Flying with your dog? Which airline accepts dogs? Which crate to choose to fly with your dog? All our tips!

Table of contents

Are you going on vacation abroad and the only way to get there is by plane? Fly away with your dog. Yes yes, fly with your dog it's possible, but for his trip – and yours – to go well, it is important to prepare him well. I present to you here the 5 key stages of a successful plane flight with your dog. 

I have never flown with my dog… This is why I preferred to interview 4 members of the community so that they can help you best prepare for your trip by plane with your dog, and especially to enjoy a more serene flight. They tell us: 1/ how they chose their airline, 2/ book a plane ticket for their dog, 3/ their arrival at the airport until their dog was picked up, 4/ their flight and to finish 5/ the landing until the recovery of their dog

 

Sandaya 54 high-end and dog-friendly campsites

Choosing an airline to fly with your dog

Not all airlines accept dogs on board their planes, whether in the hold or in the cabin. This is why you must imperatively check the regulations of the company you have chosen to validate your trip with your dog. You will need to check that your dog, depending on its size and breed, will have the right to travel on this company. Depending on his size, he may have the right to travel in the cabin, but this "luxury" is only reserved for small dogs...

Some companies do not accept bulldog type dogs; who have crushed noses, because of their chronic breathing problems and the significant danger that this type of trip represents for them.

Once this first step has been validated, all you have to do is buy the ticket for your dog. No question of arriving at the airport with your dog without informing the crew! Very often, companies have a dog quota per flight. Also, your dog may not be able to board your plane and board the next flight…. To avoid these problems, reserve his ticket for him and notify the company. 

How much does a dog plane ticket cost? Giving you an exact price is not possible because each airline freely applies its standards and prices. In general, the cost of the plane ticket for your dog is determined according to its weight, its size, your destination and whether it is in the cabin or in the hold. Only accompanying dogs can travel free of charge in the cabin: happy again! 

Here are some airlines that accept dogs. Please note this list is not exhaustive and, although I try to update it regularly, some companies may change their rules in the meantime. I invite you to check with each: 

Always favor direct flights because stopovers can be stressful for you, as well as for your dog. And if you change company between the two flights, the conditions can be totally different, your dog could be refused halfway... The catamaran! 

Also find out about the possible quarantine of your dog after landing… This could disrupt your schedule and generate an additional cost.

Transport crate or transport bag for your dog?

Depending on its size, your dog will have the right to accompany you in the cabin or it will have to travel in the hold. Only small dogs have the privilege of flying with their master in the cabin. Musher, my Labrador, would be sent directly to the hold… I can't imagine leaving Musher, alone, in a place I've never seen, cared for by people I don't know and without the possibility of reassuring her. and/or to reassure me… What anguish!

Whether your dog travels in the hold or in the cabin with you, he will have to travel locked up. If he is authorized to travel with you, he will be able to travel in an IATA standard transport bag.

If your dog can travel in the hold, you will need to invest in a transport crate that meets IATA standards. The choice of transport crate is important, do not jump on the first approved crate you find. For the comfort of your dog, choose a crate that is large enough. Your dog must be able to stand, sit and lie down, and be able to turn around completely for his comfort. Think that he will surely stay a few hours confined in this small space. Your dog's transport crate must be ventilated and solid in order to withstand any possible falls or crushing during handling on the tarmac or in the plane. Remember to label his crate with your contact details, your destination and the identification of your dog and in particular with his chip number.

Flying with your dog - EmmèneTonChien.com.png

Be aware that your dog will not be able to get out of his crate or carrying bag throughout the flight... It is therefore vital to teach your dog to familiarize himself with this new accessory. If he does not know this accessory, there is a good chance that he will feel trapped there and that it will add a dose to the potential stress generated by this flight. Sara, for example, accustomed her dog, a few months in advance, to staying in her transport bag, traveling by car and scooter (for the loud engine noises and vibrations). As a result, it turns out that his dog loves his bag, he feels so comfortable in it that he spends the whole flight sleeping. 

Some transport bags to IATA standards: 

 

Some transport boxes to IATA standards: 

At the airport with his dog

Before leaving, make sure you have all your dog's papers in your possession: health book, passport, boarding pass... and that you have taken everything necessary for your dog and his comfort before, during and after the trip. flight. 

The very first precaution to take is to arrive early so that you can walk around and have your dog relieved before the big departure. And if you are early, you are zen and you do not transmit your stress to your dog. I remind you here that our little animals are emotional sponges. If you're stressed about the flight, so will it be. Get ahead and avoid that unnecessary layer of stress! Some airports, such as Lyon, have some very useful green spaces in front of their entrance. Attention, I remind you here that you must of course pick up the “souvenirs” of your dog, W'ouf course! If every master leaves their dog's poop, it ends up making a super dirty place for everyone. So a little civility and hop we pick up!

Flying with your dog - instructions - EmmèneTonChien.com_1.png

Once ready, head to the airline counter to check in. If your dog is traveling in the cabin, it will be checked in directly at the counter. The officers will put your dog in his bag and on the mat in order to weigh him. Once the weight control has been carried out, you can take your dog back on a leash, and take advantage of the waiting time to take him out before boarding. If your dog is traveling in the hold, it must be registered at the counter dedicated to “non-standard” baggage, before or after your check-in. Officers will weigh the full and then empty crate. Labels will be attached to the crate to facilitate its identification. And this is where your paths diverge until you land… it's heartbreaking… You have to leave your dog with the airport staff. Your dog will wait in a warehouse with the luggage until loading time.

The flight: our advice for a serene flight

And here we go… the plane takes off… imminent takeoff! How will your dog react? Think your dog may be stress, like you, which is why you absolutely have to make sure that the trip goes as well as possible for him.

Here is a list of some tips: 

  • A few days before, make an appointment with your veterinarian to take stock of his health. He can advise you on medication against motion sickness or even medication to relax him during the flight or a cure of Bach flowers to do before / after the flight to help him better manage this stressful situation.

  • The day before, plan a long relaxing walk to tire your dog out so that he will rather want to sleep during the whole trip.

  •  Let him do his business before boarding. No anxiety-provoking speech: do not show him that you are stressed. Our animals are emotional sponges. Your dog will sense immediately that something fishy is going on and that there is danger. It's counterproductive!

  • Do not feed him before the flight, he may feel nauseous or relieve himself in his box or transport bag.

  • If your dog is in the hold, write his name on his transport crate at the IATA standards, so the staff can comfort him by name. And this is essential in the event of problems with the transport of the cash register...

  • In the hold, think that your dog is all alone… Put his comforter and a t-shirt with your scent in his crate, to reassure him. Remember to add a blanket on the bottom of the crate for its comfort. The bottom of the boxes is often very slippery for our doggies, he will appreciate a cover that will give him a little grip. !! Attention danger !! if your dog shreds everything you usually give him, then avoid putting anything in his crate. You won't be able to control what he ingests and it can be very dangerous. 

On landing

On landing, it's deliverance, or almost… When getting off the plane, if your dog was not in the cabin with you, you will have to wait at the "non-standard" baggage counter. Note that in small airports, pets are to be collected from the same place as conventional baggage. 

When you return to a foreign country, you must mention that you have an animal with you. 

Then, obligatory passage through customs, in order to fill out some regulatory papers, check the dog's papers and in particular if his vaccines are up to date, his passport... and check the health status of your dog. Depending on the country, you may be asked to pay a tax. 

If you are in good standing, you will FINALLY be free! But in case of irregularities, your dog risks being quarantined. It is therefore essential to be well informed about the regulations imposed by your destination. For example, in France, for your dog to pass customs successfully, it must be identified, vaccinated against rabies and accompanied by a serum anti-rabies titration for more than three months.

When leaving the airport, plan some time to relax with your dog. Don't lock him in your car for a 4 hour drive. Let him come to his senses. The flight may have been difficult for him. It could also be that he was sick and he deserves a good shower…