Minimize Risk to a Pet in the Cargo Area of an Airplane
If you're moving with a pet and you're considering traveling by air, Clean a Small Pet Cage enough to travel in the cabin with you. The cargo area of a large jet is a controlled environment. The cargo area of a small regional jet or turboprop aircraft might not be a controlled environment. It depends on the aircraft type. However, there are precautions you can take to reduce the likelihood of injury and stress of your pet.
Steps
- Understand the risks. Since the pet is traveling in the cargo area, the carrier is going to be treated like cargo. Despite airline regulations as to what temperatures the pet can travel in, the airport cargo area is likely to have temperature fluctuations. Carriers are generally not strapped down in case of turbulence. The carrier may be tossed and thrown like a piece of baggage. Delays can cause temperature changes in the hold that can injure or kill the animals. Even the best airlines have a statistically significant death rate for animals. Recognize that many airline employees are pet lovers and will look after your pet very well. Accidents do happen, though.
- Some breeds of animals are more prone to problems when flying than others. Short-snouted dog breeds (like pugs and bulldogs) don't travel well in cargo holds according to a Department of Transportation report because their method of respiration prevents them from cooling down adequately. Some airlines even ban their travel during hotter weather.
- Exhaust all other alternatives. Have you considered...
- Driving with your pet?
- Paying someone else to drive your pet to your new destination, whether it's a friend, family member, or pet transportation service?
- Find a Good Home when You Must Give up Your Pet?
- Research airlines. By browsing forums online, you may be able to determine which airlines are the most reputable in terms of transporting pets. Read about other people's experiences. Keep in mind that people most often post their bad experiences, but not necessarily their good ones.
- Ask each airline about its animal welfare policy. What are their standards? Ask if the airline will Buy Pet Insurance your pet. If not, you may want to pass.
- Book the same flight as your pet so that you can supervise the trip (described further in later steps). Go for a nonstop flight if the trip is less than 6 hours. Otherwise, ask if you'll be able to see your pet during any changeovers. It is more likely to be possible at smaller airports than at major hubs due to security restrictions. Many airline employees are pet lovers, too!
- Note: A "direct" flight may have stops before it arrives at the final destination. Only a "nonstop" flight is truly nonstop in airline language.
- Buy a strong Get Your Dog to Ride in a Carrier. It must comply with airline and government regulations. It should also be strong and spacious enough to accommodate your pet, especially if it gets bumped around during the flight. The regulations require that your pet must be able to stand up fully and turn around in the kennel without touching the sides or top. This is not negotiable with the airline.
- Buy the carrier as early as possible and get your pet used to it. Give the pet treats inside the carrier and make it a comfortable, familiar place.
- Most US airlines require that you use a water dish that attaches to the door. It's less likely to spill. Even better, freeze water in the dish so it lasts longer.
- Tape your name, seat, and contact information on the carrier. If you have a cell phone, keep it on till the very last minute.
- Ask the airline if you can watch your pet being loaded and unloaded into and out of the cargo hold. If you see the carrier being mishandled or left in a hot or noisy area for too long, tell a supervisor or a gate agent immediately.
- When you board the plane, notify the Captain (through the flight crew, that is, a flight attendant) that your pet is traveling in the cargo hold. Most large jets cool, heat and pressurize the cargo areas with the same system as the main cabin. If there is a delay, make sure to remind the the flight crew that your pet is on board so that the heat/cooling is not shut off to save fuel or power. Ask if they can check with the ground crew to make sure your pet is safely on board before the aircraft departs.
- After checking your pet in at the ticket counter, make sure to read the claim check back to the agent to ensure that the pet is checked to the correct final destination with you. A few seconds at the counter may save hours of grief for both customer and pet later on.
Tips
- Many good quality travel crates have slots that allow you to add zip-ties to further reinforce the crate and prevent it from falling apart. Utilize every method you can think of to ensure the crate will not come open during transport.
- If your pet has a microchip implanted under the skin, you may want to bring him/her by your vet and ask the vet to scan it to verify that it is up to date and has not migrated so much that it can't be found. If your pet is not already microchipped, now might be a good time to get it done. Note that you will need to plan ahead for this as some veterinarians sedate animals before microchipping them.
- Watch the weather! Conditions that are too hot or too cold can result in an airline animal flight restriction. If you're traveling, have alternate plans to temporarily secure your pet (and arrange for transport) at the origin or destination should they not be able to travel with you.
- When you add your contact info to the outside of the carrier, you may like to also write visibly that the carrier contains a live animal. If you're traveling internationally, write this in the language of your destination as well as the language in the country of origin.
- Most airlines require a veterinarian to sign off on your animal's health prior to transport. Check ahead and expect to include a visit to the vet in your travel preparations.
- If traveling internationally, get all your paperwork in order before leaving. You may need a recent health certificate authenticated by the consulate of the destination country.
- Some animals, like Get a Cat to Be Your Friend and snub-nosed dogs, are more likely to experience severe respiratory difficulty in a plane's poorly ventilated cargo hold.
Warnings
- Don't even think about tranquilizing your pet. The biggest risk for a pet traveling by cargo area is dehydration. Sedatives increase this risk.
- Do not remove the collar or name tags before your pet travels. In the unlikely event that your pet escapes, it may be the only way that the airline can identify and return your pet. Pets do get lost in transit every year, so the more identification, the better.
Things You'll Need
- Suitable carrier
- Carrier compatible water/food dish (dependent on length of flight(s))
- Health Certificate (available from your veterinarian)
Related Articles
- Move with Pets
- Decide Whether to Move a Pet Overseas
- Travel with Your Pets
- Travel With a Variety of Pets
- Fly With Your Pet in the Cabin from the UK
