5 Tips for Air Travel with Your Dog
Béchamel the Boy Prince flew on an airplane for the first time on our trip home to visit Grandma in Destin. He was not only a prince, but a champ! However, we didn’t just show up at the airport and hope for the best. Proactivity is key! So what are the five tips I discovered? Scroll down!
Tip #1
Airline Carrier: MAKE SURE IT FITS!
Even if the website swears the crate dimensions will fit under the seat, call the airline and make sure the dimensions provided will fit before you click buy on the airline-approved carrier. The crate I purchased on Amazon, while perfect for Béchamel’s headspace, technically did not fit completely under the seat in front of me.
Tip #2
Health Certificate: MAKE SURE YOUR FURKID IS HEALTHY FOR FLIGHT
Parents of smashed faced breeds especially want to take a trip to the vet for a quick check-up to make sure the furkid’s lungs and heart will endure the stresses of flying. In addition, most airlines require a health certificate (though they may not ask for it at check-in). And you won’t be able to check-in on the app 24 hours ahead of time, so no need to stress about opening the app exactly on time for early boarding numbers. In fact, since you’re traveling with your four-legged friend, you’ll get priority boarding. Makes that extra $150 for their ticket worth it!
Tip #3
Trazadone: TAKE THE EDGE OFF
While you’re getting the health certificate, ask you vet about some prescription relief to help your furkid sleep or at least doze on the flight. My vet recommended a low dose of Trazadone since we had two short flights. But for longer hops, or if your furkid is more energetic, the vet might recommend a CBD chew which will knock them out for 24 hours. Be sure to talk with your vet about specifics for your flight duration, your four-legged’s personality, and any concerns you have about side effects when asking for medication.
Tip #4
Layover Entertainment: KEEP THEM BUSY AND CALM
Always pack a favorite toy or chewy in your second carryon (the crate counts as one carryon!) for those waits in airport terminals. The Boy Prince adores elk antlers (don’t worry, they’re shed not hunted!). So I tucked one into my Totes bag and pulled it out while I ate lunch between flights. But a favorite stuffy will do the trick too.
Tip #5
Lunchtime: I’M HUNGRY!
Speaking of lunch time, or meal time in general, make sure to pack at least a baggie of a single serving of their kibble and a plastic or collapsible bowl. If your four-legged eats fresh food like mine, the package will need to be completely frozen to pass TSA inspection. So be prepared to warm it up in the terminal’s bathroom sink once it’s time to eat. When we flew on our last trip, I packed all of his food (frozen and sorted into meal bags labeled by meal and date) in my other carryon. The last thing I wanted was to risk his food getting lost or delayed from the change in airplanes. I’d have a very hungry boy and a smelly mess to clean up!
Now that we’ve flown together, I’m looking forward to bringing the Boy Prince with me on future travels. Maybe even one day, internationally, which will bring a host of other tips!
Want to see more of our travels together? Follow me on Instagram.
