Airline pet travel, although it may seem traumatic to a caring pet owner, whether in-cabin or cargo, is oftentimes the best way (or the only way) to travel. Dogs, cats and all pets get to their destination quicker and as safely as possible. It should be noted that millions of animals travel safely aboard aircraft every year. Airline personnel make every effort to handle these animals with the care they deserve.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sets and enforces regulations for the transportation of live animals. These regulations apply to the pet owner, the shipper, as well as to the airlines. If you decide to transport your dog or cat by air, there are some things to check for in order to be in compliance with applicable laws, and to assure the safest and most comfortable trip for your pet.
If you are traveling with a smaller dog or cat, generally under 13 pounds and 12″ from floor to front shoulder, you should be able to bring the pet into the cabin with you. Always check with the airlines to find out the dimensions under the seat in front of you. An airline compliant carrier is a must. It should have a waterproof bottom, secure fasteners, (zippers) and ventilation on all sides. (These carriers are available at PetTravelStore.com.)
If you cannot accompany your pet, or they are too large to fly in the cabin, dogs and cats typically are transported as cargo or as checked baggage. Sometimes these terms create confusion, but both describe humane means of shipping animals. What is important to know is that you may only transport your pet as checked baggage if you are a passenger traveling on the same flight as your pet and the combined weight of your pet and its crate is under about 70 pounds. (This weight varies by airline.) If flying cargo, your pet may travel unaccompanied, either through the regular cargo channels or through an especially expedited delivery service that several airlines have developed. Many airline cargo departments have specialists in the movement of animals who can assist you with answers to your questions. They are trained to handle your pet with care and are experienced in doing so.
What is important for you to know is that pets traveling as cargo are transported in the same pressurized holds as those in the checked baggage system, and this area is temperature and pressure regulated similar to those in the cabin.
Each airline has its own pet policy, but one thing remains the same. You should call the airline before you book and tell them that you are traveling with a pet. Most airlines will only allow a certain number of pets in the cabin. Additionally, there will be a cost to bring your pet in the cabin with you. If your pet is traveling unaccompanied, then contact your airline’s cargo department.
For more tips on traveling with a pet on an airline, visit airline travel tips.
For airline pet policies for every airline that we can find worldwide, visit airline pet policies.
Hello! My dog is a pug. He is 11 pounds. I was wondering how I can prevent my dog from breathing problems and how my dog can have ear adjustion. Thank for your anwser.
Damaris – American Airlines offers the most flights between Orlando and San Juan. However, the longer you wait, the higher the temperatures get. American honors the Summer Heat Embargo and it will get difficult after mid May.
Jason
Hello. What airline you recommend to bring a 60 pound golden retreiver from Puerto Rico to Orlando this month of May?
Best regards, Damaris
JJ – get a luggage cart from curbside checkin. The attendant should help you load your dog. Your dog must be in the crate when in the airport.
Phil
Hi My husky/border collie mix boy are going to be flying home to DFW from Portland. We will be flying Alaskan airlines and this will be his first time. He’s 45 lbs. but because of the mix he is. He’s actually pretty tall so the kennel will be a large (36″). My question is about going from being dropped off to getting us checked in, baggage, when I drop him off that kind of thing. I’m an average size girl and I’ll have of course my luggage and him to checkin. So what’s the step by step process of this? How can I make it easier? I don’t know how I’d be able to roll my luggage, carry on and carry a bulky kennel. Any ideas to help?
Thank you
David – you may need to use a cargo only airline to get your pup to St. Thomas. Try Amerijet out of FLL.
susan
Hello, I am supposed to be moving to St Thomas in the U.S Virgin Islands very soon but am having difficulties getting my 150lb+ French Mastiff there. Can anyone help? I have contacted several pet services and they’re all priced over my budget. I would take a boat, cruise ship or plane from anywhere on the East coast if the price is right.
Marlene – requirements will vary from one airline to another, but most do not require a health or rabies certificate when flying within the continental US. You should ask your airline whether these certificates are required.
Phil
I want to fly one way from Florida to michigan. What paper work must I present when booking my flight.what does my cat need to go through?
Hello Melanie – dogs, cats and ferrets from Mauritius need a microchip, then a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before entering France. You will also need an Annex IV form completed within 10 days of travel and endorsed by the Ministry of Agriculture. No rabies titer test is required when entering France from Mauritius, but if you are transiting Turkey, you will need an affidavit from the airline stating that your pet has not been exposed to other animals during the transit. This is assuming that you are flying in and out of Turkey on Turkish Airlines. If so, you can transit Turkey and avoid the titer test requirement.
Susan
Hello,
I am travelling from Mauritius to France with my mauritian cat. As I understood I don’t need the rabie serology from Mauritius. However, I am travelling with Turkish Airline so my cat can be in cabin with me. When I will land in Turkish to transit, do I need a transit permit? And do I need the rabie serology which should be done 3 months before?
I am worried cause I am leaving in a month and I thought every thing was ok. He has his rabie vaccination but not the exam to verify it. Is it ok ?
I don’t find the writen proof in any Turkish government / ambassy website.
Thank you very much!
Elena – you can find requirements for importing your pet to Ukraine here: http://www.pettravel.com/immigration/ukraine.cfm. You are on the right track but need proof of some other vaccinations. No chip required to enter Ukraine.
Susan
I want to carry the cat to America from Ukraine. She has a passport and a vaccination against rabies. I need it any more documents? Do I need a chip to my cat?
Hello – the airlines will not allow your dog to wear a life jacket if traveling in the cargo hold. If your dog is very small and traveling with you in the cabin, it is OK as long as your dog can stand up and turn around in the carrier.
Susan
I am traveling America next month and I want to take my dog with me. It will be my first ever experience in flight with my dog. Should I go for dog life jackets for him during the air travel?
Maya – you seem to have the requirements to bring your kitty to France down pretty well. As you are traveling with your kitty, you will need an Annex IV form completed by your vet within 10 days of travel and endorsed by the USDA. As for the chip, this one from Datamars, a Swiss company, is ISO compliant and will be accepted in France: http://www.pettravelstore.com/pet-microchip/ It comes in a syringe ready for your vet to implant and registration is included. BE SURE and have your vet scan your kitty after the chip is implanted to be sure it was implanted properly.
Phil
Hello! I am moving to France (with Air France) from the US with my 4 Years old kitty. I was wondering if besides rabbies she needed to have any other vaccines up to date? I called the USDA and they said only rabbies was required and not FELV or anything else but some people told me that she might need then anyway. She is definitely not up to date as she has not been vaccinated in the past 3 years. I did not see anything on the health certificate implying that she need any other kind of vaccines either besides rabbies but I want to make sure. My plan was microchip and THEN rabbies the same day and come back three month later for the health certificate a few days before departure and finally USDA.
Also, I am looking for the right microchip, my vet has HomeAgain but I heard Microfindr was better. I know there are two kinds of HomeAgain Microchips and I know France is strict on the ISO compliance so I want to make sure I won’t have any problems. sorry for the long message!
Sincerely,
Maya.
Jen – Philippine Air will fly your Shih Tzu in the hold. Does Korean Air fly your route?
Susan
Hi, has anyone have an idea about transporting a shiatzu about 5 lbs 2 year old from Philippines to Chicago? Please help. I only know one airline that transport in cabin, but I already missed the opportunity. I need to do something like jet a pet. My dog is a short nosed being a small shiaztu.
Sophie – normally, we recommend getting your pup to its destination as quickly as possible. Layovers are stressful on pets; they are being handled by strangers and they will always look to be with their owner. The possibility for escape and mis-handling are increased. However, it also depends on your airline and the facilities that are available in the layover city. If the layover is in your airline’s hub city, there may be excellent facilities available. Just make sure that the airline will not make you claim and recheck your pet during the long layover because that will cause you to clear customs and enter your layover country.
Phil