Let’s be honest, traveling with your pet isn’t always easy. Even driving can be a hassle… I remember the time my Miko decided he didn’t want to sit in the front seat anymore and climbed into the back – shifting the car OUT of drive in the process. That was fun. He was a very good passenger despite that one incident, though.
If you have a small pet – like one that weighs less that 15 lbs, flying may be an easy option for long distance domestic travel. There are a lot of airlines that will let you bring your pet in the cabin with you. Your small dog or cat has to be in a carrier that conforms to the airline’s carry-on bag size guidelines.
But you need more than just the carrier. You’ll need their collar and tags and proof of vaccinations. Even if the airline doesn’t ask for the vaccination info up front, you should carry it with you anyway when you’re traveling with your pet. In an unfamiliar situation they may act out in ways you wouldn’t expect.
You and your pet still must go through the airport screening. Your bag and the pet’s accessories (leash, carrier, toys, etc) must go through the x-ray machine. You will be asked to carry your pet through the metal detector.
And you may want to talk to your vet about giving your pet some sort of sedative before the flight. That way, they’ll sleep through the confusion of take off and the weird sensations of flight — and not howl, bark, cry, or meow the whole time. Your vet will know the right kind and right dose for your baby.
Before you make your travel plans definite, it’s best to contact the airline and confirm their animal policy. Try their website for some fact-finding, but it doesn’t hurt to follow up with a phone call and talk to an actual person about your situation.
And don’t forget to bring water and a bowl and some doggy-doo bags. My brother’s dog Kuma once took a pre-flight squat in the middle of Newark Liberty International Airport!