To get on the board of an airplane with a dog or cat? It is possible.

Do you like travelling? And do you like travelling by plane? You don’t have to leave your dog or cat at home during your holidays. Some airlines allow small pets on the board if they are in a crate. What other conditions you have to meet?

According to available data, only the airlines in the United States transport over five thousand animals a year in commercial flights. It is a worldwide trend and it’s not an unusual thing in Europe nowadays as well. With the exception of low cost flights, most airlines will allow you to take your pet on the board of the aircraft. For the transportation of your pet, you will usually pay as much as for overweight baggage. However, air travelling is only for small pets, usually up to the maximum weight of six to eight kilograms. So, a little yorkshire terrier will fit into a crate which is necessary for pet transportation without complications.

In this case, the old “luck favours the prepared” holds true again. Do not count on anyone helping you to make the transportation of your pet easier. On the contrary, the crew might not be experienced in this regard and it is good to get to know your rights and obligations. The best procedure will be to make a reservation at first (not paying for the tickets yet) to have an order and a booking number and to call the information line where they should tell you a) the maximum dimensions of the crate, b) the total maximum weight of the dog (be careful, this usually includes the weight of the dog along with the weight of the crate) and in some cases also c) other conditions such as an impervious bottom of the crate and other things.

Do not forget to check the validity of both your travel documents and your pet’s international passport as well. Also prepare the confirmation of its last vaccination. Take the vaccination card and you won’t do anything wrong when the pet has a stamp about the last anti-rabies vaccination you should be given by your vet on its collar. If you travel outside the European Union, check (at the website of the State Veterinary Administration of your country
or pettravel.com) if you are going to need the confirmation about the animal health from your vet. It may be necessary for airport controls and seating in the aircraft (for the crew).

For the flight, you have to put the crate to the space below the seat in front of you. Even if you have an unoccupied seat next to you or you pay extra for more space, it will probably not be possible to have the crate next to you. Unfortunately, it won’t be possible to use a bit bigger space at the emergency exits because you won’t be allowed to go there with your pet.

Assistance dogs are an exception as special rules apply to them. On the contrary to other pets, assistance dogs travel for free. The fee for the transport of your dog or cat is from one to several thousand crowns in average. A passenger can only have one pet and the total of two animals is allowed to be in the aircraft cabin.

Travelling by plane is not a pleasure for animals. That is true. But if your dog or cat copes with the first plane just fine, it will get easier with each flight. But besides buying the required carrier box (the common dimensions are 43x30x27 cm), it is also good to consult the whole travelling with a vet beforehand. If you are afraid your pet will be upset during the journey, consult the vet also about suitable medication to calm down the animal. Bach remedies are a great natural alternative. You can start adding this preparation to the pet’s food several days before the journey if your pet feels the stress you have.

How to ensure the maximum comfort for your pet during flight?

• Let your pet get used to being in the crate.

• Choose a flight with as little changes and short waiting time between flights as possible.

• Choose the time of departure and arrival to avoid extreme temperatures. Particularly hot weather is very demanding for dogs with short muzzles such as bulldogs.

• Consult the journey with your vet. Sometimes the medication don’t have to have the right impact and instead of helping the animal, it may make things worse.

• Take your pet for a proper walk before the journey.

• You can give him something to eat but do not overfeed it. You should rather opt for a smaller portion.

• Check in as late as possible to put off the stress and potential fear of the animal.

• Talk to the animal using a calm voice but do not calm it down too much in order not to provoke the opposite effect.

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And then just enjoy the journey and your trip together :).