1. Check with the airlines for their rules about pets. Most airlines do not allow pups younger than eight weeks.
2. At the time of making reservations, inform the airlines about your pet.
3. The airline reserves the right to refuse your pet if there are too many pets on board, so the earlier the better.
4. Choose a direct flight to reduce stress for the pet, preferably a night flight.
5. Depending upon its size, your pet can accompany you either in the passenger cabin or in the cargo hold.
6. If it is small, the dog can travel with you in a carrier basket. This is usually left to the captain’s discretion. You do not require an extra ticket.
7. The carrier is usually placed securely under the seat in front of your seat. It is not advisable to take the pet out of its carrier for its safety as well as the safety of other passengers.
8. Carry food and water along with you for your pet, and feed it only after the airline food service is over.
9. If travelling by cargo, you will need to get a wooden dog box made.
10. The dog box should be large enough to allow your dog to stretch and turn. Measure your dog’s length (from nose to root of tail), width (length across shoulders), and height (in standing position with head erect, from ground to highest point). It is important that your pet can stand, sit, turn around, and lie down comfortably throughout the flight.
11. One side of the box must have openings to allow air in. It should be generously padded to prevent injury.
12. Mark the dog boy indicating ‘Live Cargo. Handle With Care.
13. Put arrows indicating right side up.
14. Well before the journey, familiarise the dog with the box. Coax him to get in and start spending time in it so that he is not unduly stressed during the journey.
15. Do not feed before the flight. The dog should be kept on an empty stomach for at least six hours before the journey.
16. Exercise the dog briskly before putting him into the box.
17. Put bold identification tags on the travel carrier, which include the pet’s name, home address and phone number, destination, and owner’s name.
18. Never use a muzzle on your pet during travel – this can prove fatal.
19. The box should contain two attached dishes, one for water and the other for food. Use dry snacks.
20. Do not lock the carrier so that it is easy to let the pet out in case of emergency. For trips longer than 12 hours, attach a plastic bag containing dry food and feeding instructions on top of the carrier for airline personnel.
