Flying with dogs: airline approved dog crates and carriers
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Video: How to Choose a Pet Air Travel Carrier (DrsFosterSmith)
For many people, airports are not exactly fun. Between hauling your carry-on everywhere to traversing through the labyrinth that is TSA, flying can be quite taxing (though of course, eventually rewarding). Flying shouldn’t be a barrier to taking your pet with you when you travel, especially if you have airline approved dog crates and carriers.
There are plenty of airline-permissible dog crates and carriers that you’re allowed to take on a flight with you while still maintaining your dog’s comfort. However, before you take your dog on the plane with you, there are certain physical requirements to consider. If your dog is small enough, she may be able to ride in the cabin with you, in an approved carrier of course, but if she’s too large, then you’ll need to have her ride in the cargo hold. Unfortunate, but necessary.
“More and more now, families consider their pets to be members of the family and want to include them on trips. Unfortunately, airlines don’t consider animals a member of your family. They consider them cargo.” – Kirsten Theisen, Director of Pet Care Issues for the Humane Society of the United States
Though flying with your dog is certainly harmless, you should take precautions in order to prevent any type of injury to a sensitive animal. For example, if you have a sick dog or a newborn puppy less than two months old, the dog cannot fly because of the health risks involved.
Video: Airline Approved Dog Crates
A few airlines sell their own pet carriers for flights, but you don’t have to purchase your dog crate or carrier through them. There are numerous companies that sell airline approved carriers for dogs online, and you can even find them at your local pet store.
To avoid any disappointment, check with the airline that you and your Fido are flying with before you purchase a dog carrier. It’s possible that they will have additional special requirements on top of the standard and expected airline approved dog crate and carrier rules.
* If you’d like more information about the specifics of traveling by air with your dog, you can read our column Dog Travel 101: How to Ship a Dog by Plane.It explains what you should do before, during, and after the flight to ensure your dog has the easiest travel experience possible. It also includes great advice about what pet documents and pet supplies you should bring with you on your flight.