Talk with your Animals

Up until just recently, pets have only been welcome on airplanes if they’re flying with the luggage stored beneath the plane. One of the main concerns we have with this old practice is that most luggage compartments aren’t properly shielded to keep out the extreme hot and cold temperatures that occur during flight. This then goes from bad to worse if they’re forced to remain locked in their cage for hours on end when your flight gets delayed. While you’re up in the terminal trying to finish that book you brought they’re suffering in a dark compartment with practically no room to move around. If a traveling pet becomes ill during flight there is no way of monitoring, let alone being able to assist the animal until the flight has landed in their scheduled destination. As you can imagine this has resulted in countless tragic pet deaths over the years. Due to the growing concern for animals traveling with their owners in the air, most airline companies now enforce stricter training for their baggage handlers, even requiring them to report any adverse incidents to the Department of Transportation. In addition to that most will refuse passage to animals during extreme weather and during the hottest months of summer.

If your travel companion is a small pet then it’s much easier to take them with you in a soft dog carrier. The majority of airlines will allow passengers to bring a small dog, cat or other pet into the passenger cabin as long as it is quiet, odorless and and above all restrained in their carrier for the duration of the flight. While you might cringe at the thought of keeping them in their dog carrier for a long flight, it is worlds better than the alternative they would have faced traveling with your toothbrush and shoes downstairs. Now in order for you and your pet to qualify for passage on an airline the pet and carrier must have a combined weight of no more than 40 pounds and must also fit underneath the seat in front of you. Because a lot of the airlines have a limit to the number of pets that they’ll allow in the cabin for any given flight, if you’d like to take your four-legged friend with you on the plane make sure to notify the airline as soon as possible so that you can be guaranteed one of those slots.

Before booking any flight you should call your airline and discuss with them what their policies are for traveling with pets. Each airline is different in their policies towards pets both traveling in the cabin as well as stored underneath the plane. Airline personnel can also help owners choose a flight that will be most comfortable for their pet. Try to aim for a flight in the early morning or late evening during the summertime as it’ll be the coolest during those hours. Any airline representative should be able to assist you in picking a flight that is right for your animal/situation so contacting them should be one of the first steps in your travel preparations.

In order to safeguard the health of your pet, there are various precautions you need to take before leaving for the airport. The AAHA suggests that you have your pet examined by a veterinarian no more than ten days before you first round of travel plans. It’s also good to note that you will be required by law to provide proof that your pet has all the necessary rabies vaccines/shots when you first arrive at the airport, so don’t forget your paperwork! Federal Law also prohibits any animals younger than eight weeks old to fly in an airplane, regardless of whether they’re in the cabin or not. Don’t forget now, there are no late pickups when it comes to traveling with your pet.

As for what type of carrying case or crate you should secure them in for traveling on a plane that all will be determined by the size and breed of your pet. You can’t go wrong with any of the sturdy pet carrier most commonly found at any pet store but just make sure that they have all-hard sides and at least two ventilation ducts on opposite sides of each other. If you have a small pet then you should look into getting a soft leather dog carrier to keep your four-legged friend happy and content for the duration of the flight. Whether it’s a dog kennel or pet carrier, it’s important that you make sure it has a water resistant floor as well as soft objects all over the place to help pad any turbulence. All kennels should have the proper large signs attached to them that read “Live Animal” complete with a copy of your travel itinerary, contact info and way to reach you while on your trip.

Just always keep in mind that you know your pet better than anyone so it will be up to you as to whether or not your pet is right for air-travel. Some dogs that are perfectly healthy in any other situation end up becoming traumatized due to the environmental changes that takes place during flight from the varying degree switches in temperature to the changes in cabin pressure.

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