Flying With Pets on a Private Jet: Pet Meals and Catering Tips
Flying with pets on a private jet is one of the great joys of private aviation. Dogs and cats travel in the cabin with their family, without crates in the hold, and arrive calm and comfortable. Many owners fly with their pets to holiday homes in the Algarve and on the Costa del Sol, from Faro (LPFR / FAO) and Malaga (LEMG / AGP), or to the Riviera and Paris via Nice (LFMN / NCE) and Paris (LFPB / LBG). Global Diners prepares the Global Diners menu for these flights, and our team is happy to think about the four-legged passengers too.
This guide gathers practical catering tips for flights with pets: what to bring, what can be added to the order, how to keep the cabin relaxed and tidy, and how to plan meals for both passengers and pets on longer trips.
Why pets love private aviation
On a private jet, pets usually travel in the cabin with their owners, subject to the operator's policy and the rules of the destination country. They board directly from the FBO, avoid long waits in busy terminals and enjoy the reassuring presence of their family throughout the flight. For owners, it means a calm journey and a happy companion on arrival.
Catering plays a quiet but important role. A well-planned flight includes fresh water, the pet's usual food, a few treats and simple items that keep the cabin clean, alongside the passengers' own menu.
What to bring and what to order
Item | Who provides it | Global Diners suggestion |
Usual pet food | The owner, in the pet's familiar brand | Bring enough for the whole trip, plus one extra meal |
Plain cooked chicken or fish | Global Diners, on request | Unseasoned, boneless, packed and labelled separately |
Plain rice and steamed vegetables | Global Diners, on request | Carrots, green beans or courgette, without salt or butter |
Still water and ice | Global Diners | Room-temperature water in sealed bottles for the pet |
Treats | The owner | Small portions spaced through the flight |
Napkins and absorbent mats | Global Diners and the crew | Extra linen and napkins with the catering order |
A pet's digestion is happiest with familiar food, so the owner's usual brand remains the best main meal. Plain items prepared by our kitchens are a lovely complement on longer trips or when the familiar food runs low, and they are always packed separately from the passengers' dishes.
Pet-friendly menu principles
When our kitchens prepare items for pets, they follow simple principles: plain, fresh and gentle. Pet portions are cooked without salt, butter, onion, garlic, spices or sauces, and they never include bones. Sweet items such as chocolate, grapes and raisins stay on the passengers' side of the cabin. Every pet item carries a clear label, so the crew can serve it with confidence.
Plain poached chicken breast, cut into small pieces.
Steamed white fish, boneless and unseasoned.
Plain white rice or a little cooked pasta.
Steamed carrots, green beans or courgette, soft and unsalted.
Fresh water, offered regularly in a stable bowl.
Owners should always follow the guidance of their own veterinarian, especially for pets with special diets or sensitivities. Simply mention any instructions with the order and our team prepares the items accordingly.
The happiest pets on board are the ones whose routine travels with them: their usual food, a familiar blanket, fresh water and a family close by.
Keeping the cabin calm and tidy
The crew and the owner work together to make the flight comfortable for everyone. A few simple habits help the pet settle quickly and keep the cabin elegant.
Feed a light meal a few hours before departure rather than just before take-off.
Offer small sips of water during the flight, especially on longer sectors.
Bring the pet's own bed or blanket and a favourite toy.
Keep passengers' dishes and pet items separate on the galley side.
Plan a short walk at the FBO before boarding and after landing.
For passengers, the menu can be adapted to a relaxed family flight: finger food, sandwiches and dishes that are easy to serve, as described in our children's meals guide.
Long trips and multi-leg journeys
On longer journeys, such as a flight from the Algarve to Northern Europe or a summer itinerary along the Mediterranean, planning ahead is the key. Our team can prepare plain pet items for each leg, packed in labelled portions and delivered with the passengers' catering. For trips that start at Paris (LFPB / LBG) or Nice (LFMN / NCE), our own kitchens deliver planeside, and everywhere else delivery is coordinated with your FBO or handler.
Entry rules for pets differ from one country to another, including identification and vaccination requirements, so owners and operators confirm them before departure. Our role is to make sure the catering for every passenger, human or not, is ready on time.
Ordering catering for a flight with pets
Simply mention in your order that a pet is travelling, with its species, size and any instructions from its owner. Our specialised team then adds the pet items to the Global Diners menu order, with a dedicated quote. The Global Diners client portal is coming very soon. It is designed to bring the Global Diners menu, order requests, confirmations and documents into one space for crew, operations and finance. Until it opens, every request goes through order@globaldiners.com.
Inflight Catering for the Algarve Festivals, Races and Shows (LPFR / FAO)
Faro is the arrival point for the whole Algarve coast, and its private traffic follows the sun and the golf calendar. July and August are the clear peak, when villa owners and families from across Europe land in Friday and Saturday waves, and the spring and autumn golf seasons bring lovely activity for months either side. Easter and the festive fortnight add shorter bursts. Order catering several days ahead rather than at 24 hours, confirm passenger and child numbers early and arrange a delivery window with your handler. Chilled seafood, salads and individual boxes stay perfectly fresh through the summer.
Event | When | Where |
Summer high season | July and August | Algarve coast, from Tavira to Lagos |
Spring and autumn golf seasons | March to May and September to November | Vilamoura, Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and the western Algarve |
Easter holidays | March or April (varies) | Algarve resorts and the Faro region |
Concentração Internacional de Motos de Faro | July | Vale das Almas, Faro |
Christmas and New Year winter-sun season | Mid-December to early January | Golden Triangle resorts and Algarve towns |
Summer high season at Faro (LPFR / FAO): July and August
Peak holiday weeks bring the highest volume of private arrivals of the year, mostly families heading to villas and resorts in the Golden Triangle of Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and Vilamoura. Weekend changeovers are especially popular. Book outbound catering at the same time as the inbound order, include children's meals and allergen-aware choices, and ask for chilled gazpacho, grilled fish salads, Algarve oranges and figs, and ice packs in carriers for longer ground times.
Event and holiday dates in the Algarve change every year, so please check the timing with our team when you send your order.
Things to do around Faro (LPFR / FAO)
The Ria Formosa lagoon starts at the end of the runway, and boat trips from Faro or Olhão reach barrier islands such as Ilha Deserta and Culatra, with empty beaches and birdlife. The resorts of Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo lie a short drive west, with long sandy beaches, tennis and some of the best golf in Europe. Vilamoura has a large marina for sailing and fishing trips. Further along the coast, boat tours visit the sea caves of Benagil and the rock arches of Ponta da Piedade near Lagos, while Sagres and Cape St Vincent offer wild Atlantic cliffs and surfing.
Culture and heritage near Faro (LPFR / FAO)
Faro's walled old town, entered through the Arco da Vila, holds the cathedral and quiet cobbled squares, and the Igreja do Carmo has a chapel lined with bones. The Algarve's Moorish past is clearest at Silves, whose red sandstone castle overlooks the town. Tavira has a stone bridge on Roman foundations and dozens of churches, and the Roman villa ruins at Milreu near Estoi show mosaics of fish and sea life.
Also nearby: Malaga (LEMG / AGP)
Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport is the main airport for southern Spain's coast and its private villa and golf communities. Most private passengers head west to Marbella, Puerto Banús, Benahavís, Estepona and Sotogrande, with its polo grounds and marina, while others visit Málaga city or inland Ronda. The region has a large international residential population, so traffic continues through the year, with a strong summer peak from June to September and busy golf and spring seasons.
The Costa del Sol is known for beaches, golf and sunshine for most of the year. Marbella's Golden Mile and Puerto Banús marina are within an easy drive, as is the golf valley around Nueva Andalucía, home to many of Spain's best-known courses. Inland, the clifftop town of Ronda and the Caminito del Rey walkway through the Gaitanes gorge make memorable day trips. In Málaga itself, the Malagueta beach, the palm-lined Paseo del Parque and the port area of Muelle Uno suit relaxed afternoons by the sea, with cafés, boat trips and sunset walks.
FBOs at every airport in this guide
Here are the business aviation terminals (FBOs) at each airport mentioned above. Our team coordinates every catering delivery with the FBO or handler you choose, and our own kitchens deliver planeside at Paris (LFPB / LBG) and Nice (LFMN / NCE).
Faro (LPFR / FAO): Blue Aviation, ExecuJet Portugal, Omni Handling and Universal Aviation Safeport
Malaga (LEMG / AGP): General Aviation Service SL, Air Taxis Handling SL, AviaVIP, GATS-UTE, Jetex Malaga, United Aviation Services S.L. and Universal Aviation
Paris (LFPB / LBG): Dassault Falcon Service, Jet Aviation, Signature Aviation, Advanced Air Support International, Jetex Le Bourget, ExecuJet Paris and Universal Aviation France
Nice (LFMN / NCE): Signature Aviation, AviaVIP and DC Aviation G-OPS
Frequently asked questions
Can Global Diners prepare food for pets on a private jet?
Yes. On request, our kitchens prepare plain items for pets, such as unseasoned poached chicken, steamed fish, plain rice and steamed vegetables, packed and labelled separately from the passengers' dishes.
Should owners bring their pet's usual food?
Yes. The pet's familiar food remains the best main meal. Our plain items are a complement for longer trips, and owners should always follow their veterinarian's guidance.
Which foods are kept away from pets?
Pet items are prepared without salt, butter, onion, garlic, spices, sauces or bones, and sweet items such as chocolate, grapes and raisins stay on the passengers' side.
Can you deliver pet items with the rest of the catering?
Yes. Pet items are delivered with the passengers' catering, planeside at Paris (LFPB / LBG) and Nice (LFMN / NCE), and coordinated with your FBO or handler everywhere else.
Can I order fresh Algarve seafood for a flight departing Faro (LPFR / FAO)?
Yes. For flights from Faro (LPFR / FAO), Global Diners can include Algarve seafood on request, such as Ria Formosa oysters, prawns, octopus salad and cold grilled fish. Seafood is prepared by our kitchens and kept chilled until handover at the FBO or handler. Tell the team the sector length so the menu is matched to the flight time.
Can Global Diners deliver catering at Faro (LPFR / FAO) for a group flying home after a golf trip?
Yes. Global Diners delivers catering at Faro (LPFR / FAO) for golf groups returning from the Algarve, from hearty sandwiches and sharing platters to hot dishes and desserts. Beers, wines and soft drinks can be included on request. If several aircraft are departing for the same group, the orders can be coordinated together through the single ordering address.
Explore more destinations and guides
Private jet catering in Faro (LPFR / FAO)
Private jet catering in Malaga (LEMG / AGP)
Private jet catering in Nice (LFMN / NCE)
Flying soon with your pet?
Tell our specialised team who is travelling, with two legs or four, and we will prepare the Global Diners menu and plain pet items for your flight, with a dedicated quote and delivery coordinated with your FBO or handler.
To request a quote, email order@globaldiners.com with your aircraft registration, airport, date, delivery time and passenger count. Our specialised team replies with a dedicated quote for your mission.
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