Traveling has become a part of our everyday lives and flying has become more affordable too. We travel on vacation, to visit our relatives, study abroad or move for new work opportunities. But, what if you have a puppy that you don’t want to leave behind?! Take them with you! Even though many people do not have this experience, flying with dog in-cabin has become quite common. There are many things that you have to learn before your flight, but once you know them all and prepare your check list, it is much easier than you would think!

Remembering the distress, all the questions and uncertainties I had before my first flight with puppy, I’ve decided to put together this detailed article. It contains all the information you need to know about flying with your pup in-cabin.

Airline & other requirements 

First step is easy – pick the flight you like the best. Second step – do your homework before you book that flight!

– Find out if your puppy is eligible to fly. Not every dog can travel in-cabin. First restriction is the size and weight of the carrier that your puppy has to fit in. These may slightly differ according to specific airline. Unfortunately, it is not unified. But, if you are parent of a small breed dog (under 8kg including the weight of carrier), you have one reason less to worry. The approximate measurements of the airline carrier are: height 27 cm/10.5 in, width 40 cm/15.5 in and length 55 cm/21.5 in (these measurements are only approximate, always check with the airline you are flying with). This carrier has to be soft-sided and leak-proof. 

Some airlines might not permit short-nosed breeds (Pug, Shih tzu, Boston terrier, Bulldog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and others) on board. Short-nosed breed may encounter breathing problems during the flight. In general, this rule applies for cargo, but to be sure, check with your airline. I recommend also consulting with your vet. 

When taking your dog on the plane, their temperament plays important role too. If they have high anxiety/stress levels, they are probably not suitable for flying. You can discuss the option of sedatives with your vet, however it is not recommended. It might actually harm the animal even more. At the end, you know your pup the most, so consider properly, whether it is necessary to take them with you and how to make them safe and comfy on the flight. Also dogs who tend to bark and whine might be refused to board the plane.

One last reason to be worried about is the age of your dog. Some airlines do not accept puppies younger than 8 weeks, other under 15 weeks. 

– Understand the airline and airport restrictions. Once you are sure your dog is eligible to fly in-cabin with you, check out the specific airlines requirements. The first thing is to check, whether the airline accepts dogs in the cabin. You can be sure that low cost airlines won’t.

It is equally important to check the countries you are flying in. There are some that only allow to enter dogs flying in cargo, not in-cabin. You won’t be allowed to enter the country with your dog in-cabin in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Hawaii, Iceland, etc. 

Health check at the vet

Once you decide to fly with your pet and you find out they are eligible to fly in-cabin, make sure you pay a visit to your veterinarian. Best before you book the flight ticket. Ask them to check your pup and let them give you their advice. Tell them where do you fly, when and for how long. Safety of you dog on board goes hand in hand with their overall health condition. Whether it’s the breed of your puppy, age, temperament or specific health issues, the vet should know if your dog can fly. 

As I mentioned before, flying might not be suitable for dogs with high anxiety or for dogs who tend to bark or whine. In both these cases you can consider calming medications. Find out about your vet’s opinion and consider thoroughly if it’s necessary to take your dog with you. 

Prepare your dog for the flight

If your pup doesn’t seem to be the easiest to flight with, but you can’t leave them behind, start preparing them for the flight as soon as possible.

– Make your dog familiar with pet carrier. Buy the pet carrier well in advance and let your puppy to get familiar with it. Leave it in the room and put inside his blanket, toy and your t-shirt to make it more pleasant for puppy. Hide there a treat from time to time. And most importantly, do not force your puppy inside against their will. You will find them soon curled inside like it was their castle 🙂 This will make your puppy feel safer during the flight.

– Travel with your dog a lot. Take your puppy for a little trip during the weekend. Travel by car, short distances first, longer later. You don’t have a car? Take a bus, or a tram! Buy a pet basket for your bicycle! I took my puppy also for a cruise on the river as well as to cable cars taking us to the mountain tops. Wherever dogs are allowed, take them with you. Do this even though your dog is not puppy anymore or they are scared. They just need to get use to it.

– Socialize your puppy. Take your puppy among people. Among many people. Take them for a walk to busy downtown or to shopping mall. They need to socialize, they need to get used to little rush and busy places. It can be stressful running around the busy airport. Make your puppy familiar with similar places beforehand. 

Extra fees

Even when your pup travels with you in the cabin, it is not free of charge. The final price depends mostly on the airline you’re flying with and whether the flight is international or within the continent. During my research before travel, I’ve read the cost of puppy flying from Europe to Canada will be $100 for one way only. At the end, we paid €68 for return ticket (two long-haul flights with 1 layover each).

Ticket fee for your puppy is still additional cost and you have to consider if it’s worth to take your puppy with you. However, when flying long distance, €70 sounds like nothing to me compared with €900 for my flight ticket 🙂

Remember, paying for your puppy to fly is not the only fee. Probably the accommodation will cost you a bit more too. It is quite common that hotels (and airbnb) adds daily fee for your pup. Traveling around the country might be not free for you pet either. 

Booking your flight

If you did your preliminary research and are sure that your puppy can fly with you, book the flight that suits you best. As you can’t book your pet online, you have to call the airline you’re flying with. If your flight includes transfers operated by different airlines, you will have to call them too. Make sure you place this call as soon as you can after booking the ticket. There is only 24 hour window that allows you to cancel your booking. In case there are other dogs booked for your flight, you will have to cancel it and pick a different one. The capacity for dogs traveling in-cabin differs according to airline, length of the flight and the plane. There are usually 2 to 4 dogs allowed. More in advance you book the ticket, higher the chance you will get the space for your puppy. For example, I booked my flight tickets four months in advance and my pup was the first one on the plane. As it turned out later, he was also the only one 🙂 Once you call the airline and they confirm your pet, they will send you your flight tickets with the additional price to pay for your pup. They will also check the size of your carrier and the weight of your puppy and carrier combined. If there are any questions you want to ask, do so. It is always better ask couple times and be sure, than miss your flight. 

Prepare packing list for your pup

Make sure your puppy will have everything they need. Not only on the flight, but during the whole trip. Make a packing list couple days in advance. That gives you time to add some items you forgot at the beginning. 

– Pack for the flight. Passport (or/and health paperwork), carrier, medications (if your dog is taking any), your pup’s favorite blanket, your t-shirt (with your scent to make puppy feel safer), water bottle, treats, toy (preferably without making squeaky noises), diaper (to wear at the airport), absorbent pad (to put on the bottom of the carrier in case of any accidents, mostly on the long flights), poo bags, comfy sweater or pj (in case it’s too cold on the plane), wipes, leash and collar (or/and harness).

– Pack for the trip. Do not forget to pack your pup bowls, more toys, more clothes (especially if you’re traveling to countries with colder climate), wet wipes, shampoo, paw wax, toothbrush & toothpaste, towel

To-do list one day prior to your flight

Plan your day before the flight/day of flight accordingly. The most important thing is to visit your vet again. This time for the stamp of approval that your puppy can fly. This shouldn’t be older than 24 hours when you’re boarding the plane. Prepare to pay €5 – €10. 

Prepare some additional exercise for your dog, mostly before the long-haul flight. Take them for a long walk, take stairs instead of elevator or play with them bit more then during usual day. Try to keep them awake and alert in order to make them tired. Tired puppy will sleep more during the flight without additional complaining 😉 

Adjust food plan and water schedule of your dog before the flight. Try to find the balance between making your puppy starving and feeding them before the flight. Take their water bowl three hours before the flight, so they don’t need to relief themselves on the plane. However, do not forget to take water bottle for your puppy on board and ask flight attendant to fill it with water. Mostly on the long-haul flights. 

Food and water schedule

The same as above. Plan the food plan and water schedule for your dog. Mostly in cases, when your flight takes one day and you need to feed them at the airport. It is not the best idea to let them starve, on the other hand we don’t want them to get sick on the plane. If you have longer layover, you can feed them once you land. It will give them 2+ hours to process the food before the connecting flight.

Potty stops

Plan potty stops as well. Check in advance if there are any pet relief areas at the airport or ask when there. It is really a small area with fake grass and water hydrant. Not much, but at least something where your puppy can pee before hopping on another plane. You can also use dog diaper when walking with your puppy around the airport (in case they are allowed to). At least you will prevent them from marking their territory 🙂 If you let your dog walk without the diaper, be prepared for everything. Keep dry and wet wipes in your pockets to be ready to clean any accident very quickly.

Security check

However, some airports may not allow your dog out of their carrier once you are through security. I didn’t have this problem. To be sure, check with your airport beforehand. Or, wait until airport authorities ask you to keep your puppy in the carrier. I kept mine on the leash and he either walked or I carried him in my arms when it was too busy. He was sleeping next to me or on my lap when I was waiting at the gate. No one said anything, so I presume it was OK.

As for the security check, you will need to keep your puppy outside. Pet carrier will be scanned along with the rest of your hand baggage. I believe the security check of you pup differs as per airport. In Vienna, for example, you will have to take your dog to a quiet room. They will have to cross the metal detector by themselves, exactly like people do. They will be lured on a treat, so you don’t have to be afraid they refuse to walk 🙂 Plus airport employees were super nice to my puppy. On the other hand, at the Pearson International Airport in Toronto, you can cross the security check with your pup in your arms. They will just check, if they are not wearing anything dangerous on themselves. Consider it as little pre-flight massage 🙂 Your dog can wear his collar or harness, unless you are asked to remove it for the check. I personally kept my pup metal-free, so I don’t have any additional work during security. Imagine you have to take care of your hand baggage, take out laptop, take off shoes, pet carrier and carry your pup. Let me tell you, that’s quite enough.

Priority boarding with your pup

I have read many times that flying with your dog in-cabin gives you the advantage of priority boarding. I am not sure I did something wrong, but definitely no one considered us priority. To board three of our four flights, we had to wait until our zone was called to board. The only exception was Vienna. They were too kind and let us board with priority people when I showed them my puppy 🙂 So, even if you don’t have the priority boarding, you can still ask the employees. 

Seating

When you travel with dog in-cabin, you can’t book your seat online as well as make online check-in. Airline has the right to pick the seat for you. They have some designated seats where passengers with dogs can sit. It also depends on number of dogs on board. They can’t sit close to each other. You will probably get a middle seat, as there is slightly more space. Do not expect the seats next to exit doors. There is more space for sure, but you can’t block the exit with your pup’s carrier in case of emergency. 

Pup in the carrier

Remember and get ready for that. Your dog has to be in the carrier during the whole flight. Even on the long-haul flight. Pet carrier should be stored under the seat in front of you during the take off and landing. I am not sure if it is the rule to keep it there during the flight. I asked the flight attendant and was allowed to keep the carrier on my knees or table. You can keep it also on the free seat next to you, if the plane is not full. Always ask the personnel first. 

Customs

Once you enter the country of your final destination, you will have to go through customs with your pup. Even if you have connecting flight within the same country. For example, when Calgary, Canada, is your final destination, but you land first in Toronto, Canada, that is where you go through customs. They will check your puppy and you will pay the customs duty. In Canada, it was approx. $35. Make sure to go to customs right away. People are bringing various items into the country and waiting in the queue can be time consuming.

The whole flight experience must have been difficult for your puppy. You can make it up to them upon the arrival though 😉 When you arrive to your new temporary home, prepare a place for your pup. His blanket and t-shirt with your scent will help them feel comfy and safe. My puppy tends to sleep in my open suitcase.

Reward your puppy with some treats or prepare them dinner if it’s due. Do not forget water! To stretch their legs, take them for a walk or play with them bit more before going to sleep.

Make sure you don’t leave your puppy alone in the apartment or hotel room the first day. Make them familiar with the place first to avoid another stressful moments. Our puppy is less stressed when he sees that we have our possessions in the apartment – suitcases and clothes – then he knows we are coming back 🙂

If you arrived to country in a different time zone, give your puppy time to adjust to the change. They suffer from jet lag too.

Important note at the end – do not worry about the traveling with your puppy. Or, do not worry too much! Make sure you have all the documents ready and packed everything from your packing list, arrive at the airport in advance and relax! Airport is a busy place causing stress to your puppy. If you’re relaxed, they feel safer and more comfortable as well. Think about your vacation/trip ahead and enjoy the flight with your pup!

If you have some experience with traveling with puppy, please share your story in the comments below. Before my first flight with puppy I was grateful for every single advice, therefore, let’s join the forces and bring together as much useful information as we can to help all the puppy travelers and their parents 🙂

Love & happy travels,
RLT