Flying With Your Dog

There are a great number of requirements that a dog owner must meet before traveling by air with a dog. While there are some specific regulations that will vary by airline, most airlines work with a general set of rules when it comes to flying dogs.

Dogs Cannot Fly Alone
Every airline that we have spoken with has a rule against flying unaccompanied dogs from one point to another. This is because dogs are considered to be cargo to the airline. You can't send your luggage to a city somewhere across the country without going with it (only the airline can do that) and you can't send your dog. Unaccompanied dogs must be transported by a licensed and approved pet transportation company if you call your airline they will have a list they can provide for you.

Clean Bill of Health
All airlines require that a dog that will be flying with you visits a veterinarian and receive a full physical examination and be tested for various diseases (most commonly rabies) before they will be allowed to fly. Normally the airline will require that the exam certificate be dated within a certain amount of time prior to the date of the flight, so if you had your dog undergo an exam two years ago it will not suffice for a flight you intend to take next week.

Weather Related Restrictions
The cargo hold on an airplane can become very hot, as most do not have an air conditioner. Due to this fact there are also restrictions on what times of the year dogs may travel to and from specific cities. Most airlines will also enforce specifically weather and temperature related restrictions. For example, if the temperature in the arrival or departure city exceeds 85 or 90 degrees Fahrenheit, pets will not be permitted on the plane, this is done purely for the animals safety.

Pets in the Cabin
Many airlines have begun permitting the transport of pets in the cabin of the plane(with the passengers), provided they can fit into the in-cabin kennel cage (22" long by 9" high is the average size for most airlines). The cost for this service also varies by airline but is generally under $100.00 in most cases. This is a considerable improvement both in price and comfort, compared to the pets transported in the cargo hold which many consider an unsafe practice and which can cost more than $300.00 in some cases.

International Flights
The international customs laws of many countries restrict the passage of dogs and other pets over their borders. Airlines must comply with these laws and in many cases your dog will not be able to join you on any international flight.

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