Does anyone have any advice on air travel? What kind of crate it best. Anything I should mention at check-in? Anything to ask before I book my flight? I'd like to bring my dog on vacation with me to California from New York. Any advice would be nice.

Thanks,
David C

I've shipped 4 dogs. I normally only go United. They have handled all the dogs very well. You'll need a vet health record to ship them, and you'll need an airline approved crate. I wouldn't recommend feeding or watering the dog for at least 4-5 hours before the flight. You'll also want to freeze the little water tray so that it doesn't spill during take-off. You'll also want to put some sort of pad in the bottom of the crate, I wouldn't recommend buying something the day before. The whole experience is pretty stressful, so let the dog sleep in the crate with the pad for a few days before the flight.

Other than that, have a great trip!

Make sure you check with the airlines as well. During the summer months, many do not allow pets to be shipped (other than those that are allowed in cabin) due to extreme heat that could result.

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Make sure you check with the airlines as well. During the summer months, many do not allow pets to be shipped (other than those that are allowed in cabin) due to extreme heat that could result.

Also, this topic is addressed pretty well here: http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php/Cat/0/Number/4147083/an//page/0/vc/1

Good idea: Ship a tired, well-walked dog, not one in need of exercise.

If you go to the individual airline websites, they have information on the requirements for pet travel, this will help you decide on who to book with. Delta and Continental seem to be favored for pets! Avoid Northwest.

On booking your flight, definately let them know your bringing your pet. (ie: Large dog). Once you get to the counter you'll need a domestic health certificate (issued by your vet). Make sure you have a certificate for both ways (there may be time limits). It is correct about the heat requirements, so ask first (that's why the climate controlled Continental flights are appealing).

I prefer the Vari-kennel Deluxe plastic kennels. I also inform the attendants/captain that I have a dog being boarded as I board the plane. Some attendants (obvious pet lovers) take extra steps and let you know that your pet was loaded and is okay (like the nice attendant I had yesterday <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

If your dog is crate trained and accustomed to travelling in his crate, he should be fine. Don't give him anything thing different to eat before travelling. If your dog is accustomed to a crate pad, than by all means, keep it. I don't put anything thing else in the crate.

Keep on his collar with identification tags. Don't put the leash in the kennel. Is he microchipped? if not, now would be a good time. As stated, make sure he gets ample exercise before flying and has bathroom breaks. Take your paper towels and plastic bags to the airport with you for that last minute break.

I also ask the agent at the ticketing counter the latest time to bring my dog to be boarded, as I don't want her waiting unecessarily in her crate. We usually have a good ol' walk around the airport. Be aware that the dogs now go through security checks as well and this may be more time consuming. You may also want to consider a muzzle at this time.

My dog is 3 yrs and has just completed her 10th airline flight. I give her water up to an hour before the flight. Heck, she can hold it all night while we're sleeping, so what is 3-5 hours. I would be concerned more with dehydration, as dogs will pant/drool alot while flying. But that said, I wouldn't feed the dog, motion sickness and stress may cause vomiting.

Now the big DON'T: DO NOT TRANQUILIZE. Altitude affects the potency of drugs. Big no no.

Triple AAA publishes a good guide for pet friendly hotels and has lots of info for traveling with your pet. It was a god-send on my last trip.

Have fun on your trip!

Thanks Guys!!

I knew I could count some good advice on Leerburg. We are flying JetBlue in October. It shouldn't be too hot, and the cargo is supposed to be temperature controlled (as per their website). We booked an animal ticket for her.

I plan on getting a new crate for her in September and letting her get used to it. The one she has right now isn't suitable for travel. She's always had a pad. I'll use the one in her current crate. She's used to it.

She's not the best bathroom dog we have. Her GSD brother can hold it for hours, but she wants to pee fairly often. This worried me a bit, but I think a 5-6 hour flight should be fine if she's in her crate. I mean, she holds it overnight.

I am a bit nervous, but its more like jitters. I don't want to the whole experience to be too hard on her. But leaving her at home has not been the great either. Whoever watches her, she tries to dominate (via annoying antics) and ultimately wins. When I come back, it takes her a while to figure out I'm not going to stand for her craziness. Besides, I miss her too much while I'm away.

Yes, she is micro-chipped. Is it worth getting both kinds? I'll try my best to make sure she's exhausted, so she sleeps through the whole thing. That's would be the most ideal. Is there something wrong in "over-exhausting" her?

Any other suggestions, please send them. I'm going through the post and making a list for myself.

Thanks!!!!
David C

Oops - we're flying Song - not JetBlue. I think Song is owned by Delta or something.

.We purchased a female GSD from a breeder in germany .He shipped her out with Delta Air to us here in Las Vegas.She had one stop in Atlanta.She was supposed to arrive at 815 pm when I went to pick her up they could not find her anywhere.Obviously she was not in Vegas.We had clearance from customs already so their were no problems there. We gave them a Ref# that Delta in Germany faxed us on Monday morning. The Delta office in Las Vegas could not locate her from those numbers. After almost 2 hours of search with no answer to this problem and too late to call Atlanta, I went home very angry and worried. The cargo counter employee made a lot of assumption of what had happend to her but no real reasons of why she was not there.
I called first thing in the morning to Delta cargo in Atlanta and they told me that flights were delayed and so they had made a decision to hold her back to ship her that next morning.Thanks for letting us know on MOnday night! She arrived at 1125 am on Tuesday morning.By the way The Delta Cargo office in Vegas never once called us to let us know she was on her way and what had happend.Pathetic.I can't say that all Delta offices are that way but I know one thing I will never use them as long as we are in Las Vegas!
On a better note , my female is doing very well , she has a great attitude, very confident, stands proud , worth every $ I spend.Finally a good one! I know I will title this one!
I feel much better , and sorry to all members who came accross my defensive behavior on MOnday morning, I had no sleep that morning and I was full of worries: Bad combination. Thanks to all for all your support, I greatly appreciate that.

Wow, I happy to hear all worked out for you but I have to say I'm shocked. I had a busy year with receiving a working dog from the Czech Republic, returning it, and receiving a second dog from Texas. Delta was suggested to me by the vendor. They were fantastic! Maybe you're right and it's just Las Vegas. At any rate, it all worked out and you got your new bestest friend.