Make sure you are familiar with the airline pet policy and restriction on the destination as they vary a lot. Research the airline and talk to their staff can help you to feel safe to fly with your beloved pet.
Book Early
If your pet will be travelling in the cabin, the airline sometimes needs to make sure there is no more than one pet flying per flight. I had a bad experience of not booking in advance. I had to cancel my booking because one pet had booked to fly on that flight. And of course, I lost money and bought a lesson. Do not buy your ticket before you get confirmation from the airline that you can travel with your pet. It is very simple and easy. You just need to talk with them online or call them directly to check the availability.
Check breed restriction with your airline
Some airline might not allow or recommend snout nose dog travelling in the cargo hold. Snout nose dog includes Pug, French Bulldog and English Bulldog. These breeds are more sensitive to temperature change and have difficulty in maintaining normal body temperature in hot weather. Therefore they have a high risk of discomfort and potential death during the flight. For my experience, I have been flying with my Pug in the cabin and she has no issue with breathing.
Be aware of local temperature
If your pet will be travelling in the cargo hold, it is important to think about the boarding time. A combination of hot summer and delayed flight can potentially cause your pet to have a heat stroke. Thus it is better to fly in the morning or evening on a hot summer day, and flying in the afternoon on a cold winter day to avoid health risk.
Ask for mediation if needed
You can consult with your pet’s veterinarian about the need for medication. It makes your dog calmer and sleep better. I had asked for medication from my pet’s veterinarian when I took my dog on the airplane for the first time. For long haul flight, you can consider to let your pet take the medication to calm down in such a stressful environment. My dog gets used to flying after taking a few flights and no longer need medication in short-haul flight.
Comfortable pet transportation container
It is very important to look into the airline and The International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirement of pet transportation container. The container is highly dependent on the size of your pet. The fundamental rule is to make sure your pet has enough space to move around, lie in a natural position and stand up. The container used in the cabin might not need to be a sturdy design. Sometimes, the airline allows the pet owner to use soft pet bag in cabin as long as the size of the bag meets the requirement.
Flying with your pet can be stressful, especially if you're new to doing it. Sometimes airlines require you to complete a permit and other times they don't. Hope these tips will help you on your next trip. You might also be interested in reading about How to Train Your Dog for Off-Leash Walks.
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Author: Dan Dan
