Going on a trip, many tourists do not want to part with their favorite pets, and some simply do not have the opportunity to leave them with friends or relatives for the period of vacation. In this case, travelers prefer to take their pets with them. However, a lot of difficulties arise in this matter, especially when it comes to traveling to another country on an aircraft.
Let's try to figure out how to transport a dog on an airplane, and what are the rules governing the transportation of pets.
Rules for the transport of animals
If we talk about transporting animals on an airplane, then this procedure has a lot of difficulties. This is due to the fact that the air carrier and the customs service make a lot of demands on four-legged animals.
To date, there are 2 methods by which you can transport pets on board:
- take the animal with you to the cabin;
- transport your pet in a specialized container, which is located in the luggage compartment of the aircraft.
However, it should be borne in mind that not every pet can be transported on an airplane. It all depends on the specific carrier and its rules.
It is also worth considering the requirements for transporting animals. They may vary significantly depending on airline policy.
Transportation requirements
Many are interested in whether it is possible to transport a dog in the cabin. There really is such an opportunity, but some nuances must be taken into account.
No more than 5 animals are allowed in the cabin, so before you go on a trip, it is important to coordinate with the carrier how many people have already registered their pets.
However, it should be borne in mind that most airlines do not allow cats, dogs, birds and other exotic animals to be brought in the cabin. In this case, you will have to send your pet to the luggage compartment.
If we talk about whether it is possible to transport a dog on an airplane, then there really is such an opportunity, but most companies have strict requirements for containers for animals. They should be large enough so that the pet can not only lie, but stand freely in full growth. At the same time, the dimensions of carrying should not exceed 155 cm in three planes (height, width and thickness).
If the pet is transported in a container, the total weight of its carrying should not exceed 8 kilograms. Based on this, it becomes obvious which dogs can be transported on the plane, and which are not worth it. It is worth paying attention to this.
It is also worth considering that only dogs and cats are considered pets. Therefore, if a tourist wants to bring a snake, mice, a parrot or any other exotic animal, he will not be able to travel with them in the cabin. All this creature is rented only in the luggage compartment.
Accordingly, there are several options for how to transport a dog on an airplane. If the animal meets the requirements of the company, then you can take it to the salon. In other cases, the pet travels in the luggage compartment.
Having dealt with the fact that dogs can be transported on an airplane, do not relax. After all, for the trip you need to collect the necessary papers. It is also mandatory to visit a veterinarian, who must make sure that the pet is absolutely healthy and ready for the trip.
How to transport a dog on an airplane: preparing documents
In order to avoid difficulties when passing through customs with the animal, it is necessary to carefully study the list of required papers. First of all, it is necessary to prepare an international veterinary passport, in which there will be records of all vaccinations and treatments against parasites. What kind of injections are needed, every veterinarian knows, so it will not be difficult to make the necessary vaccinations.
It should be borne in mind that vaccinations and other procedures must be performed at least a month before the proposed trip. The maximum duration of vaccines is 1 year.
Before transporting a dog on an airplane, it is also worth chipping the animal and getting the appropriate certificate.
Among other things, it is necessary to prepare a special certificate No. 1-vet. It is issued only in one organization - the State Station. At the same time, it will be possible to obtain a certificate only to those owners of animals who have the correct veterinary passport for the pet.
If we are talking about how to transport a dog on an airplane abroad, then in addition to the above list of documents, other papers will be required. They must be prepared before departure.
Additional documents for transporting an animal abroad
Under the condition of international travel, the animal will be allowed on the plane only if:
- Veterinary certificate of international standard. This document must be obtained at the border control department. It is worth considering that this certificate is issued only on the basis of a valid certificate from a licensed veterinarian.
- A certificate confirming that the animal has breeding value. If the pet was not taken from a nursery, then this document is not required.
- Permissions from the State Committee of the Russian Federation, responsible for environmental protection. This document is required only in case of transportation of rare breeds.
In addition, some countries may have their own conditions on how to transport a dog on an airplane abroad. Accordingly, before the trip, it is worthwhile to clarify their requirements with the airline.
How much is the transportation
For many travelers, the cost of transporting your favorite pet is a very important point. It’s worth mentioning right away that it is unprofitable to travel on charter flights in this case. The fact is that the animal can not be taken into the cabin. Pets travel only in special compartments.
The cost of such transportation of 1 pet in one direction will cost about 100 euros, provided that the flight duration is less than 5 hours. If the flight takes from 5 to 8 hours, the cost will be increased to 160 euros. If the plane flies for more than 8 hours, then you will have to pay 200 euros. Accordingly, traveling with a pet over long distances will cost up to 400 euros in both directions.
That is why many tourists prefer to choose not scheduled but regular flights, because in this case, most airlines are allowed to transport animals, either in the cabin or in the luggage compartment. In this case, before you transport the dog on the plane, you will have to pay a lot less.
The requirements for carrying are approximately the same as for hand luggage for an airplane. However, a pet cannot be classified in this category. The fact is that, according to the rules of most airlines, travel with an animal must be paid for as with excess baggage.
How are dogs transported in an airplane in this case, and how much will it cost? In order to calculate the cost of transportation, it is enough to multiply the weight of the container with the animal by the cost of 1 kg of baggage that is carried in excess of the norm. Typically, the overpayment is from 5 to 15 dollars per kilogram. This applies to transportation in the cabin, but what if the animal is transported in the cargo compartment? In this case, the final cost will be calculated at a special freight rate. This will take into account the weight of the animal itself, as well as the container in which it will be transported.
The only exceptions are tourists who travel with guide dogs. However, in this case, free transportation will be possible only if the owner of the animal provides the relevant documents confirming that he cannot move without an assistant.
However, it is also worth considering that if a dog weighs more than 40 kg, then for it you will need to buy a separate ticket, that is, accordingly reserve a place, as well as for a person. During the flight, large animals must sit under the owner’s chair and be muzzled. It is strictly forbidden to feed a pet on board an airplane.
Features of transporting dogs to individual countries
Earlier in the article, it was already mentioned that before a flight it is necessary to clarify with a particular airline their requirements regarding animals on board an airplane. It is worth considering that in some countries, especially European countries, strict requirements are imposed on imported four-legged animals. Sometimes border guards are forced to present such serious documents that it is much easier to leave the animal at home when it comes to a short trip. Also, at some airports there are special hotels for pets, where you can also leave your pet for a certain amount of time. Therefore, it is important not only to check with the air carrier not only whether it is possible to transport the dog on an airplane, but also to find out how problematic it will be when traveling to a particular country.
The most difficult to import animals into the UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Malta, New Zealand and some other countries. As a rule, for a trip to the territory of these states, four-legged ones must be taken to the luggage compartment. However, this is far from all. In some cases, the pet can be quarantined for six months. Of course, this is not suitable for pet owners. Accordingly, before embarking on a trip to one of these countries, it’s worth considering several times. Perhaps the question regarding how to transport a dog on a plane will be much more serious than expected.
It is also worth paying attention to other countries. For example, if you bring a pet to Germany, then a prerequisite is to provide a certificate of vaccination for a pet, which should be written exclusively in German. An international anti-rabies certificate will also be required.
To travel around Spain and Italy, you also need confirmation that the animal is vaccinated against rabies. In addition, you will need a special certificate from the veterinarian, which states that the pet is completely healthy.
To travel to Tunisia, you will have to vaccinate your pet against Carre disease. It is also worth considering the features of other countries. In some of them, even people need to get special vaccinations in order not to get infected with dangerous viruses. The same requirements apply to pets. Therefore, it is very important to first familiarize yourself with the conditions of a particular carrier.
We study the airline website
There is always a section on any carrier’s website that lists the requirements for animals. For example, if you go to the official website of the Lufthansa company, you can see only a short phrase that you can not part with your four-legged friend when traveling. However, having rummaged on the site in more detail, you can find out that there are a huge number of restrictions for certain animals. For example, this airline has special requirements for the weight, breed, and age of the pet.
If the trip is carried out through the domestic Aeroflot, then in this case the airline prohibits the transportation of some dog breeds. For example, you can’t take four-legged dogs with a flattened face (bulldogs, pugs, Pekingese, Shih Tzu, boxers, Boston terriers, Japanese chins and many others).
Also, for some companies, the phrase "domesticated animals" periodically appears. What it is is not entirely clear to many owners. In fact, of course, we are not talking about wild animals, which man has tamed and now considers them to be their pets. The thing is that even the most calm, affectionate and sweet cat can begin to act aggressively in stressful situations. Accordingly, in this case, the animal can be removed. These actions will be regarded as aggression on the part of both the animal and its owner.
Do I need to take out insurance?
Before transporting a dog on an airplane across Russia or traveling to other countries, each owner can insure the animal. However, this is not a requirement.
Also, some insure their animals during a tourist trip against possible illnesses or injuries. Others want to protect their animal and receive monetary compensation in case the pet is harmed.
Features registration on board
Prior to check-in at the airport (approximately one hour), you must find a veterinary control desk . This office employs specialists who are based on the current vet. Certificates will be able to issue an international certificate, which is compiled in English or in the language of the country where the tourist goes with his pet.
After that, depending on how the animal will fly, it either remains with the owner, or is sent for subsequent transportation. Before this, experts strongly discourage feeding your pet, because during the flight he may feel unwell or will begin to feel sick. If we talk about sedatives, then doctors recommend them to use. About an hour before take-off, you should give your pet soothing pills or liquid.
Cheat sheet for travelers
If we talk about how to transport a dog on an airplane across Russia, then in this case everything is much simpler. Starting from January 10, 2017, when traveling within the Russian Federation, it is enough to take a veterinary passport of the animal with you.
It is also worth considering that some airlines do not allow the preparation of an international type of customs certificate directly at the airport, so in order to receive it, you will need to go to the carrier’s office 3-5 days before the trip and submit all the necessary documents.
If the airline’s employees cannot answer questions regarding the transportation of the animal to a particular country, all details can be clarified at the consulate of the state where the person plans to go with the animal. In some countries there are certain quarantine conditions, so you need to clarify this issue.
It is also worth considering the moral condition of the animal. You need to understand that during a flight, even a person experiences very strong ailments, especially when the plane is in the take-off or landing stage.