Commercial
air travel
Cabin, checked baggage and manifest cargo are different services. Each needs its own assessment of eligibility, fees, preparation and handover arrangements.
Separate scope for each transport channel.
More clarity. More accountability.
Because their journey
deserves your confidence.
A proposed quality label for air travel with dogs. Bringing together clear commitments, documented evidence and the experiences of people who travel with them.
Evidence before endorsementA clearly defined scopeThe dog’s welfare in focus
The purpose
A badge should
tell you something
you can verify.
“Dogs welcome” is a starting point.
Knowing what happens next is what matters.
Booking conditions, handling arrangements, unexpected delays: a journey depends on much more than whether a dog is accepted.
Sky Dog Seal is being developed to make providers’ commitments easier to understand and assess. The aim is not to reward the boldest promise, but to recognise clear information, responsible procedures and accountable service.
Built on MyDogCanFly’s work documenting airline policies, the programme would connect published commitments with supporting evidence and traveller feedback.
One identity. Defined areas of assessment.
Different journeys.
The same need for clarity.
Each assessment would cover a named service, not every activity of an airline or partner. Dogs remain the programme’s sole species focus.
Commercial
Assistance
dog travel
Accessible information, clear documentation requirements and appropriate support for disabled travellers accompanied by trained assistance dogs.
Assess the travel service. Never certify the dog or the person’s disability.
Private &
shared flights
Specialist cabin travel, including options for larger dogs. Clear operating responsibilities, space, admission conditions and contingency arrangements.
A premium fare is not evidence of better care.
The proposed framework
Five commitments.
Evidence behind each.
The criteria and assessment methods are in development. Documentary checks and observed practices would be identified separately, so readers can see what was actually verified.
Clear conditions, before booking
Weight and carrier limits, breed restrictions, routes, seasonal conditions and fees stated with their scope and charging basis.
A defined confirmation process
A practical way to confirm the dog’s arrangements for the itinerary, including any operating carrier and connecting flights.
Documented care and responsibilities
Named responsibilities and relevant procedures for preparation, handling and handovers, with attention to the dog’s welfare.
A plan when travel changes
Clear procedures for heat restrictions, delays, missed connections, aircraft changes and refusals of carriage.
Accountability after the journey
A contact for concerns, a complaints process and a commitment to report material changes to the assessed service.
A seal with a public record
Not just a logo.
A reason to trust it.
Every awarded seal would link to a record hosted on MyDogCanFly: the assessed service, applicable criteria, evidence reviewed, limitations and review date.
An airline, charter operator or specialist partner would be assessed only for the responsibilities and services within its stated scope.
Traveller voices
Promises on paper.
Experiences in practice.
Traveller feedback is planned as a complementary source of insight, not a substitute for evidence or professional assessment.
What was promised?
The programme would examine the provider’s information and supporting procedures against published criteria, with a clear record of the checks performed.
What was experienced?
Structured reports would cover booking, communication, charges and handovers. They would distinguish what the traveller observed from what happened out of sight.
- Separate feedback by transport channel and travel date.
- Distinguish verified journeys from unverified reports.
- Show sample size, moderation rules and a right of reply.
A popular service is not automatically a verified service. Public ratings would not override an essential unmet criterion. Feedback collection is not yet open.
For responsible providers
Make good practice
easier to recognise.
- Give travellers a clearer account of what your service does — and does not — offer.
- Help customers prepare better-informed, more relevant enquiries.
- Identify gaps between published policies and the experience delivered.
- Make assessed commitments visible through a transparent record on MyDogCanFly.
Participation would never purchase a favourable assessment. Advertising or referral arrangements would be disclosed and kept separate from evaluation decisions.
Clear boundaries
Confidence needs honesty.
Is Sky Dog Seal already available?
No. This page presents a programme in development. The final criteria, governance, reviewers and award process have not yet been established. No partnerships, endorsements or issued seals are claimed.
Would the seal guarantee safety or acceptance?
No. It would describe an assessment within a defined scope, not guarantee a risk-free journey or boarding for an individual dog. Airline confirmation and appropriate veterinary and destination checks would still be necessary. Accepting more dogs would not, by itself, earn a better assessment.
Would it replace aviation standards or assistance-dog certification?
No. Sky Dog Seal would not replace regulatory approvals, applicable transport standards or specialist certifications. Its assistance-dog scope would assess the travel service, not determine whether a dog or handler qualifies for recognition.
How is Sky Dog Seal connected to MyDogCanFly?
Sky Dog Seal is an initiative developed by MyDogCanFly, not a separate independent regulator. The proposed assessment records and methodology would be hosted on the main website. Providers without a seal would not automatically be considered unsuitable or excluded from the flight-selection tool.