No way to leave without your faithful companion? Whether it is a dog, a cat or a canary, there are specific transport rules for each company, but also tips to follow to make the journey as smooth as possible!
Flying with a pet: general rules
First of all, it is essential to check with your company to see if it is possible to travel with your furry companion. The request must be made at the time of your reservation. Also indicate the weight and breed of the animal, two essential elements to know if it is authorized on board and if it will be able to travel in the cabin with you, or in the hold.
In general, animals allowed to travel in the cabin must not exceed 6 to 8 kg, including a transport bag or crate. Your pet must remain in its crate or transport bag for the duration of the flight. The box must be large enough so that it can move and turn around without touching the edges, the bottom must be waterproof and safe. Finally, don't worry, you can always open the crate or bag during the trip, to pet your pet or give him a little treat!
Beyond 8 kg, dogs and cats must travel in the hold. Be careful, some breeds of dogs are not allowed to travel, either in the hold or in the cabin. Many companies refuse to take birds or rodents on board. On the other hand, good news, if you fly with Emirates, you can take your... hawk with you, as long as you leave Dubai!
Jokingly aside, the animals will have to be equipped with a chip to identify them and be up to date with their vaccines. The vaccination certificate will be required most of the time, as well as other documents, such as a passport or other medical certificate, depending on the destination and the company used.
Finally, arrive at check-in at least half an hour earlier to complete all the paperwork for transporting your pet.
The comfort of your pet
In other words, a flight is never very pleasant for an animal. Dogs and cats, whether in the cabin or in the hold, may be stressed during this trip. It would be a good thing to consult your veterinarian before leaving, so that he can prescribe you an appropriate sedative.
Prepare your pet some time in advance by getting it used to its crate or carrying bag. In this way, he will not take (or less) confinement as punishment.
Just like you, your pet can be smeared during the flight; do not feed it too much before leaving, it is better to travel with a light stomach.
If it is travelling in the hold, provide a sufficiently large and ventilated transport box. Check the authorized dimensions or buy your cash register directly from the company or from an airport store. Write on it his name, tattoo (or chip) number, your address and telephone number, and the destination address. Finally, do not forget to write down the words "Live animal" in full.
Before boarding, stay close to the loading area to make sure your pet is properly loaded on board. You can also inform the crew, once on board, that you are travelling with an animal in the hold. If the flight is not direct, ask how this will happen during the transfer, and the conditions under which it will be carried out.
The aircraft holds are pressurized, ventilated and heated, impossible to find your frozen animal at the end of the journey! And don't worry, flying with your pet is common, so don't stress unnecessarily and trust the flight attendants.
Special case of assistance dogs
Blind and assistance dogs are accepted by most companies. They may travel in the cabin if the condition of the passenger-owner so requires. When booking, remember to notify that you will need to travel with a service animal, so you will have an appropriate seat inside the aircraft.
In general, he will be assigned an additional seat at the foot of which he will have to lie down, equipped with a muzzle.
Flying with a pet: the cost
The transport of your pet will be charged most of the time, the price depends on the company and the destination.
Now consult the conditions and tariffs applied by the main companies for the transport of pets.
Finally, low-cost companies such as Ryanair or EasyJet do not generally allow animals to be transported, except for assistance dogs, and only on certain routes.