How to Fly Your Pets Into Spain

I flew my cats from Gatwick into Malaga Airport via British Airways who I have to say were excellent. They had to fly in a special aircraft which had a section between the passenger cabin and the hold which they could travel in, which means that only certain airlines have the right planes to transport pets into Spain.

You also need to purchase a special IATA approved pet carrier to transport your animals (the clue is to look one with an "IATA approved" sticker). Fibre board or wire mesh containers are not suitable for air transportation and the carrier should be correctly sized and meet the following requirements:

It must be large enough for the pet to stand up, turn around and lie down
It must be strong enough to protect your pet during transport, be secure enough to contain it and have sufficient ventilation on all four sides
the door must be secured in such a manner that it will not open accidentally or your pet cannot open it during handling and transport
your pet's nose and paws should not be able to fit through any ventilation opening or door mesh
it must have a water pot and a food container accessible from the outside

When I went to check in at Gatwick Airport I was instantly pulled over to a special desk and told to get the cats weighed (they were being flown as excess baggage). Once I had paid this a telephone call was made to the veterinary centre and a security guard came and took them away to wait there until they were loaded on the plane.

To make life easier I have provided a list below showing which Spanish Airports you can fly into with pets from which UK airports together with details of the airlines you can book with

Alicante - Gatwick - Thomson, Thomas Cook, Monarch: Doncaster - Thomson: Birmingham - Thomson: Glasgow - Thomson: Manchester - Thomson, Monarch: Southampton - Flybe

Almeria - Glasgow - Thomson: Manchester - Monarch: Gatwick - Thomson, Thomas Cook

Barcelona - Gatwick - British Airways: Manchester - Monarch: Heathrow - British Airways

Fuerteventura -Glasgow - Thomson: Gatwick - Thomson, Thomas Cook: Manchester - Thomson: Birmingham - Thomson

Gerona - Gatwick - Thomas Cook, Thomson: Doncaster - Thomson Airways

Granada - Gatwick - Monarch

Gran Canaria - Birmingham - Thomson: Glasgow - Thomson: Gatwick - Thomson, Thomas Cook: Doncaster - Thomson: Manchester - Thomson

Ibiza -Gatwick - Thomas Cook, Monarch, Thomson: Doncaster - Thomson

Jerez -Gatwick - Thomas Cook: Manchester - Monarch

Lanzarote - Birmingham - Thomson: Doncaster - Thomson: Glasgow - Thomson: Gatwick - Thomson, Thomas Cook: Manchester - Thomson, Monarch

Madrid - Heathrow - British Airways: Gatwick - British Airways, Thomson

Menorca - Gatwick - Thomson: Doncaster - Thomson

Malaga - Birmingham - Thomson: Gatwick - Thomson, Thomas Cook, Monarch: Glasgow - Thomson: Heathrow - GB Airways: Doncaster - Thomson: Manchester - Thomson, Monarch: Southampton - Flybe

Murcia - Gatwick - GB Airways, Monarch

Palma - Birmingham - Thomson, Flybe: Gatwick - Thomson, Thomas Cook, Monarch: Heathrow - BMI: Doncaster - Thomson: Glasgow - Thomson: Manchester - Thomson, Monarch:Southampton - Flybe

Reus - Gatwick - Thomas Cook, Thomson: Doncaster - Thomson: Manchester - Thomson

Tenerife North - Gatwick - Monarch

Tenerife South - Birmingham - Thomson: Doncaster - Thomson: Gatwick - Thomson, Thomas Cook: Glasgow - Thomson: Manchester - Thomson, Monarch

Valencia - Doncaster - Thomson: Manchester - Thomson

Check with the airline to check out the timetable of the planes which can transport your pet on your chosen route before you make the booking.

Also check with the airline and the cabin crew on your flight as to where you should go to collect your pet after you land. It you can also ask a member of the ground services (who are usually standing outside the plane) so much the better. I was told to go to left luggage at Malaga to collect my cats but they ended up going round on the luggage carousel. None the worse for wear I must say - just a bit nonplussed!

If you are informed that your pet will be waiting for you in the cargo area at the airport make sure you know where this is as it can be some way from the terminal building.