Some states may ask you for proof of your dogs rabies inoculations. If you do not have this information available you may be asked to do this on arrival.

Flights to Johannesburg

An Import Permit from Pretoria
An Export Health Certificate from DEFRA (6256 EHC for dogs and 6257 EHC for cats)

Flights to Barbados

An Import Permit from the Ministry of Agriculture in Barbados
An Export Health Certificate from DEFRA (3890 EHC)

Flights to Dubai

An Import Permit from the Ministry of Environment and Water in Dubai
An Export Health Certificate from DEFRA (3926 EHC)
All rabies inoculation certificates (or a pet passport containing rabies inoculation details)
Your pet must also be micro-chipped or tattooed

Flights to Hong Kong

An Import Permit from the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
An Export Health Certificate from DEFRA (3472 EHC)
A signed statement from the shipper, stating the animal has been a resident in the UK since birth or for the last six months

Flights to Australia

Due to the complexity of paperwork required to enter Australia, VAA will only accept bookings from commerical pets. For further information please call the Virgin Shipping team on 0844 873 8000.

The cost of taking your dog or cat on one of our flights depends on the size of its travel box. Give us a call with the length, height and width of the box and we’ll be able to give you an exact quote.

Also note that your trusty pet will earn you 1,000 bonus Flying Club miles – just remember to ask for details when you book your tickets.

It is the owner's responsibility, based on the regulations below to determine the correct sized travelling cage. As all dogs and cats are different sizes, we cannot advise you on what cage to obtain. If the cage is judged to be too small for your pet to safely travel onboard our flight, they will be refused travel.

• All cages must have a central locking mechanism
• The minimum size cage VAA will accept for travel is 53 x 40 x 38 cms (21 x 16 x 15 inches)
• Be made of wood or hard plastic
• Be rigid on all sides (non-collapsible) and not have a roof with a grill that opens
• Have an appropriate sized water dish attached to the inside of the cage door
• Must be ventilated around all four sides
• Have a leak-proof base
• Have absorbent material in the bottom – for the comfort of your pet
• Have a door forming one side of the box – either hinged or sliding
• Be big enough to allow your pet to lie down, turn around and stand up – leaving at least 5cm (2”) between the top of your pet’s head and the roof of the box.