Flying with your pet.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, around 2 million live animals travel by air every year in the United States. The vast majority of these pets arrive at their destinations and back home again safe and sound. Yet things do go wrong (26 pets died while in the care of an airline in 2016, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Reports), and when they do, it tends to make the national news and cause pet owners to panic.
Research (by phone, email or website) the airline of your choice to learn the following airline-specific information:
> Breed, size, destination and time-of-year restrictions for the cabin and the cargo area
> Types of carriers and kennels allowed and how they’re supposed to be labeled
> Items that are prohibited in your pet’s kennel (hint: You may not be able to send your pet’s favorite toy!)
> Health certification requirements
> Feeding instructions
> Labeling requirements for your pet’s collar
> Past performance transporting pets.
When you make the reservation, let the airline know you’ll be bringing a pet. If you want your pet to travel in the cabin, the earlier you can book one of these highly limited spots, the better.
Give your pet at least one month to become familiar with the carrier or kennel you plan to use while traveling. If you’re planning to take your pet in the cabin, make sure your pet does well in a carrier for four to six hours. You won’t be popular with other passengers if your pet can’t be calm and quiet for that long. If you know your pet is a bad traveler, talk with your veterinarian about safe sedative options before your trip.
Make sure the transportation you arrange at your travel destination can accommodate your pet and your carrier or kennel. (The same goes for your destination accommodations.)
Healthy pets make the best travelers. Make an appointment to take your pet to the veterinarian for a wellness exam and pick up any health certification documents the airline requires within 10 days of your trip. Tell your veterinarian where you’re traveling, as your pet may need to be given preventive medicine or even a vaccine to protect it from diseases that aren’t a concern in your area but are common at your destination.
Every airline is different. Don’t assume that what worked with airline A will work with airline B. Rules and restrictions can change over time, as well, so make sure you do your homework to have the most up-to-date information.
Finally—an excuse to take more photos of your pet. Keep a recent photo of your pet with you when you travel. If your pet becomes lost, it will make it easier for airline staff to locate your pet if they know exactly what they’re looking for.
Pro pet parent tip. Find a 24-hour emergency clinic in your destination city and store its number and address in your phone. That way, if your pet becomes sick or injured, you won’t have to waste time scrolling your phone’s Google search results for help.
If you are planning on traveling with your pet this holiday season, and need to have an exam, or health certificate for travel. Please give us a call and schedule an appointment. 407-855-7387.
Major Airlines Policies links.
Provided below is a list of a few major airlines and links to their pet traveling policies. Remember you can also google search your airline’s Pet traveling policy, but it is always best to call them and speak to a live operator. Each airline has different policies so be sure to search for your right flight provider.
- Delta
- United
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/animals/default.aspx
- Frontier
https://www.flyfrontier.com/travel-information/family-pets/
- Jet Blue
https://www.jetblue.com/travel/pets/
- Southwest
https://www.southwest.com/html/generated/help/faqs/pets_faq.html
Please be aware, that these policies can change at any time you should always check your flight providers each time you travel with your pet.
If you are planning on traveling with your pet this holiday season, and need to have an exam, or health certificate for travel. Please give us a call and schedule an appointment. 407-855-7387.