Shipping Pets By Airlines
There are many important rules and regulations that you should be aware of for pet travel on airlines. It is possible to ship a wide variety of animals by plane such as cats, dogs, birds and even ferrets. However, when shipping pets by air, whether in the cabin or as cargo, it is important that you follow the various rules and regulations that were developed by the IATA. Most of the airline companies in the world abide by these rules so there will be only a few cases where they must not be adhered to. The following will provide you with a few examples of these rules for pet travel on airlines.
So, what should you do if you want to travel with pet and are planning on keeping your pets on board in the cabin? The good news is that if you are going to be flying on a flight that is 6 hours long or less most airlines will allow you to do so. However, this is not an international policy and some countries, such as the UK, do not abide by it. In most cases you will be limited to taking a maximum of a single animal per passenger and a maximum of two pets per cabin. There is also a limit on the size of the cage as it must be able to fit under the seat of front of you and it also has to have a bottom that is resistant to water.
If this does not sound like the right solution for you, there are also cases where pet travel on airlines can be done as cargo. However, keep in mind that most passenger planes do not allow this so you and your pet will have to travel separately. There is a list of special provisions that the airlines must follow when doing so. For one thing, they must agree that your pet will be stored in a special compartment of the plane separate from the other baggage that is climate controlled. You must purchase an Acclimation Certificate that will basically say that your animal is physically able to make the trip.
When having your pet travel as cargo you should purchase a special container that is certified by IATA that is safe for air travel. This container must have enough room for the pet to move around freely and must be built of a sturdy plastic. A good company that deals in these containers is Kennel Aire. If you are looking for the best pet travel airline you may want to look into Pet Airways. They specialize exclusively in pet travel on airlines so you can trust that they have the experience necessary to keep your pet safe while in the sky. They even have an online feature that allows you to track your pet.
