If you’re reentering the United States from a high-risk country for rabies transmission, make sure your dog’s rabies vaccination certificate is current. Fees for international airlines and flights may be higher.Ĩ. Understand rabies rules for dogs. Those fees are one way you’ll pay the same amount on the return flight. Bringing your pet in the cabin will cost you from $95 on Southwest to $125 on American, Delta and Jet Blue for domestic flights (Hawaiian Airlines charges $35 on inter-island flights, $175 for all other flights). United, for example, requires puppies and kittens to be at least four months old Delta requires them to be at least 10 weeks old.ħ. Expect high cabin fees. Federal regulations require pets to be at least eight weeks old in order to fly, but airlines may have their own rules. United won’t take Burmese, exotic shorthair, Himalayan or Persian cats, for instance, so check policies carefully. Certain cat breeds may also be restricted. Most airlines refuse to take certain types of dogs onboard, from pit bulls to short-nosed breeds such as bulldogs and pugs, which are more prone to respiratory issues. Find out which airlines have the best safety records in this report by .Ħ. Watch for age and breed restrictions. airlines during that time period, there were 112 animal deaths reported to the Department of Transportation (airlines are required to report animal-companion incidents that occur in the cargo hold to the DOT). Of the approximately 2.7 million pets that flew on U.S. The overall numbers are still relatively small. Between 20, Alaska Airlines had the lowest pet incident rates - including deaths, injuries and loss - of any airline, despite transporting far more animals than its competitors. Federal regulations prohibit airlines from exposing animals to temperatures below 45 degrees or above 85 degrees Fahrenheit for more than four hours during departure or arrival, or while making connections.ĥ. Check airlines’ safety records, particularly if you are considering putting your pet in cargo. If your dog is in the cargo hold, aim for direct flights at a time of day with the most comfortable temperatures (such as early morning or evening flights in summer). “It’s hard to have dedicated staff just for animals, and there are liability issues,” explains Erin Ballinger, destinations editor with. Only three major airlines - Alaska, American and Hawaiian - are still willing to take pets in the cargo hold, and they don’t do it on every flight. Among other issues, the strange environment can be stressful, your pet is separated from you (which adds to the stress) and rushed baggage handlers aren’t always gentle when moving the carrier. You want to avoid putting your animal in the cargo hold. To fly with a service animal, fill out this DOT form.Ĥ. Leave a big dog at home. After that ruling, multiple airlines, including Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier and Southwest, announced they would no longer allow emotional support animals on board. Department of Transportation ruled that only trained dogs that “perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability” could be classified as service animals. That ended in December 2020, when the U.S. For years, many passengers said their pets were emotional support animals to avoid paying pet fees on their dogs and cats or to bring unusual animals - pigs, peacocks, squirrels, snakes - into the cabin during flights. Sites such as and have compiled the major airlines’ pet policies.ģ. Think twice before claiming that your dog (or snake) is an emotional support animal. On Qatar Airways, you can’t bring a cat or dog onboard, but you can bring a falcon. The carrier will be counted as your one carry-on item. Most airlines require pet carriers to fit under the seat in front of you - that’s a pretty small space. Policies can vary considerably, whether they're about weight restrictions, fees or acceptable carrier sizes. Airlines usually require it within 10 days of traveling, along with rabies and vaccination certificates.Ģ. Review airlines’ pet policies. Your pet will also likely need a health certification from your vet. Some pets struggle with travel because of illness, injury, age or temperament, notes the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Before you book a ticket, take your animal to the vet for a checkup and to see if he’s a good flight candidate. If you’re thinking about bringing your pup (or falcon!) onboard an upcoming flight, you’ll want to stay up to date on airlines’ evolving policies for animal companions, and plan carefully to ensure a smooth trip for you and your pet.ġ. Schedule a preflight vet visit.
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