Take flight this season with your pet! With holiday travel in full swing, it’s time for a vacation. But you can’t forget about your furry family members. Bring them along for the adventure.
Here are some things you should know if you plan on taking your pet with you on a plane for your upcoming trip:
Make a reservation for your pet over the phone with a REAL person.
With a cabin pet (a pet traveling in a pet carrier), you can’t sit in the bulkhead because your pet needs to be stowed below the seat in front of you. If you are traveling with a larger dog, like an emotional support animal, then you may need to reserve a bulkhead seat so there is room for your dog to sit at your feet. So, make sure you tell the reservation agent all of the details about your pet so the correct arrangements are made.
Check all specifics to make sure you and your pet meet all the airlines and FAA requirements, such as pet species, size, weight, proper documentation, size of the pet carrier, etc.
If you are traveling on a morning flight, most veterinarians recommend that you don’t feed your pet breakfast so their stomach isn’t full when they fly. Do offer them water but monitor their drinking so they drink moderately.
For a pet traveling in a travel crate, never leave the leash on them inside the crate, as it can get tangled easily and choke them. For a travel kitty, it’s good to have a harness on them rather than just a collar, as you can get a better grip on a squirming cat in a harness than a cat wearing only a collar when they come out of the bag.
Get to the airport early enough to be properly checked in with an agent. You won’t be able to use curbside check-in.
Bring all required documentation, and even if the reservation agent says you don’t need medical records, bring their vaccination records just in case.
Arrive at the airport early enough to check in inside the terminal and then go back outside for a bathroom break.
At security, your pet comes out of the bag, so plan ahead! If you have a pet that absolutely can’t come out of its crate, you can ask TSA for a private screening, but this may take significantly more time and is up to TSA’s discretion as to how it will work.
When you arrive at your destination, attend to your pet’s needs as soon as you can. Give them an opportunity to relieve themselves outside and offer them water.
And don’t forget to pack PetArmor®. Keep your pet protected from fleas & tick no matter where they go.
