Airline Travel with Your Pet

It can't be said often enough! Traveling by cargo poses dangers for dogs. So use common sense: be especially cautious if your dog is old, unhealthy, or is a pug-nosed breed. If you have a choice, travel by car or by train. If for any reason you cannot travel on the same flight with your pet use the services of a licensed “Pet Transporter”. Visit the Pet Passport section of Pet Travel. for more information on pet transporters.

SMALL PETS.
If your pet is small enough to fit in a carrier, which goes beneath your seat this, is far and away your best bet for a safe worry free trip. If your pet measures less than 18" from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail and about 15" high, we can fit you in an airline certified carrier. CLICK HERE for details. Although Northwest Airlines has a low weight limit for carry-on luggage, 12 pounds is about the most your pet should weith. Most of the major airlines are still accepting one or two pets per cabin at an average cost of USD $80. You will need to notify the airlines when making your reservations that you will be bringing a pet onboard with you.

1. You must make a reservation well in advance as only one or two pets per flight are allowed.
2. Your pet carrier must fit under the seat in front of you. Ask for underseat measurements in the plane you will be traveling in so that our store folks can recommend a proper carrier for you. Call toll free at (877) 241-0184 if you have questions.

LARGER PETS
Larger pets must be sent as “cargo”. On the major airlines this section is fully pressurized and heated. The cost can run from USD $50 to $500 so check with your airline’s cargo department. A list of airline requirements can be found on the pettravel.com website under Pet Passports.

1. Fly a reputable airline
2. Don't travel during peak holiday times. Baggage handlers are swamped with luggage, and there is less of a chance your pet will be given attention.
3. Unless you absolutely have no choice, only consider a direct flight. If you must change flights, be sure you can collect and then re-check your dog at the layover airport. Try to give yourself a long enough layover to take your dog out for a walk. If you are traveling with a cat, find a very quiet corner. If you are carrying some kitty litter with you (and we recommend that you do on long trips) our portable litter tray will really come in handy for the next leg of the trip.
4. In the summer, travel early or late in the day to avoid heat; in winter, travel mid-day to avoid severe cold. This has nothing to do with the temperature in the cargo compartment, which is pressurized and kept between 50F-70F (12C - 20C) degrees by law, but with the temperature in exposed loading areas.
5. Make sure your dog's collar and ID tags are sturdy.
6. Make sure you are carrying a veterinarian certificate showing that your pet is in good health and their shots are current. The certificate should not have been issued more than 14 days before departure. If you need a health certificate for the airlines, CLICK HERE.
7. Use a top-quality airline-approval crate with enough room for your pet to turn around.
8. If the flight is over 3 hours be sure the pet has water in the crate. Consider hydrating your pet with a wonderful new product, Water Bites. This beef flavored gel is over 95% water and is fortified with minerals. Best of all, it will not spill or leak.
9. Cover your crate, using stickers or paint or permanent marker, with notices that say: "HI! My name is XX. Please be NICE to me. Thanks!" and " I'm traveling from XX to XX on Flight # XX" and "My Parent's name is XXX. Phone: XXX. Cell: XXX." The more stuff that calls attention to the crate the better. At a minimum, IATA requires that there are live animal stickers on the crate. If you already have an IATA approved crate, consider getting an accessory kit. If you need an IATA approved crate for cargo travel, CLICK HERE.
10. Carry a photograph of your dog that you can use to help find him if you're separated.
11. Get to airport at least a half hour earlier than usual, check in, but don't let them take your dog away until the last moment (usually 30 minutes before departure). Once you've checked in, take your dog outside for a walk to relieve themselves once more before the trip.
12. Be ABSOLUTELY certain that the door of the kennel is SECURE, really secure-but do not lock it (in an emergency it may need to be opened). Just above the door, write: "DO NOT open this door without the permission of owner or a licensed veterinarian!"
13. Don't leave your dog before a baggage handler actually comes to collect him. Give the baggage handler a $5 tip. Ask him to please be sure the dogs are ok (we don't know if this helps, but it makes us feel better).
14. Be sure not to leave anything in the crate that your dog can rip to shreds, might get sick from, or choke on. A hollow white bone or a Kong stuffed with peanut butter may help keep him calm.
15. Don't give your dog sedatives unless you have to, and only then on the advice of your vet. Sedatives make it difficult for your dog to adjust to temperature changes and turbulence, and they may impede breathing. We suggest a totally natural product called Happy Traveler. It is a safe all-natural herbal calming formula for stressed, nervous, or anxious pets.
16. At the gate, if you can look out the window and watch baggage being boarded, watch for your dog. If you can't see him being loaded, wait until all the other passengers have boarded then ask the gate attendant to radio the baggage area to make sure your dog has been loaded. Refuse to board unless they confirm that your dog is on the plane.
17. As you board the plane, stick your head around the corner toward the pilots (whose door is usually ajar) and say, very politely, " I just wanted to let you know my dog is on this flight, in cargo. It's his first time flying so I'd really appreciate you making sure he's ok and double-checking that he's in the right compartment."

All of these tips can help make your pet's travels more comfortable and your trip less stressful when your pet is traveling on an airplane.