Just like people, dogs love a good old-fashioned adventure. For pet parents who love to travel, a common misconception is that you’ll need to leave your dog at home while you get out there and explore the world. According to CBS News, as of 2024, 1 in 3 dog owners fly with their dogs, and some airlines, like American Airlines, have recently updated their policies to be more pet-travel friendly.
Learning how to fly with a dog shows you just how simple it can be to bring your pooch along with you on your next big trip.
Frequently Asked Questions About Flying With Dogs
When researching how to fly with a dog, you’re likely to come up with a few questions along the way. Some of the most frequently asked questions according to Conde Nast Traveler about flying with your dog are:
- Can I always fly with my dog? – In many cases, your dog can fly with you, however this isn’t universally the case. It’s important to do research on your airline first, as not all airlines have pet policies in place, and you’ll want to select an airline with the most creature comforts for your pet as possible. Some airlines may also have breed restrictions in place, and making sure your airline will suit your particular dog is crucial to a successful and happy journey.
- Is flying stressful for my dog? – A travel day can be overwhelming and overstimulating for humans, so it’s reasonable to assume that dogs will experience some level of stress during a flight day as well. However, just how stressful flying may be for your dog really depends on the dog. Some may be a bit overstimulated by the sights, sounds, and smells, while others show little to no stress at all. For elderly dogs or dogs with health conditions, it’s important to check with your veterinarian to make sure your dog can handle flying without worry.
- Will my dog have their own seat on the plane? – In most cases, the answer to this question is no. A few airlines like Jet Blue, Alaska Airlines, and Etihad Airlines do offer passengers the option to purchase a separate seat for their dog to fly alongside them in the cabin, but this is only suited for dogs under a certain size. For larger dogs, your dog will be crated and kept safely in the cargo hold of the airplane during the duration of the flight.
- How do I know what an airline’s rules are? – Each airline will have different rules when it comes to flying with your dog. Typically, the policies an airline has in place for flying with pets can be found on their website, and if it cannot, one can learn more by calling the airline’s customer service line.
- Will I need documentation for my dog? – Pet parents will require documentation for their dog when flying domestic or internationally. Your destination will determine just what documentation you need. For the standard domestic flight, expect to be asked for a health certificate for your pet. A health certificate can be obtained by visiting a licensed veterinarian who will sign off on your dog’s health and vaccination status. Health certificates are considered valid for 30 days after issuing and will be required for both legs of a flight.
Take All The Right Steps Before Flying With Your Dog
With your questions answered, you’re ready to move forward in learning how to fly with a dog – taking those first steps to prepare. According to Rover.com, your steps should include:
1. Research your airline – Before ever purchasing a ticket, put a lot of thought into the airline you choose. Because every airline has different pet policies when it comes to flying with dogs, you’re going to want to select the airline that best suits your needs. First determine which airlines have pet-friendly policies, a few popular choices include:- United Airlines
- American Airlines
- Frontier Airlines
- Jet Blue Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
Select a few different airlines with flights to your desired destination and take the time to compare and contrast how each pet policy differs.
2. Invest in a high quality crate – If your dog doesn’t have a high quality and airline compliant crate already, it’s going to become a necessity if you plan to fly with your dog. Most airlines will require dogs to be held in a secure crate and kept in the cargo hold portion of the plane for the duration of the flight for their own safety. They also have specific crate requirements depending on your dog's size and breed.
3. Begin crate training – Crate training your dog before a flight is key to ensuring their experience will be as comfortable and as stress-free as possible. If your dog isn’t crate trained already, this is a job that should be taken on and prioritized as soon as your flight is booked. When crate training your dog start slowly by allowing your dog to get used to their crate simply being in the home. Allow them to sniff the crate, investigate the crate, and even bring toys or food into their crate to enjoy. Once your dog has grown used to the presence of the crate, you can begin the training part of the process.
When crate training your dog, start small with crate time with the door left open. One easy way to do this is to provide meals in the crate, creating a simple but impactful positive association. Once they get used to crate time with the door open, see how they react to spending time in their crate with the door closed. Encourage your dog to spend just a few minutes in their crate with the door closed, as you spend time in the same room with them. Once they can remain calm for about 15 minutes, door closed, in their crate and in the room with you, it’s time to try allowing a little alone time.
As you approach alone time in the crate, do as you did when first getting them used to closed-door time. First give them just a minute or two with you just outside of the room and work your way up to longer durations as they get more comfortable with this time. Crate training isn’t always a linear experience, and there may be some steps backward in the process. Patience and positive association is key, and every dog is able to be crate trained with just a bit of effort from their pet parents.
4. Desensitize your dog to noise – Some dogs are more noise averse than others, but all dogs will experience some unfamiliar sounds during a flight day. Before flying with your dog, you may want to play airplane sounds on the television, in the car, or on your phone to get them acclimated to some of the sounds they may experience while taking their flight.
5. Desensitize your dog to crowds – Crowds are another experience some dogs love and others not so much. Before your flight day, take your dog to some busy areas and allow them to get used to the stimulation they experience. Traveling through an airport, being loaded onto the plane, and exiting through another airport will be much calmer when your dog is already accustomed to busyness.
6. Get your health certificate – As close as possible to your flight day, make a veterinarian appointment to acquire your dog’s health certificate for the flight. You can inform your veterinarian that you plan to fly with your dog, tell them your flight date, and arrange for a full-checkup. This way, your veterinarian will have the proper paperwork ready for sign-off and you’ll have the documentation you need when it’s time to fly. During this time, if your dog requires any vaccinations, your veterinarian will administer them to ensure your dog is flight ready.
It’s important to remember that health certificates are only valid for 30 days and will be required to board both the flight to your destination and the flight home. For this reason, arrange your veterinarian appointment to be as close to your flight time as possible. If you are going to be at your destination for more than 30 days, you will need to find a veterinarian at your destination to provide a health certificate for your flight home.
On Your Flight Day
You have your crate, you have your health certificate, you’ve put in the work to crate train and desensitize your dog – now you’re ready for your flight day! How do you prepare for flight day? There are a few things you can do to ensure your dog has the best possible experience.
First and foremost, it’s important to monitor your dog’s food and water intake the morning of the flight. When in their crate in the cargo hold, you don’t want your dog to have an accident or experience a bit of motion sickness, only to be stuck with their “mess” for the duration of the flight. A small breakfast and limited water intake is best before flying to your destination.
Next, you’ll want to make sure your dog is ready for a big nap in their crate. Before your flight, perhaps even starting the day before your flight, give your dog plenty of physical and mental exercise. This will help them to look forward to their crated time and spend most of their flight peacefully asleep.
With the right preparation, learning how to fly with a dog is simple, opening you up to memories of adventures that will last a lifetime.