Pet Travel Airline Rules: KLM

Your pet is important. For this reason, KLM (Northwest Airlines) has enhanced and improved our Priority Pet Program. Northwest continues to provide several safe, comfortable travel options for your pet.

Your pet can travel accompanied on Northwest as:
Checked luggage on your flight
Carry-on luggage in the cabin
A service animal 

Please inform Northwest at least 24 hours in advance of your plans to ship an animal, as the number of animals that can be accommodated on each aircraft is limited. Pets may not use passenger seats.

Priority Pet
Shipping Options when traveling with your pet
Whichever option you choose to send your pet on Northwest, your animal will travel in temperature controlled holds in our aircraft. You are required to obtain proper documentation for your pet for all shipping options, and service fees will apply as outlined below.

Carry-On
Small dogs, cats, and household birds may travel as carry-on luggage, in addition to the carry-on allowance for your flight. Click here to obtain the cost for pet transportation. The animal must be less than 9 pounds (with kennel), and must fit comfortably in a kennel placed under the seat.
Guidelines to take your pet on board the aircraft are as follows:
Inform Northwest when you make your reservation that you will be bringing an animal in addition to your carry-on luggage.
Call Northwest at least 24 hours prior to your flight to confirm your pet is traveling with you.
Your pet must be in an approved Carry-on kennel when you check in (maximum kennel size is 17" x 12.3" x 8"). In addition to standard Carry-on kennels, Northwest permits soft-sided animal carriers for animals traveling in the passenger cabin. Kennels are available through pet supply shops and a limited supply at select Northwest stations. Click here for Northwest kennel pricing.

Checked Luggage
You may transport your pet as Checked Luggage on your same flight, in addition to the luggage allowance for your flight. Click here to obtain the cost for pet transportation. Dogs, cats, household birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and monkeys used as service animals may fly as Checked Luggage. Animals must be under 100 pounds and 160 inches (with kennel) for domestic travel and 150 pounds and 160 inches (with kennel) for international travel.
Guidelines to travel with your pet as luggage on your flight are as follows:
Advise the agent when you make your reservation that your pet will be traveling with you as Checked Luggage.
Call Northwest 24 hours prior to your flight to confirm that your pet is traveling with you.
Check-in at Northwest ticket counter at least two (2) hours prior to flight with your pet (curbside check-in is not available for pets).
Claim your pet at the Northwest luggage claim area of the airport, 1-2 hours after arrival.
Northwest flight series numbers 2000-9699 may not accept animals as luggage. Call Northwest toll-free at 1-800-225-2525 to confirm the acceptance of animals on your flights (for TDD for the hearing impaired, call 1-800-328-2298).
If you plan to transfer to another airline, you will need to allow time to claim your animal and re-check it with the connecting airline.
To ensure that your pet will be transported as 'Checked Luggage' to your final destination on another airline, please check with all airlines in your itinerary for their pet policies.

Service Animals
Animals traveling in service to passengers with disabilities, with trainers, for law enforcement or search and rescue are welcome on board Northwest flights. No fee will be assessed for service animals.
To take your service animal on-board, you must adhere to the following procedure:
Inform Northwest at the time of reservation that you will be bringing a service animal.
Your pet must be with you and properly harnessed when you check-in.
These animals may travel in the passenger cabin without a kennel, provided they are properly harnessed. Our personnel can assist you with seating arrangements and information regarding all required documentation.
Pet Requirements and Documentation
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulate the transportation of animals. These regulations apply to you, the shipper, as well as all airlines. It is your responsibility to obtain the proper paperwork for your pet.

Health Requirements and Documentation:
To ensure your pet is fit to travel, you must obtain a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian, dated within 10 days prior to travel.
Sedatives are strongly discouraged, as their effects at high altitudes are unpredictable. If your veterinarian decides that tranquilizers are medically necessary, the name of the drug, the dosage, and how the drug was administered must be indicated on the kennel. Northwest personnel will not administer tranquilizers.
USDA regulations require that your animal be at least eight (8) weeks old and fully weaned before traveling.
Northwest cannot guarantee acceptance of any animal before it is seen by airport personnel. Important considerations for acceptance include health and disposition of the animal. Northwest will not transport an animal that is violent, ill, or in physical distress.

Entry Point and Quarantine Restrictions:
You are required to obtain proper documentation for your pet for each state and/or country along your pet's planned itinerary. Arrangements should be made well in advance of travel.
Many destinations have restrictions on the types of pets accepted, and how these pets are transported into the country. Pets may not be allowed entrance, may only be accepted for certain modes of transport, or may require quarantines of up to six months.
Violation of these restrictions can result in confiscation and even destruction of your pet.
Destinations frequently visited, with such restrictions include Hawaii, London, Tokyo, Osaka, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Manila, and Guam. Restrictions can exist for other destinations as well.
For the most up-to-date information, contact the nearest embassy or consulate general office for each country on your itinerary at least four (4) weeks prior to departure.
Temperature Restrictions
Northwest personnel will determine if the weather temperatures are in acceptable ranges at time of check-in. If your pet cannot be accommodated due to temperature limitations, Northwest personnel will work with you to arrange alternate dates for your pet to travel. Always contact our Reservations office or Cargo office prior to departing for the airport. We can advise you if temperatures for any point in the itinerary are too extreme on the day of travel.

Low Temperatures
No animal travel (other than Carry-on) when the temperature at any point on the planned routing is below 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-12°C).
Choose mid-day flights when temperatures are likely to be warmer.
Dogs, cats, rabbits and other warm-blooded animals (except birds) traveling as Cargo must be accompanied by a Certificate of Acclimation, issued by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days prior to departure, when the temperature at any point on the planned routing is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 C). Click here to access PDF version of the Certificate of Acclimation.

High Temperatures
Animals will not be accepted on any Northwest flight if the temperature at ANY point on a planned itinerary is forecast to exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29.5°C) at time of travel.
Choose early morning or late evening flights during summer, which avoid the worst heat of the day.
Brachycephalic (Snub-Nosed) dogs and cats are very sensitive to high temperatures and will not be accepted when temperatures at any point on the planned itinerary exceed 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24°C).
The following breeds are included in this restriction:
American Straffordshire Terrier
Boston Terrier
Boxer
Brussels Griffin
Bull Terrier
Dutch Pug
English Bulldog
English Toy Spaniel
French Bulldog
Japanese Spaniel (Japanese Chin)
Japanese Pug
Pekinese
Shih Tzu
Straffordshire Bull Terrier

Cost of Animal Travel
Checked Luggage Charges:
There is a one-way per kennel, per airline, charge for pet transportation. This charge cannot be substituted, nor count as part of your free luggage allowance. This transportation charge will always apply.
International destinations:
Pet charges are excess luggage charges, which are based on the size and weight of the pet and kennel. Contact Northwest Reservations (1-800-225-2525) for details.
Carry-on:
Within 50 United States and Canada:
USD $80.00 or CAD $123.00 per kennel.
Assist Animals: There is no transportation fee for service, assist, or search animals.
Charges may be pre-paid or payable at an Airport Ticket Office, City Ticket Office or Travel Agency. Pet charges are payable by cash, check, or credit card.
All kennels must follow the following guidelines:
General Rules
Type/size of Kennel:The kennel must be sturdy, properly ventilated, and, most importantly, must be large enough for the animal to freely sit and stand with its head erect, turn around, and lie down in a normal posture. To prevent accidental injury, no part of the animal's body can protrude through any openings in the kennel. For this reason, kennels made exclusively from wire are not accepted. Please note: collapsible kennels of any size are not acceptable for pet travel as cargo.
Closing Mechanism:Check the closing mechanism to make sure it works properly. Do not put a lock on the kennel door. In accordance with federal regulations, your pet must be accessible in the event of an emergency.
Wheels:Northwest discourages kennels with wheels on the bottom unless the wheels have a locking device. If your kennel has wheels, it is recommended that they either be removed or taped in order to prevent them from rolling in transit.
Kennel Doors: Doors made of plastic or fiberglass are strictly prohibited.
Additional Federal Regulations
Each kennel should contain no more than 1 adult dog or cat, or no more than 2 puppies or kittens younger than 6 months, of comparable size, and under 20 lbs. each. Dogs and cats cannot travel together in the same container.
For carry-on pets, the maximum weight of pets and kennel is 15 pounds.
Pets traveling as carry-on luggage must remain in the kennel at all times during flight.
Include two empty dishes: One for food and one for water, accessible from the outside.
Absorbent Material: The kennel must contain absorbent material or litter. (Black and white printed newspaper is a good choice. However, newspaper with colored ink or advertisements can be toxic to animals.) Please note that the use of straw, hay or wood shavings is prohibited for international shipments.
One of the most important steps you can take to ease the stress of travel for your pet is to make sure it becomes familiar with the kennel. Purchase the kennel as far in advance as possible. Veterinarians recommend leaving the kennel door open in the house with an old sock or familiar object inside so that your pet may spend time near the kennel and perhaps venture inside on its own. Since it is important that your pet be as relaxed a possible during the flight, familiarization with the kennel is essential.
Kennel Label Requirements
The kennel must be properly marked. Federal regulations require that the following also apply to each kennel.
Display a "Live Animals" Label with letters at least 1 inch high, on top and on at least one side of the kennel.
Indicate the Top with arrows or "This End Up" markings on at least two sides.
Display Feeding Instructions. (If food is necessary it must be attached to the outside of the kennel).
Certification: Any animal traveling must display certification attached to the kennel stating that the animal has been offered food and water within four hours prior to scheduled departure. Do not feed in the two hours prior to departure as a full stomach can cause discomfort for a traveling pet.
Contact Information: Label the kennel with your name, address and phone number at origin as well as destination. Include your pet's name and clearly indicate the final destination on the top of the kennel.
Northwest Kennels

Priority Pet Fee Structure
General Application
For North America travel which includes United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
For pets in the cabin:
Includes Northwest Airlink operated by Mesaba Airlines (XJ) and Pinnacle Airlines
USD $80.00 or CAD $123.00 per kennel, one-way
For pets as checked luggage:
Includes Northwest Airlink operated by Mesaba Airlines (XJ), flight range 2700-3699.
For pet reservations made on/after July 19, 2000 (travel originating after July 19, 2000), the following fee structure will apply:

** Minimum Kennel Size: no smaller as 45 in / 113 cm (will not withstand normal handling as checked luggage). Soft-sided kennels are for carry-on animals only.

Summer Pet Embargo
Northwest Airlines prohibits pet and live animal acceptance when temperatures are forecasted to be above 85F/29.5C at any point on the itinerary (origin, transfer or final destination.) Snub-nose animals are not accepted when Temperatures are above 75F/24C at any point on the itinerary.
Because many cities are consistently above 85F, Northwest does not accept pets as checked luggage between June 1 and September 15 to/from the following locations:
Note: Pet acceptance for all cities not on the following list remains contingent on acceptable temperatures day of  departure.
Embargo does not apply to pets in cabin, cargo shipments, or KL operated flights.
Domestic
- Period: June 1-September 15
- Arkansas/ Arizona/ Florida/ Louisiana/ Mississippi/
- Nevada (LAS only)/ Texas
- Note all cities in state are embargoed unless otherwise specified.
Pacific/India
- Period: June 1-September 15
- BOM/ BKK/ GUM/ HKG/ ICN/ JKT/ KHH/ KIX/ KUL/ MNL / NGO/
- NRT/ PEK/ PUS/ SHA/ SIN/ SPN/ TPE
Contact us at:
1-800-225-2525 For advance reservations when traveling with your pet domestically.
1-800-447-4747. For international information
1-800-328-2298 For Deaf/Hard of Hearing TTY
1-800-NWCARGO (1-800-692-2746) When your pet is traveling unaccompanied.
To monitor the progress of your unaccompanied Pet (VIP Same Day Package
Service or Cargo), use our online Track Your Package feature.
Northwest reserves the right to deny animal travel due to weather, health, number of animals on board or dangerous animals. Please review the additional information below to properly plan your travel.
United Kingdom Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)
 
From September 15, 2003 onwards, Northwest Airline s will accept pet dogs and cats traveling with their owners from either Detroit or Minneapolis/St. Paul direct to London-Gatwick under the provisions of the U.K. Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). Pets that meet the rules of this program can travel to the U.K. from the U.S. without having to undergo 6 months quarantine.
 
Careful planning is key to a successful trip for you and your pet. There are a number of tests and procedures that must be completed prior to departure from the U.S. Complete information on PETS may be found on the U.K. Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website at www.defra.gov.uk.
 
After you've completed all of the steps necessary to bring your pet to the U.K., contact Northwest Airlines Cargo at least 3 days, and no more than 30 days, prior to departure at 1-800-NW-CARGO (800-692-2746) to make travel arrangements for your pet.
Un-Accompanied Pets

During periods of very hot or very cold weather the airline may require an ACCLIMATION CERTIFICATE. You can order this form online in our store. http://www.pettravelstore.com/store-pet-immigration-forms1.html