Traveling with your dog can be a stressful experience, especially when you don't know what to expect from airlines. Small dogs may be able to ride with you in the cabin, but most of the time they will ride in the hold under the plane.
Health Certification and Age Requirements
A record of health is not always required by the airline, but many states do require one that is issued within 10 days prior to departure. It's a good idea to have your pet vet-checked prior to embarking to make sure they are in good enough health to travel. United Airlines (see references) requires your pet to be vaccinated at least 30 days prior to departure, and all states require proof of rabies vaccination for dogs 12 weeks and older. Most airlines also require that your dog is at least eight weeks old and has been weaned at least five days prior to your flight.
Pet Carrier Guidelines
Carriers need to be made of wood, plastic, metal, or a similar leak-proof material and should not have wheels as most, if not all, airlines will not accept them. You need to put a label on the outside saying "Live Animal." Make sure your pet can sit, stand and lie down comfortably inside. For most breeds, they need to have ventilation on at least two sides. However, snub-nosed breeds require ventilation on all four sides and the kennel should be one size bigger than normally required. Do not use collapsible kennels (ones that fold flat) due to the danger of collapsing during flight. Your airline might have weight restrictions for pets traveling in the cabin and under the plane, so be sure to check beforehand.
Restrictions
Most airlines have restrictions on the number of pets per flight, so make sure you call in advance to inform the airline you will be traveling with a pet. Weather restrictions due to extreme cold or hot temperatures may prevent your pet from being checked as baggage, but you may be able to ship it as cargo. Check with your airline to see if they have restrictions for your particular flight.
Making Your Pet Comfortable
It is a good idea to acclimate your dog to the kennel it will be flying in before the intended departure date. Even when riding in the cabin with you, your dog will have to stay in the carrier the duration of the flight, so you'll want to make sure it feels safe and comfortable inside. Many people are tempted to give their pets sedatives to calm them for the flight, but according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (see references), doing so can increase the risk of heart and respiratory problems because they are exposed to altitude changes.
The Day of the Flight
You should arrive early to ensure you have time to exercise your dog and check in at the main kiosk. You generally cannot have your pet out of the kennel once you are in the terminal. Check in as late as you can so your pet has less time to wait in the terminal if you will have it in the cabin and notify your flight attendant that you are traveling with a pet.
Tags: days prior, with your, days prior departure, good idea, have restrictions, have your, make sure