Picture this: You’ve just landed in a new city, ready to experience everything it has to offer both you and your canine friend, who right there by your side, is eager and ready to explore this new place and all the smells it has to offer. In many ways, flying with your dog can transform an otherwise regular trip into a memorable adventure with your best friend.
Mikojet knows first-hand how doggie air travel can be overwhelming, especially for first-time flyers, — but a little preparation can go a long way. From travelling in cargo vs. in cabin to preparing your furry friend for air travel, the decision to fly with a dog is not as simple as packing their leash and favourite toy. When done right, however, there are few better feelings than having your furry companion by your side while chartering new territory together.
Whether that means arriving at the airport early or familiarizing yourself with calming and soothing techniques, there are a number of ways pet parents can make the journey a seamless one for their best friend. This guide will help demystify flying with your dog in cabin, offering day-of travel tips, as well as equip you with all the information you need to know before flying with your dog.
Flying with a Dog in Cabin: Day-of Travel Tips
From notifying airline personnel beforehand to regularly monitoring your dog’s food
and hydration levels, there are a number of ways to ensure your furry friend’s comfort and safety when flying with your dog in cabin.
Get to the airport early
When flying with a dog in cabin, it is always recommended to get to the airport as early as possible. Put simply, pet parents should arrive at the airport up to three hours before their departure, giving airline personnel ample time to make the necessary accommodations. Pet-related check-ins and security procedures typically take longer when accompanied by your dog and should all be accounted for.
Arriving at the airport early ultimately allows you to familiarize yourself with pet-relief areas, ensuring your dog can take a final bathroom break before boarding. These pet-friendly areas also help your dog to socialize with fellow pets, reducing pre-flight anxiety and nervousness.
Final Bathroom Break
A final bathroom break as close as possible to boarding is among the most effective ways to ensure your dog’s comfort throughout your journey, particularly over longer flights. Ideally, most veterinarians recommend taking your dog on a long walk before heading to the airport, giving them one last chance to relieve themselves before arriving.
Every airport also comes equipped with a few pet-friendly relief areas every pet parent should be familiar with. Before boarding, however, it is always a good idea to inform yourself of the airline’s bathroom policies and let their personnel know you will be flying with a dog.
Keep Your Dog Hydrated
Flights can be dehydrating for both humans and pets alike, and is something every pet parent should be wary of. Common signs of dehydration in dogs include dry gums and excessive panting. Be sure to pack sufficient water for your dog, ensuring they remain well-hydrated from their arrival to the airport all the way to landing.
With that being said, it is important not to over hydrate them either. Instead, offer your dog small amounts of water at regular intervals. Indeed, giving your dog large amounts of water at once especially right before the flight can lead to an unexpected bathroom break.
Soothing and Calming Techniques
Flying with a dog, especially if it’s the first time, can lead to increased levels of stress and anxiety for your furry friend. From familiarizing itself with the hustle and bustle of crowded airport terminals to navigating the changes in altitude, dogs must adapt quickly to a new environment.
As a result, pet parents that plan on flying with their dog learn a range of soothing and calming techniques. Examples of calming techniques with anxious dogs include petting and massaging them. After all, few things are more soothing for a dog than the calm touch of its owner.
Regular Check-Ins and Quiet Reassurance
Airports can be disorienting, busy environments even for humans, let alone for dogs. When flying with your dog, it is crucial to monitor their behaviour with regular check-ins and reassure them. These check-ins will ultimately help you assess your dog’s needs in real time, giving you the ability to immediately respond to any signs of stress or anxiety.
Simply put, keeping your dog as close as possible as you navigate through the airport should help reduce anxiety levels, providing a much-needed sense of security. Once settled in and past security, gentle petting, soothing words, or even a favourite toy can help calm your dog down.
Before Flying with your Dog in Cabin: What you need to know
So you’ve decided to take your canine companion on the flight with you, but what exactly do you need to know before take-off? Mikojet has you covered, equipping you with all the information you need for successful dog travel.
Packing Essentials for Your Dog
Just as you meticulously create a checklist of your flight essentials, from phone charger and laptop to a book and snacks, it is no different with a dog. Once again, planning ahead of time is crucial. Be sure to make a checklist of all your dog’s essentials, including favourite toys, snacks, blankets, and water bottle, up to a week or two before departure.
This will give you enough time to secure any items that are missing, ensuring seamless dog travel. Having their favourite toy by their side will ultimately give them a sense of comfort, making for an enjoyable flight. However, please note that certain toys may be prohibited when flying with a dog in cabin.
Understand Eligibility and Entry Requirements
The first step before flying with your dog to a new country is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the country’s eligibility and entry requirements. For example, if you’re planning on travelling to the United States with your dog, certain criteria must be met, including having an up-to-date “Fit-to-Fly” letter from a vet. This essentially confirms your dog is in good health to fly.
Other countries, including the United Kingdom, may require a pet health certificate as well as microchipping and updated vaccinations against rabies. While airline personnel can give you an overview of their own policies, including accepted dog breeds and sizes in cabin, it is always recommended to consult government resources.
For flying with a dog into the United Kingdom, you can read up on entry requirements here. For the United States, by contrast, consult with Aphis or with the CDC.
Training and Preparing Your Dog
As the old adage goes, practice makes perfect, and this once again applies when flying with your dog. Whether that means socializing important behaviours before boarding or engaging in obedience training weeks before flying, there are a number of ways to prepare your dog for air travel. Desensitizing your dog to loud noises and altitude changes is equally as important for seamless air travel and should be at the forefront of every pet parent’s pre-flight checklist.
While Flying with your Dog in Cabin: What you need to know
Flying with your dog in cabin can present its fair share of challenges to pet parents. From managing anxiety and restlessness to interacting with cabin crew and fellow passengers, here’s everything you need to know on dog travel.
Handling Anxiety and Restlessness
When flying with your dog in cabin, it is only normal that they will experience some form of anxiety and restlessness. After all, turbulence, changes in altitude, or simply being in an unfamiliar environment for the first time could lead to increased stress levels – especially for older dogs. Pet parents should not only be able to flag signs of anxiety, but be ready to deal with them appropriately.
Additionally, a visit to the veterinarian before flying with your dog is always a good idea. In certain instances, medication and tranquillizer options can be discussed to ease your pet’s nerves for a pleasant flight experience.
Interacting with Cabin Crew and Passengers
An early arrival to the airport is crucial when flying with a dog in cabin. For one, arriving ahead of time gives you the opportunity to inform cabin crew and airline personnel that you will be flying with your dog, offering ample time for them to prepare and anticipate your dog’s in-flight needs.
Additionally, flight attendants will then be able to let fellow passengers know of your dog’s presence and avoid potential misunderstandings. In certain instances, for example, fellow passengers may suffer from allergies or may be apprehensive of the presence of your dog in cabin. As a result, interacting with cabin crew early is recommended for seamless dog travel.
Dealing with Unexpected Situations
Air travel is always rife with unexpected situations that can threaten to derail your journey. From terminal delays and cancelled flights to turbulence, Mikojet understands that flying with a dog can be stressful. Factor in potential air sickness and barking, and it’s safe to say pet parents have to be on their toes at all times when flying with a dog.
Protective planning, including obedience training, as well as familiarizing yourself with calming techniques will ultimately help you handle unexpected situations with ease, minimizing your dog’s stress and anxiety levels without disturbing fellow passengers.
Flying with your Dog in Cabin
Flying with your dog in cabin makes for a special experience, ensuring your furry companion comes along for the adventure in complete comfort and safety. Whether that means a walk around the Eiffel Tower, or a visit to the Tower of London with Fido by your side, Mikojet is here to help you navigate with complete confidence.
From understanding the different entry requirements to equipping you with all the information you need for a smooth travel experience, before, after, and during your flight, we’re here to ensure your best friend is in good hands.
We hope we answered all your questions about flying with your dog in cabin, including day-of travel tips, and everything you need to know about dog travel, but in case we didn’t, get in touch with us and we’d be happy to discuss!
This should interlink the other blog post we did on this topic. Leave this comment here for Wolf's consideration.
Comentarios