Pet Air Travel Rates For Within North America
Pet Air travel Rates For Within North America
Even though you may long to take your pet with you wherever you go, including international vacations, avoid the temptation. International travel is not only dangerous for many pets (hey – it’s dangerous for people), but in many countries, it’s illegal. For example, there’s no way you can book an English adventure for you and Fido. All dogs must spend six months in quarantine before they are allowed in England. Stick to travel within North America. And check all pet air travel rates before you get to the airport.
Only Dogs And Cats Need Apply
If you have other kinds of pets rather than dogs or cats, forget about having them take an airplane ride. The ride will most likely kill them or they could become easily lost. Please either drive, place the pets in a boarding kennel or hire a pet sitter to take care of your animals when you are traveling. Many airlines won’t even offer pet air travel rates unless your pet is a dog or cat.
Carry On Or Cargo?
You will usually be offered two choices for how to transport your dog or cat by air, and these choices will affect your pet air travel rates. The first choice is to take the pet on as carry on luggage. This is recommended for cats and small dogs only. If your dog is over twelve pounds, then most likely you will not have an option and need to have him ride in the pressurized cargo section.
When you compare pet air travel rates, be sure you know what is included in the cost. Will you have to buy a crate for your pet, or can you buy a crate at the airliner? What kind of crate or transport bag will the airliner allow? How big does it have to be? What pet health papers do you need to carry? How recently does a vet need to give a check up to your pet in order to be allowed on the plane?
Although traveling by cargo is the most expensive of pet air travel rates, it’s actually more comfortable for the dog than sitting in the cabin with you, the screaming babies and the food made of Styrofoam. Soon after takeoff, the lights go out, which helps encourage the dog to go to sleep for the rest of the flight.
Pet air travel rates for dogs traveling by cargo are usually a couple of hundred dollars (US), depending on the airline, time of the year and the whims of the Fuel Price Gods. If you have to ship your dog unaccompanied by anyone in the plane, then the only way you can ship the dog is by cargo. This cost usually does not include cost of the crate or visits to the vet for health papers.
