Travel concept with dog and cat sitting on suitcase.
gettyPets are part of the family—and while it can be alluring to consider bringing your furry friend on far-flung adventures or pet-friendly holidays, there are certain things to consider before investing in that pet passport.
Keep in mind that most airlines don’t have any qualms with bringing a furry friend on board as long as you’re willing to comply with carrier regulations—the most common being that the pet must fit under the seat in front of you and you’ll be asked to keep them in their carrier for the duration of the flight.
It’s also important to remember that you never know how your pet will react to being confined to a carrier for hours on end; you might end up with a cool customer who quietly sleeps at your feet for the duration of the flight or you could find yourself trying to soothe a panicked pup who is unintentionally disrupting the entire cabin.
Aside from the temperament of your animal, it’s also worth noting that air travel can actually be dangerous for animals with shorter nasal passages—such as pugs, bulldogs, or Persian cats.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, these kinds of animals are particularly vulnerable to both oxygen deprivation and heat stroke while flying and as such certain airlines won’t accept these breeds onboard.
The Humane Society also urges travelers to avoid checking all pets into the cargo area of the airplane.
Checking a pet like you would a piece of luggage doesn’t just mean you won’t be able to tend to them for hours—but it’s considerably more dangerous and less comfortable for your furry friend.
Think about it like this: the cargo area doesn’t have the same temperature regulation or ventilation as the cabin and handing your pet over to cargo means you also run the risk of your pet getting lost in transit or getting injured due to poor baggage handling.
With this in mind, it’s seldom worth the risk to check your pet in as a piece of cargo.
Then there’s the question of cost.
Most US-based airlines will charge you anywhere from $100 to $200 per one-way flight just to bring your pet as a carry-on while some airlines even suggest pet owners book a second seat to ensure the comfort of everyone on board—especially if you’re traveling with more than one pet.
If you have no other solutions or you’re set on flying with your pet, there are certain tricks that will make the experience much more pleasant for both of you (and the rest of the cabin). In a Reddit thread about flying with pets, multiple users posted comments about prepping your pets before takeoff by ensuring they’re comfortable in their carrier and packing “surprises” like favorite treats or new toys to distract them with if they’re getting antsy or nervous.
One Reddit user wrote: “If your dog is up for it, a long walk right before you head to the airport can go a long way.
A tired dog is a good dog.
If your dog is used to sleeping all day or spending a lot of time in a crate, this likely won't feel any different to them.”
Investing in certain creature comforts and safety measures will also help you feel more confident traveling with your pet while ensuring their safety and comfort are being met.
Consider bringing lickable wet food treats—which are easy to feed to Fido through a carrier and will help ensure hydration.
If you’re on a long-haul flight, you’ll also want to consider bringing a collapsible litter box that you can open up in the airplane bathroom to at least try and mitigate any potential accidents that might happen in the carrier.
Still on the fence about flying with your pet? If you’re not able to take a train or cat to your destination but are adamant about bringing your pet with you, you might want to consider booking a well-known pet-friendly airline.
Turkish Airlines, for example, has a reputation for making furry friend and their humans feel like VIP travelers—it is Istanbul-based after all... the city of cats.
There’s also BARK Air—the world’s first air travel experience catered specifically to dogs and their owners.
This can be a great option if you have a larger dog and are adamant about not checking them into cargo as BARK Air doesn’t impose a weight or size limit on its furry passengers.
It doesn’t matter if you have the most well-behaved animal in the world, traveling with your pets is always going to have its own set of challenges and risks.
However, if leaving your pet behind is absolutely not an option, preparing properly and following TSA guidelines will help ensure you have the least stressful travel day possible.