Everything To Know About Flying In-Cabin With Your Pet

Sick of leaving your furry friend behind when you're off jet-setting? Lucky for you, traveling with pets has never been easier as more and more airlines are adding pet accommodations to their online booking sites. Check out the info below for everything you'll want to know about flying within the United States with your fluffy companion!

Cabin Travel With Your Pet:

Surprised to hear you can fly with your cat, dog, or even bird in the passenger cabin? This seriously takes a ton of anxiety out of flying with a pet as your furry (or feathered) friend will be positioned safely under the seat in front of you. Yes, you read that right, under the seat in front of you. Unfortunately, for large dog owners, this means your best friend won't be able to sit next to you as you make your journey to your destination and will have to be checked in the cargo area of the plane (I know it's not fair! Hopefully, that'll change one day as our culture continues to shift and view pets as the family members they are.). A few things to be aware of when traveling in the cabin with a pet:

• Booking for your Pet: To ensure a smooth day of travel, I recommend booking your in-cabin-pet prior to arriving at the airport. I've found most airlines charge a one-way fee of about $70. No need to go to the ticket desk for any inspections if you're checking in online. The in-cabin pet will be noted as an accommodation on your boarding pass! It's seriously that easy!

• Airport Security: Most of the security process remains status quo, with one caveat. You'll go through a metal detector with your pet instead of the wave scanner. You can choose to hold your pet or walk through with them on your leash, it's up to you.

• Airport Lounge: While waiting for your flight, your pet is welcome to walk around while leashed in most areas. Many large airports have pet relief areas now, but don't always expect to find one. It's best practice not to provide food or water to your pet within 4 hours of the flight.

  • TIP: If your dog's like mine, it won't go in the pet relief area even if one is provided. So ensure you bring cleaning materials if they're to have an accident. I also bring potty pads to put in the kennel. There are also diaper-like options for your pet if you prefer!

• In flight: Your pet will be required to sit in a kennel under the seat in front of you for the duration of the flight. So make sure your pet fits comfortably in theirs. I recommend a soft-sided kennel for the most flexibility and comfort. We love ours, check it out here.

  • Most aircraft will fit a carrier with dimensions of 18” x 11” x 11” under the seat.

Other things to consider:

• Behavior: You know your pet best, and if they are highly anxious, reactive, or aggressive, then it may be best for them to stay home. If they're generally well-behaved, but you're unsure how your pet will act on a flight, then I'd speak to your vet about potentially getting a sedative for them. However, I'd recommend testing a dose at home prior to your flight. If this is their first time taking the sedative, you may not know how they'll respond, and if they experience a negative reaction the last place you'd want to be is on your way to the airport or in-flight. Alternatively, we like to give our dog calming hemp chews and have found they really mellow him out ahead of the flight. This is our trusted brand. I also recommend trying these safely at home prior to your departure.

• In Flight Expectations: My biggest piece of advice is this: if your airline steward/ess is telling you your pet needs to go in the overhead storage, they are absolutely wrong. This is absolutely crucial as it is likely your pet would suffocate. For this reason, ensure you have the airline in-cabin pet guidelines readily available. The easiest way to find this is online. Simply google "cabin-pet (airline)". Secondly, most airlines are going to require your pet to stay fully enclosed in their kennel for the duration of the flight. With that being said, we've never faced an issue with letting our little guy pop his head out and usually goes fully back in his kennel after a few minutes. Some stewards/esses may allow your pet to sit on your lap, but this is not the norm and should be considered a one-off experience.

• Pet-Friendly Airlines: Prior to booking your ticket, ensure your airline allows in-cabin pets. Most these days do, but you don't want to find out they don't after the fact. It's an easy google search to find the airline's policy on their site.

• Pet-Friendly Destinations: If you're traveling domestically within the U.S. you shouldn't have any issues traveling with your pet, and no extra vaccine documentation is required (although it's always best to bring their most recent vet records to be safe!). This is a different story if you're traveling internationally. You'll have to go through some extra steps. These can be found on the United States government's CDC and USDA websites.

There you have it! Everything you need to consider prior to bringing your happy-tailed friend with you on your next flight. Happy Travels!