Read our 'Travel Tips'.
Make certain you read our 'Travel Tips' guide as it contains important medical information you will need to prepare your pet for air travel. Click here to read 'Travel Tips'.
Be Aware of the Risks.
Regardless of how cautious you and the airline are, there are always significant risks involved anytime you decide to transport your pet by air. We strongly recommend you use alternate means of transportation if at all possible.
Assess your pet's readiness for air travel.
The United States Department of Agriculture ("USDA") regulates air transportation of pets and requires that all pets be at least 8 weeks old and weaned at least five days prior to flying in order to be transported by air. We strongly recommend that you err on the side of safety and not transport any pet under 12 weeks of age. Additionally, ill, very nervous, pregnant, or older pets should not be transported by air.
Certain breeds including Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Boxer, Chow Chow, Lhasa Apso, Pekinese, Pug, and ShihTzu dogs, as well as Himalayan and Persian cats should not be transported by air as these breeds are more susceptible to breathing difficulties caused by the thin air at altitude.
Consider your flight options.
We strongly discourage the use of other than nonstop flights, especially for pets that will not be traveling in the cabin.
Avoid weekend or holiday flight periods as the high numbers of travelers during these periods may prevent your pet from receiving as much attention as it should.
If your pet will not be traveling in the cabin with you, avoid travel during very cold or hot times of the year and make certain that flights are early morning or late night if during the summer and midday if during the winter. The USDA prohibits the shipment of animals where temperatures at either the origin or destination are below 45 degrees or above 85 degrees. Many airlines have further temperature-related restrictions.
Allow up to two extra hours for check-in and, if your pet is not traveling with you in the cabin, arrival procedures.
Inquire as to the aircraft type planned for the route. McDonnell Douglas aircraft, including the MD80, DC9, and the DC10 will not accommodate 500-size crates. These crates should fit on Boeing aircraft, including the 727, 737, 747, 757, 767, and 777.
Contact the airlines.
Each airline has their own rules and regulations, beyond the USDA's minimum requirements, concerning what types of pets they will transport and how they will transport them that you will need to discuss. Let the airline know the expected weather at your origin, destination, and any transferring cities, as well as the type of pet you have, its size, the type and size of its carrier, weight, temperament, and health. Airlines may refuse to transport a pet for any of these reasons and may always refuse to transport a pet they have not seen for reasons including poor health or violent disposition.
The use of sedation or tranquilizers is not advised since their effects on animals at high altitudes are unpredictable.
Airlines may have any of the following transportation options for your pet: in cabin, checked baggage, or as cargo. While the requirements for each option vary by airline, the following are typical:
In cabin - You must be on the same flight as your pet and the carrier in which the pet is to travel must fit entirely under the seat in front of you and the size limitation does vary by aircraft and airline. Weight restrictions may also apply.
Checked baggage - You must be on the same flight as your pet and the crate and pet combined must weigh no more than one hundred pounds.
Cargo - If the pet does not qualify for either of the earlier options, it must travel as cargo. Unfortunately, when shipping your pet as cargo, there is no guarantee as to the particular flight your pet will be on, unless you choose priority or "counter-to-counter" shipping, which we strongly recommend.
Regardless of which option will be used for your pet, reservations are required well in advance as each flight can only transport a certain number of animals in each cabin class and cargo hold. These capacities vary by airline and aircraft.
Be sure to reconfirm with the airline 24-48 hours before departure that you will be bringing your pet.
Charges for pet transportation vary by carrier, but are generally between fifty and one hundred dollars one way.
If your pet will be traveling in the cabin.
Make certain to have a leash or harness with you as most airports will require that the pet be removed from the carrier at the security screening checkpoint so that the carrier may be sent through the x-ray machine.
Your pet will not be allowed out of the carrier during the flight.
If your pet will be traveling as excess baggage or cargo.
See "Before you go" to make certain you have an acceptable crate. If you have any doubts, ask the airline as they have final decision on acceptance of a particular crate. The crate must close securely with a mechanism that requires no special keys or tools to operate or unlock and must not have wheels on it. The crate bottoms should contain absorbent material such as bedding or newspaper and may not contain litter. Make certain that the crate is not too big for your pet to reduce the risk of injury to your pet from a bumpy portion of the flight. Wire crates are prohibited.
Attach a label to the crate with the information listed in "Before you go" as well as your flight information, destination, arrival contact name and number, as well as any special instructions for handlers. Place labels with the words "LIVE ANIMAL" in letters at least one inch high with arrows pointing upright on all sides and an additional label without arrows on the top. We suggest including a friendly note printed on the top as follows: "Hi, I am <name>, a <breed/type> going to <destination> on flight # <flight number>. Thanks for taking good care of me."
Secure a leash to the outside of the crate. Include two empty food and water dishes secured inside the kennel and accessible from the outside. Attach extra food, water, and any required medication to the outside of the crate along with any instructions for these items and a twenty-four history of feeding, watering, and medication. We suggest that you also include a small bowl with frozen water inside the crate that your pet can lick if it needs water. Do not use ice cubes as they can pose a choking hazard. Do not include any toys in the crate for the same reason.
The crate must contain no more than one adult dog or cat or no more than two puppies or kittens younger than 6 months and under 20 lbs.
Ask about other cargo on the flight to make certain that there are no substances that would be dangerous to your pet. Consider insuring your pet for $10,000. The amount of this coverage is minimal and it will mean that greater attention will be given to your pet.
Make certain you have copies of your pet's health and rabies certificates before you leave for the airport. Confirm the check-in and arrival locations as they may be in a different part of the airport than the passenger terminal buildings. Also inquire as to any cutoff times for acceptance of your pet on the flight. USDA regulations provide that your pet may be tendered no more than four hours before flight time (six hours by special arrangement).
Before tendering your pet for shipment, the USDA requires that you have offered food and water to your pet within the last four hours and the airline will require you to sign a certification to this effect. Do not feed a full meal at that time, however, as that will make the flight uncomfortable for your pet. We suggest that you offer water to your pet as close to two hours before the flight as possible.
Before boarding the aircraft, remain in the boarding area to confirm that your pet has been loaded. When you board the aircraft, inform the captain and flight attendant that your pet is on board and require that they confirm to you that your pet has been loaded. If you do not have access to the captain, give the flight attendant a note for the captain in which you ask that he or she assure you that your pet has been loaded and is, in fact, on board.
If taxiing becomes extended or the aircraft experiences ventilation problems, tell a flight attendant that you are concerned about your pet and ask him or her to have the captain check the temperature in the cargo hold where your pet is traveling. If the delay is long, insist that your pet be removed. Many pets have died because they were not.
Claim your pet as soon as possible after you reach your destination. If your flight is not a nonstop, leave the aircraft and check on your pet during the layover. If the layover is long or the temperature a factor, confirm that the pet is unloaded for the layover and not allowed to remain in the cargo hold or out in the sunlight. If the layover is long enough, claim your pet, take it for a walk, and offer it water before you reboard.
Any connections often require that you claim and recheck your pet at the connecting location, which may take up to three hours. Never change planes without claiming and rechecking your pet, even if the airline gives you this option.
If your pet will be traveling unaccompanied, consider contacting a pet travel service to handle the shipment. They will coordinate all aspects of pickup and delivery.
Prepare your pet for the flight.
Exercise your pet before you place it in its carrier or crate so that it may relieve itself.
Make certain that your pet is wearing a collar with identification in case it escapes. The safest type of collar for air travel is a breakaway collar if you have a cat or, for dogs, a paper collar you make yourself from a strip of paper and tape with identification written on the paper. This will prevent your pet from accidentally strangling itself in its collar.
Never muzzle your pet as its ability to breathe and regulate its temperature by panting will be severely restricted.
