Travelling with dogs
Flying to Geneva and the Alps
With Your Dog
Your dog in the cabin rather than the hold. 407 nm from London, about 1 hr 10 min airborne.
From
Farnborough
FAB / EGLF
To
Geneva
GVA / LSGG
- Great-circle distance
- 407 nm
- Est. airborne time
- 1 hr 10 min
- Indicative flying charge
- £7,500
Indicative flying charge only. Pet handling, cleaning fees and any operator pet charges are additional and confirmed with the quotation.
Why people fly to Geneva with a dog
Ski season means long stays, and a chalet is one of the few holidays where bringing the dog is easier than kennelling it. Around ninety minutes airborne.
Worth knowing on this route
Switzerland is outside the EU, which changes the paperwork compared with an EU destination. Geneva is slot restricted at winter weekends, and pet arrangements need to fit inside that.
Coming home is the regulated direction
Flying out of Great Britain is governed by the destination country’s rules. Coming back is where the APHA approved-carrier requirement applies, along with the tapeworm treatment window of 24 to 120 hours before arrival for dogs from most countries. Plan the return before you book the outbound. The rules explained.
Aircraft and costs to Geneva and the Alps with a dog
| Aircraft | Seats | Est. airborne | One way | Out, then back a week later* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop King Air 350 / Pilatus PC-12 | 8 | 1 hr 40 min | £4,000 | £16,000 |
| Light jet Phenom 300 / Citation CJ3+ | 7 | 1 hr 15 min | £4,500 | £18,000 |
| Midsize jet Citation XLS+ | 8 | 1 hr 15 min | £5,500 | £22,000 |
| Super-midsize jet Citation X | 9 | 1 hr 10 min | £7,500 | £30,000 |
Indicative flying charges only, not quotations. *A week away is usually four sectors: you out, the aircraft home empty, out again empty, and you home. If an aircraft is already positioned at either end, or another party fills an empty sector, it costs less. Airport, handling, pet and cleaning charges are additional. Seats are typical for the type; a large dog needs floor space, so plan on one or two seats fewer.
People expect a turboprop to be much cheaper. Per hour it is, but it is slower, so over 600 to 900 nm the total for the trip often comes out close to a light jet. Choose a turboprop for the cabin, the wide door and the short runways at airports like Gloucestershire or Oxford, rather than on the assumption that it saves a lot.
Big dogs are welcome
Airlines that allow dogs in the cabin at all usually cap them at around 8 kg including the carrier, and pets flying into Great Britain on scheduled flights normally travel as cargo. A Labrador, a Bernese or a Great Dane has no cabin option on an airline. On a charter the dog lies on the cabin floor beside you. Floor space decides the aircraft: a King Air or a PC-12 has a large, square cabin and a wide door, and many owners of big dogs prefer one to a small jet. Each operator sets its own limits on size, number and breed, and we confirm them before anything is booked.
Flying from outside London
You do not have to drive to London. Outbound flights can leave from smaller airports closer to home, including Gloucestershire (Staverton), Oxford, Bristol and Birmingham. The return is where the rules apply: a dog arriving in Great Britain must arrive with an operator approved for that route and arrival airport, so the airport you come home to is checked for every trip and may not be the one you left from.
| Departing from | Distance | Est. airborne | One way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gloucestershire (Staverton) Cheltenham, Gloucester, the Cotswolds | 470 nm | 1 hr 25 min | £5,000 |
| Oxford Kidlington Oxfordshire, the Cotswolds | 445 nm | 1 hr 20 min | £5,000 |
| Bristol Bristol, Bath, Somerset, South Wales | 466 nm | 1 hr 25 min | £5,000 |
| Birmingham the Midlands | 483 nm | 1 hr 25 min | £5,000 |
| Farnborough London, Surrey, Hampshire | 407 nm | 1 hr 15 min | £4,500 |
Going regularly with your dogs
If you go back and forth with your dogs several times a year, tell us your usual route and how flexible you are. Aircraft already heading your way, and other owners flying in the opposite direction, are how empty sectors stop being paid for twice. Register your route.
Common questions
Can my dog travel in the cabin to Geneva?
On a qualifying chartered private aircraft your dog can normally travel in the cabin. Operator pet policies vary by size, number and breed, and are confirmed before booking.
How long is the flight to Geneva?
About 1 hr 10 min estimated airborne over 407 nm great-circle from Farnborough. Routing, winds and ATC affect the real figure.
What does my dog need to come back into Great Britain?
A microchip, valid rabies vaccination, the correct travel document and — for dogs from most countries — approved tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before arrival. The carrier must hold APHA approval for the route and arrival airport.
Related
Private jet pet travel · The rules explained · Ibiza with a dog · Nice with a dog · Málaga with a dog
Approval to carry pets into Great Britain belongs to the operating carrier, not to Ben Aviation. We confirm the approving operator, route and arrival airport with your quotation. Requirements change — check current GOV.UK guidance and speak to your vet.
Book direct with a pilot
Enquire about Geneva and the Alps with your dog
Tell us about the dogs as well as the people. Their size and number decide the aircraft.