Tips: Summer Airplane Travel with Your Dog

Petsetter: Tips for Summer Airplane Travel with Your Furry and Fabulous Companions

Air Bud: Air Travel Tips School’s out for some, the work week is shorter for others, and the summer has started… which means it’s time for vacation! While we’re happy to take care of your pets for you, summer is also a great opportunity to take your furry family member with you on your family trip. Travel with a pet is fun and, as you can imagine, it can be stressful as well. We’re here to share a few important pet travel tips to plan your furry vacation!

Taking Your Pet on an Airplane: Booking

When preparing to take your pet on an airplane, you should take several steps to ensure a happy and healthy trip. Before you book tickets for your non-furry family members, make sure that you research pet-friendly airlines that have service to the destination you are traveling to and the airline’s pet policies. Dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks old prior to travel. Each airline has different qualifications and restrictions particularly with the number of pets allowed to travel in the cabin. JetBlue is extremely friendly towards four-legged companions. For more information, check out their pet loyalty program, JetPaws, at www.jetblue.com.

If you are traveling internationally look up the laws and requirements regarding bringing your pet into international waters. Some countries require permits and quarantine time before being allowed into the country. For more information on international pet travel, visit www.petsonthego.com.

Once you select your airline:

• try your best to book a direct flight to your location
• choose early morning or late evening flights to avoid extreme changes in temperature
• try to avoid busy holiday and weekend travel as delays in flights are more likely to occur.

These steps will help decrease the physical and emotional stress on your pet, but in addition to booking a pet-friendly airline, it is also important to book a pet friendly hotel. For more information regarding pet-friendly amenities, check out www.bringfido.com. You may also look up details about attractions, events, and restaurants that cater to your fuzzy family member’s needs on that site.

Puppy Packing List

Don’t forget these items when packing your dog’s suitcase:

• Health certificate and medical records
• Contact information for your regular veterinarian and an emergency vet contact at your destination
• Comb, brush, and flea control products
• Any special medication your dog might need
• Spare collar with ID tag
• Pet wipes or grooming products
• Paper towels and stain remover
• Enough dog food and treats for the entire trip
• Plenty of bottled water (a sudden change can upset your dog’s stomach)
• Food and water dishes
• Leash and poop bags
• Pet First Aid Kit
• Your dog’s favorite toy and blanket
• A list of dog-friendly restaurants and attractions at your destination

Next, read up on how to prepare your dog to fly for the first time to avoid emotional and physical strain here. We hope this helps! Please feel free to call us at 305.794.3733 with any questions you may have.

Frankie Berti

A founding member of the Equipaws family, Frankie can mostly be found working behind the scenes, helping co-create online branding, managing several social media accounts, designing brand collateral, writing copy, and managing events. She also fills in for pet sitters and dog walkers when needed in Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, and South Miami. Her own small pack consists of Boots the Shih Tzu mix and Nutmeg the Chiweenie.