Having to take your pet with you on a trip might cause you some worries and concerns. And if you are not a big fan of flying, it might be even worse. Not everyone enjoys flying, and if the conditions you get are not the best, it will be more frightening, or it will cause you more nausea. The same happens to our pets while being on a flight.
There are airlines that allow you to travel with a pet with a weight smaller than 20 pounds on board - and the carrier you have must respect certain measurement requirements. You will also need to pay a fee for this, but your pet will be flying in style. Some airlines even have their people trained for handling animals, in case there are any issues that occur during the flight.
When you plan to take your pet on a flight, check the website of the airline first. There are some which do not allow you to carry any pets during winter months, when temperatures are very low.
You are allowed to have a pet as large as 100 pounds, including kennel, taken as cargo. The most important thing when you decide to travel with your pet is to make sure you have room for him on the plane. This means that, when you book your ticket, you should also ask about a place for your pet. Usually, only a small number of dogs are allowed on a flight, so be sure yours is one of them.
Do your best to travel with a direct flight and on a day when the airport will not be so crowded, maybe a week day. Also, consider the very high and very low temperatures when choosing the hour of your flight. During summer it is best to travel in the morning or evening and, during winter, preferably around midday.
Check with your vet if the pet has all of their vaccines up to date and ask for a health certificate that will be valid through the period of your travel. See the rules and regulations for traveling with pets outside your country or continent, depending on your destination. There are countries that do not accept traveling pets.
When it comes to the carrier, get a proper one for the size of your pet and also depending on where he will travel: cargo or board. Traveling on board will imply having one that fits under the seat, and it is recommended to be a soft sided one, because they fit better. For the cargo, have a hard sided carrier, with holes for ventilation. Once your little buddy has a comfortable carrier, in which he has enough room to turn around, stand up and lie down, you need to provide him food and water. Do this a few hours before the flight so you can allow him to pee and poop. Also, exercise him a bit so he is not very energetic during the flight.
If you have managed to get past your fright of flying, then no worries, your pet will manage to as well, as long as you provide him with good travel conditions.
