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Travel with your Pet
Flying with Your Pet – Airline & Pet Carrier Considerations
It's important
to check with your air carrier - before your trip - to ensure that
you have the properly sized carrier. If you plan on traveling with
your pet in the cabin, keep in mind that when traveling with
connecting flights, you might encounter different aircraft with
different cabin capacity, so its always a good idea to double check
with the air carrier first. Many airlines have specific space
requirements beneath the seat in front of you.
TIP! If possible select an
aisle or middle seat, as these tend to have the most room in front.
Aircraft designs often reduce the amount of space beneath the seat
on window seats.
Selecting your Carrier:
A common
mistake made for first time flyers and their pets is to order a
carrier just before your scheduled trip. It is good idea is to
purchase your carrier several weeks or even months ahead to allow
time for your pet to acclimate to the new carrier prior to travel.
We recommend that you help your pet get comfortable over time, by
introducing your pet to the carrier in your own home first. Try
placing your pet’ favorite toy or blanket inside the carrier, giving
your dog or cat the chance to spend time in the carrier at home in a
familiar setting. Many customers have told us that they found it
very helpful to purchase the carrier early and use it at home as an
indoor pet bed well before their travel. We recommend leaving the
carrier open and available to allow your pet to check it out and
even nap it in. Or consider taking short trips with your pet in the
carrier in the car - before taking that long trip by plane. The goal
here is to make sure that your pet feels comfortable in this new
enclosed space.
I don't want to get to the airport
and be turned away?
This is
the most asked question we hear from customers looking for an
airline-approved carrier. If you do your trip planning up front, you
can avoid this problem. Check with the airline first for their pet
carrier size guidelines. Be sure to ask about in-cabin carriers
versus carriers designed for transport in the luggage area of the
plane. Also be sure to ask about connecting flights and aircraft
models. Look for a carrier that will fit both your dog and that will
fit under the cabin seat in front of you.
TIP! Most airlines will only
allow a few pets on the same flight, so make sure you mention that
you will be traveling with a pet when you make your reservations.
In the 1990s,
then Flight Attendant Gayle Martz came up with the in-cabin pet
carrier designs, and Sherpa in-cabin pet carriers were born. Each
Sherpa carrier is designed for practical pet travel, using
soft-sided carrier designs to better accommodate most under seat
areas, but not all aircraft seats. Check with your airline
carrier to confirm the space beneath the seat for the particular
aircraft on which you will be traveling to allow proper room for
your pet.
And don’t be
fooled: despite what any airline pet carrier may advertise - NO
airline carrier is given an FAA seal to any one pet carrier
manufacturer or model. The FAA or Federal Aviation Administration
maintains size requirements and guidelines for all carry-on luggage.
Any pet carrier that indicates an FAA approval is simply stating
that its pet carrier(s) meets the FAA sizing guidelines.
Below we have
put together the latest airline contact information. Feel free to
print this page to help in making your travel plans with your pet.
Visit the USDA website for more information on traveling with your
pet.
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