There are certain precautions every pet owner must take when your pet is traveling in the cargo area of a plane. You want to make sure your pet is acclimated to the crate, properly hydrated so your pet travels as safe and as comfortably as possible.
For the snub nosed pet owner, things can get risky. Here are dogbreeds that can be considered as snub-nosed depending on your airline: Affenpinscher, American Bully, American Pit Bull Terrier/Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terrier/”Amstaff,” Belgian Malinois, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brussels Griffon, Bulldog, American Bulldog, English Bulldog, French Bulldog, Old English Bulldogges, Shorty Bulldogs, Spanish Alano/Spanish Bulldog/Alano Espanol, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chow Chow, English Toy Spaniel/Prince Charles Spaniel, Japanese Chin/Japanese Spaniel, Lhasa Apso, Mastiff, American Mastiff, Boerboel/South African Mastiff, Bullmastiff, Ca de Bou/Mallorquin Mastiff, Cane Corso/Italian Mastiff, Dogo Argentino/Argentinian Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux/French Mastiff, English Mastiff, Fila Brasileiro/Brazilian Mastiff/Cao de Fila, Indian Mastiff/Alangu, Kangal/Turkish Kangal, Neapolitan Mastiff/Mastino Napoletano, Pakastani Mastiff/Bully Kutta, Pyrenean Mastiff, Presa Canario/Perro de Presa Canario/Dogo Canario/Canary Mastiff, Spanish Mastiff / Mastin Espanol, Tibetan Mastiff, Tosa/Tosa Ken/Tosa Inu/Japanese Mastiff/Japanese Tosa, Pekingese, Pug, Dutch Pug, Japanese Pug, Shar-Pei/Chinese Shar-Pei, Shih-Tzu, Staffordshire Bull Terrier/”Staffys,” and Tibetan Spaniel.
Also, the following cat breeds are also snub-nosed:?Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan and Persian.
These short nosed (also called “brachycephalic”) pets have difficulty breathing and acclimating to certain weather conditions. Even though these pets are considered ?at risk?, taking necessary precautions and using the proper flight itinerary on a pet-safe, pet friendly airline will help reduce the chances of an incident. Below is an airline chart to help pet owners who are considering traveling via cargo with their sub-nosed breed.
Most airlines require a health certificate within 10 days prior to your travel date for pets flying in the cargo hold. (International immigration requirements also apply if traveling outside country borders)
Weather restrictions: When temperatures exceed 80-85 degrees F (27-30 degrees C) in any airport on your pet’s itinerary, the airlines restrict animals that will be accepted as checked baggage or cargo. These restrictions are enforced for the safety of your pet. The restrictions are as follows:
Summer Heat Embargo: May 15 through September 15
Winter Embargo: November 1st through March 31st
Delta: Delta has changed their banned breed policies and will no longer transport dog or cat breeds considered as snub-nosed in the cargo hold.
United: United will no longer transport snub-nosed pets in the cargo hold. See their snub-nosed breed restrictions here..
American Airlines: American Airlines has issued a permanent embargo on all breeds of snub-nosed dogs and cats.
Frontier Airlines: Frontier no longer offers checked baggage or air cargo services for live animals. If you want to fly with your pet on this airlines, it must fit in an airline-compliant pet carrier that will fit under the seat in front of you.
Alaskan Airlines: snub-nosed breeds are no longer permitted to fly Alaska Airlines in the cargo hold.
Lufthansa: Snub-nosed breeds will be transported as long as temperatures do not exceed 75 degrees F anywhere on the itinerary.
KLM Airlines: KLM will only fly snub-nosed breeds as air cargo. Four breeds of snub nosed dogs will no longer be allowed in the cargo hold on KLM aircraft: English Bulldog, French Bulldog, Boston Terrier, and Pug
When your snub-nosed dog or cat are flying in the cargo hold, here are tips to keep them safe:
- Use a pet crate that is one size larger than is normally required
- Use a crate with ventilation on 4 sides. (If the kennel does not have ventilation on 4 sides, modify the kennel by drilling 7 holes in the rear top and 7 holes in the rear bottom of the kennel using a 3/4 inch keyhole bit).
- Acclimate your pet to its crate by letting the animal spend time in the kennel for several days before its departure.
- Do not place food in the kennel during the flight, just water.
- Provide plenty of water to your pet. Frozen water bottles with tiny holes punched in the sides make a great watering tool for several hours when placed in the crate’s watering dish. Find the largest pet crate water bowl that you can.
It is always wise to call your airlines when making your reservation and disclose the breed of your dog. Also, it is a good idea to let the Captain know that you are traveling with a pet. Preparing in advance is an important part of pet travel.
More information on airline pet policies.
Hi! My mom and sister and relocating from shanghai to Maryland and have a one year old Frenchie. I’m worried about cargo transport for such a long flight even direct. Any suggestions in airlines or transport companies? Thank you
Laurel – you can check out this carrier which is very light and affords the most room for traveling pets: http://www.pettravelstore.com/pet-carrier-sturdibag/ The bag is soft sided and will squish down to fit under the seat without collapsing on your pet. That said, the airline may have a problem with the weight of your pet on an international flight. You should check the maximum weight permitted on the airline you are considering because 23 pounds may cause problems. Your only other option would be to inquire about a comfort animal program. United and Delta have them, but there are requirements and advance notice is required.
Susan
I am moving to France from the USA in late September or early October and am trying to figure out how to bring my Frenchie-Boston terrier mix. Flying cargo is completely out of the question as he is a rescue dog with extreme separation anxiety. I would ideally like to fly with him as carry on. He is 23 pounds with the smaller Boston body, so may fit in a soft sided kennel depending on the aircraft. Can anyone recommend a carrier that would allow him to fly as carry on?
Trisha – it is hard to respond to your question because I don’t know where you are traveling from and to. Both Delta and United will transport Pug breeds, but only as cargo and United will only do it after mid September. Delta will only transport Pugs if the temperature does not exceed 75 degrees at the originating, layover, or destination airport. Many of the foreign flagged carriers are unclear as to their requirements and you have to call them and deal with language barriers.
Susan
Hi Natalie – Delta will transport your pet as manifest cargo as long as the temperature does not exceed 75 degrees at the originating, layover, or destination airport. United will also transport your pet after mid September if your calendar will permit you waiting until then. These precautions are for your pet’s safety as Pugs are brachycephalic and their breathing can be affected at higher temperatures.
We know of no other commercial cruise ships that will accept pets other than the QM2. If you run across one, let us know. Your only other option would be private jet charter which would be a bit expensive.
Susan
i have gone through a whole list of airlines called to enquire about a pug then they all say no to a pug being able to fly on .i really wish they would stop saying on the website that these dogs can be shipped when obviously they cannot.and then you get one member of staff saying yes there is no problem only to find out from another no please all you airlines get your act together as i am so confused ,,if there is anyone out there that can help me resolve this please do thanks
Hi, as it turns out i am not happy with putting my pug through a flight i cannot take the risk. im looking at going from uk to usa and i am now looking at ships but the queen mary is fully booked until next year.
can you tell me if there are any other options with regard to ships as the queen mary is out of the equation??
Any help would very much appreciated!!
Many Thanks Natalie
Natalie – all of the airlines have weight limits that they enforce for international flights. I cannot recall one that will permit total weight of pet and carrier over 8kg.
Susan
Hi I am so confused, just called delta they are now saying a dog cannot travel in the cabin with me unless he is under six kilos when u called them last week I was told as long as he was under 25kilos traveling from uk to us I’m to scared to put my pug through a hold or cargo as I’ve heard so many horror stories with short nosed dogs. Can anyone please help me find an airline that will allow a pug to travel in the cabin with me he’s 10 kilos in weight thanks Natalie
Natalie – you will be ok with your pet traveling with you in the cabin if the airline says they permit it.
Susan
Hi thanks for getting back to me but just to clarify will i be ok with my pet in the cabin for an outbound flight from uk to us? Thank you Natalie
Hello Natalie – the restriction of pets not flying in the cabin is for flights going INTO the UK, not OUT OF the UK. It is the airline’s policy for flights going out of the UK.
Susan
Hi, I’m looking at relocating from the uk to the USA in October I have a five year old pug and want him to fly with me in the cabin I called delta and they said this is fine but when I look on the website it states that uk is one of the countries you don’t allow pets to fly on can you please help me with this as I’m desperate to get the ball rolling?? Also can I fly economy if I have a pet in the cabin with me?? Any help with these queries are very much needed and appreciated. Thanks Natalie
Not sure where you are going from and to, but if United flies your route and the airports participate in their summer program, they may transport your pet depending on the temperature on the tarmac. Also try Delta. Again, the cities will have to participate in Delta’s program. Look for flights at night.
Susan
I am trying to fly with a boxer and another dog in the last week of July, PLEASE HELP! I can’t find any airline that doesn’t restrict boxers…. 🙁
Hello Alex – you are correct in that your pet’s breed is getting harder and harder to transport. Many airlines have come out and banned them outright and others do not address them, but may object when you call for reservations. I would start with Virgin Australia as they have direct flights between Sydney and Singapore. China Eastern does as well, but I am not sure whether they will agree to transport your pet. Qantas also has direct flights but they will not accept a snub nosed dog on flights more than 5 hours. Jetstar and Air Asia do not accept pets and Malaysian Airlines does not accept snub nosed pets and neither does British Airways. You could also try Thai Airways. They have a flight through Bangkok, but the layover is 3 hours 20 minutes and I don’t know if the airlines will hold a pet traveling as checked baggage that long. If you have to claim and recheck your pet, you will have to accommodate entry requirements for Thailand.
Hope this helps.
Susan
We would like to relocate our 4 year old French Bulldog from Sydney to Singapore. Could you please recommend an appropriate airline? He was relocated from New York to Sydney in 2011 with great effort. We are waiting until fall in Sydney (June) so that travel temperatures will be better, but there is really no good time to fly to Singapore.
Thanks for your help.
I do not think the surgery your dog has undergone to have the ears clipped would prohibit him from flying on most airlines as long as the surgery is fully healed. If I knew what airline you are flying I might be able to give you more specific information.
Jerry
Hi, I have a Boxer puppy that had his ears cropped Yesterday March 19th. He was bred in Houston TX, and will be traveling to me by plane. One requirement says NO SIGNS of RESENT surgeries? What does that mean? NO Stitches? He wont fly until he is healed but what does resent mean?
Hello Elena – in order to fly in the cabin, your pet must be able to stand up and turn around in the carrier. If your pet appears cramped, then the airline will not permit it. If you cannot find a carrier to fit your cat, then she must travel in cargo. The problem here is twofold. The first problem is that Persian cats are a snub nosed breed and may be restricted from your airline’s transport in the cargo hold. Also, if you are changing airlines, you may have to claim your kitty and recheck her and that will cause you to clear customs and you must conform to the rules of the country you are laying over in.
My suggestion would be to measure your pet. See if you can find a carrier that will fit her for in cabin travel. Find a soft sided carrier like this one that will allow for extra room: http://www.pettravelstore.com/products/Pet-Carrier-SturdiBag.html. Secondly, find an airline that will serve the entire route. If this is not possible, find an airline that will at least keep you in the EU (not UK) or get you to the USA where you can easily clear customs with your kitty. The airlines do not interline pets so if you change airlines (not airplanes, but airlines) you will need to claim your pet and recheck her if she is not in the cabin.
Susan