What to do When Your Pet Is Flying Alone
Traveling with pets can be a stressful experience, especially in the event of a long layover or unexpected delay. However, there are also times when it is necessary for a pet to travel alone, such as when a person may be relocating from a different country back to the United States. Most of us don’t like to think about our pets having to travel alone, but there are some steps to take to minimize the stress of the experience for you and your pet and ensure their safe arrival to their destination.
- Choose and Airline
Regardless of which airline you might be using to transport your pet, it is very important that you check with that particular airline to see what their pet travel policies are. Most will be similar. For example, regardless of the airline, there are restrictions on flying certain breeds of dogs. Brachycephalic, or “short-nosed” breeds are not accepted for travel in the cargo area due to the air abnormalities that can compromise their breathing. Additionally, virtually all airlines will not allow pets to fly in the cargo area during the hot summer months or the cold winter months due to temperature extremes that can put your pet at risk. Peak travel times, such as holidays, are another time when pet travel is likely to be prohibited.
- Verify Health Requirements
Health vaccination requirements is another standard issue for flying pets. Only healthy pets will be allowed to fly and most airlines will require a health certificate from your vet dated no more than 10 days prior to traveling.
- Check Carrier Requirements
It is also very important to know the costs involved in flying a pet as well as the carrier specifications that they will be in during their travel. It is not uncommon for a pet to be denied boarding due to a crate that is too big for the cargo area or too small for the pet.
- Arrange Airport Transportation
Finally, you will want to make sure all the details are in place for when your pet arrives at their final destination. It is extremely important that the party who is to meet your pet, knows the exact time your pet is to arrive so that wait times are limited. If you are the one meeting your pet, that makes this aspect of planning much easier, however, if you are having to rely on someone else meeting your pet, then these destination details become top priority.
Here at Hillrose Pet Resort, we offer this service for people and pets flying into SeaTac Airport. If you have a pet traveling alone, give us a call. We provide layover service for pets and will take care of all the logistics of taking care of your pet once they arrive at SeaTac. Our layover form is a good way to make sure everyone gets all the details right. We have a great partnership with Alaska Airlines for pets who require layover service or longer boarding times once they arrive in Seattle. You can check out Alaska Airlines pet travel policy here.
Remember, pets traveling alone can be a stressful situation for both you and your pet. Do your research to find the best services that can make this a smooth and safe trip for both of you.
