Traveling with a pet on a domestic or international flight requires careful planning and preparation. To make a booking, bring your pet to the check-in counter with the required travel case and paperwork to purchase a ticket. You can also book your pet at an airline or city ticketing facility.
To ensure a smooth trip, follow these expert tips: crate training, health and safety for dog travel, and taking your dog to the veterinarian for a check-up. Use plastic bags for waste disposal and always book flight reservations for you and your pet at the same time. Most airlines only allow a few pets per flight, typically two to six, depending on the type of plane.
To secure your dog on a plane, secure them in an airplane-friendly pet carrier that fits underneath the seat in front of you. Most airlines only allow small dogs to fly in the cabin, with some outlines specific weight limits. Carry-on pets are required.
Make a reservation for your dog, as American Airlines, Southwest, and JetBlue charge $125 each way for an in-cabin pet. Most airlines only allow one or two dogs on each flight, so it’s important to book your dog’s ticket early.
Depending on animal breed and size, your pet can travel as a carry-on or be transported through American Airlines Cargo. Notify the airline of your pet’s travel and pay a pet fee, usually around $100 each way. Book direct flights and travel on the same flight as your pet when possible.
📹 How To Fly With Your Dog In The Cabin In 2024 | Our experience bringing our Westie puppy on a plane
Here is everything you need to know about flying with your dog in 2023! How to book a pet-friendly airline, getting a microchip and …
Can my dog sit in my lap on a plane?
On-board, your small pet must remain in its carrier at all times, and it cannot be removed during the flight. Carriers must be stored under the seat in front of you and cannot be stored on your lap or in an overhead bin. Airlines have the right to remove you and your pet from a flight or deny boarding if your dog acts aggressively towards staff or other travelers. Larger pet dogs over 20 pounds must travel in the cargo hold of the plane, unless they are emotional support or service dogs.
Not all airlines offer this option, so it’s essential to check if your airline offers this option. Cargo-hold travel differs from in-cabin travel in that you won’t have access to your pet during the flight, as your dog will spend the entire flight in the cargo hold, which can be affected by temperature fluctuations.
How much does it cost to bring a dog on a plane?
When traveling with a pet, it’s essential to consider the cost of pet flying. Airlines typically charge a pet fee of $100 to $200 per trip, but prices may vary depending on the destination and airline. To ensure your pet meets the airline’s breed and size requirements, check the airline’s pet policy before purchasing a ticket. Factors affecting pet flying costs include the pet’s size and the location of travel.
Smaller dogs can fit in carriers under the seat, while larger pets may need to travel in cargo if allowed. Most major U. S. airlines don’t charge pet fees for international flights. Other costs to consider when flying with a pet include additional expenses beyond the airline’s pet fee.
Is it safe to fly dogs in cargo?
Flying your pet in a cargo hold can be dangerous due to the potential for accidents, such as heat, cold, poor ventilation, and improper handling. Most U. S. airlines report all companion animal incidents in the cargo hold, and it’s important to review the airline’s performance record before flying. However, one incident doesn’t necessarily reflect the entire airline, and human error can also cause mistakes. To increase the chances of a safe flight for your pet, follow these tips:
- Keep your pet in a cool, dry place, and avoid leaving them in hot or cold temperatures.
- Keep your pet well-hydrated and well-fed, and avoid feeding them food that may cause diarrhea.
Is flying stressful for dogs?
Dogs typically travel well without medication, but some may experience significant stress during air travel. Consult your veterinarian to create the best travel plan for your dog. Strategies to de-stress canine flights include using a Thundershirt® swaddle, Adaptil® pheromone calming collar, or prescribed medications like Trazodone, gabapentin, and alprazolam. Test the medication at home before your trip to gauge your dog’s reaction.
If your dog experiences motion sickness in a car, your veterinarian may prescribe a medication specifically to avoid it during your flight. With proper planning, attention to detail, and consultation with your veterinarian, flying with your dog can be a great experience.
Can I buy a seat for my dog on a plane?
Most airlines do not allow passengers to buy their dogs a seat on a plane, but passengers may be able to pay to have their dog fly with them in the cabin. Most airlines allow small dogs to fly in the cabin, and most require carry-on pets to fit comfortably in a soft-sided carrier that can go under the seat in front of you. The pet carrier must remain under the seat for the entire flight, and it must be roomy enough for your pup to stand up and turn around when it’s zipped shut.
A small number of airlines, including JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, and Etihad Airways, allow passengers flying with dogs to buy an extra seat for their pet. Dogs must still fly in a carrier and fit under the seat for taxi, takeoff, and landing. Outside of those flight phases, passengers are generally allowed to put the dog carrier on their lap or in the seat next to them that they purchased.
Can my dog sit on an airplane seat?
Most airlines require pets to stay in their carrier during flights, even if an extra seat is purchased for them. This means your pet cannot sit directly on the seat. However, buying an extra seat can provide some flexibility by placing your pet’s carrier under it or using it as a buffer from other passengers. NerdWallet is not aware of any airline that directly rewards miles to pets, but some airlines do offer bonus points for pet bookings, such as JetBlue TrueBlue members receiving 300 bonus points.
How can I travel with my dog on a plane?
In order to qualify for transportation by air, a dog must be placed in a standard carrier that is capable of fitting under the seat. The animal must remain in the carrier throughout the duration of the flight and must not cause any disturbance to fellow travelers. Only small dogs are eligible for transportation under these conditions.
Do dogs’ ears hurt when flying?
Earache is a common issue in dogs and cats, particularly during long flights. The stress and behavioral changes caused by prolonged periods in the transport box or aircraft hold can lead to otitis, an infection caused by wax or water accumulation in the ear. If left untreated, this condition can lead to the pet’s death. The increasing popularity of plane trips with pets may negatively impact their health.
Can my dog sit on my lap during a flight?
On-board, your small pet must remain in its carrier at all times, and it cannot be removed during the flight. Carriers must be stored under the seat in front of you and cannot be stored on your lap or in an overhead bin. Airlines have the right to remove you and your pet from a flight or deny boarding if your dog acts aggressively towards staff or other travelers. Larger pet dogs over 20 pounds must travel in the cargo hold of the plane, unless they are emotional support or service dogs.
Not all airlines offer this option, so it’s essential to check if your airline offers this option. Cargo-hold travel differs from in-cabin travel in that you won’t have access to your pet during the flight, as your dog will spend the entire flight in the cargo hold, which can be affected by temperature fluctuations.
Do all airlines allow dogs in cabin?
Airlines like Southwest, Alaska, United, American, Delta, Hawaiian, Spirit, and Frontier allow pets as carry-ons in the cabin, as long as they stay in a small carrier under the seat. However, most pet-friendly airlines do not allow travelers to buy a seat for their dogs on a plane. Small dogs can accompany passengers in the cabin, but they must remain inside a kennel tucked under the seat. JetBlue requires travelers to pay for a second seat and pet fee to bring two pets onboard at the same time, but they must remain inside a carrier for the entire flight. Alaska Airlines allows up to two pets with them in the cabin if they buy two seats next to each other.
📹 ANIMALS on PLANES? Is your PET SAFE flying in CARGO??? Explained by CAPTAIN JOE
Today’s video goes out to all passengers who travel or want to travel with their household pet on a plane. I’ll be showing you …
Im really surprised that airlines haven’t taken up the business opportunity to have pet specific planes. They’re worried about all these fake emotional support animals, but if they actually had an alternative for folks, then they wouldn’t resort to such measures. It would swipe the rug from under the competition too. I understand passengers have allergies/animal fears, but it would be assumed that they would be informed prior to the purchase of their tickets that it’s a pet friendly flight. Then they can decide to buy or not.
Hello readers, I have flown with my dogs in the cargo every year since 2016 between Montreal and Paris with either Air France or Air Canada and my dogs have never ever had a problem with the overnight flight. In fact, if we go away for any more than 3 weeks, we take the dog. The first time we had to go away for a month, my vet said “dogs belong with their packs” so we always took our dogs with us. Also, consider that most kennels do not like to take your dog for more than 3 weeks. In addition, I have never had a dog die on a flight but I have had a pet die at home because the care giver didn’t give the proper care. My current dog, an Old English Sheep dog, was shipped to me via 2 flights from Vanderhoof, BC to Toronto, ON (11 hours) as an 8 week old in 2018 with Air Canada Cargo. She arrived fresh and energetic and jumped into my arms upon opening of the crate. Since then, we have traveled regularly between Montreal and Paris for work, staying between 1 and three months at a time and I could never leave my dog behind. Suggestions for a successful trip with your dog in Cargo: 1) Choose your airline wisely. I will only ship my dogs via Air France or Air Canada . No exceptions. Air Canada in particular is now IATA certified for animal air transport. But Air France is just as good. I have found that on Air France I am more likely to speak with the Pilot themselves before take off (you will see why in the next point below). Also, no airline wants a pet death on their flights because this is later publicized and its a black mark on their record!
We have had two pets severely injured or killed due to cargo transport issues on two different US passenger flights. One named Coco, lost breathable air for long enough that she got severe long term brain damage. She went from being a smart, talented loving dog full of life. to one that had special needs for the rest of her life, was often fearful, often hid/slept under a bed, could not keep her tongue in her mouth and acted like she had severe PTSD. The second dog, who was a certified aid dog who, despite prior written approval, was forced to go cargo because the airline rep said they had too many pets already for cabin transport. We were told this after check-in and getting our boarding passes and waiting about a half hour in the boarding area; at which time we were called-up to the counter and told that we had to check our aid dog into cargo, and had no other option, as our bags were on board already. I said I’d gladly forfeit my fare and that I just wanted them to please remove my bags from the plane, as I explained what had happened just a few years before. However, they said this was not an option, and we would be arrested if we were not willing to board, and the two flight reps claimed that it is as safe as the cabin and is “fully pressurized and temperature controlled at all times”. Do NOT ever believe that. Our aid dog, a Golden Retriever named Ondine, got frostbite, had to have two paws, part of her tail, and much of both ears removed, and died 12 days later due to her frostbite related injuries.
I hate how difficult it is to transport animals. I was in a situation where I had rescued two street dogs in Cambodia, and I had to get them back to the USA with me to give them a chance at a decent life. I had to seal two 4-month-old puppies into crates for a 30-hour trip. I was so upset and I felt like I was committing an act of cruelty. Both puppies are grown, healthy, and happy now, and I always tell people that I would never recommend anyone does that to an animal unless there is truly no other option. And I have to say how disappointed I am with the fact that there is no way to give animals a safe and comfortable trip on a plane unless they are small enough to fit under a seat. Animals are not cargo, and not everyone is just trying to take their dog on holiday, sometimes people are moving and they want to take their pets with them.
I once had my golden retriever fly in a cargo part of the plane when moving to the mainland from Hawaii. Yes, it was very stressful for my dog and she pee’d all over her blanket plus it took her a couple of days to acclimate after the flight but I had no other choice to transport her across the Pacific Ocean and disposing of my pet at an animal shelter wasn’t an option. Bottomline, there are circumstances when a pet needs to be transported in cargo but it should only be done as a last resort option.
We relocated from Oregon to Philippines in 2018, and took my then 17 year old cat on the flight with me in cabin. The many hurdles to get everything approved on both ends are many, as was mentioned in the article. I took him out on the layover in Incheon for some hours, and taking him into a family restroom so he could walk around and get some food and water. When we arrived at our destination in Cebu, he was treated like royalty by the Korean tourists in the customs line with us. In 2019, we relocated back, and it was a bit trickier, as he got severely ill about 6 weeks before we were due to fly back. I got vet approval a few days before our flight, and we were off again. Another layover in Incheon, then one more at LAX. He’s still around at 19 years old.
I flew my dog only once. As I know how paintfull and stressful it is for animals to be stored up front in crate, and because the holiday was whole month, it ended for him not at animal hotel, but me hiring private microjet for the trip. He actually enjoyed the flight, but I can say the 9/10 of that was because I was with him. Funny moment, he took a look outside the window midcruise and looked at me back with the face he always have in car, when he wants me to open the window for him.
When I was a kid, my family caught wind that I loved animals and, on my aunt’s next visit, she brought a baby tortoise for me to have as a pet. That alone doesn’t sound particularly noteworthy – except for the part where she carried the tortoise in her pocket from Argentina all the way up to Canada. Oh, the pre-9/11 days were wild.
I was in the military, stationed in Germany. When my husband and I were reassigned to the United States, we had 2 cats that we brought with us. We flew from Frankfurt to St. Louis, then on to Seattle to visit family. Our cats were supposed to arrive in Seattle when we did, but when we got to Seattle, no cats. Found out later they had been misplaced in NY somehow, like a lost luggage scenario. They finally came several days later, and looked like they had been through quite an ordeal, very bedraggled, and so glad to finally see us.
When I was working at the international airport more than 10 years ago, it happened once that the pilots of B747 had forgot to switch on the heating system in bulk section where one cat was loaded with cage. It was an intercontinental flight whose flight time was 12 hours and half. When the cargo staff opened the bulk section door upon flight arrival, the temperature there inside was extremely cold and found out that this cat was almost dying frozen. As nobody informed me of this irregularity immediately, when I saw the owner ( a young female passenger) picking up her cat which was not moving in the cage (she was calling her cat by name many times but no reaction), I felt very sorry for this cat who must have been extremely tired and stressed suffering too much during such a long trip, but without knowing that the cat was really suffering for extreme coldness…the next day this passenger called our reservation office claiming that her pet died after they got home and wanted to know if something wrong was happening onboard or before departure after check-in at the departure station. I heard about this sad story from one of our reservation staff who was making inquiries with various sections through which I came to know about this mishandling by the cockpit crew. At that time I had not any pet at home but now that I have one cat living with me, I leave him to a cat sitter every time I have to depart for abroad. This article just reminded me of that tragedy… oh poor cat 🐈
Seven years ago i brought along all my pets back home, 3 big dogs and 4 big cats via Philippine Airlines… It was a 1.5 hour flight but my pets did it very well. They’re well mannered pets because i treat them as if they’re my biological children since birth. Sad to say, one dog and one cat are gone. Only 5 are living with me until now, all more than 15 years old and i’m 61…. I love my dogs and cats and i love all dogs and cats on this planet. Especially those abandoned, maltreated by cruel human beings… God bless all animals on this planet… Amen 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I have travelled for 12 years with my dog and cat both in Cargo with Alaska Airlines. We flew from Seattle to Puerto Vallarta sometimes direct and other times a layover in San Francisco or Los Angeles where I booked a longer layover to get my pets out for a walk and to relieve themselves.I have never had a problem and they arrived safely to our destination.
My cat has flown with me several times, 2x on domestic U.S.flights and about 3x on trans-atlantic flights lasting between 8 and 12 hours, plus connecting flights. On all flights he sat quietly on my lap, adored by the flight attendants and other passengers. There was absolutely no fuss, and he just sat quietly and enjoyed the flight. On one flight in particular, I was upgraded to business class. So was my cat. So we both had our own super-comfy seats at the front of the plane. 🙂 Once on a flight from VIE to JFK via CDG, we missed our connecting flight to New York through no fault of our own. The airline put us up in a nice hotel and even provided food for my cat. The hotel staff was also very accommodating, even bringing me a small litter box for the cat. When we got to JFK, the security personnel insisted on checking the cat carrying bag. I had to take him out of the bag for them to inspect it. The minute I did, everyone in the airport dropped whatever they were doing and came over to coo and pet my cat. Poor thing also got patted down and scanned with the hand-held metal detector. It was all too cute!
When we relocated to Europe, I flew over with our cat under the seat in front of me, but we have a senior Bernese and I knew the stress would have been too much for her to be in cargo for a transatlantic flight (even with the cat, it was at least 14 hours of travel time+security etc to our final destination). Instead we brought her over on the Queen Mary. They have onboard kennels that are open for visitation by the owners most of the day and a private section of deck for the dogs to exercise/do their business. The only downside is that it takes a week and you’re limited to NYC to Southampton/Hamburg (which we did and adds another 2 days). They’ve already doubled the kennel capacity on the ship during their last refit, and the kennel master said they were discussing adding even more space in the next refit, so they clearly find it profitable. I’m not sure why airlines don’t similarly offer kennel space similar to the combi setup where people can feel more secure that their pet is accessible and potentially they can go and visit them during the flight. You could fit quite a few pets in a small space and charge much more than you would for a passenger. (For reference, to transport a cat with me on the flight Delta charged $200, the Queen Mary charges $1600 for a cat or $2000 for a large dog)
When I was a child, my Dad was in the Army. While living Hawaii we got a dog, Rebel. When we moved back to the mainland Rebel flew from Honolulu to Atlanta, GA. After a few years there we moved to West Berlin Germany.. The family traveled first to get settled in our new house and my grandparents put Rebel on a plane to join us. I am sure this was a long flight with several transfers, but Rebel arrived safely. From Germany we moved to Turkey and then back to the states. Rebel was a well traveled dog and while he probably didn’t enjoy the plane travel he never had any problems. On every flight he was in the cargo section and except for the flight from Hawaii we were not on the same plane.
I flew out with two rescued dogs 2 years old from Malaysia to Atlanta via Amsterdam on KLM. I was freaking out but I know the best airlines to fly pets are either on KLM or Air France. The pilot of the plane told me they fly about 40, 000 perts per year all over the world. There were altogether 5 pet dogs on the plane (2 from Indonesia, joined half way in Malaysia by my 2 dogs and another pet dog) My dogs arrived safely in Atlanta, it took them about 1 weeks to get over the stress and get adjust to new USA lifestyle. But then they are doing well.
Planes should have special departments, like a business class, for bigger pets and their owners. I want to fly with my dog in the cabin, would pay a business class ticket for him, but sadly no ordinary medium sized dogs allowed up. He is terrified of thunder, so he would probably die in loud cargo area being alone.
There used to be a pet airline in the US in which the pets would be in the cabin with flight attendants and you would send them with treats and any notes about meds or behavior issues. They only went to DC, Chicago and NY i think. They folded but i really wish something like that would return. There is simply no way to take one’s full sized dog with one without driving in this country, and i am not a driver.
Matt Harnacke actually did a 5 part series about moving with his horse from Australia to the Netherlands. It’s called “flying my horse across the world”. The articles are from an owner’s perspective as he is a horse guy and not a pilot but it does give great insight on keeping horses calm and healthy on a plane.
My wife and I + our Boxer dog were moving to Osaka Japan from Los Angeles and to say we were worried would be an understatement ~ As we waited in a long line at LAX to go to the ticket counter an ANA representative saw us waiting in line and said “Let me help you” he said “I’m a dog owner and I know how you must feel” what a relief that was I had to hold back my tears and believe me I’m no wimp ~ That that moment on ANA treated us like a First Class passenger ~ When I got on the plane I asked to speak to the leed Flight Attendant and asked her to kindly speak to the Captain to let him know that I had my dog on board and to make sure that she was getting the proper air conditioning set for her ~ We are talking about an 11-hour flight to Tokyo and then a transfer of 1 hour to Osaka ~ When you get on a plane make sure you speak to the leed Flight Attendent to make sure the Captain know that you have an Animal that was checked in for your own safety ~
There is a 4th way: aid dogs can also travel in the cabin. AVI’s can’t be loaded with HUM due to animals having better smell and can get stressed. Dry ice is a big no-no together with AVI. Loading location is also very dependent on the airline. Hold 5 is often used to transport the animal. Cats and dogs are also separated if they aren’t from the same household.
@ 9:34 – that was so funny! Captain Joe, you know what they say – Never share the screen with pets and children – they always steal the show! Great article – I am planning on getting a puppy this spring that will need to be flown to me, so this was good to see that my puppy will be safe and comfortable in a pressurized and temperature-controlled cargo hold. Thank you, Captain Joe!
I flew from south Africa to Paris via air France with my 2 Yorkshire terriers 8 yrs ago . They both were in cabin with me, the service from Air France was excellent. The Yorkies did cry a little at first as they wanted on my lap, but mostly quiet, would definitely recommend Air France for flying with pets … in cabin …
Without perusal the article or reading any comments. On every aircraft there is at least one pit that is pressurized and able to hold AVI, in a 737 that is the forward pit. We generally try to keep pet carriers separate from luggage and we secure the carrier with a cargo curtain or netting and a strap for extra stability. We on the ramp love seeing your furry family members and we will often talk to them and hang out with them if they seem sociable to keep them calm and comfortable during the loading process. If you’re in for a long flight with a sizable layover we have procedures for walking your pet to allow them to have a bathroom break and feeding procedures where we encourage you to provide the food you’d like them to have. We don’t face your pet’s carrier towards another pet’s carrier to limit the stress such a meeting might cause. In any case, please don’t be discouraged from bringing your companion with you when you travel, I assure you that we love to see them too. 😊
I’ve maintained a side career with an agency delivering pets internationally for Military, law enforcement, vetted breeders and private families who are relocating. This article is well-rounded and addresses many of the questions I address during the intake and quote process. I shared articles with clients of the Frankfurt Pet Lounge as wells international airline carrier practices to alleviate some of their concerns. For pet parents going through this for the first time it can be really nerve-wracking. Thanks for taking time to create these @CaptainJoe 🙂
I was a baggage handler for 10 years at a major airport and have loaded many live animals. I can tell you with 100% certainty that it’s a very stressful situation for most animals. Many animals I have offloaded from long flights up to 10hrs were extremely stressed out, some shivering when we opened the cargo door. I have a dog and I would never put her on an airplane unless she could ride with me in the passenger cabin. Because she is not a service dog that can’t happen so I make arrangements for her care in the event we have to travel.
I must disagree that pets are safe in cargo. I had two dogs travel on a plane, a Boxer and an American Bulldog, maybe it was the stress and maybe it was that the airline didn’t have proper A/C in the cargo hold but one of them died within days of the trip and the other within the month. I will NEVER fly a pet in cargo again.
I have traveled several times with my dogs in the aircraft, not in cargo, it was a breeze, within US and international (Mexico) the last time was in 2010 and no problems at all, my dogs were small enough to fit under the seat in front, plus I gave them the appropriate amount of benadryl, recommended by my vet, and no water or food I forgot for how many hours before the flight, no accidents, THANK GOD!!! And also no barking, they were relaxed, “semi-drugged”🤭 but conscious, no side effects, all fine, flights were also relatively short, not more than 4 hours, longest was from Chicago to California, I don’t remember if that was longer… that one was for a holiday and yes, traveling with pets is not ideal for just traveling a short period, I absolutely agree, on top of planning our schedule we had to consider the dogs, and unfortunately our dog did not get along with our friend’s dog and we did not contemplate that at all, so needless to say, it just wasn’t ideal, we still enjoyed ourselves and so did our dog, but not doing that again, all other travel has been relocation related, needs must. Experience at that time was great, pretty easy, no fuz or hassle. I have to travel again from Mexico to Chicago this coming May and my dog is bigger, so it won’t fit under the seat, I’m trying not to stress, but I may have to put him in cargo, he’s a not so “mini” Schnauzer, 18 lbs+-, he’s lean, but he’s taller and longer than a mini, probably a mutt… I’m considering sedating him and fitting him under the seat, laying down he’ll definitely fit, not sure it’s possible or allowed, but I’m weary of cargo a “lil’bit”.
So here is my personal experience. I’ve been a Red Cap working at an airport in Europe for a while now and I would never, ever put my pet through that. I get that sometimes is necessary like if you’re moving countries or for the animal medical treatments, but if you’re going on vacation and want to bring your pet with you just don’t. The stress you’re putting your pet through it’s awful. Where do you think they are? In the lounge waiting? They are next to the plane way before you embark, and they are the last cargo to go so they have to stand the noise, the heat, the wind, or the cold. I hate when I have a flight with an AVIH (animal as cargo), I feel so sorry for them, sometimes I can see how nervous they are and there is nothing I can do to help them. Also, once every couple of weeks there’s one that escapes and I’m not exaggerating. In the past 2 months, that I know off, we had a dog so stressed that he destroyed the carrier by bitting it and ran, another dog managed to escape but was chill and decided to just stay there and get pets, and four cats that escaped (cat’s are much harder to find, one was missing for two days and I honestly don’t know if they found it or just told us that so we wouldn’t talk about it). If you really have to bring your cat/dog make sure you have a solid transporter, also some water system because no one is going down there to give it to them obviously, and maybe, talk to a veterinarian and sedate them.
My husband and I are moving from Portland Oregon to Portugal at the end of this year,. Our furbaby, Jeter, is an 85lb Golden Retriever that will be coming with us. I am searching for any and all advice and information on the safest, most humane way to get him there. I’ve researched enough to know that flying Internationally is very difficult, and the only flying option for him is to be in the cargo area of a plane because of his size. I’ve been thinking that renting a van to drive from Oregon to the East Coast with him, then fly him from there to Portugal would reduce flying time in half. It would also allow us to break up the driving part of the trip with lots of stops. Please pass on any airlines that specialize in humane pet travel or any other helpful suggestions on other travel options out there. Thank you!! Sandy
We lived in the US. When it was time for hubby and dog Sammy to join me here in Israel, it was quite the big deal. We were told that from where we lived we could (and should!) only travel with Lufthansa because they are equipped and do a good job at handling pet travel in the cargo hold. And then there was the 10 day window to get all his papers (rabies certificate, health check, etc) ready in time to be let in the country. And then poor, anxious Sammy had to be confined to his kennel, separated from dad and go into the belly of the beast all alone for hours… The flight itself took much longer than a simple direct flight because of the layover in Frankfurt (only one for pets!) but 2 years ago they finally landed safe and sound and we were together again.
We’re about to load our two cats on a plane from Brisbane to Melbourne for our move. Its by the far the most stressful thing for us. We have been training them in their carriers every day getting them used to it. But no matter how much you read about it being safe, the cat doesnt understand it and will obviously be scared to death no matter what. Feel awful for having to put them both through it but its a one time thing only
Hi Captain Joe, a very thorough explanation there, As an airline staff myself I always wondered where the pets are loaded either front or aft cargo compartment in a narrow body or even a wide body aircraft, I have handled my fair share of live animals or AVI as it is known in aviation and I understand the necessity of all the procedures. One thing you forgot to mention, not everyone knows this unfortunately, you need to ensure the cage height and width is enough to cater for the comfort of your furry friend or any animal, in other words they have to be able to seat, stand, move about comfortably, a crammed cage is not a healthy environment and can cause a lot of stress to the animal. Now for why you MUST NOT LOAD a live animal or AVI with human remains? Well let’s say you load a dog lets call her Lassie, with human remains, well for Lassie, one it will be a highly stressful and freaky situation, Two, oh everyone will know there is a very stressful unhappy dog on board as Lassie will be “singing the song of her people” for the entire flight in short animals are in tune with nature and their surroundings, oh they will know immediately when a dead person is next to them, in the same room as them, covered or not.
For the people that say it is torture. Some people have no choice. Would you want people to abandon their pets? Some people are military traveling across country’s. It’s really hard for military people get spots to fly their pets home. But if you train your pets they would know that their crates are a safe space they won’t freak out.
I remember moving to US from Ukraine (which is 17 h travel flight with 1 layover) with my cat. Luckily, he was allowed to be with us in the cabin. And we bought business class seats on purpose, to give us and him more space. We gave him plenty tranquilizers before even entering the airport building. And kept giving him those during the flight. He actually took everything really well. We did not even have potty accidents. And he stayed relaxed all the time. Now we also have a dog and I can’t imagine traveling without him. Searching for ways to take him onboard with us. He’s golden retriever, so he’s gonna be like 60 pounds when he’s mature.
The fact that it’s still so tough to travel with a pet is mind blowing to me. Seems like a huge lost business opportunity. There need to be pet-friendly airlines/flights that allow pets onboard to minimize stress for the animals. Only passengers with no animal allergies would be able to board on such flights (which is most people!). I’m not so much talking about short vacations; for that, I understand it’s best to leave them in a safe place for a few days. But plenty of people have lifestyles/jobs in which they need to travel to different locations multiple times a year. And often it’s just too far to justify such frequent long road trips. I’ve gone without pets solely for this reason. I refuse to traumatize animals by putting them in cargo. It’s really a bummer.
You really put my nerves at ease. I’m getting on a flight in just eight hours. I have one dog in cabin and one as checked, and I was really worried about the one I have to check. I’m moving back to America after five years living abroad, so I really had no choice but to fly them since I couldn’t ever imagine leaving them behind.
Great article as a former ramp agent! I’ve worked every aircraft in this article at IAH INCLUDING the combi.Side note you don’t put a stallion behind a mare…. they might get exicted. The HR and AVI question ive never had to deal with both simultaneously, im not sure maybe positioning of the HR. But yes its extremely stressful on animals when they fly.
Joe sir imaging when you are holding the runway point and you are preparing to take off, your Cody comes to Control cabin with the Cabin crews and Cody accidently put the throttle to full. what is doing : 1) Cody bad boy 2) Cody wants to give freedom to the aircraft to fly like birds. 3) Cody is trying to help Joe to take off the aircraft but Cody does not know more information about that plane.
Thank you for this article. I took my 10lb Terrier mix on a flight from LAX to Munich (10 hours!) after our initial broken-up flight was canceled last Jan. due to weather. The year prior he had practice on a short 1.5-hour flight and we both had fun on that short flight. He also did well on the 3-hour flight from Munich to Portugal after a nice walk outside the Munich airport. I was freaking out about the long flight with him in the cabin with me and I did worse than he did. Some things to consider: 1. You do not want them under the seat in front of you on a long flight. Even my 10lb dog was stuffed for landing and takeoff because not all of the planes have the same under-the-seat room. The largest plane we went on actually had less room than advertised because they put the audio-video stuff in the area which blocks space. Luckily nobody said anything about him being on my lap in his carrier, his carrier being in the foot room area instead of under the seat after the takeoff and landing, and one nice flight attendant let me put his carrier on the vacant seat next to me on the way back. 2. If they have to go to the bathroom, bark, or freak out, you are screw.. 3. They take your foot room and air travel already is extremely uncomfortable. 4. If you are an anxious person, you will not do well. 5. Make sure your plane arrives when the vet that is on the other side is on duty. 6. We did have fun together on our three-week vacation even though it was stressful at times. He is not the type of dog that wants to be left at home and would actually do worse without me.
During early pandemic my 1.8 year old pug flew cargo from India to LA via Dubai .. this was the only option … I had sleepless nights until she joined us safely .. now the thought of traveling her thr cargo is a big NO .. after all the wait time ( 6 hours) we experienced at the airport cargo facility after the flight landed was a nightmare.. though our darling joined us safely … informative article loved the way you explained 👏thanks
My dog move out with me and it was a nightmare, she had to sleep on the airport because a vet wasn’t working on the time I landed and they couldn’t release my pet before a vet check it. I check the time of arrival weeks before buying my ticket but the flight was delayed. It was actually horrible 24h. But my pet is fine and we are living happy together.
What a great website! Thank you so much for explaining! I had to travel with my dog (but she is professionally trained and got used to the crate), travelled from one continent to another, all went well! Love KLM and Lufthansa quality! 10 years ago had to ship with Cargo Lufthansa both of my dogs from continent to continent, all went well! Again, both dogs were professionally trained and great socialised for any conditions.
I fly from Florida to California, with a change of planes in Atlanta, at least twice a year with one of my Maltese, with the last trip ending two weeks ago. She always flies in the cabin with me and doesn’t have any problems on board, and usually I’ll have her on my lap for at least part of each flight.
very useful and informative information, thank you for sharing. Do all airlines cater for pets or is it just certain ones? Do you need a vet onboard when travelling with your pet? Can i visit my pet during a flight? maybe these can be answered in another article but enjoyed the article (especially coming from a captain).
We flew with our two cavalier king charles spaniels (in the same pet cage) as cargo from Sweden to Japan in 2014 and back again in 2016. Finnair and the staff at ARN, HEL and KIX were just amazing. They let us wait at the gate past boarding time just so we could watch the cage get loaded before we boarded, just before pushing the aircraft.
I flew combi B737s for a long-gone airline. In our inaugural B737 flight, the passenger cabin (aft) was filled with VIPs celebrating the new fleet. The forward (freight) cabin was full of groceries for the destination, a remote town. In the belly, we had luggage, mail, and a dog. Unfortunately, the dog was loaded in the aft belly because nobody in the ground crew knew it wasn’t heated. The flight had two embarrassing consequences: 1 – Nobody thought of ballast or return freight to compensate for offloading the groceries, so all those groceries had to be reloaded and sent back to the origin. 2 – The dog was thereafter known as Pupsicle because it had frozen to death. Thereafter, we always loaded the live animals in the front belly to keep them warm and human remains in the aft belly to keep them cool.
Captain Joe, just watched your article and we are about to fly back to Mexico. We moved to Austria in 2013 with our Labrador, Maya, when she was 1,5 years old so, now she will fly back home 🙂 I highly appreciated your article, cause we really wonder how they manage such a long trip. We flew Mex-Vie via Mad with Iberia, and they were wonderful. If you have some recommendations for the way back, will be highly appreciated. Maya is now 9,5 years old, and while she is so used to travel (a few times in Europe), we know she is an old lady now. Thank you, and wish you and Cody all the best!
Not enough critical info: How comfortable or stressed will the animal be in different scenarios. What about when a vet gives pet relaxation drug. How often do pets get misrouted. What is the weight and size limit for in cabin small pet. What happens if there are procedural/paperwork problems in middle of connection flights. This article left me with more anxiety.
UPS employee here. People do order tarantulas and other exotic pets of all sorts on-line, often from overseas. Pilots, like the rest of us can suffer from arachnophobia. I know myself can feel it crawling on me, even if 1 cm thick glass is between me and the infernal animal. Put these things together… I just say we had problems before. (“Is it still in the box?! OMG! O.o”) About transporting the deceased: one night the customs called to the warehouse in panic everyone who has uniform, police, firefighters, explosives detection dogs and whatnot. They thought they found a bomb mixed with the packages. When the disposal squad dealt with the “bomb” it turned out it was illegal indeed, but “only” an iPhone, cables, some gadgets and… grandma’s ashes. They called the culprit and they admitted that that was the way they wanted grandma back in the UK.
Thank you for this article, Captain Joe! I have a question about a long-haul flight! My husband and I are planning on moving from California to Vietnam! We have a small dog and a cat that we consider family and plan on bringing them with us when we move. In your experience, how do pets do on a long-haul flights that will total about 22+ hours of travel time? I am SO worried for them, and am not sure what will happen if the flight has a layover!
I stumbled upon this article and as someone who works for a cargo airline, I really approve of this article. Our department specializes in handling animal transports and all things related to these movements. We are also responsible for the welfare of the animal while it is in our care. I can honestly say that the animal`s welfare is atop our list of priorites, but with that said, it is just like the captain said. The experience is stressful and therefore, your beloved pets should only be flown if absolutely necessary. Safe travels to you all.
Hi, First of all funny given dog names, hilarious! Second, yes, my Mademoiselle Lulù (she was a Shetland dog). Travelling with us on an international flight. Was crate was medium large), no one knew she had cancer. Was overweight, because of cancer. Trip was from Italy back to Central America. We travelled with IBERIA . – Iberia did not want to put her in the cargo claiming the crate was too large… but with the same airline it was how we got with her to Turin in the first place. Long story short, when we got to MIA ATO International, a Nigerian employee of MIA told me that all boxes were pushed to the walls. WHen I gave the SOS signal to Lulù, as: “LOLY” she started barking. A French woman told me in French the dog was thirsty (Luly was grabbing the water bottle). I pushed her crate to the ticketing open place and ripped off with my hands the white plastic security TSA had placed for her. Not a pleasant ride. If I would have known, I would have PAID her seat!
I never intended to take my dog flying with me. But I have to move to another continent and I have no choice. The thought of leaving my dog in cargo gives me a lot of anxiety (and he’s above the weight capacity so I can’t bring him in the cabin with me). I was hoping this article with ease my anxiety but I think I’m even more anxious now 😬
07:02 Bodies may still be transported by air if they have been appropriately refrigerated and packed in a ziegler or other approved container, sometimes with dry ice (i.e., solid CO2 – the amount of which is dependent on the body’s weight and other regulated limits). As dry ice sublimates to gas, it displaces the oxygen within the carrying compartment – a potentially dangerous situation for any live animals also being flown in cargo.
I hope flight conditions for pets will be without stress in the near future. It is very unfair and disrespectful to assume pet owners take their pets on holiday flights because Animal Hotels are more expensive. This makes me very sad. Many pets don´t want to be separated from their owners, a flight takes just hours when holidays are for several days or weeks. Being with strangers in a strange place like hotels and for a prolonged time is very bad for them. I took my dog 3 times to an Animal Hotel with good references, and my experience was from bad to The worst thing I did to my dog. Is not about the money, is for the care and love we have for our pets. The effect of taking him with us on our holiday trips was less harmful compared with being in an Animal Hotel.
4:22 what do we mean by “lost”? for how long? also, are you allowed to put a camera in their crate and make sure it’s labeled as such so people loading them are aware that they’re on camera? in cases of lost, injured, and dead pets, are thorough investigations performed and if due to negligence, are those individuals held responsible?
LUGGAGE TIPS 1, 2, 3, 4 Tie three or four colored ribbons around the handle to your luggage to warn others that this is not their luggage. People grab luggage at the turnstile and take it home before you ever see it. Anywhere you put your bag, it could be grabbed in error. Example: overhead compartment, unloaded from the bus, at the hotel lobby, at the airport turnstile… These ribbons make your luggage different and EASY TO SPOT when the piece is surrounded by 35 other cases unloaded from the bus. Using 4 ribbons make it immediately different than other cases with 1 ribbon. Use 1″ wide ribbons 14″ long and not longer. Cut the ends at 45 degrees. Tie the ribbons as a sandwich, as if they were one ribbon. Use a man’s tie, a half Windsor knot for the best look. After it is tied on, the total length of the ribbons will be about 5 inches from the handle. This is too short to catch on anything such as rollers. Scissor cut trim the ribbons to cascading different lengths after they are tied. Put a drop of Super Glue at the end. If each ribbon is slightly a different length by 1/4″ the color layers will all show up no matter how they drape. You can see these ribbons from 40 feet away. Perhaps tie TWO handles or RINGS top and side of the case. Tie using a HALF WINDSOR KNOT to the metal buckle ring of the handle. Learn Half Windsor knot tying: It is the 2nd example in this article youtu.be/X0yh5rKB9lE This knot does not loosen. Put your phone number on one ribbon using a fine point permanent Sharpie.
My friend bred a beautiful Whippet who was sold to New Zealand…He will be flown out in August..He will be really missed in England, as by the time he flies off, he will be almost a year old…and has spent months going to dog shows {doing well} and having fun and being socialised and travelling. He will hopefully be travelling with a horse and groom, as the groom can talk to the dog {but not touch them}.
6:50 I cheated here but I found this to be a viable answer to that question. From an airliners blog : “Talking about the coffin itself. This is not the normal coffin used for funerals but specially designed coffins for airtravel. They look like wood, but do feature a lead interior to prevent any chance of leaking. As you might know the fluids of dead people are highly poisonous and a direct safety thread for the aircraft if it leaks out of the coffin. Besides the safety aspect the fluids from a coffin stink and when a cofin leaks in the cargo hold, all cargo and luggage can be thrown away for reasons you might think of yourself.”
I don’t know if this was stated, but to fly you must provide appropriate documentation to the carrier. I’ve flown pets International and it was easy when we followed the rules. Be prepared for quarantine at both ends as well. Also, make sure your animal can go with you. England, Hawai’i, and Australia have strict import rules.
We were visiting my Sister inTX we found a dog HOWLING on the side of the road. We stopped ( ugh ok for those of you wondering if this was a stray, it was en route to Waco 164 cross road 770 there’s nothing there) we decided to adopt her. We are shipping her to CA. The vet said she had heartworm. She is under vet care for it. We were told people in TX dump dogs all the time. I see dogs on chains neglected. DO BETTER TEXAS. Oh and the dog was about 5 years old and not spayed. Why or how can someone keep a dog 5 years and just say eh and kick them to the side of the road!!? So this article was great I wanted to see how it was done and if shoe would be safe thank you!
In 1987 my family relocated to america along with our prized top breed afghan hound show dog Mona. We were delayed in Italy an extra few weeks because the airline did not have cages big enough, so we were given strict spec. Instructions to build one ourselves, it was agreed that its best to give my dog sedactives since it would be a 9 hour flight to new york …thank god it was a mid night and besides us there were only about 50 other passengers, cuz the vet did not provide enough to sedate her and as soon as we began taking off she began barkibg and howling, it would not stop to a point that the pilot allowed the flight attendants to escort my daddown into the luggagecomp. In hopes he could calm her, but it was withno avail …the entire trip was disrupted, thankfully my lil sister had an aweful tooth ache and distracted the attention from the dog with an even more evasive screaming, i swear we must have won the most anmoying family aboard prize …smh
I took my cat in cabin with me, and paid $110 for her to have her own ticket. It was her first airline trip, and she curled up and slept unless we had to transfer to a new plane. The cabin steward demanded I put her under my seat, and when my feet were burning up, I grabbed her up on my lap and put my overhead cold on. I refused to put her under my seat unless the cabin temperature cooled down. My cat panted like you wouldn’t believe when I stood her carrier up to reach the overhead cool temp. She would have died of heatstroke if I had left her under my seat.
I have a 29 lb Doodle. I live in Florida but my family is in Canada. Last December we drove 12 hours a day for 4 days to get there and feel like we risked our lives because the weather was very bad in the northern parts. There was a death in the family and we stayed just over a month. It’s heartbreaking and expensive to leave her for weeks at a time because I have no other way of getting up there with her. I do have a letter from my Psychiatrist because of my anxiety but I don’t think the airlines will accept it.
It is not a matter of expensive pet hotels or not. Leaving my dog behind while I am on vacation is just not an option. Similar to leaving one’s children behind. And even more than children, because kids do tend to like being alone and independent for a while but my dog, especially an older dog always is close to me to feel safe. And how to enjoy a vacation with your best friend left behind during this supposedly joyful period? My thoughts will always be on this pet hotel. So vacation via plane is not an option for me in general, since I got a dog, until death tore us apart.
The decomposing bacteria in the dead human body might be infectious to the live animals if they are loaded together in the forward cargo. This is from my microbiologist’ perspective, I don’t know if you have any aviation logic. Another hypothesis would be: the evolutionary carnivorous behaviour of animals may get ignited in the brain/nerves of the live animals upon sensing the presence of flesh (corpse) which may create a hunger disturbance & anxiety during the entire flight hours.
So, if a flight is taking on non-cremated remains, it can’t take on any pets either unless they’re qualified to be taken on in the cabin? The corpse has to go in front with no animals riding along, and the rear isn’t climate controlled. How does that work if you book your flight and show up to check Fido only to be told that a corpse is going to be loaded and you can’t put Fido in the hold? Is your flight just delayed to wait for the next plane that isn’t carrying a corpse?
I loaded planes for 25 years. The noise on the ground is ear shattering for us but the pets can’t use earplugs. Being an animal lover I would never put my pet on a plane. Better to board them while your gone. Unless your moving overseas. It’s traumatizing to all pets. The heat, cold and noise is awful.
This article provides a fascinating insight into the often overlooked world of how pets travel on airplanes. It’s clear that pet safety and comfort are top priorities, and the explanation of cargo hold pressurization and temperature control was eye-opening. The host’s advice to consider alternatives for pet travel is a responsible and caring message that all pet owners should heed. Cody, the co-star, may not have barked, but I certainly learned a lot from this informative article!
I have 2 dogs and I’ve moved recently to other country. After studying the process of transporting an animal by plane I decided to drive a lot of Km by car in order to avoid my dogs this experience. My dogs are used to travel in their kennels and I use them even at home wide opened because they are trained to feel safe inside them. However, specially if the dog is in the socialization stage, I see too many situations on which the dog can be seriously traumatized and develop behavioral issues after the flight. The noise, the temperature, the take off and landing, the transport from the airport to the plane… Dogs have associative intelligence. Maybe after the flight your dog associate noise with extreme fear situations for example. An fear is closely linked with agression as way to protect themselves. I’ll only transport my dogs by plane on emergency situations (I live in the other side of the world and driving is not an option).
I like the comment about the one guy who ruins it for everyone. I climbed up to the top of St. Peters, and was able to get a 360 degree view of the lovely city of Rome. I took lots and lots of photographs. Well some bright guy, decided to climb up there & protest by sitting on top of one of the windows. The Vatican police and fire department managed to get him safely back inside, but this resulted in bars put up, so that now it looks like you’re looking out from a jail cell.
I really wish all the countries make the processing easier to bring our dog with us especially if we want them to bring in the cabin, every time we go for vacation. There’s a lots of works if we want to bring fur babies with us then another lots of work too for going back home 😑 especially the permits, i wish the permits is valid for 10 yrs while the health certificate is valid for, maybe depends for how long your vacation .
I remember being on a transatlantic flight and from my seat I could hear a barking dog from below somewhere in the cargo area. I felt so bad for that dog. I’m sure he/she was terrified and barking for help. But, that KLM plane looked so cool. Too bad it doesn’t exist anymore. That would be maybe doable. I agree, leave the critter at home. Animal flights should be to get them out of a dangerous environment and fly them to safety, not as part of a vacation.
7:06 pets cannot travel in the aft cargo with the deceased because Health concerns. The aft cargo area is often colder and more humid than the passenger cabin, which can be harmful to pets. The deceased body may also release bacteria and other pathogens that can make pets sick. Behavioral concerns. Pets may be stressed or traumatized by being in close proximity to a deceased body. This can lead to behavioral problems, such as barking, whining, or aggression.
I used to work for American Airlines Cargo back in the late 90’s to early 2000’s, eventually ending up on the Jim Wilson Desk, and shipping darn near everything from live animals to human remains to equitainers (don’t ask…). Obviously, the first priority is the safety of the animal, both for obvious reasons and because of the media backlash when bad things happen. To book a live animal, we have to go through the Four T’s: Temps, TRANSIT, Triplist, and Time. Temps are pretty obvious, and mentioned in the article. While the forward cargo bay is both pressurized and climate controlled, the Tarmac is not . You know, the big flat blacktop you have to get on and drive around on to get to the aircraft? Yea, it gets hot out there. Like ‘melt the soles of your shoes’ hot, in the summer. If the forecasted temp is over 85F (or 75F for pugnose breeds, as they are more sensitive to temperature), it’s a no-go. The low is 45F, below that it’s also a no-go unless you have a Vet’s note saying they’re cool with it being cool. TRANSIT is the system we use to check for embargos and other system wide alerts which might impact live animals flying into, out of, or through certain airports or regions. Times are important because we want to be sure your pet doesn’t fly into a closed cargo terminal and have to park his butt all night all alone. Then there’s Triplist… basically checking the manifest on the aircraft for some things you don’t want animals flying with, such as Human Remains. In particular, you’re going to be looking for Dry Ice on board, or anything containing Dry Ice (like aforementioned Equitainers).
It’s not just the flight itself either. The horror stories of cats getting lost as security remove them from their boxes to check them through security! My little guys, who are indoor only cats would die from the stress alone I’m sure. I have also read cases where the forward hold was not heated by the pilot by mistake and animals were found frozen to death. I’d be happier if I were allowed to sit in the cargo hold with them, strapped to the floor, but no. I wish FEdEx or UPS had a service for pet owners to fly aboard cargo planes. I don’t need to waited on hand and foot, or unlimited inflight drinks, I’ll take a sandwich and a bottle of water. That’ll do fine for me.
The “one guy who ruins it for all” are the people with screaming kids, not people with animals. Placing my pet under someones sit and them kicking it when moving their feet is a huge no. Animals are family, they should travel in the cabin and be allowed seats. Or allow owners to travel in the cargo with them, if it’s safe for my pet then it’s safe for me and vice versa. No human is more important than my pets and most pet owners feel the same.
I was flown from NW Montana to Wisconsin with my 120lb baby girl. I had an “airline approved”, large dog crate. Turns out, crate was 1″ too tall to fit through my planes cargo door. They put her on a different plane. My plane was delayed in Minnesota for 3 hours due to technical problems. I was shatting myself, wondering what happened to my dog. Fortunately, she got to Milwaukee airport 3 hours before me, where my parents were waiting for us.
If the aft cargo hold is so cold, wouldn’t it be felt in the cabin, since there are air vents in the cabin floor? I remember an Air Crash Investigation episode where two DC-10’s crashed after losing a cargo hold door, and having the cabin floor collapse due to the lack of those vents, so I assume these vents are now mandatory by the FAA and such, right?
My cat is very mean to every living thing that’s not me, and he requires medication for hyperthyroidism. He wants to be around me at all times, and I can’t imagine leaving him with anyone who can’t handle him for 6 months while I am in Japan. I worry myself sick he won’t survive the trip (he will be about 12 years old by the time of my trip). This is beyond stressful.