I travel twice a year, sometimes more, with my dog, Hepburn. I live in Germany, but my family is in the US so I go in the summer and at Christmas to see them and take the furbaby with me. This means all sorts of paperwork and customs and ugh, but I have been on 4 round trips as of now and I have never had an issue, thanks to the EU's wonderful pet passport system. I have not had the opportunity to fly within the US, but I have flown a few times within Europe. My tips are:
1. Ask for a cup with ice cubes in the last hour of your flight (if it is a long haul). The dog will lick them but they can't spill.
2. Make sure that the person next to you knows there is a dog under your seat, especially is they need to get past you to use the bathroom. I didn't do this the first time because I didn't want to cause problems and the person next to me kicked the bag, which freaked my dog and them out.
3. Always have dry food enough for 2-3 days in your carry on. If you get stuck somewhere (like I did last christmas in Frankfurt, Germany after bad weather in Berlin caused me to miss my connection 6 days before Christmas), you and your puppy will be really happy that he or she has her food. Many airports will not let you get your checked bags if you manage to get on standby for another flight the same day.
4. Call early to tell them you are bringing a dog and call again 24-48 hours before your flight. Last thing you want with the stress of travel is a problem at the check-in!
5. Put a piece of already worn but not washed clothing of yours in with your dog in his bag. It can be just a t-shirt or something. This can help to calm your dog as he or she is relaxed by your familiar smell.
6. Don't stress out! This can be really hard, but your stress becomes your dog's stress. Try to relax and take things as they come. What is the worst that can happen?
Enjoy your trips and fly safe! If anyone has questions about travel to and from Europe, PM me. |