Assistance dogs

Your assistance dog, always with you

An assistance dog is one that has been individually trained by a recognised training centre to perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability or with another assimilated medical condition, whom it accompanies and to whom it is permanently linked.

Assistance dogs recognised by Iberia

We consider the following to be assistance dogs, provided you supply a certificate proving this status:

Guide dogs that help people who are blind or visually impaired.
Service dogs that support people with a physical disability.
Hearing dogs that assist people with impaired hearing, alerting them to certain sounds and their source.
Medical response dogs that assist people who suffer from diabetes, epilepsy or other medical conditions that can cause loss of consciousness or sensory disconnection.
Dogs for people with autism spectrum disorders.
Rescue dogs fully trained to work with government security forces that are accompanying a rescue team, wearing the appropriate harnesses and travelling without occupying a seat.
Dogs in the process of training with a sufficient level to behave appropriately on board, provided they are accompanied by their trainer and have an original certificate issued by the training centre for which they provide services.

Therapy or emotional support dogs

Therapy or emotional support dogs are NOT considered to be assistance dogs and are therefore subject to the same acceptance conditions as those for pets.

At any time

You can do it when you buy your ticket or inform us when you make your booking on the website, preferably 48 hours before the departure of the flight so we can confirm that everything is in order to fly with your assistance dog.

Through:

Flights to and from the USA are also subject to the regulations established by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

In this case, you can take two assistance dogs.

Travelling with an assistance dog

To travel with your assistance dog free of charge on board any of our flights, you must:

Inform us when you buy your ticket that you will be travelling with your assistance dog, either through our Booking offices or through the website when you make your booking. If you don't inform us at the time of purchase or booking, you must do so at least 48 hours before the departure of the flight so that we can confirm that everything is in order to travel with your dog.
Prove that your dog is an assistance dog and that you are its user.
Meet the requirements related to documents, health conditions and control of your dog on board.
Ensure that your assistance dog behaves appropriately on board.

If you do not fulfil any of these requirements, the carriage of your dog will be subject to the conditions established for the Transport of pets.

Flights to/from the United States

Iberia flights to/from the USA are subject to special rules and criteria based on US federal laws governing service animals provisions of 14 CFR Part 382) amended in 2021:

At Iberia we define an assistance dog as any dog, regardless of its race or type, that has been trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability. In these cases, we allow a maximum of two dogs per person.
Preferably, you must inform us at least 48 hours before the departure of your flight that you are travelling with your assistance dog, unless you book last minute, through our Booking offices.
The US Department of Transportation also requires a form to attest the dog's training and behaviour on board. For flights over 8 hours, you must also state that your dog will not to relieve itself and that you assume responsibility for this matter.
Download this form and complete and sign it for presentation to our airport staff before you board.

Accreditation

You must prove this before boarding by presenting one of the following documents:

The dog's official badge and card, letter or accreditation confirming the dog's assistance status and the name of the user, issued by the competent authority of the country or region.
Accreditation, card or document issued by the organisation that trained the assistance dog, stating that the dog is a member of the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) or Assistance Dogs International (ADI), or the guide dog user certificate issued by the Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles (ONCE).

Documents

You must carry out all the legal procedures and submit the required documents, including an official health document proving vaccination as required by the destination country.

To travel to the United Kingdom with your assistance dog, you must fulfil the requirements of the government Pet Travel Scheme.
You must also contact the animal reception centre Animal Aircare at least 72 hours before your flight to process and receive the pre-approval that you will be required to show at the boarding gate.

Location on board

Your assistance dog must sit at your feet without obstructing the aisle or occupying the space intended for other passengers. For safety reasons, you will not be able to sit in the rows next to the emergency exits.

As an exception, if your dog cannot travel safely at your feet, either due to its size or the availability of space on board, we will offer you the option of changing your flight.

Dog's behaviour on board

You must keep it under control at all times, secured by a lead and collar, or a harness or other secure mechanism.
Your dog cannot roam freely around the cabin, occupy the space of other passengers or inconvenience them in any way.
If necessary, you can ask for assistance from the crew to move safely through the cabin and maintain control of your dog.

Reasons for denied boarding

Non-presentation of proof that your dog is an assistance dog.
The dog shows obvious signs of a lack of hygiene or has external parasites, such as fleas or ticks.
The dog behaves aggressively, manifested by growling, barking or trying to bite, which the user cannot control.
The dog is unable to sit quietly at the user's feet, displaying behaviour that may compromise safety or cause disruption on board.