Flying with your pet: how to anticipate what the airlines are asking for.

 

Before flying with your pet, it is advisable to check with the airline.
You can’t imagine To go on holiday without your dog or your cat, or even your hamster? Before booking your trip, check what formalities need to be followed and which airlines accept them on board.

Anticipate your trip

The General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) advises to anticipate from the purchase of the plane ticket. “When booking your trip, or buying your ticket, remember to tell your airline or travel agency that you will be traveling with your pet. Some companies limit the number of animals allowed on a flight, ”she says on her site.

take away up-to-date health record your pet and consult your veterinarian if he is nervous or susceptible to motion sickness. You can also call the company at least 72 hours before the flight to confirm its presence on board.

Hold or cabin?
Some companies may allow the presence in the cabin of small animals, as well as assistance dogs. So check with your company if it accepts them and what is the maximum weight allowed.

The other animals will have to travel in the hold, not with the luggage but in a “ventilated, pressurized and heated place. Your animal’s cage will be held there in such a way that it remains stable.

Choosing the transport box
To travel in the hold, the body must be approved in accordance with IATA (International Air Transport Association) standards, airy and large enough to allow the animal to turn around and lie down normally. Remember to fix the feeders and drinkers inside the crate, avoiding bowls that could tip over. Please note that padlocks are prohibited, but you can indicate inside the crate the name of the animal, its tattoo number, as well as your name, telephone number and destination address.

Which animals are allowed to travel?
Most airlines only accept dogs and cats on board. If you want to travel with a parakeet or hamster, find out from your company. As to dangerous dogs, those in category 1, they are not allowed to fly. For the snub nosed dogs – boxer, bulldog… – suffering from breathing difficulties, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian before any air travel.

What are the companies saying?
Air France-KLM

To board, an animal must be at least 15 weeks old and have all its mandatory vaccinations up to date. Will not be accepted in the cabin a dog or a cat whose weight does not exceed 8 kg (bag included). Since rigid transport boxes are not accepted in the cabin, a specific, ventilated and closed bag must be provided because the animal must not leave it for the duration of the flight; its dimensions cannot exceed 46 x 28 x 24 cm and it must be able to slip into the space located under the seat in front of the passenger. This bag is considered a extra baggage fee.

Each passenger cannot travel with only one animal. Pets are not allowed in the Business cabin on intercontinental flights and snub-nosed animals are not accepted in the hold. Similarly, dogs of 1D category are prohibited; those of 2e category are permitted on cargo flights.

The rates :

Flights in mainland France: €80 in the hold; 40 € in cabin
Intra-Caribbean flights: €75 in the hold; 30 € in the cabin (except from and to Miami)
Flights within Europe or between Europe and North Africa: €200 in the hold; 55 € in cabin
Flights between mainland France and Cayenne, Fort-de-France, Pointe-à-Pitre, Saint-Denis de La Réunion: €75 in the hold; 55 € in cabin
Other flights: €400 in the hold; 125 € in cabin.

Delta Airlines

Dogs, cats and small domestic birds may travel in the cabin for a one-way charge, payable at check-in. The animal must be able fit in a small transport cage ventilated to be placed under the seat in front of the passenger.

The animal must be at least 16 weeks old for any travel to the United States and only one cage per customer can be carried in the cabin.

Snub-nosed dogs and cats are not permitted on Delta flights.

Price: €200 on international flights

Ryanair

This company does not accept animals on board, with the exception of guide and assistance dogs (which are, however, prohibited on flights to or from Morocco and Israel).

Easyjet

Pets are not permitted on Easyjet flights with the exception of guide dogs, no additional cost. But they cannot travel on flights to and from Egypt, Israel, Kosovo, Montenegro, Morocco and Turkey.

Vueling

The company accepts only in the cabin, dogs, cats, birds (except birds of prey) and turtles. They must be transported in an approved, non-rigid cage or bag, the dimensions of which do not exceed 45 x 39 x 21 cm and the weight 10 kg (animal included).

The company specifies that animals which could disturb or prove to be dangerous (smelly, poor health, poor hygiene or violent behavior) for other passengers and for the crew will be prohibited in the cabin.

Prices: €40 on domestic flights; €50 on international and Canary Islands flights.

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