Virgin Atlantic Airlines
Psychiatric Service
Dog Policy

Virgin Atlantic Airlines Main Takeaways:

Psychiatric service dogs fly free on all flights with required documentation for your disability.
Emotional support animals are no longer recognized as service animals and cannot travel on Virgin Atlantic.
Your dog must perform trained tasks for your mental health disability, not just provide comfort through its presence.
One service dog per passenger on Virgin Atlantic flights.
Required documentation includes DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form for U.S. flights and 72-hour advance notification.
Service dogs must remain tethered to seat belt with safety harness and fit within your foot space without encroaching on other passengers.
You must notify Virgin Atlantic at least 72 hours in advance as assistance dogs cannot be booked online.

Understanding Virgin Atlantic Airlines’ Service Animal Policy

Virgin Atlantic Airlines welcomes passengers with disabilities traveling with trained service dogs on all flights. Service dogs travel free of charge in the aircraft cabin and receive full protection under applicable disability laws. Virgin Atlantic explicitly recognizes psychiatric alert dogs among accepted assistance dogs. This guide covers current regulations, required documentation, and what to expect when flying with a psychiatric service dog on Virgin Atlantic from the United States.

The Air Carrier Access Act: Federal Law Governing Airline Policies

The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), enacted in 1986 and codified at 49 U.S.C. § 41705, prohibits discrimination against air travelers with disabilities. Enforced by the U.S. Department of Transportation through 14 CFR Part 382, the ACAA applies to all U.S. airlines and foreign airlines operating flights to or from the United States. The law requires airlines to allow trained service dogs in the cabin at no charge, provide boarding assistance, and make reasonable accommodations for passengers with disabilities.

Virgin Atlantic, as a UK-based airline operating flights to and from the United States, complies with ACAA requirements. Virgin Atlantic accepts psychiatric service dogs at no cost, processes required DOT documentation, and ensures passengers with service dogs receive equal treatment on all US routes.

Important Policy Change: Emotional Support Animals No Longer Recognized on Flights

Virgin Atlantic does not recognize emotional support animals for cabin travel. This policy applies to all Virgin Atlantic flights worldwide.

Current Virgin Atlantic ESA Policy:

Only trained service dogs are recognized as service animals
Emotional support animals are NOT recognized as service animals
ESAs cannot travel in Virgin Atlantic cabin under any circumstances
Psychiatric service dogs (task-trained) qualify for free accommodation
Stricter documentation requirements including DOT Service Animal Form for U.S. flights

Psychiatric Service Dogs vs. Emotional Support Animals

The key distinction is task training. Psychiatric service dogs must perform specific trained tasks such as interrupting panic attacks, reminding you to take medication, providing tactile stimulation during dissociative episodes, guiding you to safety during psychiatric episodes, waking you from nightmares, or creating physical barriers in crowded spaces. Virgin Atlantic requires documentation confirming your dog has been trained to help you with your medical condition or disability. If your dog only provides comfort without performing trained tasks, it’s not classified as a service dog and cannot travel on Virgin Atlantic.

Advanced Notice

Let Virgin Atlantic know at least 72 hours before your flight that you’re planning to travel with your psychiatric service dog. If possible, contact Virgin Atlantic before booking your flight, as assistance dogs can’t be booked online and Virgin Atlantic may need to limit the number of dogs carried in the cabin.

Submit your DOT Service Animal Form before your flight for validation. Virgin Atlantic must receive and process the form before departure. If you purchase tickets less than 72 hours before departure, contact Virgin Atlantic immediately, though last-minute bookings may not allow sufficient time for documentation processing.

Contact Virgin Atlantic by phone at 1-800-862-8621 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or Special Assistance line at 1-888-747-7474. You can also email at [email protected] or complete their online assistance dog form with the following details: your booking reference, flight number and date of flight. If your itinerary includes flights operated by partner airlines, contact them directly to confirm their service dog guidelines.

Get Your PSD Letter Now

Virgin Atlantic Airlines PSD Requirements

DOT Service Animal Form Requirements

The U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form is mandatory for psychiatric service dogs on U.S. flights. You must:

Attest to your dog’s health, training and behavior
Confirm your dog is trained to behave properly in public settings
Verify your dog won’t pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others
For flights over eight hours, complete the DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form attesting your dog can refrain from relieving itself or do so sanitarily using absorbent pads

Download the form from transportation.gov or Virgin Atlantic’s website and submit before your flight for validation. Virgin Atlantic must process the form before departure.

Training Requirements for Psychiatric Service Dogs

Virgin Atlantic requires that your psychiatric service dog has received sufficient training. Before Virgin Atlantic welcomes your dog into the cabin, they’ll need documentation to confirm the level of training your dog has. Service dogs must be individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a psychiatric disability.

Health Certificate Requirements

Health certificate requirements vary based on travel direction and destination. You must have all necessary health and vaccination certificates, permits and documents for your assistance dog for the duration of your journey.

Traveling to the United Kingdom: Dogs entering the UK must meet Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) requirements including microchip, rabies vaccination (administered at least 21 days before travel), USDA health certificate, and tapeworm treatment. Contact your USDA-accredited veterinarian 4-6 weeks before departure.
Traveling to the United States: Must comply with CDC requirements effective August 1, 2024 including dogs being 6+ months old, valid rabies vaccination, microchip, and CDC Dog Import Form. The UK is a low-risk rabies country, so returning to the US is straightforward with proper documentation.
International destinations: Health and vaccination requirements vary by destination. Check specific country requirements well in advance through the consulate, embassy, or appropriate government authority.

Breed Restrictions

Virgin Atlantic cannot accept snub-nosed breeds in the cabin. This includes Pekingese, all Pug breeds, Boston Terrier, Brussels Griffon, English Toy Spaniel, Japanese Chin, English Bulldog, French Bulldog, and Shih Tzu. Virgin Atlantic also cannot accept any dog listed under the UK Dangerous Dogs Act including Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Boerboel and Bully Kutta, and Japanese Tosa.

Cross-breeds with snub-nosed breeds may be accepted if the predominant snub features are not around the nasal area. Photographs must be supplied before booking for Virgin Atlantic evaluation.

Behavior Standards During Flight

Your psychiatric service dog must be tethered to your seat belt using a safety harness at all times in the airport and on the aircraft. All assistance dogs must remain restrained throughout the flight. The dog must stay under your control within your foot space throughout the entire flight.

Your dog must behave appropriately without excessive barking, biting, jumping, or displaying aggression toward passengers or crew. Dogs cannot occupy seats or tray tables, and cannot block aisles or emergency exits.

Virgin Atlantic may refuse transport for operational or safety reasons, if your dog appears to have a contagious or life-threatening disease, if it could cause flight diversion or operational disruption, or if doing so would contravene laws of the country of departure, entry or transit.

Seating Rules for Psychiatric Service Dog Handlers

Your psychiatric service dog must fit within your foot space without intruding on other passengers’ space. Virgin Atlantic accepts one service dog per person. Virgin Atlantic may need to limit the number of dogs carried in the cabin, which is why 72-hour advance notification is required.

No Fees for Psychiatric Service Dogs

Psychiatric service dogs travel completely free under applicable disability laws. Virgin Atlantic cannot charge for cabin access, documentation processing, or any disability-related accommodations. You only pay for your own passenger ticket.

Emotional Support Animals: Traveling as Pets on Virgin Atlantic Flights

Emotional support animals are no longer recognized as service animals on Virgin Atlantic. Your ESA must travel as a pet in cargo if you wish to transport them. Virgin Atlantic does not accept pets in the cabin under any circumstances.

ESA Pet Fees

Contact Virgin Atlantic’s cargo shipping department directly for current pet cargo fees. Fees vary based on route, pet size, and crate dimensions. Virgin Atlantic does not accept pets daily on all flights, check with the shipping department for days of operation. Book pet travel at least four hours before departure through the cargo facility. Pets cannot be booked online.

Pet Carrier Size Requirements

Virgin Atlantic requires crates with minimum external measurements of 53 x 40 x 38 cm. Crates must be non-collapsible, made from wood or hard plastic, securely locking, well-ventilated on all sides, with leak-proof bottom and attached water dish. The crate must allow your pet to stand, turn around, sit, and lie down comfortably.

You must submit a photograph of your pet alongside their crate after booking to verify appropriate size and breed. Failure to provide the photograph may result in travel refusal.

Pet Travel Requirements

Virgin Atlantic accepts only cats and dogs for cargo travel. Pets must be at least 10 weeks old and cannot be sedated before flight. Virgin Atlantic moves pets point-to-point only and does not tranship pets to connecting flights. ESAs traveling as pets receive no special accommodations and are subject to all standard pet cargo policies including breed restrictions and destination limitations.

Virgin Atlantic’s Travel Requirements

Virgin Atlantic has different requirements based on where a passenger travels with a pet.

Domestic

Virgin Atlantic does not operate domestic US flights. For domestic connections with partner airlines, contact those carriers directly as their pet policies differ.

International

Virgin Atlantic does not offer pet travel to all international destinations. Contact the cargo shipping department to confirm pet acceptance on your specific route before booking.

Some destinations require additional import permits and DEFRA Export Health Certificates, including South Africa, Barbados, Hong Kong, Antigua, and St. Lucia. Virgin Atlantic does not carry pets INTO the UK from Hong Kong. Bull Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers cannot travel to St. Lucia.

You are responsible for all documentation and compliance with destination country requirements. Virgin Atlantic will not reimburse costs for pets refused entry due to inadequate documentation.

US Inbound

Dogs entering the U.S. must meet CDC requirements effective August 1, 2024. Requirements vary based on the dog’s location in the previous six months:

Low-risk countries (including UK): Microchip, health verification, 6+ months age, CDC Dog Import Form
High-risk countries (U.S. vaccinated): Above plus U.S. rabies vaccination certification
High-risk countries (non-U.S. vaccinated): Additional documentation required

Visit cdc.gov/importation/dogs for country classifications and complete requirements.