Flying with Dogs

Emergency Card from Rhoda Ezell. You need acrobat reader to view and print this card which can be attached to crates to be used in case of an emergency. If you don't have acrobat reader it can be downloaded for free at: Acrobat.

United Airlines Pet Embargo Extended United announced on August 16th that it is extending its pet embargo indefinitely on all domestic and international flights. Will the other airlines follow suit? Link to AKC's web page with all the details, also lists contacts and sample letters to send to the airlines.

Been reading some of the pieces on Flying with Dog in Cabin. How rules vary from airline to airline, agent to agent. I work for an airline at the airport and can say from experience that this is absolutely true. Actually, it's not the rules that change, it is how they are interpreted.

Re: the health certificate, when I first started working at the ticket counter (check-in) I was trained that all dogs flying HAD to have a health certificate. So I used to diligently ask for the health certificate every time someone checked in with a dog. After a couple of years and some experience, I delved into this rule further, and found that, at least for my airline, the health certificate is an FAA thing. The airline wants it to prove that you had a healthy dog before flying and that your vet approved the animal for flying, in case anything happens. The only time you would be fined is if the FAA asked you for your health certificate when you claimed your dog in baggage claim. Now how many times is that going to happen? They usually have better things to do. I asked my supervisor if I could deny someone flying if they did not have a health certificate and the answer was "no".

Now this does vary depending on what type of traveling you would be doing. International you have to go through customs, so would need one there. Although I did travel with a dog to Denmark and over there you are lucky if there is a customs agent around to check your passport. We just waltzed right through "nothing to declare" with the dog on a leash without so much
as a look. (very dog friendly country).

Also there are some places in Alaska that require a certificate of Parvo vaccination since sled dogs are very important up there and they don't want Parvo brought in.

And certain states may have their own various rules on the vaccination issue; some stricter than others.

As for every agent being different? Yes, there are a lot of inexperienced agents and also those that just don't know about dogs, or care. I was working next to a new agent once when she was asked by an elderly couple if their little Muffy would be okay traveling down in the hold of the aircraft. The agent said, "oh yes, they put the dogs in the hold near the engines so that they will keep warm from the heat of the engines." She said this very seriously (and it made the little old couple happy to know Muffy would be warm). I don't know if she thought this was true or just being creative. (the engines are on the wing) Fortunately she did not pass probation.

Well, I guess I am rambling. What I am trying to say is that there are good agents and bad, those that care about dogs and those that just don't understand how much they mean to us.

Knowing all this, when I travel with my dogs, I get a health certificate. Roberta

It seems to be more the airport than the airline. I've recently traveled on Delta, United and American through Sacramento IAP, DFW, Houston, and Salt Lake City with Heather in her Sherpa bag (already in at check-in) and was never questioned Even thought he is 13" and shorter than yours, she still touches the top of her Sherpa bag. Usually one way to avoid trouble at the airport is to prepay for the dog either at the city airline ticket office or go out to the airport days ahead and prepay. Then do curbside
checkin and bypass the inside counter altogether. The gate people are generally too busy to do anything other and ask if you have a receipt as you board. Kathie Leggett

Driving gives one more control of the conditions of travel. But 12 hours on the road may be MORE stressful than a 2-3 hour direct airline flight and flying may be the most reasonable way of traveling. Here's some tips:

1. Pick a reputable airline Fly from a major city to a major city (with possibly some driving at either end) to keep travel to a direct, non-stop flight. Also, be willing to adjust your time and schedule to give your dog the advantage of the best possible flight.
2. Making reservations. If you have always used a travel agent, consider whether that person is well aware of your dog's importance (it's the reason you're even traveling!) to the planning. If there isn't that reassurance, make your own plans with the airlines directly. It's easy to do, and the airline reservationist can probably answer all the questions you want to ask. After you decide on the best flight you are going to take, and remember to reserve a place for your dog, you should find out: a) what type of plane you will be flying on, and the cargo size. Ask if the cargo compartment on that plane is heated or not. Remember that no matter what the ground temperature is at either end of your travel, up 30,000 feet the temperature can be 45 degrees or less. Practically all the main cargo areas are heated, and the temperature is kept at 65 degrees once up in the air. But ask, so you know what your dog is experiencing. b) ask if any other dogs will be on the flight. There is a limit to the number of dogs allowed on each flight, and it varies by the size of the plane and the sizes of the dogs traveling. c) realize that your dog can be bumped from a flight if a corpse is being transported (health reasons). d) check with airlines what records are required for travel; usually a Health Certificate is required. e) for seat assignment, ask to sit up front as close as possible, so that you can be one of the first ones down to the baggage claim area. At some airports, dogs are unloaded first, and make it to the baggage area quickly. f) if where you're going to or traveling from may have temperature concerns, schedule morning or evening flights. Also, try to travel at less busy times; mid-morning, instead of first thing when a lot of business people are traveling. Early evening (if hot, any time after 5 may be ok, but again think of prime travel time.
3. Preparations. Use a high quality, sturdy, airline approved crate. The size should fit the size of the dog; don't buy or borrow a crate too big or too small. Too small means the dog cannot stand up in the crate (also a requirement by the FAA); too large can cause injury to your dog if there is too much room should the crate not be handled carefully and the dog is jostled within the crate. Use an appropriate size Vari-Kennel. Also travel with a separate heavy duty set of wheels, which are loaded with the dog, and most times the dog and wheels come back out together. The set of wheels are not considered a piece of luggage, but as part of the dog's travel equipment. Have a thermal reflective sheet folded and taped on the entire top of the crate to reflect heat, in case dog is left out in the sun for any amount of time. Decorate or stripe the crate to distinguish your crate from others.
4. Prior to traveling. If your dog has not used an airline crate before, set it up at home and let him sleep in it occasionally. If your dog is very sensitive to being "left", put an article of your clothing in it, with his blanket or pad, and when you leave the house on short errands, close the dog in the crate and let him get use to being "enclosed" by himself. If your dog is sound sensitive, realize airline engines are very loud. Sound sensitize your dog before your trip too. There are tapes, or make one of your own at an airport, of the loud noises. Also, make sure your dog's shots are up to date, and obtain a HEALTH CERTIFICATE for travel. Get the heath certificate from your vet (usually a fee of $10-25) as close to travel time as possible; it has a time limit.
5. Watch the weather report. Know that the temperature regulations for flying a dog is 10 degrees minimum and 85 degrees maximum, at both cities, at the time of check in (one hour before the flight, usually). They won't fly your dog over or under these extremes. Have in your mind an alternate plan should this happen. Will you allow the airlines to fly your dog without you on a later flight? Be mentally prepared to take another flight if your dog has to or don't go at all.
6. The day of flying. Get to the airport in of time; one and a half hours early is plenty. You will check in at the main ticket counter, because you have to purchase your dog's ticket then (no pre-purchasing for dog). Your dog is considered "excess baggage", and it is easier if you buy for both flights at once; saves trouble of having to do it a second time. Some people will keep a water dish attached inside the crate door. The problem with that, unless you freeze the water, is that it will usually splash out before your dog is boarded. Instead, carry a small water dish, a bottle of water, and leash in your carry on bag; ss soon as you get to your dog, open the crate, scream "hello" back, and have water in a dish ready immediately. When it's time for your dog to be loaded to be taken down to the plane, don't let them take him down too early. If they insist, ask where and how the dogs are kept before they're loaded. Sometimes there are air-conditioned (or heated) "hold" rooms. Sometimes they might be left outside; KNOW WHAT THAT AIRPORT DOES WITH THE DOGS before loading time. As soon as you leave your dog (and a kind "please take care of my dog" doesn't hurt) head for the gate you're leaving from. Find the side of the plane the luggage is loaded on, and watch for your dog to be loaded. If they start loading the plane, and you haven't seen your dog loaded yet, tell the gate person you're waiting a few minutes to make sure your dog is loaded first. If you board the plane first, tell one of the stewardesses up front you're waiting for confirmation. Keep on top of things, so that BOTH of you are on the same flight. DON'T ASSUME ANYTHING!
7. Landing. Get to the baggage area as soon as possible. Ask where the "OVERSIZE" baggage is brought; it's different than where the luggage is. Forget your luggage for now- it will just keep going around on the conveyer belt. Stick to the "oversize" area, and if the luggage has started to show up, start asking where the dogs are. As soon as they bring the crate through the door, pull it off to the side, have your leash ready, then say "HELLO!" Overexcitement is very common- just sit there and be licked like crazy- it's normal. Have water available, once your dog settles down. After those first moments of reuniting, go outside. Then go find your luggage, and take off to the trial. Another tip; if you're renting a car, have a sheet in your carry on bag that can protect the car seats- be courteous and conscientious!
8. If connecting flights: If the time in between flights is more than 75-90 minutes, consider pulling your dog off. Go to the "oversize" baggage area; there's usually a counter around with someone to speak to. Give them the flight # you just arrived on, and tell them you want to pull your dog off for a few minutes. Be firm and insistent, and pleasant about it. Ask when they need the dog back to load on the next flight. Follow the same procedure you did on the first flight to make sure your dog is loaded.

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