If flying with kids is … well … stressful, how about pets? For many, our pets are our kids, but without the ability to relate to us. Talk about high anxiety! We plan our flight and then we release them to the airline, hoping they will be well cared for. When we don’t talk about the stressors associated with taking our pets overseas and how to work through the process, many put it in the realm of too-hard, missing out on travel opportunities or overseas assignments. Sadly, others abandon their “beloved” family animals because of the complexity or costs of pet travel. I’ll be frank: it IS hard, and it IS stressful, but it isn’t nearly as hard as we might think. It’s also easier with some helpful advice; let’s talk about that.
If you are planning to take your dog or cat overseas, this article is for you. Before you make flight reservations, you must first know if your furry friend will even be allowed in the country or on the plane. Not all breeds are allowed in all countries (talk to your veterinarian about breeds banned from the country your will be entering). On top of this, many airlines will not fly certain breeds, (even if they are not banned in the country) to include snub-nosed pets due to their breathing difficulties.
There are three ways to fly your pet overseas: First, as ‘Excess Baggage’ (this category is generally reserved for military personnel & U.S. State Department foreign officers traveling on official orders, but it doesn’t hurt to ask the airline if you are able to use that category even if you are not in that status). The second category is ‘In-Cabin’ and the third is flying as ‘Cargo.’ This article will discuss the necessary paperwork needed for flying, then you can link to an article specific for each of the categories. So, what’s the difference between these three modes of pet air travel?
Excess Baggage – As stated above, flying your pet as Excess Baggage is generally reserved for members of the military or state department employees on orders. When flying Excess Baggage, pets are flown in the belly of the plane, completely pressurized & safe, and are attached to your ticket, so you and your pet are on the same flight. Prices for flying your pet excess baggage generally start at around $250. Pet spots are extremely limited, so make reservations early. There are also temperature-related restrictions in terms of calendar days for the safety of your pet, so plan well in advance!
In-Cabin – Pets flying in the cabin of the plane are with you during the flight, but their crate must fit under the seat in front of you. As you can imagine, this only works for smaller pets. The pet in the carrier takes the place of your carry-on bag, plus there is an additional charge, usually starting at $100. The number of pets allowed in-cabin are limited, so make those reservations early.
Cargo – Pets flying cargo are not connected to your ticket and not guaranteed to be on your flight. Often airlines require a pet shipping company to be involved. Prices for flying your pet cargo are usually $1,000 and up.
Planning
Once you’ve established that your four-legged friend is allowed to travel, you must decide how your pet will fly, whether Excess Baggage, In-Cabin, or Cargo. This will be influenced by the size of your pet, your personal status, length of your trip, etc. Once you know how your pet will travel, start calling the airlines. Make calls before you actually book the flight, as pet spaces are extremely limited. Have a list of questions to ask to include crate requirements, pricing & payment, minimum pet age requirements, medical screening requirements, paperwork needed and check-in process. Your questions will vary based on how the pet will fly, but have an idea of your flight preference, so the airline can specifically address that date and the aircraft you will be on (for instance baggage door size matters). Once you find a flight that works for your pet, book it before the pet spots disappear.
Pay attention to the length of the trip. Some airlines will not allow your pet to be on a trip that takes over a certain number of hours. If this applies to you, you will either have to pay for ground transportation to a larger airport to shorten their flight time or drive them there yourself.
Have a plan for your arrival. Some countries (usual island countries that do not have rabies, such as Singapore) have a mandatory quarantine period for your pets, so know the requirements for your country of destination. Quarantine fees are paid by the pet owner. If there is no quarantine period, be sure to have secured pet-friendly transportation and accommodations.
Preparing Your Pet For Travel
The first step in planning is to accept that you are NOT planning for a trip within America, and you MUST comply with the destination’s requirements, whether you agree with them or not: just accept it and move on. Typically your veterinarian will help you understand requirements at your specific destination. Secondly, gain an understanding of all of the various requirements and how they relate to each other so you can sequence them efficiently.
The vaccinations: Countries have vaccine requirements before a dog or cat can enter. Countries vary on requirements, but every time I have flown with a pet overseas from the United States, a rabies vaccine was required, and it had to have been administered a minimum of thirty days before flying. Before you just assume you are good, keep in mind that not all countries recognize a multi-year rabies vaccine—in other words, your “valid” vaccination may already be expired in their eyes. And to make matters more complicated, the vaccine must be given AFTER your pet has had their microchip implanted. But wait, there’s more – the microchip your pet has from the United States may not be compatible with the destination country. So, if your pet needs a new microchip, that will have to be implanted over thirty days before flying, with the rabies vaccine given after the microchip has been implanted. You will likely need two vet appointments, so make them early – one over 30 days before travel and one within 10 days of arrival of final destination. If you are not sure if your pet is healthy enough to pass the final health assessment to fly, book an additional appointment as soon as possible to discuss this with your veterinarian.
The paperwork: At minimum, the paperwork you should carry when flying overseas with your pet will include multiple copies of:
- Shot records
- Rabies vaccine certificate (to be obtained over thirty days before departure)
- Health certificate (this is what you will get from your veterinarian within ten days of arriving at your destination)
- USDA endorsement* (note: if the health certificate is issued by a military veterinarian (not a civilian veterinarian working at a military facility), the USDA endorsement is not required). Click here to find the location nearest you.
- Military PCS (Permanent Change of Station) orders, if applicable.
Note: Keep in mind the requirements to re-enter the United States. If your pet’s rabies vaccine expires or your multi-year vaccine goes past the one-year point while overseas you may need to have your pet vaccinated again. Here’s the twister that happened to us in Israel: Our dog entered Israel in the first year of a multi-year rabies vaccine; however, he exceeded that one year of validity while we were there. Because Israel only recognizes a one-year vaccine, when it came time to fly, Israel wouldn’t let our dog fly out of Israel and into the United States (where the multi-year vaccine was still valid), requiring us to find a vet and get the poor boy vaccinated again, even though he would be valid upon arrival. But the “current” vaccine was a must for us to be able to get the travel endorsement from their office equivalent to our USDA. Confused yet?
Buying A Crate
To be on the safe side, buy your crate from a reputable pet store and look for the “TSA approved” marking. Just because it is TSA approved does not mean the airline will accept your pet in the crate. The crate must be the right size. Make sure there is plenty of room for your pet to sit, stand and turn around without touching the top of the crate. I have known several people who have arrived at the airport to be told the crate isn’t big enough to meet these requirements and suddenly had to scramble to buy a new crate before they could finish checking the pet in for their flight. Even if the size of the crate is not enforced by the airline employee, it is just right to ensure your furry friend has sufficient room. When in doubt, buy a crate a size up. Crate requirements are listed in the articles on this website for specific pet flight travel, Excess Baggage, In Cabin and Cargo. In addition to having the right size, you must have two containers attached to the inside of the crate – one for food and one for water, as well as something on the bottom of the crate to absorb spills and accidents.
Once you bring the new crate home, assemble it and leave it in place in your house with the door open. Let your pet sniff it, walk in and out and all around, but don’t shut them in yet. If your pet is reluctant to enter, place their favorite toy and some food or other treats in the back of the crate to encourage them to enter and get used to it. This will help minimize the stress your pet will feel when it’s time to travel. If your pet is refusing to go inside, try taking the top off of the crate for the first few days and reattach it when they are more comfortable with it.
Note: some airlines allow multiple pets in a crate if they fit comfortably. This exception usually has restrictions (two animals of the same breed, a pet and their litter over a certain age, etc), and of course the animals have to be able to fit comfortably. Call your airline for details.
Travel Day
It’s normal to be nervous, but the calmer you are, the more calm your furry friend will be. Be sure to have your paperwork in order, your crate ready with food, water, and something to absorb accidents and/or spillage. A favorite toy in the crate and an old t-shirt or something that smells like you may be a calming factor for your pet. In addition, be extra early to the airport. Trust me, you’ll need time. Your pet and crate may require an extra-large baggage cart which can be time consuming to track one down. It can be difficult to find a good place for the animal to take that last potty stop, so allow more time there as well. (You’ll probably need one, too!)
Note: many airports have become more pet friendly & have pet relieving areas inside and outside of the airport. Ask before you arrive if these areas exist at your airport and where they are located.
Curb-side check-in is not allowed when flying a pet. The porters can, however, help you load up your pet and bags and wheel you to the correct check-in counter.
Checking in the animal will occur at a special check-in counter which requires more time—and that check in will involve some screening questions and maybe a last-minute check by a specialist. Some airlines do not allow pets to be given tranquilizers before they fly. This is so they can verify your animal is in good health. Check with your airline and your veterinarian before giving your pet anything to help ease their anxiety.
Most airlines have you pay for the pet travel while checking in for your flight. Allow plenty of time and ask all the questions that come to you—these professionals ship animals every day. Have a baggie of extra food on hand to be taped to the top of the crate. After this, you get the all important “Live Animal” stickers slapped on the side of the crate and you will proceed to a pet security point where you will remove your pet, and the crate will be checked by security. After this, you will put your pet back in the crate and the airline employees will whisk them away. You will then proceed to your own security process. At this point you’ve prepared as much as you can, now it’s time to fly. If your pet is on your flight as Excess Baggage or Cargo, let the flight attendants know, and ask them to let you know once your pet has been loaded on the plane. (You only need to read the stories of pets being shipped to the wrong destination one time to understand me on this one!) I generally ask before I board the plane, as I’m boarding and then the first flight attendant I see as I sit down. When I’m flying with fur babies, everyone knows, and they know to tell me when they are safely on board. Try not to worry about being that annoying passenger. Ask all the questions – communication is key, after all. It requires a flight crew much less work to inform you of your fur baby’s status than it will for them to track down a pet that has been left behind.
We have flown overseas with babies, toddlers, young children, teenagers and our “furry beasts.” For me, flying with the pets was far more stressful than the kids, every single time. Be organized, start early and plan your timeline accordingly. It may not be easy, but it’s doable, and it is worth it. Now sit back, find a movie and let the airline do the rest.
