There are many things to know and do in advance of flying with your dog in cabin or in a carrier in cargo. Here’s what you need to know about bringing your dog on a plane.
I remember 48 years ago when I had my Primary K9 Bussiness, I had aquired a K9 Protection, Guard Dogs and CEO K9 Bodyguards Business, it was Called Crumar K9 Services, at this times, the K9 Security situation was very high and being aware of the needs of Strong balanced Nerves dogs that would do well in families , K9 Companions, CEO Bodyguards and Protection as a whole I hd to travel to different Specialized Kennels in the USA, one of my favorite kennels was one in Virginia and the owner name was Eddie Nurse, At the moment I cannot assure he is still alive, I was 18 years old, now in my 60's I dont think he might be, but Eddie had the Best dogs with the most incredible temperaments to suit my needs and my clientele needs. I was super Strict about were these dogs were going, it was a priority for me that they would definitely have a happy fullfilling life! The point is that at that times I was able to import over 14 dogs in a plane as "excess baggage" when i was traveling with them, paid 50.00 per dog as excess baggage, something we would neveer dream of seeing now a days!
as time went by, Airlines got more and more strict and it was almost impossble to the point of only being able to bring 2 or 3 dogs as excess baggage, then up to now I beleive there is extremely strict rules and "Maybe" you may fly with only one dog as excess baggage and one small pet in cabin as long as fits the rules of each airline.
On the other hand Thanks to tighter airline rules, flying a dog as cargo is safer than it used to be, but it’s not completely without peril, especially on particularly long flights.
Its imperative to Invest in the sturdiest crate you can afford that meets the airline specifications, and habituate your dog to spending happy time in the crate so he is calm and comfortable during travel.
I had a very unusual situation bringing one of my studs from abroad, his name was Iunno de Peregrino a dog that I truly loved and made the most unusual and unexpected things a dog could do.
Well when we landed in San Juan, I hear by the microphones that they were calling me to please report to the suitcases area were they have the running band to bring the Bags from the airplane baggage area, as I rush down to get there, I m told that my dog got out of his crate and was running loose all around the baggage area in the belly of the airplaine and that they couldnt open the door to bring the baggage down for Iunno wanted to jump out of the plane and they were scared of him!!!! So I started laughing and told them, "I do not know what more can I expect from him" he figures things out in such an incredible way.. so i walked up the band opened the door ant Sure Yess, he was there and he jumped into me came down the rolling band and started playing with everyone, Definitely this was the Joke of the day for months people would talk about this, Iunno had found his way out of the crate and was having fun time loose in the baggage area , the belly of the plane! SO... I have no words to STRESS more the importance of a good sturdy crate. The story could had ended in another tragic way if it wasnt that Iunno had the Best of temperaments and all of this was just a joke for him.
Now back to the reality of now a day when flying with your dog. Statistically, it’s safer to fly than drive across the country, so if you have a long-distance journey to make with your dog and want to save time, you may decide to book a flight for the two of you. Flying with a dog in cabin If your dog is small enough to fit in a carrier under the seat in front of you, he can accompany you in the cabin as your carry-on item. You’ll need to notify the airline that you’ll be traveling with a pet, and you’ll be charged a pet fee, usually around $100- $150.00 each way.
Book the flight and make these arrangements early, as most flights will accommodate only a few pets in the cabin.
Be aware that there is no cut-and-dried rule regarding the size of dogs who can be carried on a plane. Most accurately, the limiting factor for which dogs can be carried onto a flight is the size of the dog’s carrier, and how well the dog appears to fit inside it. Every airline has different maximum dimensions for carriers – and airlines sometimes even have different maximum dimensions for the various types of airplane that may be employed on your journey. Confirm that your carrier meets the airline’s requirements for under-seat pet carriers. Usually the dog should not weight more than 20-25 pounds, other airlines may have other restrictions, but try to find out up ahead in time.
The airline will have other rules and regulations regarding vaccines, a health certificate from a veterinarian, and other paperwork for your dog. Read the rules carefully and get all your ducks (dogs!) in a row well in advance; health certificates can’t be prepared too far in advance of travel, so you’ll to schedule a vet visit within a certain time frame before your trip. Usually is 10 days prior the maximum time.
Service dogs may travel in aircraft cabins with their owners at no charge. Emotional support animals who are small enough to ride in an under-seat carrier can travel in-cabin with their handlers as pets (and must remain in the carrier) if the handler pays the pet fee. If they are too large, they must travel as cargo.
On your travel day, allow plenty of time to check in with your pet. In some cases, you’ll need to drive your pet to a special cargo area first, and then proceed to the passenger terminal to check in yourself. Make sure to have all required paperwork ready and accessible.
In addition to guidance you’ll receive from the airline, air-travel-savvy dog owners we spoke with recommended the following:
Consider your dog’s temperament. Air travel can be stressful for humans, and we understand what’s going on! If your dog struggles with “stranger danger,” is sensitive to unknown sounds, or is generally fearful and anxious, we’d recommend flying the dog only if no other options exist.
Do not sedate your dog prior to air travel. Sedatives can affect heart rate and respiration and can throw off a dog’s equilibrium. Also, most airlines will not accept a pet that has been knowingly sedated.
As with car travel – and just plain old common sense – make sure your dog has current identification and a working microchip registered with your current information.
Flying your dog as cargo
If your dog does not meet the in-cabin size requirements and is not a task-trained service dog, she’ll need to travel in the cargo hold. Live animals flown as cargo are loaded into a pressurized and temperature-controlled area.
Not all planes are designed to transport live animals and space is limited. In addition, different airlines have different policies and restrictions for how larger pets are transported. For example, in the United States, Alaska Airlines will transport larger dogs as “luggage” (in the temperature-controlled section of the cargo hold) for $200. each way. American Airlines accepts checked pets only for active U.S. military – all other large dogs must be transported through American Airlines Cargo, which is considerably more expensive – often more than the cost of the human’s ticket. United Airlines no longer transports pets that don’t meet in-cabin travel requirements.
Airlines have varying requirements regarding the maximum size of the pet carriers they will allow onboard; sometimes these will vary according to the size and model of the aircraft! Be sure to confirm that your dog’s carrier will meet the requirements for each leg of your flight – and, as always, be sure to practice at home in advance to habituate your dog to spending time in the carrier.
Once you’ve made the decision to ship your dog as cargo, prepare for the big day with these tips:
Triple-check crate regulations well in advance of travel. Airlines often require that dogs fly in crates that are large enough for dogs to stand up and turn around comfortably. Make sure your dog is very calm and comfortable in a crate long before he’ll need to fly in one.
Bring nylon cable ties to further secure the door of the crate after airline personnel have inspected the dog and crate. Many airlines do this anyway, but if not, it’s good to be prepared.
Airlines require crates have a food and water dish attached on the inside of the crate. Freezing water in the dish makes it more likely your dog will be able to enjoy hydration during the flight, rather than having most or all of the water being spilled in transport.
Airlines require that you have “LIVE ANIMAL” and “THIS END UP” stickers and the dog’s and/or owner’s itinerary/s affixed to the dog’s crate. Consider adding some additional stickers or photos to make your dog’s crate easier to spot if you’re watching from the airport or airplane window. Fun decorations or amusing information about your dog are also likely to put a smile on the faces of the ground crew transporting your pet. If something about your dog makes them smile, they might be more likely to go the extra mile while she is in their care.
Remind the gate agent that you’re traveling with a pet in cargo and ask to see your dog loaded into the plane. Consider including a cute photo of your dog and a gift card as part of your “ask” to encourage cooperation!
If you can’t personally see your dog loaded into the plane, ask flight crew to radio ground crew for confirmation. Again, it never hurts to pair the your request with a cute photo and a gift card.
Importance of Early Planning In short, you’ll want to do your research ahead of time and plan carefully. Things can get tricky, especially when you’re trying to coordinate a significant relocation of your own. If the rules, regulations, and challenges related to flying your dog leaves your head spinning, consider working with a reputable pet relocation company whose employees are well-versed in the ins and outs of pet transport, and who can take charge of helping you safely get your four-legged friend from Point A to Point B as part of your move. Visit the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association for more information about working with a pet relocation company.
Link to AA rules and regulations when traveling with Pets-