Flying a Dog or Cat

It can’t be said often enough – flying a dog or cat in the cargo hold poses dangers for any live animal including your pet. If you are traveling with your pet and have options, consider traveling by car or train. If this is not possible, use common sense; know that, if your pet is old, unhealthy, suffers from high anxiety or is a snub-nosed breed, you need to take extra precautions. If you cannot fly with your dog or cat in the cabin due either to its size or airline pet policies or if you are traveling to a country that requires pets to enter in the cargo hold (United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand to name a few) understanding what you need to do ahead of time is so important in mitigating the risks involved.

Know Your Airline’s Pet Policies

Every commercial airline has different pet policies and not understanding them can upend your travel plans. There are airlines that do not permit the carriage of pets at all (e.g. Ryan Air, AirAsia, Scoot) and those who will only fly pets as air cargo (e.g. British Airways, Aer Lingus). That is certainly good to know before you book your flight.

There are three classes of service that commercial airlines may offer live animals. Not all airlines offer all three of these classes of service; some may only offer in-cabin or only cargo services. Some offer all three, some only offer two or one.

• In-Cabin – Pets traveling in the cabin must fly with an adult passenger and travel in an airline-compliant carrier stowed under the seat unless the passenger is disabled and flying with a trained service dog.
  
• Accompanied Checked Baggage in Cargo – Pets traveling with an adult passenger that are not permitted in the cabin due to size can be transported as checked baggage in the cargo hold.
  
• Manifest (Air) Cargo – Unaccompanied or very large pets will travel as manifest cargo under an air waybill in the cargo hold.

Flying a Dog or Cat in the Cabin

If your pet is small enough to fit in an airline-compliant carrier, which can fit beneath the seat in front of you, this method of travel by air is far and away your best bet for a safe and worry-free trip. Most commercial airlines will accept one carrier per passenger at an average cost of between $100.00 and $200 each direction. Some airlines will even allow passengers to purchase an extra seat for another carrier, although they don’t always publish this in their policies.

Make a reservation well in advance there is always a limit as to the number of pets per flight. Some airlines will allow you to add your pet on to your reservation online; however, many request that the reservation be done by phone.

Choose an airline-compliant pet carrier

Choose a flexible, soft-sided airline-compliant pet carrier which has a waterproof bottom, absorbent pad, adequate ventilation, and secure zippers that you pet cannot open. Your pet must be able to stand up and turn around in the carrier. Your pet must fit entirely in the carrier; no part of your pet can extend out of the carrier. Be sure you measure your pet carefully from tip of nose to base of tail and from top of ears to the ground to pick an appropriate carrier. Every commercial airline has maximum carrier measurements and weights including your pet and its carrier, so you will want to check your airline’s pet policies.

Related: Selecting a pet carrier that is airline compliant

Flying a Dog or Cat in the Cargo Hold

Larger pets must be flown as checked luggage (accompanied) or as air cargo (larger pets or unaccompanied). On airlines that offer this service, this section of the cargo hold is fully pressurized and heated. The cost is more expensive than pets flying in-cabin so check with your airline’s reservation or cargo department.

Choose an IATA-compliant pet crate

All pet crates must conform to regulations set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The container must be large enough for your pet(s) to stand without its head or ears touching the top of the crate, turn around, and lie down. The crate must be made of fiberglass or rigid plastics. Many airlines will also require crates made of wood if they are constructed according to Live Animal Regulations CR1.

The crate door must have a secure, spring-loaded, all-around locking system with the pins extending beyond the horizontal extrusions above and below the door. The floor must be waterproof. The crate must not have wheels attached when checking your pet. Metal hardware should be used to fasten the top and bottom halves of your pet crate together. They must be marked with LIVE ANIMAL stickers and a Shipping Declaration that includes feeding and watering instructions.

Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?

Tips for Flying a Dog or Cat

Before travel

• Acclimate your pet to its carrier or crate well in advance of travel.
• Keep your dog or cat on their normal schedule until travel day.
• Moderate your stress level. Pets are very intuitive and can sense changes in your mood.

Visit your veterinarian

No one should travel with an unhealthy pet. Make sure you are carrying a veterinarian certificate showing that your pet is in good health, they have no fleas or ticks, and their shots are current. The certificate should have been issued shortly before departure (times vary according to the regulations of your destination country).

Route the trip

• Choose a reputable airline.
• Don’t travel during peak holiday times.
  Unless you absolutely have no choice, take direct flights. Layovers only increase stress on your pet.
• Don’t change airline companies as the airline will move your pet among aircraft in their fleet in layover countries as long as your layover is around three hours or less. If you must change airlines, then you must collect and then re-check your dog at the layover airport as airlines do not interline live animals. In this case, you must clear customs and be compliant with the layover country’s regulations if you claim your pet. Try to give yourself a long enough layover to take your pet out for a walk or checkout the airport dog relief area. A minimum of four hours is recommended.
• In the summer, travel very early or very 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 50-70 degrees by law, but when your pet is exposed to extreme temperature during holding, loading and taxiing.)

Prepare your crate

• Use a top-quality airline-compliant crate with enough room for your pet to stand up and turn around. Remember that this will be your pet’s protection during its travels. Use crate hardware to secure the two halves of your crate, not plastic fasteners. Many airlines are now requiring the use of steel nuts and bolts to secure your pet’s crate.
• 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.” Don’t forget the Live Animal Stickers and Shippers Declaration.
• Make sure your dog’s collar and ID tags are sturdy and reflect your cell phone number. Attach them to the crate if you are flying a dog or cat in the cargo hold. Also attach a short leash to the crate so you are ready to walk your pet once you leave the airport.
• If the flight is over three hours, get a large pet crate bowl and freeze water in it before the flight to minimize spillage during loading.
• Be absolutely certain that the door of the kennel is secure, really secure, and attach zip ties to each corner.
• Be sure not to leave anything in the crate that your dog can rip to shreds, might get sick from, or choke on. No toys, chewies, no treats, no clothes except a “used” t-shirt of yours as your scent will act to comfort your pet.

Travel Day

• Carry a photograph of you with your dog or cat that you can use to help find him if you’re separated.
• Get to airport at least a half hour earlier than required, 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.
• Don’t administer a sedative when flying a dog or cat like dramamine unless on the advice of your veterinarian. Sedatives make it difficult for your pet to adjust to temperature changes and turbulence, and they may impede breathing. We suggest an all-natural pet calmer instead.
• Don’t leave your pet before a baggage handler actually comes to collect them. Give the baggage handler a US $5 tip (or local currency equivalent). Ask him to please be sure your pet is ok (we don’t know if this helps, but it makes us feel better).
• As you board the plane, talk to the captain or flight attendant and say, very politely, ” I just wanted to let you know my pet is on this flight, in the cargo hold. It’s their first time flying so I’d really appreciate you making sure they are ok and double-checking that they are monitoring conditions in the hold.”
• At the gate, if you can look out the window and watch baggage being boarded, watch for your pet. If you can’t see them being loaded, wait until all the other passengers have boarded then ask the gate attendant to radio the baggage area to make sure your pet has been loaded. Refuse to board unless they confirm that your pet is on the plane.
• Conclusion

Flying a dog or cat can be scary for you both, especially if this is a first-time experience. Giving preparations a lot of thought can go a long way in ensuring that the least amount of stress is imposed on both you and your pet during the trip. It will take time, and it is never too soon to start preparing. Taking these steps is possibly the kindest thing you can do for your pet.

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