Air travel with your pet can be a stressful experience for both of you. What do you need to bear in mind if you want to fly to Mallorca with your pet? Good preparation is vital to ensure that everything runs smoothly on the day.
It is important to start making arrangements in good time before your planned flight – ideally at least two months in advance.
Prior to travelling, you will need to:
On the day of travel, please consider the following:
If you are flying between Mallorca and another EU member state with a dog, cat, or ferret, your pet must:
Slightly different rules apply if you are travelling with other pets:
If you are travelling to Mallorca from a country that is not in the European Union, your pet will need the following documentation:
In addition to the above, your pet must be
Depending on which country you are flying from, your pet may need to have undergone a rabies serological test at an authorised laboratory. Please enquire with your airline to find out whether this is needed.
Please note that your pet’s microchip will need to be readable with EU scanners. Chips can differ from country to country. Therefore, even if it is already chipped, it may need to undergo the process again.
If you are flying from Mallorca to a non-EU country, you will need to check the regulations for the country you are travelling to. Please see here for information on bringing a pet to Great Britain.
Good preparation is vital if you want to travel to Mallorca with your pet.
This will be different from airline to airline and will also depend on the country you are travelling to and from. As a general rule, animals are mostly required to travel in the hold. If the airline does permit pets in the cabin, your pet must meet certain requirements such as weighing less than 8 kilos (including the pet carrier) and being able to fit under the seat in front of you. This rule does not apply to guide dogs who are allowed to travel in the cabin with their owner.
Generally speaking, if you want to travel with your pet to or from Mallorca, it will have to travel in a pressurised cargo hold. While this might raise concerns, it is reassuring to note that thousands of pets travel around the world this way every year.
Nearly all airports have specially designated special grassy areas where pets can relieve themselves prior to being handed over to the airline for loading. Once you hand your pet over to the ground staff you will not be able to see it again until you arrive at your destination.
On arrival at your destination airport, you will need to go to the ‘Animal Claim’ desk to pick up your pet. This can be found in the Baggage Reclaim area.
No. It’s preferred that pets fly with an empty stomach. As mentioned above, IATA recommends a light meal about 2 hours before handing your pet to the airline staff. Water containers that should be fitted to the travel containers will be refilled on departure.
The use of sedatives can have injurious effects on the animal’s health due to adverse reactions and therefore isn’t recommended.
More information can be obtained on the IATA website and on the Spanish Government website, as well as from your airline.
Assistance/guide dogs on domestic and international routes are allowed on most airlines. If you wish to travel with a recognised assistance/guide dog please contact your airline for further information.
Until recently, it was not possible to take your pet on public transport in Palma. However, since 17/1/2022, pets are allowed on the EMT buses in Palma. Dogs need to be on a lead and wear a muzzle. You will also need to purchase a bus ticket for your dog, which costs € 0,30. Smaller pets will need to be in a carrier and can be taken on the bus free of charge.