  Air Travel With Companion Animals |
Kind Planet Helps You Plan For Air Travel With CompanionsOkay, you've checked out Travel Tips, gotten all necessary Vaccinations, cleared all of the particulars with the hotel or motel you'll be staying at, (regarding special fees and or restrictions placed on bringing your Companion with you), and now it's time to get ready to fly. The first thing to check on is any restrictions or requirements your airline imposes on traveling Animals. What's left?If your Companion is small enough to fit in a carrier that will fit under the seat, you won't be seperated. If the dear one is larger than that, s/he can go in the cargo area. We highly advice against this. Animals have been known to be suffocated by being placed under baggage, frozen to death, and exposed to extreme heat inducing heat stroke. Approximately five thousand of the five hundred thousand Animals that travel yearly in cargo areas do not make it. Check you Airlines track record and talk to the baggage handlers. You'll want to book your flight for a non peak time, so as to avert long delays in take off. You may also want to double check your Airlines track record in regards to delays. While you're sitting in the cabin, your Companion could be extremely overheated in the cargo area. Traveling during non peak times also gives you the luxury of a more responsive airport staff, who will be more willing to talk to you, assist you with any questions or last minute problems should they arise. Once you are on the plane, communication with airline staff is still important. Ask your stewardess to confirm with the baggage people that your loved one is on the plane. Do not accept, "I'm sure everything's fine," or any other patronizing answer. Make sure s/he checks. You don't want to be in Los Angeles and find your Dog is in Miami. Non stop flights help to insure against these kind of baggage problems. In addition to the medical insurance we discussed in Travel Tips, air travel may warrent Liability Insurance in case of any medical emergencies created by the airline. As sad as it sounds, your Companion is considered baggage and airlines limit the amount of liability they accept responsibility for. Tranquilizing animals who are flying is not a good idea as the medication can cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems when the Animal is at high altitudes. Put a familiar scented towel or blanket in the carrier that your Companion will be traveling in. The carrier should be large enough for your Companion to turn around in as well as lie down in comfort. It should be well venilated with side protrusions that will prevent items being placed on the sides of it from blocking air flow. Standard carriers sold at most petstores meet these requirements. Mark the carrier with "Live Animal," arrows indicating upright position and all of the standard address, phone number identification as well as information regarding your destination. Make sure identification tags are in place on her/his collar. Putting your Dog's name on the crate will perhaps illicit a friendly "Hi Spot! from a baggage handler. Allow time to walk your Dog before placing her/him in the crate. Do not feed her/him for at least eight hours prior to taking off. In case all of this has disuaded you from taking your Companion Animal on a plane ride, check out Petsitter's Tips and the printable Petsitters Checklist Travel Travel Tips Traveler's Checklist Camping Tips Petsitter Tips Petsitters Checklist |
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