Pet Transport Policy in an Airline:

Millions of animals travel aboard these days from aircraft or through air transport service. Airline personnel make every effort to offer the care and all efforts should be taken to provide the utmost care that these four-legged human friends deserve. Each airline has its own transport policy all we need to do as passengers is to notify the airline about the travel plan of our pet/s.

One can even carry the pet in an aircraft cabin of course only if the airlines permit. There is also a condition that the pet carrier used should be airlines approved and should easily fix itself below the seat, which is facing the passenger. The animal welfare plan act and its regulations exclude the carry-on pets but still the airlines has to do an exercise of ensuring that the pet can easily take a turn inside its carrier that too when it is standing comfortably.

also read Class of Tickets in Airlines

Larger pets are also allowed to be carried in airlines albeit as apart of checked-in baggage, but every airline will not provide such a service. One of the conditions to be met here is that the passenger or the owner of the animal has to be an adult and should travel on the same flight on which the pet is ferried.

In case the animal is huge unlike a dog or cat of normal size or if the animal is travelling without the owner then in such a case the animal is accepted as a part of cargo and is manifested in the cargo department. The details of carriage have to be confirmed from the cargo department of the respective airlines. Sometime people become very anxious hearing that the pet will be travelling as cargo piece.

There is no need to worry at all as even while travelling a s a cargo the animals are kept in pressurized, temperature controlled, well oxygenated similar to the passenger cabins. Most of the airlines have an animal welfare officer/specialist with their airlines who is an expert in the movement of the animals. They have a vast experience in veterinary care and movements.

Also read Classification of Airline Tickets

Some of the following criteria for pet transport are:

What is the optimum age for pet transportation?

As per the IATA The International Air Transport Association the animal, which has to be transported, has to be of minimum eight weeks of age and should also have weaned fully after which can travel on the airlines.  In certain airlines the age limitation is fixed at fifteen months, most of these are travelling on international routes. Higher ages are better for the pet to travel as more the attained age the higher the chances of well developed respiratory systems and more ease and comfort of the animal.

Is there like easier flights when it comes to our pets?

Flights which have a schedule which has no stoppages is direct and does not stop anywhere seems to go better with the animals. It is also advisable that the animal should not be booked on the holidays or weekends. If journey could be proponed or postponed then also temperature extremes should be avoided, too much heat, cold, moisture, humidity is dangerous.

How to determine the health of a pet for travel purpose?

Veterinarian is the best person to check on the health of a pet that need to undertake air travel. There are certain natural disadvantages to animals which have snub nose because they may have issues in breathing they are bulldogs, pugs, boxers etc. The solution to such an issue is to get a larger crate than the one required. The airlines should be informed well in advance about the breed; as such breeds are very often not permitted on an airline.

Also read Airline Reservation System (ARS)

Ten or seven days in advance of the journey one should get an Airlines Veterinary health certificate for their pets as this is mandatory in many of the airlines.

Use of Tranquilizer

Some times few vegetarians suggest the use of tranquilizer while they are supposed to transport through air. Sedating an animal through the use of tranquilizers are not promoted or supported by animals’ lovers that too at high altitudes and conditions like travelling especially by air. Sedation and use of tranquilizers should be left entirely up to the veterinarian.

Do you have the right crate?

An animal needs to be transported in the right size of the crate so one should make sure to have the right size of crate before purchasing one for the pet before they have to travel.

Also read Challenges facing by Global Aviation Industry

How to acclimate the pet to the crate?

A good time before the trip the crate should be introduced to the pet. First start using the bottom part of the kennel. The crate should be introduced after the dog or pet is too tired after an activity and feels like resting.  They will lie in their crate, walk, sniff, play around. To make it easy for them leave certain objects like their old toys, old sock, their bedding inside the crate so make them feel a sense of belongingness and familiarity.  Once the pet is used to the bottom part of the kennel introduce the second half too. But make sure you do not close the door except in the nights. Keep repeating this till this becomes its second home.

Once the comfort of the pet is noticed the pet is all set to have its flight with you or may be all-alone too.

Pet Transport Policy in an Airline