Things You'll Need
- Travel crate
- Health certificate
Instructions
Commercial Airline Travel
If your pet is small enough to fit under your seat inside a carrier, you can bring your pet in the cabin of some airlines. The pet and carrier are considered carry-on baggage. Service animals are also allowed in the cabins of all airlines in accordance with U.S. Department of Transportation rules. Make sure your pet stays in its travel crate throughout the entire trip.
If your pet is too large to fly in the cabin, you can send your pet flying as accompanied baggage. With this method, make sure your pet's travel crate is labeled with your name, address and phone number. Your pet will be checked alongside your checked luggage and transported in the plane's cargo area.
Some airlines offer live animal cargo shipments. Sometimes these airlines have special delivery channels to ensure speedy movement of pets from one area to the next to reduce stress. Again, label your pet's travel crate with your contact information.
Private Air Travel
Check with local air transportation companies to see whether chartering a plane is a reasonable method of transporting your pet. If a large group is traveling or if the animal you are transporting is expensive, this may be a good method.
Consult small to midsize carriers and ask about their pet policies, prices and availability. Find out whether the company flies out of an airport close to your location and if you might be able to save on time and transportation to the airport.
Ask whether your pet will be allowed in the cabin or will need to be checked with any luggage. When paying more for premium service, there should be no need to check your pet in the cargo area.
Pet Transporter
If you will not be traveling with your pet, pet transportation companies can alleviate some of the stress for you. While you can ship a pet unaccompanied through an airline, increased security sometimes causes problems with this approach. Find companies that specialize in pet air transport through online searches or check with your local airport.
Ask potential carriers for references, rates and policies. Make sure the shipper is endorsed by a regulatory agency like the Animal Transportation Association. Also ask the shipper how its representative will contact you when the animal arrives or if any problems associated with your pet occur.
Provide the transportation company with all of your contact information, the animal's health certificate and any special instructions. Label your pet's travel crate clearly with your contact information so that handlers know which animal belongs to you if they need to call.