Pet Travel Safety Tips: Reaching Your Destination Safely by Car or Airplane

Many dogs love going on vacation with their people. There are cats who also love to go on adventures. Other pets aren’t fond of traveling. While it may seem like a fun idea to take your pet on vacation, you should ultimately do whatever is best for your pet. Most cats are going to be more content staying at home than taking a road trip with you. If you won’t be able to spend a lot of time with your dog on your trip, it may be better to leave him at home rather than bringing him with you.

If you decide it’s best for your pet to travel with you, there are several things you can do to help keep your pet safe on your trip. Whether you decide to travel with your pet by car or airplane, these pet travel safety tips will help ensure that you and your pet will arrive at your destination safely.

Your Pet Needs ID

No matter how you’re traveling, your pet needs identification. It’s best to get your pet microchipped and for him to wear a collar and ID tag. The ID tag should contain your pet’s name and your phone number so that someone can contact you if you get separated from your pet. The ASPCA recommends adding a second temporary tag to your pet’s collar when you travel. This temporary tag should contain the phone number of your destination.

Pet Travel Safety Tips for Traveling by Car

The safest way for a dog or cat to ride in a car is in a crate or carrier anchored in the backseat with a seat belt. You shouldn’t put your pet in the passenger seat of your car, even if he is in a crate or carrier, because if you get into an accident, the passenger-side airbag can injure your pet.

If you’re traveling by car, bring another person with you whenever you can. Another person can share the driving and pet caretaking duties. Another person will allow you to use the restroom at a rest stop or to run into a convenience store to get food and beverages as your human companion can tend to your pet while you’re gone.

You should never leave your pet in the car alone. Even on a 72-degree Fahrenheit day, a car can heat up to 116 degrees within an hour. Leaving your pet alone in a hot car, even with the windows cracked, can lead to irreparable organ damage and death. Leaving your pet alone in the car also gives someone an opportunity to steal him while you’re away.

If you’re going on a long road trip, it’s important to make frequent stops to give your pet a chance to drink, use the bathroom, and stretch his legs. Remember to put your pet’s collar, ID tags, and leash on him before opening the car door to let him walk around a little.

If you’re taking a long car trip, help your pet get used to riding in the car by taking many shorter rides beforehand. Gradually increase the length of your tips.

Be sure to have a copy of your pet’s immunization record when traveling by car. You will most likely not run into any problems, but some states do require proof of a current rabies vaccination at interstate crossings.

Pet Travel Safety Tips for Traveling by Airplane

In general, it’s best to travel with your pet by car whenever possible. Flying can be both dangerous and stressful for pets. Weigh the risks and benefits of flying when you’re deciding whether to travel with your pet by air.

It’s best to book a direct flight whenever you’re flying with your pet. It is less stressful on them. If your pet has to fly in the cargo hold, booking a direct flight should reduce the amount of time your pet has to spend on the tarmac, and your pet won’t be mishandled during layovers.

Please note: It is especially dangerous for brachycephalic pets to fly. Brachycephalic pets have “smushed in” faces, such as Pugs, Persians, and Bulldogs. The short nasal passages brachycephalic pets have make them especially prone to oxygen deprivation and heat stroke.

Before You Fly

You’ll want to ask the airline you plan on traveling with several questions before you book your flight. These include

• What are the immunization and health requirements the airline has for pets.
• Whether or not you can fly with your pet in the cabin rather than having him fly in the cargo hold.
• What specific brands and types of pet carriers are accepted on the plane. Get information about acceptable brands of carriers and their measurements when you talk to the airline.
• If the airline you’re flying with won’t allow you to fly with your pet in the cabin, you’ll want to ask if they have any restrictions on flying pets in the cargo hold.

Here are some popular American airlines’ policies on flying with pets you might find helpful.

• Traveling with Pets on United Airlines.
• Frontier Airlines – Flying with Family & Pets.
• Southwest Airlines – Flying with Pets.
• Delta Air Lines – Pet Travel.
• American Airlines – Traveling with Pets.
• Traveling with Pets on Alaska Airlines.
• JetBlue Airlines – Traveling with Pets.
• Spirit Airlines – Traveling with Pets.
• Hawaiian Airlines – Traveling with Animals.
• Allegiant Air – Traveling with Pets.

Remember to book your ticket as early as you can for you and your pet. Airlines can only fly a certain number of pets on any given flight. You will need to notify the airline that you’re flying with a pet and pay an additional fee for your pet to accompany you on the flight.

Check Your Destination’s Pet Immunization and Health Requirements

If you are flying internationally, you’ll need to check to see if the country you’re going to allows pets to fly there before you book your pet on a flight. Many countries do not allow pets to fly to, from, or even through them on a connection. At the time of this writing, these countries include:

• Hawaii.
• Guam.
• Australia.
• Cuba.
• Barbados.
• Trinidad and Tobago.
• Federated States of Micronesia.
• New Zealand.
• Palau.
• Iceland.
• Ireland.
• Jamaica.
• Hong Kong.
• Marshall Islands.
• United Kingdom.
• Northern Mariana Islands (Spain).
• Tahiti.
• South Africa.
• Panama.
• Phillipines.
• Sweden.

Countries have different health and immunization requirements when they allow pets to travel to them. Look up your destination country’s requirements before you book your flight. You can check your destination country’s pet health and immunization requirements at the bottom of this page on the USDA website. Note that a country’s requirements can change at any time, so you’ll want to check the requirements before each trip you take.

Make a Vet Visit

Take your pet to your veterinarian to get a health certificate. Most airlines require the health certificate be dated within 10 days of your departure flight. You’ll also want to get a copy of your pet’s vaccination records to show the airline.

Discuss ways in which you can keep your pet calm during the flight. It is generally not recommended that pets be sedated during air travel because tranquilizers can hinder your pet’s ability to breathe.

The Dangers of Flying Pets in the Cargo Hold

Many pets are successfully flown in the cargo hold of the plane, but there are instances where pets are lost, injured, or killed when flown in the cargo hold. Poor ventilation, extreme temperatures, and rough handling are usually the cause.

Most American airlines are required to report any incidents they have with companion animals, so do your homework before deciding which airline to fly with.

Brachycephalic pets should never be flown in the cargo hold.

As I mentioned earlier, you should avoid flying your pet in the cargo hold whenever possible, but if you must fly your pet in the cargo hold, follow these tips to reduce risk to your pet.

• Book a direct flight whenever possible.
• Ask the airline if you can watch your pet being loaded and unloaded in the cargo hold.
• Label your pet’s crate or carrier. You should write, “Live Animal” on the crate or carrier. You should also label the crate or carrier with your name, phone number, and the phone number for your destination. Affix a photo of your pet to the crate or carrier as well. If your pet gets lost, the photo will help airline employees search for him. You should also carry a current photo of your pet with you.
• If you are traveling with a medium-sized or large dog, you’ll need to purchase a crate for him to fly in the cargo hold. Ask the airline you’re flying with if they have any crate requirements. The crate should be large enough for your dog to stand up, sit, lie down, and turn around in comfortably. Line the crate with some type of absorbent material. The night before your flight, freeze a small dish of water to place in the crate with your dog. This way, the water won’t spill while your dog is being boarded, and the water should thaw by the time he gets thirsty.
• Give your pet at least a few weeks’ time to acclimate himself to the new crate or carrier before you put him in it for flying. This will make the trip less stressful on your pet.
• Tell airline employees both on the ground and in the air that you are flying with a pet in the cargo hold. This will allow the airline employees to take any special precautions, if needed.
• Take your pet out of his crate or carrier as soon as you’re in a safe place once you’ve reached your destination. Check your pet for any injuries. If anything seems wrong, take your pet to a veterinarian right away, and get the vet’s official diagnosis and notes in writing.
• Try not to travel during busy times of the year, such as on or near holidays. Your pet is more likely to be handled in a rough manner when airline employees are especially busy.
• Speak up if you see any pet being mishandled at the airport – yours or someone else’s. Ask to speak to the manager, and make a complaint both in person and in writing.

On Flight Day

It’s recommended that you withhold food four to six hours before flying. You can give your pet small amounts of water before the flight, though.

You’ll need to go through airport security with your pet. You can either take him out of the carrier or request a special secondary screening to avoid needing to take your pet out of his carrier. If you choose to take your pet out of his carrier while it goes through the x-ray machine, make sure your pet is securely harnessed.

Traveling with your pet can be both fun and stressful. With some proper planning, you can avoid potential problems and reduce the stress associated with traveling with your pet.

Have you traveled with your pet? What was your experience like? Do you have any additional tips to share? Please let us know in the comments!