Air Travel With a Pet
Travelling with a pet can be easy if you're prepared. Although my experience has been flying with dogs between Canada and Korea, many of the links below and all the basic steps will be useful for other nationals with other types of pets as well.
Long Before Your Trip (more than a month)
Get a crate
Not a wire mesh crate, but a solid one with ventilation on three sides and a lip around the periphery to prevent anything from blocking the vent holes. The "pet" sections of airline websites describe the requirements in detail.
Get your pet used to the crate
A crate should be a place she likes, not a place for punishment. Research how to crate train a dog or crate train a cat.
Research pet immigration rules
Each country has different requirements concerning health documentation and vaccinations for cats, dogs, and other animals entering the country. Government websites are the best (most current, accurate, and authoritative) source of information.
Research airlines
Choose an airline that allows small pets in the cabin or has a temperature-regulated room for animals in checked baggage (most do, ask anyway). Each airline has different weight limits for in-cabin travel, different prices for various crate sizes, etc. Check the "pet policy" sections of airline websites carefully and contact the airline directly.
Research flights
Find a direct flight to your destination, if possible, to minimize the risk of injury on the tarmac and/or loss during a stopover. Avoid travelling during temperature extremes. Consider the weather at both your departure site and final destination. Be aware that some airlines have pet travel embargoes during summer and/or winter holiday seasons.
Talk to your vet
Inform your vet that you will be travelling in the next few weeks and that you will be asking for some documentation in the near future. Ask the price of documents. Make sure your pet is healthy and will remain so until travel time. Be up-to-date on all vaccinations, most importantly, rabies.
At the Time of Booking
Make reservations
Reserve your pet's space on the flight at the same time as you book your flight. The number of animals per flight is limited, so do this as far in advance as possible. You'll have to specify the breed, the size/weight of your pet, and the dimensions of your crate.
Check airline requirements
Airlines may require documents in addition to the documents required by the destination country. Ask about the airline's specific requirements regarding your pet's health documents. Some airlines require a health check within 72 hours of departure, some less. Be sure you know exactly.
A Few Days Before the Flight
Visit your vet
Visit your vet within the time frame set by your airline. S/he should perform a basic check-up and provide you with a health certificate stating that your pet is healthy to travel as well as the date of your last rabies vaccination, the type of vaccination used, and it's validity [NOTE: this may be combined into one document or issued separately].
Photocopy your documentation
Make copies of all your pet's documents for yourself and keep a set with you in your carry-on luggage.
On Flight Day
Avoid tranquilizers
Drugs are not recommended because they react differently at altitude and are ">not safe for air travel. Instead, exercise your dog in advance of your flight so that s/he will be tired out and less nervous on flight day.
Prepare the crate
Make sure your pet's crate does not contain anything she can choke on or get hooked on, but does contain:
- an absorbent blanket or towel to cover the floor
- a non-spillable water dispenser
- two portions of food taped to the outside of the crate in case of delay
- a safe toy (nothing she can choke on)
- a shirt or something that smells like you to comfort her
- pet ID fixed to the door of the crate with: your name & contact info + her name/ breed/ sex/ age/ distinctive markings + a recent photo of her
Follow a travel day meal plan
Feed her several hours before the flight to avoid tummy upset and follow any advice from your vet about what would be an appropriate amount to feed on flight day.
Arrive early
Arrive at Incheon airport early: add an extra hour to the time you'd arrive for yourself alone.
Go to quarantine
Go to the Animal Quarantine Office at Incheon Airport. Show your vaccination and health papers to the inspector there, who will exchange them for official customs documentation. Pay the inspection fee and get the new form.
Check in
Go to check-in and pay your pet's flight fee, give them the new documentation. Get baggage tags for the crates.
Go for a potty break
One last bathroom break might be nice. If you've arrived early enough to walk the pooch, go down to the ground floor and into the parking area. Ask at the information desk where you can find some grassy spaces and trees for shade.
Check in your pet
Pet check-in is at over-sized baggage. When we went, they taped up the crate for us then we said our last 'bye' before they wheeled off the pets to board.
Confirm
After you board, ask a flight attendant to confirm that your pet was loaded onto the airplane. If they look bewildered, ask a different flight attendant.
Declare
Declare your pet on the customs card before arrival.
Upon Arrival
Line up
If you're going to Canada, get ready to wait in an extra line up for an Agriculture Canada inspection. You will have to pay an inspection fee. Assuming you have all the necessary paperwork, there is NO QUARANTINE for entering Canada.
Greet outside
Have poop bags, leash, and treats ready for as soon as you open that crate door... outside the airport in the parking lot.
Returning to Korea?
Get new documentation
If you're returning to Korea you will need updated health papers from a local vet. As long as your documentation is in order, there is NO QUARANTINE necessary for entering Korea. Make sure this information is current by checking the Korea's Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (QIA)'s English page Bringing cats and dogs to the Republic of Korea.
Avoid quarantine
If you bring a pet into Korea without the proper papers, your pet may either not be allowed entry or may have to stay in quarantine at Incheon at a daily cost to you. During the pet's quarantine, don't expect her to be cleaned or exercised. Please avoid that situation at all cost..
Different Country? Different Type of Pet?
Research pet transport companies, your destination country's government websites about pet importation, as well as general pet travel tips for the type of animal you're travelling with.
Have a good trip!
