TUI Airways Pet Policy

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When transporting a pet by a commercial airline, it is extremely important to understand their pet policy. These policies vary between airlines. Some allow small pets to fly in the cabin and others don’t. It is important to know the answers to all your questions before making your decision to fly your pet on any commercial airline. Can my pet fly in the cabin on TUI Airways? How much does it cost to fly a dog or cat on TUI Airways? What documents will I need? What are the carrier or crate requirements for TUI Airways? All your answers related to TUI Airways pet policy are answered below.

Note: It is important to mention that the pet policy of the airline that operates your pet’s route will preside over the policy of the airline that owns the route. This is important to note because if the operating airline changes during your trip, then you will likely need to claim and recheck your pet on the next airline. This will cause you to clear customs and enter the layover country. You will need time and extra documentation to accommodate this process during the layover unless flying domestically.

Classes of service offered to pets by commercial airlines

  • In-Cabin: Pets traveling in the cabin must fly with an adult passenger and travel in an airline compliant
    carrier stowed under the seat.
  • Checked Baggage: Pets traveling with a passenger that are not permitted in the cabin due to size or breed can be transported as checked baggage in the cargo hold.
  • Air Cargo: Unaccompanied, very large pets or pets flying to countries that require that pets enter under air cargo will travel as manifest cargo in the hold.

Can my pet fly with me in the cabin? Yes (Certain Flights)
Can my pet fly with me as checked baggage? Yes
Can my pet fly as manifest cargo? No

Where is TUI Airways based?

TUI Airways [IATA:BY] has flights from the United Kingdom and Ireland to destinations in Europe, Africa, Asia and North America.

What countries does TUI Airways fly to?

TUI Airways offers service to pets to the following countries: Algeria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Croatia, Curacao, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Gambia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Senegal, Serbia, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey.

If your dog or cat meets the requirements listed in TUI Airways’ pet policy to fly in the cabin, it will need an airline-compliant pet carrier unless you are flying with a service dog who is trained to assist you in a task required to address a physical or medical disability.

Pets flown by TUI Airways in the cabin

Small dogs and cats can fly in the cabin on TUI Airways. Pets must be clean, healthy, harmless and mannerly.

Reservations

Reservations for your pet to fly on TUI Airways can be made online.

Age/Weight requirements

Tui Fly permits small dogs up to 6kg (including carrier weight) to travel in the cabin.

Pet carrier requirements

Your pet’s carrier must:

  • Have adequate ventilation on at least three sides (domestic) or four sides (international)
  • Be large enough for your pet to stand up and turn around comfortably
  • Be able to accommodate your entire pet. No part of your pet can extend out of the carrier
  • Be able to fit under the seat in front of you
  • Have a waterproof bottom and absorbent pet pad
  • Have secure fasteners (heavy duty zippers are recommended)

Pets must fly in airline-compliant carriers not exceeding 20″L x 40″W x 8″H (55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm). Soft-sided carriers
are accepted and must be able to fit under the seat in front of you. Pets must remain in their carriers for the duration of the flight.

Exit row or bulkhead seats cannot be reserved when flying with a pet.

Related: Selecting a pet carrier that is airline compliant

Forms required

Tui Fly agents will need to see EU Pet Passports as well as rabies and health certificates. All pets flying in Tui Fly must be microchipped. Documentation for your pet’s destination country will also need to be verified.

The passenger assumes full responsibility and expense for complying with applicable laws, customs and/or other governmental regulations, requirements, or restrictions of the country, state or territory to and from which your pet is being transported. Upon arrival, health certificates, import permits, and other papers may be required by local authorities depending upon the route on which your pet is traveling.

Related: Regulations and forms required to import a pet to over 220 countries

Check in

Your pet should be presented at the departure airport ticket counter in its carrier at least two hours prior to departure.

Related: How to clear airport security with a pet

Service dog pet policy

All service dogs may fly in the cabin at no charge. They must be trained by an organization that specializes in service dog training to provide specific tasks for a person with a disability. Notice must be provided to the airline at least 48 hours prior to departure.

Service dogs must be suitably marked, harnessed and leashed. They must fit in the space provided at their passenger’s feet without intruding on cabin operations or other passengers. They will not be seated in exit rows. They must be clean, mannerly and not show any signs of aggression toward other passengers or the flight crew.

All service dogs are subject to the same requirements as regular dogs when traveling internationally. All required documentation required for the destination country must be provided at check in.

If the size of your pet is too large to fit in an airline-compliant pet carrier, it will be transported as checked baggage on TUI Airways if it is flying with an adult passenger. This section of the cargo department has the same temperature and pressure as the passenger cabin.

Live animals are checked in by reservation employees and are checked in at the airport terminal. The airline will move your pet between aircraft in their fleet during layovers if the layover is not over about three hours in length.

Pets flown by TUI Airways as checked baggage

Dogs and cats can fly TUI Airways as checked baggage.

Reservations

Reservations for your pet to fly on TUI Airways can be made online.

Age requirements

The minimum age requirement will depend on the pet import requirements of the destination country. For example, all pets imported to EU Member countries that TUI Airlines serves will require a rabies vaccination no sooner than three months and 21 days before travel.

Pet crate requirements

Crates must not exceed 32.6″ (83 cm) in height. All crates must conform to regulations imposed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For more information, see PET CRATE REQUIREMENTS below.

Forms Required

Tui Fly agents will need to see EU Pet Passports as well as rabies and health certificates. All pets flying in Tui Fly must be microchipped. Documentation for your pet’s destination country will also need to be verified.

The passenger assumes full responsibility and expense for complying with applicable laws, customs and/or other governmental regulations, requirements, or restrictions of the country, state or territory to and from which your pet is being transported. Upon arrival, health certificates, import permits, and other papers may be required by local authorities depending upon the route on which your pet is traveling.

Related: Regulations and forms required to import a pet to over 220 countries

Check in

Your pet should be presented at the departure airport ticket counter in its carrier at least two hours prior to departure.

Pet import requirements for over 220 countries worldwide

TUI Airways does not offer air cargo services to any live animal.

Get a free quote for ground or air pet transport

All pet crates must conform to regulations set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The container must be large enough for your pet(s) to stand, turn around, and lie down. The crate must be made of fiberglass, metal, rigid plastics, weld metal mesh, solid wood or plywood.

The crate door must have a secure, spring-loaded, all-around locking system with the pins extending beyond the horizontal extrusions above and below the door. The floor must be waterproof. The crate must not have wheels attached when checking your pet. Metal hardware should be used to fasten the top and bottom halves of your pet crate together. TUI Airways requires either metal or plastic nuts and bolts threaded with metal inserts to secure both halves of the crate.

All crates must be labeled with LIVE ANIMAL stickers and a Shipping Declaration that includes feeding and watering instructions. All food and water should be provided.

Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?

All pets should be acclimated to their crates prior to travel. This may take weeks or even months to accomplish; however it is the best thing you can do for your pet before flying.

Related: Acclimating your pet to its crate or carrier

When temperatures rise above or drop under certain levels, commercial airlines will prohibit the transport of live animals in the cargo hold. These restrictions are implemented for the safety of your pet. It is important to note that the risk from high or low temperatures is not when your pet is airborne. The risks come during preflight holding, loading on the tarmac and taxiing to the take-off runway.

Pets will not be accepted as checked baggage or air cargo when actual or forecasted temperatures are above 85°F (29.4°C) or below 45°F (7.2°C) at any airport on the itinerary. Pets may be accepted at temperatures below 45°F with an acclimation certificate, however, no pet will be transported at temperatures lower than 20°F (-6.6°C).

Note that the temperature restrictions for summer travel are lower for brachycephalic (snub-nosed) pets.

Cold-blooded animals are exempt from these restrictions.

Related: Why temperatures matter for pets flying in the cargo hold

Tui Fly Airlines does not publish a list of breed restrictions and owners of snub-nosed breeds should contact Tui Airlines for confirmation that they will carry their pet. Pet owners are cautioned to protect their pet by transporting them in a crate one size larger than normally required and avoid travel times where temperatures exceed 85°F.

Related: Risks for snub-nosed pets flying in the cargo hold

Pet friendly private jet charter

Another option for pet owners who do not want their pet to fly in the cargo hold is a pet-friendly private jet charter. Your pet can fly in your lap, at your feet or beside you comfortably without being confined. We can arrange flights from anywhere in the world to anywhere you need to go on your time schedule, without the crowds or commotion of a commercial airport.

The information published here is a guideline for TUI Airways pet policy. For more pet friendly airline pet policies, click the banner below.

Click here for more airline pet policies

Further Reading

How to keep your pet safe when flying in the cargo hold
Tips for airline pet travel
Requirements for a pet transiting a country by air
When do you need a pet transporter?
Routing your pet’s flight
Flying with a snub-nosed breed
More information on airline pet travel

Have a comment or question about transporting a pet with TUI Airways? Post it below and we will respond. You can also reach out by posting to our Blog, X (Twitter), Facebook, or Email or follow our activities on Instagram and TikTok.

To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given airline may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to deny your pet boarding privileges at the time of check in. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following TUI Airways pet policy.

Comments

8 responses to “TUI Airways Pet Policy”

  1. Lesley Beaver Avatar
    Lesley Beaver

    We are travelling to Spain, Malaga Airport in January next year returning end March. Is it possible to take my 11.5kg cockerpoo in the hold out wood and return from London Gatwick. I await you response.

    Many thanks
    Lesley Beaver

    1. Susan Avatar

      Lesley – yes, it is possible to import your Cockerpoo to Spain and return from Gatwick. Unless you will be spending less than 24 hours in Spain (it does not appear this is the case), you will need to see a vet in Spain for a GB Health Certificate within 10 days of entering the UK.Your dog will also need a tapeworm treatment administered between one and five days of entry to the UK. You can find requirements to import your pup to Spain here and to the UK here.

  2. Anne Wolfenden Avatar
    Anne Wolfenden

    Inquiry information please.
    To transport small cat 8months old from Crete to Manchester.June 2025.
    Either from Chania or Heraklion.
    It has Pet passport,Micro chip,
    and is Rabies,vaccinated and wormed.
    We know to reworm before travel.and have health check.

    1. Susan Avatar

      Anne – you will be accompanying your cat? If yes, a current Pet Passport issued in Greece is the best option to import your cats. You can travel in and out of the UK with the passport until your cats need to be revaccinated for rabies. If you will not be accompanying your cat, it cannot fly to Manchester. It must enter the UK at Heathrow or Gatwick. Unless you are traveling with or within 5 days of your cat, then the transport will be classified as commercial and a health certificate must be issued and endorsed in Greece within 48 hours of travel. There are also other requirements that can be found here: https://www.pettravel.com/information/pet-passports/united-kingdom-pet-import-requirements/.

  3. John Wilson Avatar
    John Wilson

    Hi
    We have a 15kg Springer Spaniel with an EU Pet Passport.
    Is it possible to fly her with us to Menorca, from Bournemouth in July and return in September?
    Thanks

    1. Susan Avatar

      John – if your spaniel’s Pet Passport has all current vaccinations recorded in it (especially rabies), then you can use it to travel to Spain and return to the UK. If not, then your pet will need an Animal Health Certificate to travel to Spain.

  4. cindy lee wood Avatar
    cindy lee wood

    Hello I will be traveling from Cancun to Amsterdam with Tui.nl and would like to bring my 5 small chihuahua mix dogs with me , can I carry them in the hold of travelling with another passenger ?

    1. Susan Avatar

      Cindy Lee – according to IATA regulations, 2 pets of the same species and equal weight and under 14 kg can travel in the same crate. One of your Chihuahuas may be able to fly in the cabin if small enough. You will need to contact TUI.nl to confirm that they adhere to these regulations.

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