What You Need To Know About Flying With Pets

It use to be the case that pets were only allowed to travel on airplanes if they were in secured, sometimes windowless cages stored beneath the plane with the luggage. Over the years though the extreme changes in cabin pressure and temperature have made airlines (as well as pet owners) re-think how they handle pets during long flights. For some airlines that meant insulating the storage area beneath the plane to properly shield extreme cases of cold or heat due to traveling at 30,000 feet, others that meant training both flight attendant as well as baggage crews on how to handle both well-behaved and ill-behaved pets. Most of the major airlines won't even let you fly with animals if its during the more hotter months in the summer for fear that the animal may be aversely affected by it.

If your pet is a small animal than you've got it pretty easy as far as travel preparation is concerned. The large majority of airlines these days will allow you to bring your small dog or cat with you onto the plane as long as both the animal and pet carrier weigh no more than 40 pounds and can fit underneath the seat in front of you (please don't even think of trying to put them in an overhead bin!). Due to allergies and passenger discomfort though there usually is a limit to the number of pets allowed on any given flight to if you're planning on taking your pet with you just make sure to notify them of your travel buddy as soon as possible.

Before booking any flight you should call your airline and discuss with them what their policies are for traveling with pets. Each airline is different in their policies towards pets both traveling in the cabin as well as stored underneath the plane. Airline personnel can also help owners choose a flight that will be most comfortable for their pet. Try to aim for a flight in the early morning or late evening during the summertime as it'll be the coolest during those hours. Any airline representative should be able to assist you in picking a flight that is right for your animal/situation so contacting them should be one of the first steps in your travel preparations.

Wether your pet is traveling with you in a pet carrier or below in a dog kennel there are a few precautions you should follow so that the experience is a pleasant one for both you and your four-legged friend. Make sure that you have your pet examined by a veterinarian no more than 10 days prior to your departure day. While they are there make sure your pet is all caught up with their shots, especially any rabies vaccinations as you'll be required by law to show proof of vaccination when you first arrive at the airport (so make sure you still have all the necessary papers, if not then have your vet provide you with temporary copies to use for the trip). It's also important to know that federal law prohibits airlines from allowing any animal thats younger than eight weeks old to travel on a commercial flight. Lastly, don't show up late to pick up your pet once they've arrived. It's not the airlines responsibility to take care of your pet once the plane has landed not to mention the animal is most likely in need of a bathroom break so be on time!

A sturdy pet carrier or kennel, available from most airline or pet shops, is another important precaution to ensure a safe flight. The carrier should have all hard sides-with the exception of soft-carriers for pets small enough to travel in the cabin, those are specifically designed for airline travel and will help keep your pet calm and content during the trip. These pet carriers or dog kennels should be ventilated on at least two opposite sides (to allow for a steady flow of air), with exterior rims or knobs to prevent blocked airflow, and its also very important that the carrier or kennel is large enough for the pet to stand up, turn around and lie down in. This more so applies to dogs traveling in the luggage compartment but it also will keep your small cabin-traveling dog comfortable as well. Both the kennels and dog carriers should have water resistant bottoms with plenty of soft material at the base, this will help contain any potential accidents due to your pet getting startled during flight. Your kennel should also be marked with a large, highly visible label reading "Live Animal," at least one inch tall, including arrows indicating the carrier's upright position. Finally, both the pet and the carrier should be well marked with the owner's name, address, and phone number, and the pet's updated health certificate and the feeding plan from the veterinarian should be posted on the carrier.

Taking your pet on a vacation with you is a rewarding experience and in the end you'll be the only one who can truly judge whether or not they'd be able to handle themselves on the flight. There are a lot of both dogs and cats who are overly sensitive to changes in cabin pressure and flying may not be for them.

-->