Pets on Planes
Flying with your pet can be a stressful experience. Not only because of the rules, regulations and requirements, but also because us pet lovers know that flying can be hard on our fur babies. If you are planning on flying with your pet, here are some things you should know…
Every airline is different and where you pet is placed on the plane – the cabin or the cargo hold - depends on the size of the animal. In addition to carry-on sized pets, service animals and emotional support animals are also allowed in most aircraft cabins however, you’ll need them to be certified as such.
Most airlines only allow a certain number of pets in the cabin if you are planning to carry-on your small animal. Make sure you call ahead and see if you are able to bring your pet on-board. The cost of bringing your pet varies from about $100 to $500 depending on the airline.
Also, if you have a dog with a short snout you might not be able to fly with them at all. Certain airlines restrict dogs such as boxers, pugs, Shih Tzu, King Charles Spaniels and others because they have a higher chance of dying in the cargo hold. So to keep things consistent they are banned from the aircrafts entirely.
Next. make sure they are healthy enough to fly. Underlying or pre-existing conditions make up the majority of incident reports so make sure you get your vets OK.
This probably goes without saying, but ppt for a direct flight whenever possible…the shorter the journey, the better.
When picking a pet carrier make sure that it is double the width of your dog and is tall enough so they can stand up comfortably in it. If they are flying in the cargo hold…a water and food dish should be attached to the inside of the door…and a live animal sticker should be on the top of the carrier..
Make sure your name, flight info, pet’s description, name and photo are taped to the out side of the pet carrier in case your animal escapes.
Be sure your pet gets plenty of exercise the day before and the day of your travel…a tired pet travels better than a jumpy one…
And when in doubt, leave your pet at home with a trusted caretaker…
