Traveling with your pet PART 10

When a pet travels as accompanied baggage, it is unlikely that one airline can check an animal through from its own system to the final destination served by another airline. Since each airline is responsible for the animals it accepts, airline agents will need to inspect the animal at the time of check-in. Therefore, when you are on a trip involving more than one airline, you will need to claim your pet at the connecting stop where you change airlines and check in Fido with the agents at the new airline. But be sure to plan adequate time for this transfer, by not booking back-to-back flights which does not factor in delays.

However, when your pet travels in the cargo system, an interline transfer is possible. Animals routed via more than one airline in the air cargo system will be transferred from one airline to the next. It is important to recognize the need to schedule adequate time for transfers between aircrafts. Be sure to consult the airlines involved, since you need to make advance arrangements with the connecting airline. The minimum transfer times for cargo vary by airport and sometimes by airline, so do take note.

Some helpful tips to consider:

1. Carry a leash or harness with you on a trip so that you may walk your pet before check-in and after arrival. (Do not keep the leash with the animal, either inside or attached to the outside of the kennel.)

2. Do not take your pet out of its kennel inside the airport. In keeping with airport regulations and out of courtesy for other passengers, you should let your pet out only after you leave the terminal building.

3. Clearly mark the kennel with your pet’s name, your name, contact details and the name and contact number of the person at the destination who can be contacted about your pet.  This is especially important if you are sending your pet unaccompanied through the cargo system, because you will not be at the airport to claim him/her upon arrival. It saves a lot of trouble to enlist a pet travel service to handle an unaccompanied pet, since these services manage pick-up and deliver and can advise on quarantine requirements for international travel. If your animal is traveling in the cargo system, remember that after arriving at their destination, there is a processing period for cargo, which may vary by airline and airport. If you have questions, be sure to contact your airline.

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Traveling with your pet PART 9

If you are residing in USA and need to fly to a foreign country or Hawaii, be sure to find out whether there are quarantine or other health requirements at the destination. For example, rules in the United Kingdom are very strict. It is essential to comply with such requirements and sometimes it requires attention as much as 6 months prior to travel.

No airline will guarantee acceptance of a pet it has not seen. This is to protect both the animal and the airline. Since an airline cannot transport an animal that is violent or dangerous, important considerations for acceptance of animals include health and disposition of the animal. A health certificate from your veterinarian will help to minimize questions.
USDA requires that your pet be offered food and water within four hours before check-in with the airline. Do not overfeed your pet at this time. Just like in the case of a person, a full stomach is not good for a traveling pet. When you check in with the airline, you must certify with a signature the time when your pet was last offered food and water. (Do not leave food or water in the dish in the kennel; it will only spill and make travel unpleasant for your pet.)

Get to the airport with plenty of time to spare so that there will be no rush. If your pet is traveling as excess baggage or by the special expedited delivery service, check-in will usually be at the passenger terminal. If you are sending your pet through the cargo system, you will need to go to the air freight terminal, which is located in a separate part of the airport. Be sure to check with your airline for the acceptance cutoff time for your flight. It is important to note that by regulation, an animal may be tendered no more than four hours before a flight time (six hours by special arrangement).

Finally, airlines must assure that facilities are able to handle animals at the airports of transfer or final destination. USDA has set clear guidelines on allowable temperature limits for animal-holding areas, which airlines must obey. For more information contact USDA or speak to your airline. Being prepared and informed is crucial in ensuring that your fluffy companion travels safely and comfortably.

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Traveling with your pet PART 7

When booking your trip, be sure to call the reservations number of the airline and tell them that you will be traveling with an animal. Be sure to reconfirm with the airline 24-48 hours before departure that you will be bringing an animal. If you are shipping your pet as cargo and will be accompanying your pet on the same flight, notice of 24-48 hours should also be given to the airline. This is important, since each airplane can transport only a limited number of animals.

If you are unable to accompany your pet, you need to contact the cargo department of the airline to make arrangements for it’s transport

Please note that advance arrangements do not guarantee that your pet will travel on a specific flight. To be as humane as possible, airlines reserve the right to refuse to handle an animal for such reasons as illness or poor kenneling of the animal, or extreme temperatures at origin, transfer or destination airports.

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Traveling with your pet PART 6

When traveling with your four-legged companion, ensure that you do the following:

1. Clearly display your name and address;

2. Use arrows or other markings indicating the top of the kennel

3. Include food and water dishes (both empty) secured inside the kennel and accessible from outside

4. Show a food and water schedule and, if any food is necessary, include an ample supply in a bag attached to the outside of the kennel

5. Contain no more than one adult dog or cat; or no more than two puppies or kittens, younger  than six months and under 20lbs. each

6. Contain absorbent material or bedding

7. Display labels on top and on at least one side with the words LIVE ANIMALS printed in 1-inch high letters.

At the end of the day, befriend the airline staff and ask them to assist you in making your fluffy friend’s journey as stress free as possible.

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Traveling with your pet PART 5

Ensure that you have the right size crate before you and your fluffy companion embark on your trip. You and the airline must follow IATA regulations on the size of crate for your pet. The crate must be sturdy, properly ventilated and large enough that the animal may freely stand, turn around, and lie down. Remember, the journey is often at the very least 3 hours long, and not being able to move during this time is inhumane, so ensure your four-legged companion travels in as much comfort as possible.

The kennel you select must close securely with a mechanism that requires no special tools to operate. IATA compliant pet cargo crates are available in 7 sizes. Remember to check with the airline when in doubt, because the USDA assigns full responsibility for accepting the proper kennel to the airline. Crates must be provided with spacers to ensure ventilation openings are not blocked by adjoining kennels or cargo.

Get your pet familiar with his / her crate. As far in advance of the trip as possible, let your pet get to know the crate so that it is not perceived negatively when the time comes for him/her to travel in it. Veterinarians recommend leaving it open in the house with an old sock or other familiar object inside, so that your pet will spend time in the kennel. Start with just the bottom half of the kennel available to your pet.

As they become accustomed to being inside, assemble the top half and leave the door open. It is important for your dog or cat to be as relaxed as possible during the flight and getting your pet accustomed to the crate they will be traveling in, is crucial in making that happen.

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