Dog Air Travel

When we are planning on a vacation that involves airline travel, many of us want to take our pet along. There are websites that list the requirements for dog air travel with all airlines. The information is up to date and is changed as rules change. Before there were other options our dog air travel choices were often non existent. A pet could experience air travel but only in the cargo hold. Only like a crate of something inanimate. We did not like the choice of putting a living thing in a hold that was not pressurized or climate controlled. We have more choices today.

Very small dogs can experience dog air travel in an under seat crate. It is a small piece of carryon luggage that fits under the seat and contains the small animal. This is good for animals up to about seven or eight inches tall. The fee is minimal or is non existent at all. The carrier must have a waterproof bottom and fit under the seat in front of the passenger.

Pet air travel for larger animals still can be costly. The very best choice is to go with an airline carrier that offers companion flights.  A small size animal, when properly contained, flies in cabin with its owners. Pet air travel is highly regulated now. You may have the pet travel as checked baggage or as cargo and either way they will be transported in a pressurized area that is temperature controlled. The crate will have to meet certain requirements that make dog air travel and all pet air travel safer. Items include but are not limited to water availability, labeling of the crate and size and dimensions that allow both sitting and lying down. It does make pet air travel more acceptable. For those who can afford it, private air transportation that will include them and their pet in air travel is still the very best option.