Your guide dog, hearing dog or service dog is warmly welcome to travel with you free of charge on board all our flights.
Please carefully review the instructions below if you are flying with an assistance dog.
Assistance and service dogs
Certain types of assistance and service dogs that have completed qualified training and possess valid documentation are allowed to travel in the cabin on our flights.
Service dogs on official search or rescue missions can be transported in the cabin.
Otherwise, dogs such as assistance or service dogs in training, will be transported in the cargo hold.
| Assistance and service dogs accepted in cabin | Required documents |
| Guide dogs and hearing dogs that assist visually impaired or hearing-impaired individuals | Certificate of training |
| Diabetic alert dogs and seizure alert dogs | Certificate of training |
| Dogs trained to assist physically impaired people in daily life | Certificate of training |
| Psychiatric service dogs* (only on flights to/from the United States) | U.S. DOT Service Animal forms |
| Narcotic detection dogs | Certificate of training and explanation of the mission |
| Search and rescue dogs | Certificate of training and explanation of the mission |
* On our direct flights to or from the United States, passengers are permitted to travel with a psychiatric service dog, that is individually trained to perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability. Please note that emotional support animals are no longer classified as service animals under the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, and Finnair will no longer accept or accommodate the emotional support animal classification.
For direct flights to or from the United States, you need to complete and submit only the following U.S. DOT Service Animal forms to us before your flight:
- U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form
- Additionally, if your flight lasts over 8 hours, the U.S. DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form
Furthermore, there are country-specific regulations for example in Great Britain and Iceland. Please make sure to check the country-specific restrictions in advance from local authorities.
Before your travel
You must inform us at least 48 hours before your flight departure if you are traveling with your assistance or service dog. You can inform us about the dog through the special assistance form. Also, let us know if you need assistance services. We will ask for some details about your dog, such as its breed and size. Log in to Manage Booking to see the status of your request, and when the place for your dog has been confirmed.
Please consider the following when preparing to travel with your dog:
- Make sure your dog has the required vaccinations and certificates for both the departure and destination countries.
- Make sure that you have completed all the required certificates and forms.
- Flying can be exciting for animals, so we recommend that you accustom your dog to travel and various situations that may arise during the journey in advance.
- We recommend that your dog wears a vest or other identifier indicating it is on a work assignment.
At the airport
If you need assistance services, please arrive at least two hours before your flight departure.
You can familiarize yourself with airport services on their websites. For example, Helsinki-Vantaa Airport has toilets for dogs.
During the flight
Your assistance or service dog may travel on the floor in front of your seat. When the fasten seatbelt sign is on, the dog should be under the seat in front. If you are wondering whether there is enough space for your dog in the cabin, ask for more information through the special assistance form.
Please note that the cabin crew is not able to take care of your dog's needs during the flight.
After the flight
If you have prebooked assistance service, an airport assistant will come to meet you at your seat or at the aircraft door after your flight. Other passengers will disembark first so you can leave the aircraft at your own pace. The assistant will escort you through the arrivals hall to your next mode of transportation. If you have a connecting flight, the assistant will escort you to your next flight's departure gate.
When arriving in the United Kingdom with a dog, you must remain on board the aircraft. A local official will meet you to inspect your dog and verify its documentation.
Please be aware that other countries may also have specific regulations requiring your dog to be inspected upon arrival.