Tours Travel

What you need to know when traveling with your pet

According to the Air Transport Association, more than 500,000 pets travel by air each year in the United States of America alone. However, traveling is very stressful for a pet. Imagine the stress you encounter when you travel and multiply it a thousand times and this is how your pet feels. So if you are planning to take your pet on your next trip, this article will give you the good, the bad, and the ugly of traveling with your pet.

The good

  • You don’t have to go through the pain of trying to find a trustworthy pet sitter or trying to find a trustworthy friend / family member who remembers to take care of your pet.
  • Being able to travel with your pet can put you at ease. This means you don’t have to worry about how your pet is doing at home or with a pet sitter while on vacation.

The bad

  • Not all airlines allow pets. Some airlines do not allow pets on their flights.
  • Depending on the airline, but those that allow pets on board will often charge between $ 125 and $ 250 each way (this also depends on where you fly).
  • Pets suffer a lot of stress when they travel. There are a large number of environmental stressors that are present when pets travel on an airplane, such as changes in temperature, noise, and changes in movement.

The ugly one

  • According to statistics released by the Department of Transportation, 122 dogs died in the cargo holds of US airlines between May and July 2010.
  • In 2011, 35 pets died while traveling on a plane and more than half died while onboard Delta flights.
  • Airlines are not required by law to report pet accidents, such as accidents, losses, and deaths.

Now that you have an idea of ​​what it might be like to travel with your pet, here are some things to know when you decide to take your pet on a trip with you.

Pre-flight preparations

  • Since travel is already difficult for your pet, consider other factors that could add more stress to it before making a decision about whether or not to take it with you. If your pet is too old or too young, consider leaving it with a neighbor or family member. The same is true if they are in heat or pregnant.
  • Take your pet to the vet for a checkup. This is to make sure your pet’s health is in good travel condition. Also, get the necessary vaccinations for your pet before you go on a trip. You can request a health certificate to present at the counter before boarding your flight.
  • Book your flight in advance. Because different airlines have different policies regarding bringing your pets on board, it would be much better to make arrangements in advance. An easy way to do this is to make an online reservation. That way, you can learn more about your options, not just with their pet policies, but with their prices as well.
  • Airlines have different policies on the size of carriers they allow inside the cabin. Check with your airline about size and set requirements before purchasing a carrier. Remember that a carrier is subject to the same regulations as hand luggage. You can refer to the FAA’s policies on carry-on baggage rules for reference.
  • Some dog trainers recommend training your pet especially for pre-flight travel. Some suggested techniques are to place them on the floor of your car while driving. This accustoms them to the changes in motion they are likely to experience on an airplane. Others also recommend using an association scent on your pet, such as lavender oil. You can put a drop of the oil on your hands before mealtime or take them out for a walk. Doing so allows them to have a positive association with that smell. So if your pet is going to be separated from you, you can put a drop of lavender oil in his carrier to keep him calm during the trip.

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