Pet Travel Tips

Due to equipment size or other operational constraints, most airlines post at least some restrictions regarding pets.
 

Going Out Of Town? What About Your Pets?

Most people will plan out their vacations step by step, but how many think about what their going to do with Fido? If you're traveling out of state or out of the country, the very least stressful option for your pet is to find a good pet sitter in your area. But if you can't leave him behind, here are some tips for traveling with pets.

Summer Restrictions - May 15 through September 15

• Pets cannot be checked as baggage on Delta- and Aeromexico-operated flights.
• Pets may be shipped as cargo. See below for year-round temperature restrictions.

Year-round Restrictions
Most airlines will not accept animals as checked baggage or cargo during extreme weather if at any point during the animal's trip the temperature is forecast to be:

Exception:  pets are accepted to/from Anchorage, Alaska when temperatures are forecast below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

All airlines reserve the right to refuse live animals as checked baggage if the animal's health is in question and/or if the health of the animal may be jeopardized by extreme conditions.

Health Certificate
All airlines require a health certificate when shipping your pet as air cargo, but a few may not require a health certificate for carried on or checked pets, however, upon arrival, the certificate may be required by the state. For clarification, please call your veterinarian, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) at 800-545-8732, or the Department of Agriculture of the state to which you are traveling.

Certificate Contents
The certificate must be issued by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of transport. The certificate must contain:

• the shipper's name and address.
• any tag numbers or tattoos assigned to the animal.
• the age of the animal being shipped (USDA regulations require animals be at least 8 weeks old and fully weaned before traveling).
• a statement that the animal is in good health.
• a list of administered inoculations, when applicable.
• The signature of the veterinarian.
• The date of the certificate.

If the shipper knows that the pet is pregnant, it must be noted on the health certificate.

Acclimation Certificate
If your pet is traveling during winter months and is accustomed to low temperatures, you may be able to facilitate the journey by obtaining two copies of an acclimation certificate from your veterinarian. USDA regulations require that this certificate be issued no more than ten days before departure.

The acclimation certificate must contain:

• shipper's name and address
• any tag numbers or tattoos assigned to the animal
• a statement that the animal is acclimated to temperatures lower than 45 degrees F
• lowest temperature the animal may be exposed to, but not lower than 20 degrees F
• signature of the veterinarian
• date of the certificate

Temperature Restrictions
Throughout the year, the USDA has clear guidelines on temperature limits for animal shipments. Please review the Weather Restrictions at top left before making travel plans.

Additional Restrictions for Pug- or Snub-Nosed Dogs and Cats
Pug- or snub-nosed dogs and cats are not hot-weather animals and therefore do not thrive in warm temperatures. As a precaution, some airlines will not accept them as checked baggage or as air cargo if the temperature on any part of their trip exceeds 70 degrees F.

Live Animal Checklist/Confirmation of Feeding
When you check in your pet, you will be asked to complete a live animal checklist. When you sign this checklist, you are confirming that your pet has been offered food and water within four hours of check-in. On the checklist you must also give feeding and watering instructions for a 24-hour period. If in-transit feeding is necessary, you must provide food.

Tranquilizers
The use of pet tranquilizers at high altitudes is unpredictable. If you plan to sedate your pet, you must have written consent from the pet's veterinarian. This information must be attached to the kennel. Please keep in mind that airline agents cannot administer medication of any kind.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL WITH PETS

Foreign Government Requirements
Many foreign countries have strict regulations regarding international pet travel. To ensure smooth travel for your pet, you must comply with these regulations. Remember to make arrangements in advance and:

• Contact the embassy or consulate of the destination country to determine pet travel regulations.
• Obtain all necessary paperwork (such as health certificates and documentation) regarding your pet's travel.
• Contact your local veterinarian to ensure your pet in is compliance with foreign health regulations.

Pets Traveling to France
The following documents are required to ship a dog or cat to or through France:

• Documentation that the animal is identified by a tattoo or microchip.
• Valid rabies vaccination certificate. The animal must have an inactivated rabies vaccine and then be blood tested at least 30 days later by a licensed laboratory. Animals with a positive antibody value of at least 0.5ml/IU are eligible for import to France three months after receiving a positive antibody result.
• Health certificate translated in French (French Certificate Sanitaire) issued no more than 10 days before arrival of the pet into France.

These regulations require a minimum of four months preparation for the passenger or shipper to complete.

Pets Traveling to India
Some airlines will now accept any live animals as checked baggage or as carry-on to India call your local carrier for information.

Pets Traveling to the United Kingdom
Some airlines will not accept any live animals as checked baggage or as cargo to the United Kingdom call your local carrier for information.

Additional Restrictions
All international cargo shipments:

• Must be brought to the airline’s logistics facility at least four hours prior to departure.
• Require four hours transfer time from a domestic flight to an international flight. (Note: Live animal shipments for international transfers to other carriers are not accepted).
• Require kennels that have ventilation openings on three sides, in addition to the door opening.
• Must be documented on a typed international air waybill available from the airline’s logistics. If the air waybill must be typed at the Air Logistics facility, there will be an additional $10 fee.

Pets As Air Cargo
The following are some guidelines for those that must send their pets by air alone.

Health Issues
Animals accepted as cargo are placed in the same area as checked baggage. To ensure your pet is in the most comfortable environment make sure they are shipped on the morning and evening flights during the summer months, and on the midday flights during the winter periods. The environment must be temperature-controlled and pressurized.

Kennel Requirements
All animal kennels must meet government regulations for acceptable kennel size and type. Extra-large or giant kennels will not be accepted on some joint flights.

Types of Animals
Pet friendly airlines ship most types of animals and reptiles. However, live snakes or venomous reptile shipments will only be accepted from approved shippers and most will not ship any primates including:

• lemurs,
• monkeys,
• orangutans,
• gorillas,
• and chimpanzees.

Shipping Tips
The following are some shipping suggestions to help make your pets' trip as comfortable and convenient as possible.

• Make sure you have all the necessary documents.
• Make sure your animal is in the correct shipping container. Call your airline company if you have any questions.
• Familiarize your pet with the kennel to ease the stress of travel.
• Keep your pet as calm as possible prior to the flight. Take along a leash and collar for walking your pet prior to departure. DO NOT place the leash inside the kennel.
• Include identification tags with your home address and telephone number, as well as the address and phone number of the person receiving the animal at destination.
• Never ship a pet with a muzzle or choke collar. Both of these can be dangerous when an animal is alone.
• For cats, disposable litter boxes are available at pet supply shops and are easy to take along.

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