Flying with Your Pet?
Yelp! Yelp! Bark! *Spin*Look around helplessly* Yelp!
Nearly 30 years later, I can’t forget the sight and sound of our dog being conveyered away to the cargo hold of a flight bound for “home” in Arizona. We had just completed a cross-country road trip to move my Army husband to Washington, D.C. As an Army sergeant myself, I returned to Arizona with our dog in tow.
I don’t know who was more traumatized by the experience, even though Schottzie met me in Arizona unscathed after an uneventful flight.
Many travelers fly with their pets, whether by choice or not, with good results. Statistically, a tiny number of animals are harmed or lost in air travel. But no one wants to be that statistic.
Fewer airlines fly animals in cargo these days — most pets will fly in the cabin. Only American, Alaska and Hawaiian airlines offer flights in cargo for larger pets. United will fly furry family members in cargo only for military and other governmental members on official orders.
Things to consider and do before flying with a pet:
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- Know the rules of your destination. For instance: Being rabies-free, Hawaii requires a stringent quarantine program to stay that way. The minimum five-day quarantine requires advance preparation and adherence to a strict timeline.
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- Ensure your pet is healthy and up to date with your veterinarian. Shots and boosters obviously, and get a Health Certification a week (10-days max) before your trip. Microchips are highly recommended. The only thing worse than a lost pet is one lost in an unfamiliar area when you are visiting.
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- Put lots of thought into your airline and routing — and revisit the health issues above. Many airlines will not fly flat-nosed cat or dog breeds, nor will they fly other small animals. Plan for as direct a route as possible, being aware of temperatures if your pet must fly cargo. Early morning and evening work best in the summer, while midday flights lessen exposure to extreme cold in the winter. Airlines normally restrict cargo pets to destinations in months of extreme cold or heat.
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- Budget for in-cabin or cargo fees — a minimum of $100 each way.
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- Book early to get the flights you want. Are you open to multiple airports? The American Kennel Club lists these airports as dog-friendly.
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- Pack your paperwork and have pictures of your pet. Be ready to show evidence of your pet’s identity and health at any time.
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- Leave early and make time for stops before you check in. Make the airport trip stress-free for you and your pet.
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- Do not medicate your pet before the trip unless prescribed by your vet and approved by the airline. Airlines can refuse to transport animals who are under sedation or otherwise less-than-responsive.
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- Know if your pet is a good candidate to travel by air. Even pets carried in the cabin have escaped their owners at the airport or elsewhere on a trip, fleeing in unfamiliar surroundings. Some cargo pets have suffered self-inflicted injuries trying to escape their crates.
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- If you want to keep up with the airlines, which are required to report pet-related incidents, here is the Department of Transportation consumer report site.
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- Many airlines go beyond the minimum federal requirements for transporting pets, particularly minimum ages. Those federal requirements are here.
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- This space has focused on domestic flights, and international travel with pets is entirely more complicated. Here are two links: an international overview and one for bringing dogs into the United States.
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Finally, if you decide not to fly your pet, you’re not alone. Many, if not most, pets are more comfortable at home, with a trusted sitter or boarding facility. And many fellow travelers are more comfortable without our fuzzy family members traveling beside them. Read consumer advocate Christopher Elliott’s take on the matter.
