Summer and holiday seasons turn into USDA health certificate seasons at animal hospitals nationwide. If you are planning air travel with your pet, here are some things you need to know.

Dog travel

Graphic by MarVistaVet

Traveling Dog

Travel is stressful enough without having to worry about how the pet will fare in a carrier surrounded by noise and unfamiliar people. Horror stories abound. Still, most travel disasters stem from one of three issues (all of which are readily preventable). Do not open the carrier for a final petting or hug before travel as the pet can escape. Do not use a low-quality carrier that can open or break. Get your pet used to being inside the carrier before travel to minimize anxiety. Keep in mind that brachycephalic (short-faced) dog breeds may have difficulty breathing when agitated.

Proper planning makes for a fun excursion for every member of the family, even the furry ones.

Flying your Pet in the Cabin with you

• Most airlines allow pets weighing 15 lbs or less to fly in the cabin with their owners (this weight includes both the pet and the carrier). This also means the carrier must fit under the seat in front of you. Check with the airline about the carrier size and dimensions. Most airlines sell carriers or you can buy one from a pet supply store.
• Be sure to confirm with the airline the day before travel that your pet is coming with you.
• Remember that in most cases you will need a USDA health certificate. Check with the airline as to how many days before travel the certificate must be issued. The USDA considers a health certificate to be valid for 30 days, but many airlines and states have their own ideas about how long a health certificate should be valid and 10 days is typical for domestic travel. Some states require specific vaccinations. Travel to many foreign countries now requires special notarization of the certificate beyond the veterinarian’s signature and some countries require special blood tests for entry. Always be sure to check with the consulate regarding what you need.
• Some animals may be stressed or frightened by travel. Consider asking your veterinarian about anxiolytics (medication to reduce or prevent anxiety). If your pet is traveling in the cabin with you, you may just want to have some on hand in case of unexpected anxiety.
• Service animals (animals that have been specifically trained to assist someone with a disability) generally fly for free and do not have to be confined to a carrier but they do have to be leashed or harnessed. Paperwork is necessary to attest to the animal's training and temperament and rabies vaccination must be documented. Emotional support animals are not considered service animals as of December 2020 and are not allowed in the cabin as they have been previously.

(Editor's Note: Airline regulations regarding Emotional Support Animals are changing rapidly due to the number of incidents from false ESAs that disrupt passenger service, such as aggression, biting, elimination, barking, and so on. Be certain to check with your specific airline when you book the tickets and follow their requirements to the letter or your valid ESA may be turned away. Most require that you have the appropriate paperwork to them 48 hours before the flight.) 

Your Pet as Checked Luggage or Manifest Cargo

What if your pet is too big for cabin travel? You can have your pet travel as checked luggage or as manifest cargo. But what is the difference? In both situations, the pet travels in a pressure and temperature-controlled hold. It turns out that cargo is probably a better experience for your pet. Many airlines no longer allow pets to fly as checked luggage for reasons that will become obvious below.

Checked Luggage (could save money but probably not worth the reduced safety)

• Check-in happens at the main terminal.
• You must accompany your pet on the same flight. If you are not flying yourself, your pet will need to be in cargo. Checked luggage is not an option.
• Personnel are generally trained to handle luggage, not live animals.
• Charged as a flat fee rather than by weight which usually works out cheaper than cargo.
• Transport vehicles moving across tarmac are not required to be temperature controlled. Often these vehicles are open to the air and raw environmental temperature for unspecified periods

Manifest Cargo

• Check-in happens at the cargo entrance.
• Personnel are trained to handle live animals and their enclosures.
• Generally more expensive and charged by weight.
• Transport vehicles are temperature-controlled and protected from the environment.

Regardless of whether you choose cargo or checked luggage, each airline will have additional requirements and you will need to check with the specific airline to get most of these. For example, some airlines have maximum weight requirements. Be sure to check for any restrictions. Most states will not accept animals younger than 8 weeks of age. Such youngsters will not be allowed to travel by air. As of December 2020, airlines may not prohibit transport based on breed per se but they may have safety restrictions for brachycephalic breeds.

Most states will not accept animals younger than 8 weeks of age. Such youngsters will not be allowed to travel by air.

Guidelines for animal shipping are set by the International Air Travel Association (IATA). These include the size of the shipping container, how it must be marked, how it is ventilated, and how food and water should be made available. Read the guidelines. 

Consider implanting a microchip for any pet who travels.

According to the Animal Welfare Act, there are specific temperature guidelines to which airlines must adhere. Ambient temperatures in holding areas for cats and dogs must not fall below 45⁰F for more than 45 minutes when being moved to or from a holding area.

Animals transported in a carry-on are not protected under the Animal Welfare Act, so it is up to the person carrying them to see that they do not become too cold or overheated.

At present, Delta Airlines and United Airlines no longer accept animals as checked luggage. They must fly as cargo or in the cabin (if appropriate requirements for in-cabin travel are met). However, every airline has its own rules about pet travel, so check with your airline before you book tickets.

Helpful Links and Information

For Airline Requirements for Pet Travel By Airline

For USDA Regulations for Bringing a Pet to Another State or to a Foreign Country

For the AVMA Guidelines on travel with short-faced breeds

International Pet and Animal Transportation Association can help you find a pet relocation service.

For further Air Travel Tips including a guide to In-terminal Pet Relief Stations:

For general tips on traveling with pets. 

We wish easy travel and a pleasant journey to everyone transporting their pets.