If you can afford private aviation or a shared charter flight such as a K9 jet, you can give your pampered pet a leg up. We accept dogs of all sizes and snout lengths.
Commercial aviation allows pet owners to bring their small pets on board in a carrier that fits under the seat in the cabin. Large animals fly in special pressurized and temperature-controlled compartments on planes. They can travel as checked baggage on their owner's aircraft, as cargo, with humans, or on separate flights. In either scenario, the owner doesn't meet the pet until the final destination.
““Airlines have no way to accommodate large numbers of animals other than in baggage,” said Matt Rossell, campaign manager for the Animal Legal Defense Fund. “You would never consider shipping a child internationally in cargo, right? However, pets are restricted.”
When Mr. Rossell brings a rescue dog with him on a flight, the animals are transported as excess baggage, which is his preferred arrangement. The process is simple. At the check-in counter, an airline representative will collect your packaged pet along with your luggage. Upon arrival, please collect your pet at baggage claim. Then, take the documents with you to customs.
“When you put that animal on a plane, it gives you a greater sense of security,” he says. “Animal guardians can notify pilots and flight attendants that there is an animal on board.”
All animals, except service dogs, must travel in a carrier bag or kennel. For puppies that are too large to fit in the cabin, airlines are very particular about the dimensions and construction of the crate, down to the type of closure and the location of the vents. It also specifies the amenities that are allowed in the room. For example, American Airlines allows blankets, towels, and bedding no more than 3 inches thick. Hay, straw, and wood shavings are not allowed.
Contact your airline for kennel specifications and preparation tips. The International Air Transport Association's Traveler's Pet Corner also has valuable information about crates. Once you have the enclosure, start getting your pet used to it.
For years, some airlines, such as United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, have eliminated excess baggage options and required travelers to use cargo carriers. Some airlines offer their own in-house services, but you can also hire pet transportation experts independent of the airline. To find companies operating from your departure airport, check the database maintained by the International Pet Animal Transport Association.
Your pet transporter will take care of all aspects of your trip. “We help with the paperwork, the boxes, the customs clearance – the whole package,” Passman said. “It's pretty close to the door from the airport.” But, she admitted, “it's more cost-prohibitive.”
As an example, Passman estimated it would cost $4,000 to $6,000 to fly a Goldendoodle one way from Dallas to Germany, and $2,500 to $3,000 for a small breed like a cocker spaniel. Depending on the route, Air France charges around $110 to $440 each way for pets in the hold, regardless of the dog's size.
