Worldwide Pet Relocation Services

Airline travel is safe for pets that are healthy and consulted by their veterinarian to be fit-to-fly. According to DoT statistics, 26 animals suffered fatalities while being transported on planes in 2016, a rate of 0.5 per 10,000 animals transported.

Most airlines require pets to travel as manifest cargo i.e. in the hold of the plane. The terminology conjures up images of treating them as mere luggage but this is not the case. Every pet flies in an oxygenated, temperature-controlled, and pressurized environment, just like in the normal passenger cabin. International Air Transport Association - Live Animals Regulations are the leading standards for transporting pets on commercial airlines, and their main objective is to ensure that all pets are carried safely and humanely by air. These regulations include up-to-date airline and government rules about the transport of live pets, requirements on marking & labeling, handling, information on the necessary documentation needed when carrying live pets, and comprehensive classification of thousands of pets species along with the container specifications required for their travel. Some airlines will allow some pets to travel in the normal passenger cabin, but rules vary widely between airlines and destinations.

Sedation can be dangerous for any pet traveling by air, due to the increased effects at altitude. The Veterinary Medical Association recommends that pets should not be tranquilized for air travel because it can increase respiratory risks and heart problems. Most airlines require you to declare that your pet has not been sedated prior to travel.

Most airlines have policies to ensure your pet travels when temperature conditions are safest and best suited for pets. All pets including snub-nosed pets travel better when temperatures are at or below 24℃ or 75℉. However, we understand that this is not always going to be possible in some climates. Some precautions airline takes is transporting your pet in the early morning or late evening when the temperature conditions are lower.

Acclimatize your pet to their sky kennel several weeks before relocating. This approach is to help minimize any anxiety or stress your pet might feel on the day of travel.

Take your pet to ThePetNest veterinarian a week before travel for a clean bill of health.

Confine your pet in a single room or small area of your house for several days after arrival with his toys and familiar bedding.

Avoiding exercise, over-feeding, and rapid water intake when your pet arrives home is essential because it can lead to health issues like tummy upsets and bloat, especially in deep-chested dog breeds.