Commercial airlines understand that it's sad to leave your pet behind when you travel. That's why the airlines have created guidelines to accommodate people who want to bring their beloved pets along on the flight. However, if you plan to bring your pet as a travel companion on a domestic or international flight, you need to meet a number of travel requirements. These include completing required paperwork, having an airline-approved carrier and making reservations early.
General Airline Procedures
Most commercial airlines allow small pets in the cabin with you as long as they're crated. Acceptable carry-on animals include small dogs, cats, ferrets, parakeets, finches and canaries. Big dogs and other animals, including snakes, rabbits, amphibians, guinea pigs and hamsters, must fly in the plane's cargo area. When temperatures reach extremely hot or cold levels, most airlines either prohibit pets from traveling in cargo or limit travel to certain times of the day when temperatures are less problematic.
Whether your pet accompanies you in the passenger cabin or in the cargo area, expect to pay pet and excess luggage fees. Furthermore, the animal's carrier counts towards your luggage allotment. You must also follow specific requirements for pets. All airlines require health certificates for any pets flying on a plane. The animal must be examined within 10 days of the planned flight. Provide the airline with a dated certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian. Your municipality or state might require additional health documentation or have other reentry requirements.
Traveling With Pets on Domestic Flights
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) oversees travel of dogs and cats on commercial airlines for flights within the United States. Along with the requirements of individual airlines, APHIS requires dogs and cats traveling on an airplane to be at least 8 weeks old and weaned.
To ensure the animal's comfortl, APHIS established kennel requirements. In-cabin and cargo kennels must meet airline standards in terms of size, strength, sanitation and ventilation. They must also have enough room for the animal to sit, stand, rest comfortably and breathe. All carriers must be enclosed with proper ventilated openings and have a leak-proof, solid floor lined with an absorbent material. Kennels should be small enough to fit under the seat if you bring them on as carry-on luggage, or have handles or grips for easy handling by cargo workers.
APHIS also requires pets traveling in cargo to have feeding, watering and medication instructions attached to the kennel for air travel over 24 hours.
Pets as Carry-On Luggage on Domestic Flights
Commercial airlines limit the number of small pets that can travel in the passenger cabin, so reserve early. Here are the small pet limits by airline:
American Airlines---2 pets in first class; 5 in the cabin per flight.
Continental, Delta, U.S. Airways and United Airlines---2 pets per flight.
American West Airlines---1 pet in first class; 2 in other seating.
Alaska Airlines and Northwest Airlines---1 pet per flight or 6 if aircraft is a 747.
Southwest Airlines prohibits pets on its planes.
Traveling With Pets on International Flights
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) oversees pet travel on international flights and on flights that leave from the United States to a foreign country. A United States Interstate and International Certificate of Health Examination for Small Animals is required from an APHIS-approved veterinarian. The health certificate must include the official stamp of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and be issued between 7 and 14 days before boarding. Since pet requirements differ by country, check with the embassy or consulate of the country you will be visiting for information about entry requirements and necessary documentation for pets.
When traveling with a pet to another country, be prepared for inspections at each point of entry in your travel plans. If flying with your cat or dog to Hawaii or Guam, quarantine requirements apply. If traveling to the United Kingdom with your dog or cat, you will need to bring along a Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) entry or reentry certificate from an APHIS-accredited veterinarian.
Pets as Carry-On Luggage on International Flights
U.S. and Canadian airlines have different requirements for pets on international flights. Northwest Airlines only allows pets on some international flights and must be contacted in advance to make arrangements. Air Canada allows 2 pets in the cabin per flight. American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Airlines prohibit pets on flights to the United Kingdom. Northwest, however, allows pets if they pass PETS requirements that avoid the animals' quarantine.
Most international airlines, including British Airways, Air Berlin, Air France, Air India, Alitalia, Asiana, Austrian, JAL Japan, Swiss and Virgin Atlantic, allow small dogs, cats and birds to travel in the passenger cabin on certain flights and larger pets to travel in the cargo area. International airlines that prohibit any size pet from traveling in the passenger cabin include Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air New Zealand, Bangkok, Emirates, Icelandair and Qantas. However, animals are allowed in the plane's cargo area.
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