When most of us travel alone or with our family, we often leave our fur babies behind. However, there are instances that leaving them isn’t a choice, especially if you’re bound to be away for a long time.
Long drives with pets can be hard, what more if you’re traveling with them on a plane?
Out of 506,994 animals transported last 2017, 24 died, 15 were injured, and one that was lost. According to the Transportation Department, all of these were just cargo incidents while the ones flying in the cabin are not included.
Now, this might scare you but flying with your fur baby on a commercial flight shouldn’t be stressful and scary. You just have to be prepared for it.
Choosing an Airline and Learning its Policies
Airline pet travel policies vary all over the world, just as demonstrated by PurringPal. That’s why it’s better to look for choices ahead of time so you can be aware of them.
Aside from the airline itself, you should also check the requirements of the country you are traveling to. In general, pets should be at least 12 weeks old and are fully vaccinated.
Typically, airlines only accept one up to four pets for every flight. It also depends whether the pet will be transported in the cabin or in the baggage cargo.
You have to be ready for the fees if you ever plan on flying with your furry family member since it can cost you $50 up to $200, depending on your chosen airline.
Because of animal deaths on commercial flights, some airlines have also banned animal breeds with flat faces and short noses. Also known as brachycephalic breeds, these animals can have difficulty in breathing especially when flying.
Your Pet’s Comfort
If you’ve finally chosen an airline, the next thing that you should think about is your pet’s comfort in an actual flight. Pets don’t like it when they’re cooped up for too long in a cramped space and in this case – a crate.
Crates should be big enough for your pet to sit, stand, and turn around in. A general maximum measurement for carriers should be 23-27 cm high, 40 cm wide, and 55 cm long. Remember to label it with your name and contact information too.
Lining the carrier with absorbent bedding or DryFur can remove moisture and can keep it dry for a couple of hours. You can make use of pet relief stations in the airport if there are any, before hopping on the plane.
Also, make sure that pets are not given a heavy meal hours before the flight to keep bathroom breaks to a minimum. Bring snacks and water that can be taped on the carrier so flight attendants can give some to them just in case the flight is delayed.
To keep them from being too anxious, it is best to tire them out before the big flight. If you’re lucky, they’ll just end up just napping the whole time.
Putting your used shirt inside their carrier can help too. The familiar scent can be useful in calming them down. Skip on giving them sedatives as these things can have a negative effect on your pet’s health.
Taking a Trip to the Vet
There’s some paperwork that you need to accomplish so you and your pet can have a hassle-free flight. If you’re flying to a different country, check its consulate or embassy to get a hold of certain requirements that you need to bring.
Your favorite vet can help you determine if your pet is in compliance with the pet health regulations of your target destination.
Aside from making sure that your pet is in the perfect shape to fly, you can also get vaccination records, health certificate, and other paperwork from your vet. These should be issued just days before your target date of departure.
Do you have any advice on how to best travel with a pet? Feel free to leave a comment below!
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