Travelling with pets

If you’re moving or you want to take your pet on holiday with you, chances are that you will want fly to wherever you are going to. So it’s good to know what you can do and what you can’t so your pet is exposed to as little trauma as possible. If you know in advance exactly how you can travel with your pet, it means you don’t have to waste time at the airport which could be tough on you and your pet.

Traveling with pets means you are subject to a different set of rules. It would help if you are familiar with them even before you book your tickets. First of all, check whether the airline you plan to go in allows pets as not all do. Then clarify if the pet you have will be allowed onto the flight. Again, certain pets might be allowed, certain others may not. If you go ahead and book without being sure, you could end up at the airport with your pet and not be allowed on board. Be very specific when you ask for information before you book your ticket.

You will have to bear in mind that your pet will have to be kept contained during the flight. So your dog or cat or bird will have to be put into a carrier. Again, enquire about what kind of carrier needs to be used. Not all carriers are allowed on board. Then find out whether your pet can travel with you or has to be checked in like baggage. Some airlines insist on this. There are a few rules you will have to follow if you take your pet into the cabin with you. Your pet can in no way affect the well-being or the peace of the others passengers. Remember not to place the carrier on any seat, even if it is empty and do not place it on the aisle where it can trip up a passenger or a member of the crew. Each airline has its own set of regulations over and above this.

Ensure that all your pet’s documents are in order. Here again, it would be good to check when you are booking your ticket so that you have enough time to make sure all his vaccinations have been done and no shots that need to be given have been forgotten in that last-minute rush. These are necessary not only to protect your pet but also all the other passengers he is traveling with. Some airlines need for you to have a medical examination just before boarding so they are assured that your pet is healthy enough to fly.

Once you have everything ready, your tickets, your pet’s health papers, the right carrier, make sure that you get to the airport earlier that check-in time. This just helps iron out any last-minute hiccups should they occur. And you can, no doubt, have enough time to sort out things and board your flight without problems. Both your pet and you will have to go through airport security and your pet too will have to go through the metal detector. It is likely that the pet carrier he is in will also be subject to checking. It usually involves sending this through the X-ray machine together with your carry-on bag. In this case, very often, it is just the carrier that goes through, not your pet.

However, there are airlines that say a big No to pets. Which is why it is so important for you to make sure whether or not your pet will be allowed well ahead of your traveling time. Some airlines that do allow you to might charge quite a bit extra for a pet. Do enquire about all the details before you buy that ticket!