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What are the rules for Registered Assistance Dogs/Service Dogs?

Definition
A Registered Assistance Dog (RAD) is a dog that has been trained to assist and support an owner with disabilities (such as being deaf or blind) and registered with either of the following organizations:

Note: In North America and other parts of the World Registered Assistance Dogs may also be referred to as Service Dogs.

We accept Registered Assistance/Service Dogs (or Registered Assistance/Service Dogs in training) that are required to assist and support passengers with special needs on all WOW air flights at no extra charge.

A pre-booked/prior-authorized Registered Assistance/Service Dog is permitted to travel in the aircraft cabin and must lie or sit on the floor in front of its owner, and without blocking the aisle. The animal must be on duty and must be readily identifiable as being a Registered Assistance/Service Dog (e.g., by way of a marked vest or harness). Make sure to harness the dog adequately and muzzle it where and when necessary.

We recommend all passengers traveling with a Registered Assistance/Service Dog to check-in at least 90 minutes before their scheduled departure time.

Note: WOW air is not responsible for verifying that an animal has the necessary documentation, including up-to-date vaccination records, before travel through, to or from any country. It is the responsibility of the person that has paid for the pet's transportation to settle any fines, costs or other expenses incurred as a result of either providing insufficient documentation or from the dog not meeting the animal entry requirements of the passenger‘s destination country.

Terms and Conditions

  • No special charges, weight restrictions or cage requirements apply.

  • The dog may not occupy a seat or the aircraft aisle. If possible, please use a muzzle or a leash, or both, for your assistance/service dog when boarding the aircraft.

  • WOW air does not accept liability if an assistance/service dog is denied entry to a passenger‘s destination country. Where their destination is within the European Union (EU) it is the passenger‘s responsibility to ensure that their assistance/service dog meets entry criteria applied. More information is available at http://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/pet-movement_en

Booking a Registered Assistance/Service Dog
See also “Travel to and from the United Kingdom with a Registered Assistance/Service Dog“ below.

Registered Assistance/Service Dogs must be booked via our Customer Service Center at least 48 hours before departure.

MAST Authorization Process
For a passenger to be able to travel to or via Iceland with a Registered Assistance/Service Dog, they must additionally hold a prior authorization issued by MAST, the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority. MAST requires that travelers with Registered Assistance/Service Dogs complete and return an application for a dog import permit or, for permission to transit in Keflavik Airport with their dog. Find full information at http://www.mast.is/english/frontpage/import-export/import/liveanimals

Per rules and regulations of the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority dogs in transit are not permitted to come in contact with other animals at Keflavik International Airport. Passengers traveling with Registered Assistance/Service Dogs, who are connecting through Keflavik Airport must wait for their connecting flight in a designated area of the terminal. At the time of departure, a member of airport staff will accompany the passenger and their Registered Assistance/Service Dog to the departure gate.

Identification of a Registered Assistance/Service Dog
A Registered Assistance/Service Dog‘s status must be easily recognizable. The dog should be wearing a tag, vest or harness identifying it as an assistance/service dog and the owner must have all certification/documentation required by the destination state which the dog will be entering. Please note that a written confirmation stating a passenger's need to travel with an assistance/service dog may only be required if a verbal assurance is not considered credible.

Travel to and from the United Kingdom with a Registered Assistance/Service Dog
Note: At present, WOW air is approved to carry pre-booked/pre-authorised Registered Assistance/Service Dogs between Keflavik International Airport and London-Gatwick Airport ONLY. We are applying to have this approval extended to include other United Kingdom airports.  Upon approval, we will update this web page accordingly.

Procedure for Registered Assistance/Service Dogs Travelling to London Gatwick
Prior to contacting the WOW air Customer Service Center any passenger wishing to travel to London-Gatwick Airport with a Registered Assistance/Service Dog must have pre-advised the airport‘s Animal Reception Centre (“ARC“) and must have been provided by ARC with a pre-approval letter for the transport of their dog. There is no charge applied by WOW or ARC for the pre-clearance and handling of a Registered Assistance/Service Dog arriving at London-LGW.

  • Any WOW air passenger wishing to travel to London-LGW with a Registered Assistance/Service Dog must contact the airport´s Animal Reception Center (ARC) at least 48 hours prior to their departure, by telephone +44 (0)1293 555580 or by email to office@animalaircare.co.uk or bookings@animalaircare.co.uk

  • ARC will request and check all associated documentation for the dog (including vaccination records) and if everything is in order, they will email the passenger back with a pre-approval letter*.

    *the pre-approval letter issued by ARC is not a pre-clearance document and will not guarantee that the dog will subsequently pass the United Kingdom‘s entry requirements on the day of arrival. If upon arrival at London Gatwick airport, the dog fails the ARC checks then the passenger will be responsible for all associated charges and expenses. 

  • Once the passenger has received a pre-approval letter from ARC at London-Gatwick Airport they should then contact the WOW air Customer Services Center to make a booking for their dog.

  • The passenger must travel with all original documentation/certification for the dog, as advised by ARC.

  • At London-Gatwick Airport ARC staff will come onto the arriving WOW aircraft to scan the dog's microchip and check its documentation.

  • Once the dog has passed the ARC checks on the aircraft, the passenger is provided with a certificate and is free to proceed via the regular route for arriving international passengers. The passenger must report to the Red Customs Channel and present the license issued to them by the ARC staff on the aircraft.