Air travel is for ever on the increase and an astounding number of us wish to fly with our cats . For many years families have elected to take their family pet on holidays while leaving them at home when when going abroad or when taking a flight . As air travel becomes more affordable the thought of taking our pet with us seems a affordable option .

Pet Air Travel and the Rules and Regulations

One of the most important factors to consider in connection with air travel and pets is the law. In the United Kingdom there are a number of laws which are applicable, such as the “Safe Air Travel for Animals Act” (2000). Recently there has been an increase in security and where you once may have been allowed to carry small pets with you on a flight this may no longer be the case. It is, obviously, incredibly importance that you check things with the airline before booking your flight. Nearly all airlines now stipulate precisely that all small animals must be carried in suitable containers in the cargo hold. This is clearly much safer than risking an animal becoming distressed and causing a nuisance.

Even though any pets or other small animals are these days carried in the cargo hold some kind airlines will allow a passenger to witness the animal being transferred on and off the plane . However it is of vital importance that, booking your flight you make enquiries about this to the airline.

Other Important Considerations

1. The Pet Container

It is of the uppermost importance that you choose a pet box of the correct size, type and weight for the animal that will be kept in it for the length of the flight. There should always be sufficient extra space for the pet to be able to move about freely all of the time. The longer the duration of the flight the larger the amount of extra room required .

2. Security/Safety Measures And Pet Air Travel

Annoyingly all flights carry the risk of loss or damage to luggage. However great care is taken, by the handlers, of animals but you can reduce the risk further by some simple actions. At all times your pet carrier should be clearly labeled but you should make sure that it is attached properly and contains as much information as possible, outbound destination, home address, your contact details plus the contact details of somebody else incase the airline is unable to contact yourself directly. It is also a good idea to apply such a label to the interior of the pet carrier and you should also fit an identification tag to your animal with a close fitting collar (if possible).

Luckily you can also get your creature electronically tagged however this should be done a long time before your trip. Such devices should be inserted by a vet. During this visit your creature can be examined also you can discuss your destination with the vet who will advise you of any precautions you should take, or of any restrictions and, in the case of international air travel, any injections that may be required.

By following the pet air travel tips and advice above, especially the last point, you will be ensuring your creature travels safely and without too much disturbance. However it is always best to search for as much information as possible before embarking upon a trip and this is even more important when you plan to take your pet along for the ride.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, August 28th, 2008 at 2:30 pm and is filed under Europe Hotels. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.