I took my cat on a plane for the first time this year. I'm not sure who was more stressed, him or me, but it was definitely me. While traveling with your pet may seem as simple as getting an airline-appropriate carrier, there are a lot more rules and regulations I learned I needed to be aware of before bringing my pet on a plane. And these could vary by destination or even airline.
That's why I wanted to put together a guide for flying with your dog or cat, to not only help you prepare for any future trips, but to also put your mind a little more at ease before an anxiety-inducing trip. Traveling can be stressful enough, and adding in a pet to the mix certainly doesn't make it any easier.
1. Research your destination and its requirements
Are you traveling domestic or international? Depending on your destination, you may need to meet certain requirements or get specific certifications before traveling. This can include getting a health certificate, meeting a minimum age requirement, having up-to-date vaccination records, a microchip, or even getting certain diagnostic tests.
While domestic travel may be slightly simpler given you're traveling within the United States, international travel will vary depending on your destination country and its requirements. These requirements will also frequently change with certain outbreaks or needs so don't rely entirely on online information that isn't directly on your destination country's travel portal or government website.
To take my cat from the US into the EU, I needed a specific travel certificate that involved a microchip, recent bloodwork, an up-to-date rabies vaccination, and a 3-week inoculation period to prove the vaccine had taken effect. If he was a dog, I would have also needed a roundworm test. The experience took both a long time and cost a few hundred dollars before even purchasing his ticket.
2. Pick a pet-friendly airline and book ahead of time
Selecting a pet-friendly airline is essential to ensuring your pet can make it with you to your destination. Not every airline, for example, allows pets in cabin — and this, again, will vary according to your destination. Some airlines will only allows pets in cabin on domestic flights or into certain countries. Some airlines will have different qualifications for how big your pet can be or how many sides of your carrier need ventilation.
More confusingly, several airlines have outdated information available on their website. I highly recommend calling the airline to book, as I was told I couldn't bring my cat through a web chat, but had no issue while calling an agent. Additionally, each flight can only allow a certain amount of pets, so booking ahead is essential to ensuring your pet actually makes it on the plane with you.
3. Decide how you want to travel
It was very important to me that I kept my pet in the cabin with me. Now not every airline will allow this, and that's especially true with certain size and weight limits. There are potential options to keep your pet in the hold or even to send them through a pet-safe courier service if you don't like the idea.
There will be a fee that you're required to pay depending on the manner in which your pet travels. You may need to get a kennel for larger pets or pay for a ticket for in-cabin pets. Some airlines will also count your pet as part of your baggage, so you should always ask for airline-specific pet policies.
4. Get an airline-approved pet carrier
If you're bringing your pet in cabin, you'll need to do some research on whichever specifications your airline requires. Generally, your pet must fit under your seat in the carrier. Certain airlines require at least three sides for ventilation for domestic travel and four sides of ventilation for international travel. (Remember: these carriers have six sides, so the top vent will count toward this.)
[Read More: Best Airline-Approved Dog Carriers]
You may be required to provide the size details of your carrier while booking your flight, so you should have those details on hand. Because these restrictions seem to vary, it doesn't seem like many of these stances are extremely hardline, especially if you're using a soft-shelled carrier.
You should ensure your carrier is large enough that your pet is able to spend time in the carrier comfortably. That's why we recommend soft-shell carriers, especially if they have to fit under the seat. Some carriers even have extendable sides so your pet can stretch out a bit more.
[Read More: Best Airline-Approved Cat Carriers]
5. Make sure you have the right supplies
Depending on your animal, you'll probably require some food, a means of providing water, a collar or harness, treats, and possibly some pee pads to ensure there are no accidents while on the plane. For my cat, I brought puree snack tubes to make feeding a little simpler.
While many airports will have pet relief areas, certain pets may be able to avail of these a little more easier than others. If you have a skittish pet, make sure you bring something like a pee pad to ensure their carrier isn't dirty or unpleasant for them (and for everyone around them) for the duration of the trip.
6. Talk to your vet about ways to keep your pet calm
Not only is your vet a great resource for information on travel requirements (when everyone online seems very confused), but they may also be able to provide some stress-reducing tips or medication appropriate for your pet.
My vet prescribed my cat Gabapentin, which was especially helpful while I had to remove him from the carrier during the security checkpoint (which was noisy, unfamiliar, and bright). If you know your pet will have trouble handling this experience, you can ask someone in the security line if you can arrange a quiet, private screening for security measures. Other options include a calming spray or even a piece of clothing that smells like you so they have something that feels familiar to them in these stressful moments.
7. Research your airport for pet relief areas
Do your research when it comes to airports you're traveling to and from — especially if you have to do somewhat long car rides on either side of the trip. Some airports have quiet lounges and even relief areas where a pet can do their business. This is especially helpful for pets traveling on long-haul flights.
8. Get your pet acclimated to the carrier
Making sure your pet is not scared of the carrier is a great way to make their journey less stressful. This can include keeping it out in the days or weeks preceding the trip so your pet can make positive associations with it that don't exclusively involve being brought to the vet.
You can provide specific toys and treats that make your pet enjoy the carrier so the thought of spending many hours in it doesn't terrify them. You can even do "practice" trips that allow them to spend more extended time in the carrier. Make sure you provide rewards and make the experience as enjoyable as possible.