Air Travel

50 States of USA (except Hawaii & Guam) and Canada

Must to know:

1. Health & Age Requirement

Is your dog healthy and old enough? – Pets must be at least 8 weeks old, and all pets should be with a valid health certificate issued no more than 10 days before departure by Federal law.

2. Breed Restrictions

Can your dog breed enter other states or provinces? – Some areas regulate the types of breeds (eg Pitbulls).

3. Carry-on-Pet in Cabin or in Checked Baggage?

It depends on airline & the size or weight of your dog and your destination. You must book your pets in either Cabin or Baggage in advance. Pets must remain in the kennel at all times.

4. Kennel Requirement

Carry-on-Pets normally requires a soft-sided kennel to fit under your front seat. Pet in Checked Baggage needs a Hard-sided kennel with metal gates. Both types of kennels have to be designed for airline travel with and let pets be able to move comfortably in the kennels (stand up and turn around). No wheels, good ventilation, lockable, screws/bolds complete and water proof/water-repellent bottom.

5. Things to be Prepared

– Two empty dishes (food & water) accessible from the outside
– A soft absorbent material for pee. Normally, a large towel, a blanket or a pet sheet, not newspaper nor magazines which would cause pets in toxic state.
– Food for a long flight. Pass the food at the airline check-in counter when you check-in.
– A Feeding Instruction if necessary. Attach it to the kennel.

6. Embargo & Temperature Restriction

Some Airlines have already set up Holiday Embargo and Seasonal Embargo strictly. Follow their advice. All Airlines may refuse all dogs for awaiting in low or high temperature. Note that Short-nosed breeds are not allowed to fly in Summer for health reason by some of these Airlines.

Good to know:

Copy & bring license and all vaccinations’ proof with vet’s phone number.

Oversized Pets & Kennels in Baggage or
Temperature Restriction (Heat & Cold) of origin and destination

Travel with you or shipping separately?

Please refer the following website for airlines.

Air Canada: Traveling with your pet, Shipping your pet
WestJet: Traveling with your pet & Shipping your pet
United Airline: In-cabin pets or Shipping your pet
Delta Airline: Pet Travel Options
American Airline: Travelling with your pet, Shipping your pet

Brachycephalic (Short-Nosed) Dog Breeds

Extra care is required when the following breeds are shipped because they often have hereditary respiratory problems. These animals are susceptible to increased risk of heat stroke and breathing problems when exposed to stress or extreme heat:
Boston Terrier, Boxe, Brussels Griffin,
Bull Terrier, Dutch Pug
English Bulldog, English Toy Spaniel
French Bulldog, Japanese Chin
Japanese Pug, Pekinese, Shih Tzu

On the recommendation of our consulting veterinarian, Continental Airlines will now require the following to reduce stress and heat exposure when shipping or handling the above-mentioned breeds:
• Use 1 size larger kennel than is normally required
• Use a kennel with ventilation on 4 sides. (If the kennel does not have ventilation on 4 sides, modify the kennel by drilling 7 holes in the rear top and 7 holes in the rear bottom of the kennel using a 3/4 inch keyhole bit).
• Acclimate the animal to the kennel by letting the animal spend time in the kennel for several days before its departure
• Do not place food in the kennel during the flight, just water
• Provide plenty of water to the animal. Frozen water bottles with tiny holes punched in the sides make a great watering tool for several hours when placed in the kennel’s watering dish.

Recommendations for Puppies

Continental Airlines’ consulting Veterinarian recommends that customers shipping small or toy breeds that are less than 12 weeks old and less than 3 lbs (approx. 1.5 kg) follow these precautionary steps to ensure their safe transportation:
• Do not vaccinate these puppies within 3 days of transport
• Do not worm these puppies within 3 days of transport
• Ensure that no medical procedures are performed on the puppy within 3 days of transport
• Use honey or White Karo syrup for “carbohydrate loading” for the 24-hour period just prior to shipping (to help maintain glucose levels in the puppy while in transit).

Continental’s consulting veterinarian recommends these steps because a puppy less than 3 lbs (approximately 1.5 kg) and 16 weeks of age cannot store glycogen in its liver which means it may not be able to regulate its own sugar/glucose levels. Lowered glucose levels in these pups could result in hypoglycemic episodes including seizures, reduction of body temperature (hypothermia) and could severely compromise the health of your pet.