BWIA will give the greatest care when handling your pet or live animals. Particular care must be taken to give the greatest possible sense of security to animals not accustomed to humans. When your pet is awaiting dispatch or delivery, they will be held in areas, which are draft free and in a temperature suitable for the particular species.

The transportation of your pets in the cabin is not accepted, except guide dogs accompanying visually or hearing impaired passengers.

Before your pet can be accepted for transportation, you will need to notify BWIA Cargo at least 72 hours in advance. If you pet is travelling as part of checked baggage allowance, please contact BWIA Reservations.

Acceptance of Carriage
Your pet and other live animals will only be accepted for transportation provided they appear to be in good health and condition, safely contained and accompanied by valid health and vaccination certificates, as well as entry permits and other documents required by countries of departure, transit or entry.

The transportation of pets in the cabin is not accepted; however “Seeing Eye/Hearing Aid Dogs” may be accepted in the cabin except when destined to the United Kingdom at which time it must be carried as cargo and loaded in the cargo hold. If transiting Barbados, a permit must be obtained.

These dogs must be muzzled and harnessed while positioned at the passenger's feet in the cabin. If possible, an empty seat may be kept for the dog so that it will not inconvenience the other passengers or the Flight Attendants in the performance of their duties, as well as provide added comfort to other passengers.

Under certain operating conditions, such as long haul non-stop flights, or on certain types of aircraft, it may be impractical to carry a dog on the aircraft. Under such conditions, transportation in the cabin will be refused. Guide Dogs when being transported to the United Kingdom, may only be carried in a nose and paw-proof crate or container as manifested Cargo covered by an Air Waybill and not as baggage.

Special attention should be paid to the following points:
• documentation include shipper’s certification and documents required at destination
• containers conform to the principles of design
• marking and labelling
• reservations and routing

What documentation do I need?
Before any live animal is accepted for transportation, the destination station must receive prior notification of its arrival at least 72 hours in advance.

In most instances you will be required to get the following documents:
1. An import / export permit.
2. Veterinary / health / vaccination certificates.

It is advisable that you contact the Consulate of the respective country concerned to find out if you require any other documentation.

Customers wishing to import animals from any quarantine area must ensure that the destination quarantine facility / holding area can accept and hold animal for the duration of the quarantine period before the station or origin is advised that the animal can be accepted for transportation.

The veterinary officer must be notified, as well as, be present for the arrival of your pet or live animal.

Transiting Barbados
A transit permit must be obtained from Barbados for all pets and live animals transiting Barbados. This applies even if animals will not be offloaded.

Please supply our reservations agent with the following info:
1. Animal's itinerary
2. Description of animal
3. Number of animals
4. Origin of animal

For a change of flight at Barbados, a government officer must be present if this transfer of flights takes place outside government hours of 0815-1600 or on weekends/holidays. A fee of USD 50.00 is required in such cases. All are asked strictly to comply with this requirement.

Transiting Trinidad & Tobago
A transit permit must be obtained from Trinidad for all pets and live animals transiting Trinidad and Tobago. This applies even if animals will not be offloaded.

To obtain a transit permit, the passenger must contact the Ministry of Agriculture at Tel: (868) 625 5997 or (868) 625 1473 or via Facsimile (868) 625 5993.

To issue a permit the Ministry needs the following information:
Type of Animal
Country of origin and destination
Flight information

The permit will be issued within 24 hours. On issuance of the transit permit, the passenger must advise the veterinarian attached to the Ministry to facilitate the inspection of the animal upon arrival into Trinidad or Tobago. The relevant office can be contacted at (868) 662 5986 between 8am - 4pm, Monday - Friday.

Please supply our reservations agent with the following info:
1. Animal's itinerary
2. Description of animal
3. Number of animals
4. Origin of animal
5. Permit

All are asked strictly to comply with this requirement.