Sometimes it just has to be done. It’s not fun for anyone, not the dog sitting in the crate in the cargo hold or under the seat in front of you, and not for you thinking about the dog sitting in the crate in the cargo hold.
But it can be very rewarding when all is said and done and you’re sauntering along down a Spanish ramblas or watching the sun set over a foreign ocean or meditating on an ancient castle wall and your best friend is right there beside you.
Enjoy the journey – and if it happens to be at 35,000 feet in the air – just make sure you are prepared and know the rules whether you are flying across the country or across the world. Bon Voyage!
Flying Domestically Within the USA
Pet travel requirements are fairly consistent among the big carriers. Southwest Airlines and Frontier allow small pets to fly in-cabin but do not provide for pets in cargo or as checked baggage. (This article is being written during the Covid-19 pandemic and as a result of restricted travel most airlines have at this point stopped allowing pets to be flown as cargo or checked baggage for the moment so please make sure you check for updates before making travel plans.) It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the particular airline’s requirements prior to booking a flight for yourself and your pet. There may also be restrictions on the type of dog allowed to fly as checked baggage, (for example, neither American Airlines nor Delta will not allow snub-nosed dogs as checked baggage) and also temperature or seasonal restrictions depending on where you are flying. Pets are usually booked on a first-come-first-served basis as airlines usually have a limit on the number of pets they will transport on a particular flight. Doing research and planning the flight out in advance is crucial.
Airline Specific Links
The main US domestic airlines continually update their pet policies, links to which can be found here:
- Delta Airlines
- United Airlines
- American Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- Jetblue Airlines
- Alaska Airlines
- Frontier Airlines
Pets Flying In-Cabin
Check-In
Most airlines allow small vaccinated domestic cats and dogs to travel with you in-cabin under the seat in front of you. All pets must be carried in an appropriate carrier. Generally they are checked in at the ticket counter and reservations should be made ahead of time, at least 48 hours before departure.
In-cabin Carriers
Pet carriers are usually considered a personal item or carry-on item. For in-cabin pet travel, the carrier must be “airline approved”. The kennel must fit under the seat and remain there for the duration of the flight. The pet must be able to stand up and turn around. Hard in-cabin kennel dimensions are generally: 17.5″ long x 12″ wide x 7.5″ high. Soft in-cabin kennel dimensions are generally: 18″ long x 11″ wide x 11″ high.
Here are some examples of Soft In-Cabin airline carriers.
Pets Flying as Cargo or Checked Luggage
Check-In
Pets are dropped off at the Cargo section which is generally in a location away from passenger check in. Please make sure you know where it is before you go and pets are usually checked in about 3 hours before departure.
A Health Certificate signed by a USDA endorsed Vet will be required and must be no more than 10 days old.
A Live Animal Checklist must be signed:
- Confirming the pet has been offered food and water within 4 hours of check-in and
- Providing feeding and watering instructions (and food if necessary) for the next 24 hours.
- If you are sedating the pet you will need to also attach Vet’s written consent to the kennel.
Pet Carrier
Here is a typical Pet Carrier for Airline use.
When you buy a crate to transport your pet it may say “airline compliant” but the onus is on you to make absolutely sure it is compliant for the particular airline the pet is traveling on.
Kennel requirements :
- Pets transported as cargo or checked luggage must have an airline-approved kennel. Most pet supply stores sell them.
- The kennel must allow the pet to stand and sit straight up without its head touching the top. The pet must also be able to turn around and lie down naturally.
- The kennel must be loaded upright.
- It must be made of hard plastic, wood, or metal with a solid roof and 4 metal nuts and bolts.
- If the kennel has wheels, they must be able to be removed/made inoperable.
- Ventilation openings must be on 3 sides plus the door opening for US travel. Ventilation on 4 sides for all other locations and for short-nosed dogs traveling anywhere.
- There must be functional handles on the exterior and the door must close securely but not lock.
- “Live Animal”, as well as ‘upright arrow’ labels, must be displayed.
- Kennels should contain bedding and towels to absorb ‘accidents’. Pee Pads work well as a base layer.
- 2 dishes need to be attached to the inside of the kennel door and feeding instructions must be attached.
Airport Pet Relief Areas
Federal law now requires that airports that receive federal funds have accessible animal relief areas for service animals. Although the laws are intended to accommodate service animals, pet relief areas will no doubt be available to small pets flying with their owners.
Flying Internationally
We have done this multiple times with our dog, Spike, and it sounds extremely complicated but as long as you do your homework it is manageable. There are many professional outfits that take the work out of your hands, but of course, there is an additional cost associated with that.
In a lot of cases, a particular airline will not allow your pets to fly internationally in-cabin. Additionally, there are certain destinations that only allow pets to enter as cargo. There are also certain destinations that will require you to put your pet into quarantine (so don’t plan to take your pet on vacation there), they are mainly island nations for example: Hawaii, Australia, Fiji, Hong Kong, Singapore, Iceland to name a few. The United Kingdom now no longer requires animals flying from the USA to be quarantined.
The USDA has comprehensive advice through APHIS about traveling with your pet from the USA to another country. Different destinations generally have different documentary requirements so it pays to be very diligent. Your destination country may have specific health requirements that must be met before your pet can enter the country. Since export requirements are determined by each country and can change frequently, every time you plan pet travel you will need to verify the export requirements. Please note that airlines may have separate and additional requirements. Check with your airline to determine what requirements they may have, if any. Use the links to the Airlines above. Airlines will also often not fly pets if the flight time to the destination is over 12 hours.
The pet carrier requirement above will be the same for flying to international locations as for domestic flights within the USA.
