Flying with your dog? Traveling with your dog in the cabin? Traveling with your dog in the hold? What documents do you need to take to fly with your dog? Which transport box to choose? Do not panic, I give you all my advice!

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Traveling by plane with your dog: possible or puzzle? If many of you prefer to travel by car with your dog; to discover distant destinations, there is no other choice than to take the whole family on board a plane!

I have therefore gathered several testimonials from Wouafer's who have gone by plane to discover the world with their dog so that they can help you take stock and plan or prepare for your future trip.

Find out how to travel peacefully by plane for your dog, how to prepare him, how to ensure his safety, how to relax him... We will also take stock of the regulations of the different airlines... These tips can prove to be invaluable on D-Day! So fasten your seatbelts, imminent takeoff…

 

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Traveling by Air with Bulldogs

2 years ago, Aurélie chose to change her life and move to Canada. She took her boyfriend and her two dogs on her adventure. 

As Aurélie admitted to us, finding a company that accepts dogs is a bit of a cross and a banner. So she went around the internet, she compared the different airlines and the different conditions of transport. To go to Montreal, she only found one company: Airtransat. According to her, it is the only one that accepts animals on its flights. Especially bulldogs. Aurélie is lucky to live with a little french bulldog and english bulldog. These types of dogs with squashed noses are rarely accepted on flights because they have respiratory problems and the companies do not want to take the risk of anything happening to your little companion and simply prohibit their trip on board.

After numerous calls to find out the price, reservation conditions, flight and animal transport, Aurélie was able to book her tickets and those of her dogs. Phew! Then she made sure her dogs would be on the same flight as her. His advice: book plane tickets for dogs well in advance because, depending on the flight, the number of dogs per plane may be limited! Despite his apprehension, it was impossible to back down, the great journey was beginning... 

With Airtransat, large dogs travel in the hold. However, it is spacious, pressurized, air-conditioned if necessary and even lit. So don't worry! For her trip, Aurélie had to invest in two transport cages for dogs to IATA standards. IATA standards are the legal standards for dog carriers. In particular, the dog must be able to stand up inside and be able to turn around if he wishes without any problem. To leave with peace of mind, Aurélie advises you to have the transport cages checked and validated by the airport a few days before departure! Prevention is better than cure 🙂

Traveling by plane: your dog's transport cage

How to get your dog used to the transport cage without trauma? Aurélie bought the transport cages for her dogs a few months before departure so that they had time to get used to them and above all to feel comfortable inside. 

At home, she replaced their baskets with 2 transport cages, putting their cuddly toys and plaids in them, borrowing their scent. Their crate then simply became their new basket, with the help of a few treats anyway… Their bowls also took place inside the transport cages. After a few days, the two dogs would go to rest in the cage on their own. Then, Aurélie started by closing it for a few seconds, then a few minutes… Each time rewarding the two dogs. A miracle method apparently since the two darlings got used to it in a few days without complaining! The next step was to put transport cages in the car with the dogs inside so that they associate the crate with something pleasant (walking, activity, outing…). Above all, you have to go gradually, so that the dogs feel absolutely no stress during their plane trip. 

A week before leaving by plane, Aurélie gave Rescue to her dogs. Who is it ? It's just a mix of Bach flowers which relaxes your dogs before a stressful or just unknown period like the plane. Speak with your veterinarian. Sleeping pills, on the other hand, are not recommended and can be the cause of serious accidents.

On the day of departure by plane, Aurélie preferred to feed her dogs very early to avoid any rejection. Added to that, a good walk before the 8 hour flight to relax the whole family. The two dogs entered the hold 1h30 before the flight. The flight attendants were very responsive, reassuring, and everything went well for both her dogs and her! 

Read the full article by Aurélie and her dogs → “Traveling with your dog in Canada"

Flying with your dog: focus on paper and regulations

Charlène is a dog lover who has created a blog dedicated to them, she has also visited many countries around the world to help dogs with local animal protection associations. I let her tell you more about air travel with a dog…

As Charlène says so well, air travel is not really fun for our dogs, especially for long-haul flights. It is therefore important to find out well in advance about the flight conditions offered by each company. Depending on the airlines, the size of dogs accepted in the cabin, the number of seats in the hold, or the number of dogs per passenger may vary. Generally the plane is also not recommended for several breeds of snub-nosed dogs because of their breathing difficulties. 

Dogs must also be equipped with a European passport to enter and leave the territory. He must be chipped and have an up-to-date vaccination record. Charlène also advises contacting the French Embassy before your trip to ensure the legislation concerning animals in your country of destination. In particular, it invites you to visit the site pettravel which will help you understand all the different regulations. Some destinations will ask you for a quarantine period, for example. You should therefore remember to establish and bring an international certificate of good health for your dog. It goes without saying, take all these certificates with you on the day of the flight.

Read Charlene's full article →“Go to the other side of the world with your dog"

 

Dog on a plane: long-haul trip

Claire made a long trip to Guyana with her dog. 6 months ! For their trip, they chose Air France…

Note that at Air France, dogs are accepted. Cats and dogs weighing more than 8 kg and a maximum of 75 kg must travel in the aircraft hold. Carriage is limited to a maximum of 3 animals per passenger. Please note that this number may be limited depending on the type of aircraft. It is therefore recommended to indicate that you are carrying a dog in the hold when booking your ticket to be sure that it will have space on the same flight as you.

Note that the transport of snub-nosed dogs (such as dogs carlin, Boxers, bulldogs, shih-tsu or the persian cats or burmeses) is prohibited in the hold on flights operated by Air France.

Other transport rules to know when traveling by plane with your dog: 

  • Your pet must be at least 10 weeks old and have their vaccinations up to date. 

  • You must respect the conditions of carriage indicated in the form “Conditions for transporting a dog or cat in the hold” :. size of the box, materials, type of closure, etc. On Air France flights, only the shell boxes, rigid plastic or fiberglass, closed with bolts and IATA (International Air Transport Association) approved are accepted. In the event of non-compliance with the instructions set out in this document, your pet will be refused boarding the aircraft. 

  • You must print and present the “Conditions for transporting a dog or cat in the hold” form at the airport.

Take a look here for even more information about Air France. 

 

The day of travel: 

  • You must go to the check-in counter: 3 hours before the departure of an intercontinental flight, or 2 hours before a flight in France or Europe.

  • In case of connection, make sure you have more than 2 hours between your 2 flights. Indeed, you can only register your animal on your 1st flight. During your connection, you must therefore have the necessary time to collect your luggage and your animal, then re-check them in on your onward flight. Make sure you have all the documents required by the authorities of the country in which your flight stops: you must go through the police formalities before boarding your connecting flight.

  • During the flight, the captain is informed of the presence in the hold of your dog and takes all the necessary measures for it to travel comfortably in the plane (lighting, heating, etc.).

 

For her dog's suitcase Claire chose to take a bowl, her stuffed unicorns, her little sneakers (her running shoes to protect her pads), her pulling harness et his harness to make canicross, his passport, his deworming treatment for 6 months, a medal, a new collar and leash.  A muzzle in case it is compulsory in Guyana for dogs. 

Read the full article of Claire and her dog → “Holidays in Guyana with my dog” 

 

Dog - plane: the essentials to remember to prepare for your flight

I would like to thank our 3 Wouafer's for all this valuable information for traveling by plane with your dog. I am going to add a few that seem essential to me and give you a little recap of everything you need to remember to prepare for your flight and transfer to the airport: 

  • Remember to check with the company in question the size of the dogs accepted in the cabin. 

  • Also remember to find out about the prices charged and compare them. They can vary greatly from one company to another. 

  • Ask your airline which dog breeds are accepted on flights. 

  • Make sure that the transport cage for the plane complies with the expectations of the company and the legislation in force. 

  • If your dog is nervous, aggressive or stressed by nature, ask your veterinarian for advice on prescribing a possible tranquilizer. 

  • You can take out insurance for your dog, check with your company. 

  • Check in with your veterinarian before the trip to check on your dog's health and make sure everything will be fine for him. 

  • Remember to leave time at the airport to take your dog out before final boarding. Don't arrive late, stressed, in a hurry… your pet will feel it and you will increase its stress level. A walk before a few hours in a cage will do him the greatest good. And also plan some time on landing so you can walk it around a bit too. He will most certainly want to relax his paws!

  • Do not forget to take into account the legislation in force concerning dogs in your country of destination (quarantine, vaccines, parasites, etc.)

  • Finally, remember to always call your airline well before the day of departure to settle all the administrative formalities, make sure that your dog can be taken care of on the flight and above all ask for the specifics of the airline. 

Each company has specific regulations and very precise flight rules. To ensure that your plane trip with your dog happens in the best conditions and without stress, your 2 best allies will be your phone and above all your anticipation 😉 

Even if all this information may scare you, flying with a dog is not that complicated, you just need to be organized, anticipate all the parameters mentioned and prepare your dog for the trip in advance. For example, use Aurélie's tips 😉 

I hope this article has helped you in planning your air travel with your dog. To learn even more about air travel with your dog, discover the articles “Traveling with your dog by plane – instructions" And "Flying with your dog: testimonials and travelers" 

Last thing: do you like traveling with your dog? Take a look at these articles: “Take the train with your dog","Traveling by car with your dog"And"Going on vacation with your dog in a converted van”. Psssssst: other articles are coming very soon on the Mag' of EmmèneTonChien.com ! Stay connected and listen and listen! 

 In the meantime, for more info, holiday advice and dog-friendly tips, follow EmmèneTonChien.com on our facebook page et our Instagram account.