Planning an air travel but don’t want to leave your beloved pet behind? Fortunately, you don’t have to. Traveling with a pet is common and acceptable these days. With a little bit of planning and preparation, you can make the travel with your pet a smooth ride.

Is Air Travel Suitable For Your Pet ?

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The first and foremost consideration before you start planning your trip is whether air travel is appropriate for your pet. There are limitations regarding age, breed, health, etc. for pet travel. According to federal law, the pet should be at least 8 weeks old and fully weaned for a minimum of 5 days to be eligible for travel.

Animals that are pregnant should not travel. It is also not advisable to take elderly animals in the plane as it can be a discomforting ride. There are also certain breeds of animals, like American Staffordshire, Dutch Pug, Japanese Pug, etc., whose facial structure cause for difficulty in breathing during air travel. These animals should never be taken on an airplane.

Does Your Airline Allow Pets ?

Different airlines have different policies for pet travel. Some airlines, like Alaska, Delta, Continental, etc., allow pets in the cabin as well as cargo. Other carriers like Frontier do not allow pets in the cabin. Still others like Jet Blue and Southwest allow them in the cabin but not in cargo. Check the pet policy of your carrier before you book travel with them.

Pet Policies At Your Destination

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In case of international travel, checking the destination’s requirements for bringing a pet along is very crucial. To avoid quarantine, you must have the proper health certificates for your pet. Some countries require a 15 digit ISO pet microchip. There are also requirements for current rabies vaccination, import permit and minimum period of stay in rabies free countries prior to travel.

Planning For The Trip

Just like you tag your check-in luggage for proper identification, your pet should also have a collar with an identification tag. Make sure to list your home address, phone number and destination address (if available) on the tag. Using sedatives or tranquilizers to sedate your pet is not advisable. At higher altitudes, the sedatives can cause breathing trouble and inability to balance among pets. Some airlines do not allow sedated pets at all.

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If possible, book nonstop fights so that your pet can avoid the discomfort of transfer to another plane. An early morning or evening flight during summer months will help your pet escape excessive heat in the cargo. Similarly a mid-day flight will be ideal during cold season.

Your pet should be fed within 4 hours of check-in time as required by the USDA. Overfeeding is not advisable as it may lead to nausea. Tape a packet of food, ice-cubes and some treat dispensing toys to the pet’s crate for long flights. Lining the crate with a soft padding will also be a good idea.

Some other considerations like clipping your pet’s nails before flight and intimidating the flight attendant in case the pet is in the cargo, will give you peace of mind and will ensure a safe journey for your beloved pet.