AirSafe.com

Pet Travel Resources

According the U.S. Department of Transportation, over two million pets and other live animals are transported by air every year in the United States. Federal and state governments impose restrictions on transporting live animals. In addition, each airline establishes its own company policy for the proper handling of the animals they transport. There are many rules and procedures that passengers have to be aware of when they travel with pets. The following overview will give you a general idea of what to expect when it comes to pet travel.

Each Airline Has Different Rules
The most important thing to know that is that rules can be very different for different airlines. In the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allows each airline to set its policies on travel with pets, including whether they are allowed in the cabin, or for that matter whether they are transported at all. There are a number of considerations that passengers must consider, including what extra charges you may face, limitations on when pets can travel, and many other conditions of travel.

Travel Planning with Pets
Most airlines have additional requirements for travel with pets. It is important that you contact the airline as soon as possible to find out about their rules and limitations. Depending on where you travel, you may also have to make additional arrangements with other authorities, especially if you are traveling internationally with your pet.

Traveling to Hawaii with Pets
Hawaii has special limitations on pet travel, including quarantines of animals traveling to the state, even for passengers flying from other parts of the U.S. Make sure that you review Hawaii’s requirements (at http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/ai/aqs/info), contact the airline, and possibly consult your pet’s veterinarian, prior to your travel to Hawaii. Otherwise, your pet could be quarantined for up to 120 days.

Pets in the Passenger Cabin
Not every airline allows pets in the passenger cabin. Those that do typically allow only small animals that must be kept in some kind of cage or kennel for the duration of the flight. Also, the pets must be able to fit in the area under the seat and can’t be in the overhead baggage compartments. An airline may also limit the maximum number of pets in the passenger cabin, as well is the number of pets in coach, business, or first class sections of the aircraft. It is also possible that an airline may allow pets in one class of service or section of the aircraft, but not another.

Pets in the Baggage Compartment
If pets are not in the passenger cabin, they are typically transported in pressurized, temperature-controlled aircraft compartments. Confirm with your airline that this is the case.

Airline Pet Travel Rules and Limitations
Each airline sets its own rules when it comes to travel with pets. These rules usually include limitations on pet travel based on weather, time of year, size of the pet, or any number of other criteria. You should check directly with the airline when you purchase your ticket and also shortly before your departure date, since changes in the airline’s rules may happen quickly or without advance notice.

Service Animals
Service animals are not pets, but rather an animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. In the U.S., a disabled passenger can travel with his or her service animal in the passenger with relatively few limitations compared to the limitations on pets. While U.S. airlines are required to make accommodations for travelers with service animals, there may be situations where a service animal may not be allowed in the cabin. If you plan to travel with a service animal, it would be a good idea to contact the airline prior to your travel to see if there may be any difficulties.

Other Resources
Advice from the American Veterinary Medical Association
Aricle from takeyourpet.com
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

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