Traveling by Air with Your Pet

December 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Every year, millions of Americans take their pets on vacation. Approximately 25 percent of this travel is done by air. In fact, taking pets on airplanes has become increasingly common. Here are a few tips for the next time you decide to fly with your dog or cat.

Air Travel Tips for Pets

Check with the airline ahead of time to ascertain their requirements. Many airlines allow pets to travel in the cabin, but several allow pets only as cargo. Provide your pet plenty of exercise before you head off to the airport, ensuring that whatever he has eaten has been eliminated. Arrive at the airport on time.

1. Carry-On Luggage. Most airlines allow small dogs or cats to be brought on board as carry-on luggage. Use an airline-approved container (crate or ventilated bag) with certain size and weight requirements – the standard is 10 by 15 by 20 inches, weighing less than 40 pounds.
2. Health. Your pet should be older than eight weeks, fully weaned and calm enough to make the trip. He should be healthy, showing no signs of illness, and should not be in a state of distress (or the airline can keep you from boarding the plane). Your pet must have a health certificate from a veterinarian issued within 10 days of traveling. Certain breeds, such as short nosed dogs and cats may have difficulty with plane travel.
3. Cost. Whether your pet is flying in the cabin or cargo, there is a fee for him to travel, which is paid at the gate. When you purchase your ticket, you must reserve a spot for your pet (airlines generally limit pets per flight to two). Be prepared to pay $35-200 per flight for your pet.
4. Identification. It is essential to make sure that your pet is wearing a collar and identification tag at all times. Carry a printed photo of your pet
4. Cargo. For pets traveling with the cargo, choose your travel times carefully. During warm seasons, choose early morning or late evening flights. For colder seasons, choose daytime flights.

Happy pet travels!

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Traveling with Your Pet

October 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

If you have a pet and you don’t have anyone to watch him while you travel, you can always take him along. That’s easier to do with a dog than it is with a cat, but it can still be done with either animal. You can also travel with exotic animals, but you won’t find as many hotels that are accommodating for your needs. To travel with a pet, it’s a good idea to do some advanced planning.

In other words, don’t just head out and assume that you’ll find a hotel that’s ready to handle your pet. It’s much better to know what hotel you’re headed to, so you don’t have worries when you get to your destination. Call around to the hotels that you’re considering, and ask them about their pet policy. Make sure to tell them what kind of pet you have, its size, and if you’re traveling with more than one pet. Then, ask how much extra they charge to let you have a pet in your room. If you’re staying a few days, you’ll want to ask about whether that extra fee is each day, and if it’s capped at some point.

For example, if you’re staying two weeks and it’s $25 per day for your pet, you want to know whether you’ll have to pay that additional cost for the entire time you’re there, or whether it’s capped at, say, $100 or $200 dollars. That can make a real difference in how much you’re spending on your trip. If prices seem too high at one hotel, check with another one and get some price comparisons so you know what choice you want to make. Planning ahead when traveling with a pet really is the best idea.

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Traveling with Your Pet

August 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment
HAWTHORNE, CA - JULY 16: Pets are loaded for ...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Traveling with Your Pet

According to the Travel Industry Association, 29 million Americans take their pets on vacation annually. Seventy-five percent of that travel is by car, which can be stressful for the pet, especially if your dog or cat isn’t used to car travel. What can you do to make traveling less stressful for both your pet and yourself? Here are some tips.

Car Travel Tips

If your pet simply cannot withstand the rigors of traveling arising from temperament, illness, or injury, the best thing you can do for him is to let him stay behind rather then putting him through the stress of travel. Speak with your veterinarian to find a highly reliable pet sitter or pet boarding facility.

If your pet is able to travel by car, make sure your dog or cat will be comfortable in the vehicle. Bring the pet’s favorite bed, blanket, toys, etc. Provide enough drinking water and an appropriate travel container to dispense the water. Have enough food for the duration of the journey so you won’t be relying upon food you buy along the way. Your pet should wear a collar and ID tag at all times. If possible, your pet should also be microchipped with imbedded identification data (this is an easy, painless outpatient procedure that can be done by your vet). Carry proof of rabies vaccination as well as a current health certificate, along with a printed photo of your pet for identification purposes.

When booking accommodations, ensure that wherever you stay allows pets. This applies to hotels, motels, campgrounds, parks, and staying with others. Do not assume that your pet will be welcome – find out in advance. If you leave your pet in your hotel room, put the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door and let the front desk know that your pet is alone in the room. A portable kennel is helpful in this situation to keep the room from damage. You may want to consider a vacation rental – many allow pets, while hotels generally do not.

Happy pet travels!

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