Trip Tips for Flying with Your Dog

If you’ve traveled on a plane recently, you’ve likely noticed just how friendly the skies have become for pets. Airports have “pet-relief areas” that are well-marked, and it’s not uncommon to see a pooch standing in line for Dunkin’ Donuts in front of you. For some people, spending time away from their pets just isn’t an option, so if your travel plans require a flight, consider these trip tips for flying with your dog!

Plan Your Vet Visit Accordingly: Nearly every airline will require a vet’s note saying that your pet is fit to fly, and hotels could request to see proof of vaccinations before they will grant your pet their own keycard. Plan your vet visit accordingly if you have a trip on the horizon. You don’t want to plan it too early though, as most airlines require that you obtain your pet’s clean bill of health within 10 days of traveling.

Ensure That Your Destination is Pet-Friendly: If you’ve ever showed up to a hotel only to find that you’ve booked your room for the wrong dates, you understand how panicking this can be. Well, imagine if you showed up with your dog in-tow, only to find out the hotel wasn’t pet-friendly! Visit websites like www.DogFriendly.com  before you plan a trip, which rate both destinations and hotel chains by their pet-friendliness. AAA (the American Automobile Association) is another fantastic resource for pet-friendly information.

Alert the Airline That You’re Bringing a Dog: When you’re booking your ticket, make sure you alert the airline that you’re bringing a dog. Some airlines don’t permit pets to travel in the cabin, in which case your pet would have to be properly crated and put beneath the plane. And for those airlines that do permit pets in the cabin, certain restrictions apply, like the number of pets per flight and the size. In most cases, your dog must fit under the seat in front of you in a carrier that permits them to stand up and turn around inside.

Feed and Water Your Dog Before Departing: It’s important to­ prepare your pet before the flight, which includes giving them food and water. The USDA mandates that pets traveling on airlines must be fed and watered within four hours of the flight’s scheduled departure, so plan accordingly. And don’t overfeed or water your pet. Remember, they don’t have the luxury of using the onboard lavatory like you do.

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