While most major airlines offer decent travel services for pets nowadays, the rules and regulations for travelling with your dog by plane can differ from one airline to the other. What are the conditions for flying with your dog? What are different transport options and how can you best prepare your dog for the journey? In this article we tell you all there is to know about going on holiday with your dog.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Going on holiday with your dog: different ways of flying"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Animal transport is regulated internationally by the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) general safety regulations. These ensure that, among other things, the situation in the baggage gold (air pressure, temperature, etc.) and the (un)loading of your dog at departure and arrival are not harmful or unhealthy for your pet.
In general, there are three different ways to take your dog on a plane:
Please note that sometimes airlines only reserve limited space for pets in aircrafts, depending on the type and destination. For this reason, it might be necessary to reserve a spot for your dog once you’ve booked your flight.
"}},{"alignedImage":{"position":"top","altTextEN":"Close up of a wet dog standing outside with his tongue out","altTextFR":"Gros plan d'un chien mouillé se tenant à l'extérieur et tirant la langue.","altTextNL":"Close-up van een natte hond die buiten staat met zijn tong uitgestoken","extension":"jpg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/2cd2cf5d247f831c/original/Close-up-of-a-wet-dog-standing-outside-with-his-tongue-out.jpg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/7148fcc4-982c-44e9-966d-ed715f90e64e/Close-up-of-a-wet-dog-standing-outside-with-his-tongue-out"},"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":""}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"What dogs are not allowed on a plane?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Not all dogs are allowed to travel by plane. Many airlines have even completely banned specific breeds, such as pit bulls or rottweilers, from flying. Moreover, some breeds are only allowed in the cabin or cargo hold. Brachycephalic dogs with short or snubbed noses (like the pug), for example, usually are only allowed to fly in the cabin due to their breathing issues. Most larger dogs on the other hand are not allowed in the cabin and will have to fly in the cargo hold. Trained service animals are an exception to this rule.
New-born puppies are also not yet allowed to fly either. The minimum age required varies from 8 weeks to 3 months. So be sure to check your airline’s terms and conditions before booking.
You should also take into account that some destinations simply don’t allow you to bring your pet with you. Not because of the country’s rules, but because of those at the airports. This is currently the case for the UK, Ireland, Scotland, and the United Arab Emirates. Islands such as Australia and Hawaii do allow travel with pets but require them to spend some time in quarantine after arrival to protect their local flora and fauna.
In other words, doing your research in advance of every trip is crucial to ensure you don’t encounter any unpleasant surprises.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"What are the conditions for flying with your dog?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Going on a last-minute holiday with your dog is not to be advised, as travelling with a pet requires a number of obligatory arrangements:
First and foremost, every airline demands that your pet is in good health. As flying comes with extra stress for animals, it’s important that they show no signs of illness beforehand both for their own sake and your fellow passengers.
Your dog must also have its own pet passport, including the necessary travel and health documents.
Depending on your destination, they will also need certain immunisations or vaccinations, which often need to be administered a minimum number of weeks before your departure. Within the EU, an anti-rabies vaccination is always mandatory.
Finally, travelling with your dog means they must also be microchipped with an electronic identification system, also known as transponder.
Apart from making sure you are in order with the mandatory requirements for travelling with your dog by plane, there are some additional precautions you can take to make the flight as enjoyable as possible for your dog:
Try to get your dog used to his travel bench (both open and closed) in the weeks leading up to your departure. Provide a familiar blanket or toy in the bench for the flight to make them feel at home.
While you might be considering sedatives to make the journey more pleasant, they are in fact not recommended for travelling, unless they’re recommended by your vet. In fact, they don’t do much for your dog’s stress level and only increase the risk of air sickness.
Reduce the risk of motion sickness by giving your dog a last meal 8 to 10 hours before departure. Do let them drink as normal.
Try to take a big walk as close to departure as possible to help your dog lose energy prior to the flight.
Even though most airports have a dedicated dog check-in desk, do keep in mind that checking in your dog takes time. Therefore, try to arrive at the airport in time to avoid unnecessary stress for both you and your dog.
Take out the Luggage Insurance+ option of ING’s travel insurance to cover loss, theft or delay of your luggage.
"},"title":"Secure your valuables when travelling"},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Did you know?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"With the ING Travel Insurance cover, your pet can benefit from repatriation to its place of residence and veterinary expenses in the event of illness!
"}}]},"hasMacro":false,"id":"253c8183-abb1-4ae1-a40a-a548a997f0b7","localeString":"en-GB","mainHeaderZone":{"backLink":{"textLink":{"text":"Insurance","url":"/en/individuals/insurance"}},"componentType":"editorialHeader","coreHeader":{"subtitle":"Going on holiday with your dog soon? Then you might be thinking of travelling by plane with your furry friend. However, there’s quite a lot to consider before showing up at the airport to board with your dog.","title":"Tips for travelling with your dog by plane"},"date":"2024-01-10","readingTime":3},"publishDate":"2024-01-25T15:08:20.808+01:00"}}