Here are the pet travel pages for Delta, American Airlines, United, JetBlue, Southwest, and Alaska Airways.Īirlines typically require a health certificate-issued by an accredited veterinarian following an office visit that includes a physical examination-stating your dog is healthy and up-to-date on her vaccinations. There are also different stipulations for flying with a trained service animal, so be sure to navigate to the right webpage or talk to an airline customer service agent about the rules for non-service animals specifically. The rules around traveling with dogs vary greatly depending on the airline, the destination, and the dog, so you’ll want to do as much research as possible ahead of time. “Putting your dog in cargo, even on a pet-friendly airline, can be a very risky situation.” What are the rules for flying with a dog? “There are many situations that are beyond your control when your pet flies in cargo,” says Bruns. Baggage handlers are just trying to get their jobs done and get everything loaded onto the plane-unfortunately, they’re not there to pay special attention to your dog in its kennel. Once you hand your pet off to airline personnel, their fate is completely out of your hands, so you’ll want to seriously consider whether the potential risks of them flying in cargo outweigh the benefits. Plenty of animals fly in cargo every year without incident, but travelers have also shared horror stories about their pets being injured, becoming very sick, or even dying. While airlines say they try their best to make dogs comfortable in the cargo hold, it’s bound to be an unpleasant experience for your pet nonetheless (and that’s likely an understatement). Most airlines describe this as “shipping” your pet. Unfortunately, larger dogs (with exceptions for trained service animals) have to travel in the cargo hold, along with all the luggage and freight. You must stow the crate (with your dog inside) under the seat in front of you for taxi, takeoff, and landing otherwise, you can hold the carrier on your lap or, if you purchased an additional seat, you can place it on the seat next to you. Some airlines, such as JetBlue, do allow travelers with pets to buy an additional seat for their dog, but they must still pay the carry-on pet fee and keep the dog inside his crate for the entire duration of the flight. as carry-on pets-if they are small enough to fit under the seat in front of you in a carrier. Typically, dogs can only fly in the cabin-a.k.a. Also know that there are health risks involved with sedation, and some airlines prohibit this practice or require a veterinarian’s note. Experts are divided on whether travelers with pets should sedate or tranquilize their dogs before a flight (even the American Veterinary Medical Association offers a slightly murky answer to this question), so weigh the pros and cons with an expert who is familiar with you and your animal. “Ideally, pets should not fly unless an owner is moving permanently or taking a long trip-two to four weeks minimum.”Īnd if you do decide to proceed with flying with a dog, consult with your vet about food, water, exercise, and medication ahead of time. “In general, I recommend not flying with a pet unless absolutely necessary,” says Justine Lee, veterinary expert for Pumpkin Pet Insurance. Or, if your budget and schedule allow-and your pet tolerates car travel well-consider driving if you really want your pup with you on the trip.īottom line: Before you book a trip, think long and hard about whether it’s essential to bring your dog along for the journey. Consider hiring a pet sitter, asking a trusted friend or family member your pet already knows to watch your dog, or boarding them at a licensed facility. You might feel bummed out for a few days, but it’s almost certainly better for your pet in the long run. Unless you have a really good reason for bringing your pet, it’s probably best to leave them behind. “If the destination is somewhere where the pup will be alone inside all day, boarding or hiring a dog sitter may be better options to consider rather than subjecting the pet to the stress of flying,” says Jennifer Bruns, a veterinarian at PetSmart. In addition, consider whether your dog will be able to participate in all the activities you have planned once you arrive. Dogs who must fly in the cargo hold are also away from you, their favorite person, in a scary environment. Think about it: Flying removes pets from the surroundings they are most comfortable and familiar with, then forces them into a situation with loud noises, bright lights, thousands of people, a dizzying array of new smells, changes in air pressure and cabin temperature, and limited access to places where they can use the bathroom.
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