MADLHR
Flying with your pet from Madrid (MAD) to London Heathrow (LHR)
What to check before booking: which airlines take your pet, at what price, and what entry into London Heathrow requires.
2 airlines accept your pet on this route. Minimum lead time: 25 days.
Rules verified on September 16, 2026
Blockers on this route
- The UK runs its own regime: no pet in cabin on any airline, DEFRA-approved carrier required.
- Tapeworm treatment (Echinococcus multilocularis) required between 120 and 24 hours before arrival — given by a vet, with the date and time recorded on the certificate, or entry is refused. No earlier than 120 hours, no later than 24: both ends bind.
- Heat embargo likely: most airlines close the hold above 27-29 °C on the ground, May to September.
- No airline accepts pets in cabin on this route: hold, cargo, or a pet-dedicated flight.
Minimum lead time
25 Allow at least 25 days between the first vet step and departure.
The dated plan for your pet
Free search: the airlines that accept your pet on this route, their transport mode and their fees. The full dated plan is €19, a single payment.
See the airlines for MAD → LHRAirlines on this route
| Airline | Travels as | Pet fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iberia | Cargo | 90-110 EUR Spain · 135-145 EUR Europe · 290-310 EUR Amérique/Asie (par segment, depending on weight) | Verified at source |
| British Airways | Cargo | IAG Cargo / PetAir UK | Verified at source |
Derived corridor The rules below follow from the same official sources, but this specific route was not re-verified individually — only 9 corridors were. Confirm with your airline and the destination authorities.
What this means in practice
Of the 2 airlines serving Madrid → London Heathrow with a pet, 2 through cargo — a single airline may offer more than one of these.
one of these airlines apply a restriction on short-nosed breeds (British Airways) — a carrier policy, unrelated to the destination country's rules.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take my dog in the cabin from Madrid to London Heathrow?
No: this country requires arrival as cargo. Neither cabin nor hold as checked baggage — manifested cargo, or a pet-dedicated flight.
How long does it take to prepare the trip?
Allow at least 25 days between the first vet step and departure.
What paperwork is required to enter London Heathrow?
An import permit and an endorsed health certificate are generally required — checked against GOV.UK.
Can a large dog travel in the hold on Madrid → London Heathrow?
No airline on this route accepts a pet in the hold as checked baggage. A dog too large for the cabin has to go by cargo, or by another route.
Are short-nosed breeds accepted?
1 of the 2 airlines on this route restrict short-nosed breeds: British Airways. This is a carrier policy driven by respiratory risk, unrelated to the destination country's rules.