Most people have, at some time or other, come across a blind person with a guide dog in a shop, restaurant or on a train – but guide dogs on planes are far less common. As a guide dog handler with over nine years of experience, I’ve learnt all about the benefits that guide dogs can have over other mobility aids. My guide dog gives me a lot of freedom – canes are great for finding obstacles, but a guide dog is an obstacle-avoider. Just this distinction – having a guide dog who dynamically avoids obstacles that I can’t see – makes travelling feel like so much less of a chore.
My guide dog Molly has been taught the “straight line principle” (where she knows to walk in a straight line unless an obstacle is in her path), and she knows how to find key objectives, so having her with me when I travel in new environments abroad is so helpful. The “follow” command is a game changer when I’m holding multiple bags or when I need to weave around tight spaces – she follows the person in front of me. I know how important it is for me to have my guide dog with me when I travel, and how much I appreciate when others are aware of the ins and outs of travelling with a guide dog on a plane. So below, I’ve rounded up everything you need to know.
How do you train guide dogs for flying on planes?
Guide Dogs For The Blind UK has specific guidance and rules when flying with your assistance dog. I had to undertake specific training with a guide dog mobility instructor who accompanied myself and Molly on a flight to Edinburgh and back (the idea being that if the dog doesn’t like any part of the journey, you both can travel back by train instead). The training involves getting your dog used to unfamiliar environments, breaking routines, introducing new climates and trialling noises. My instructor took me through how to put a Julius-K9 harness and belt on my dog and strapping her into an empty seat (some airlines assign a seat so the dog has room in the footwell).
What else can you do to help prepare a guide dog for flying?
I have a smoky bone for her to chew as the plane takes off, in case her ears pop. When we are in the air, a member of the cabin crew usually asks if she wants any water, and I make sure to have some food and treats for her. I also pre-order food to the hotel for our arrival, and I carry vegetarian treats for her in case I cannot bring meat into the country I am entering. I usually feed her a small meal at least 12 hours before a short flight because of possible restricted loo stops. You can train your dog to use puppy pads on the aircraft if needs be, but consult your instructor and the Guide Dogs UK website for advice. For me, flights of around four or five hours would be ok with my dog, but for anything longer, I would consider leaving her with family. Always consult with Guide Dogs UK for further support. Preparation is key: it is inevitable that there will be roadblocks along the way, so make sure you do your research. Know what your rights are as a disabled person with a guide dog in the country you are flying to.
What are the current rules for flying with guide dogs?
Ahead of flying, you need to ensure you have all the relevant paperwork, including the dog’s International Guide Dog Federation (IDGF) accreditation, a valid passport and any required medical documentation for yourself. If you travel outside of the UK, you need to have a valid animal health certificate – before Brexit, travellers with a guide dog would have to pay a one-time fee for a pet passport that would be valid for the duration of the pet’s life, but now every trip out of the UK needs to involve a vet check-up and a new certificate. This paper expires after five days – if it expires abroad, then you need to visit the vet in the relevant country to come back to the UK.
What are the best airlines for travelling with guide dogs?
I love flying British Airways or EasyJet. Both airlines have developed guides on the mandatory use of dog restraining harnesses in the cabin of an aircraft, working alongside Airlines UK and Guide Dogs UK. The Civil Aviation Authority (the regulator for aviation in the UK) says that “airlines must accept all assistance dogs for air travel without charge”. In the USA there are very similar regulations, but as a guide dog owner, it’s best to research what airlines are registered in each country so you know what your rights are, and what to expect on each flight. For example, there are certain airlines that do not guarantee extra seats for guide dogs, and enforce muzzling.
What problems have you faced when travelling with guide dogs?
I often get anxious when travelling with airlines that I’ve not flown with before. Staff on the plane always talk me through the amenities and allow me to touch the safety apparatus, but there have been times when I have not been told what to do with my guide dog in an emergency. In my experience, not a lot of airports have spending areas for guide dogs once you are past security, so I usually ask the airport staff to assist us to a tarmac area, but often I am met with resistance. At a UK airport, I was once told that someone would take my dog to spend for me because I was not allowed to go in that specific area – I politely declined, but it has further proven that airports and airlines need to do more to support blind travellers with guide dogs.
I have had many airline staff say to me they have been working in this job for over 15 years, and my dog is the first they have ever seen to fly in the cabin. There are a lot of hoops to jump through, and it can feel very daunting. Do your research and talk to Guide Dogs UK for any support and advice you need in advance of your trip.