If your pet is small enough, you may be able to take it in the cabin with you as one of your carry-on pieces for an additional fee. But if your pet is larger, you are required to carry your pet in the cargo holding area. ​ Due to security regulations implemented by the TSA, all international cargo on passenger planes must be sent from “known shippers.” Smart Pet Air Travel is a TSA-known shipper and is able to book cargo on your behalf.  

 

Although using a third-party pet shipper costs more, it is generally required for international cargo shipments. ​

• Many airlines require that you work with a professional pet shipper to handle the web of rules and regulations in transporting a live animal across country borders.

• Each importing country may have different health requirements (vaccinations, microchips, physical examination, quarantine).

• Airlines may have limited capacity in airports for receiving live animals that must be checked before booking cargo space on the plane.

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One needs to triple-check travel plans and paperwork well ahead of departure to ensure everything goes smoothly. ​ A professional pet shipping service like Smart Pet Air Travel will do all of the logistics planning, packaging, document preparation, and coordination for you. ​

We provide the full-relocation service that includes some or all of the following

• Travel consultation, planning, and flight reservations

• Coordination of health requirements and documentation

• Pre-completion of health certificate for the country of import

• USDA endorsement of health certificate

• Local/ long-distance ground transport to and from the airport

• Flight check-in assistance if the pet is dropped off at the airport

• Customs clearance at destination Home Delivery at destination

• Airline-approved travel crate that meets all IATA and USDA regulations, including bowls, stickers, and absorbent bedding

• Boarding reservations ​​​​​ ​ ​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

It is safe to fly pets on a plane internationally - according to US DOT, 2 million animals flew on U.S. commercial air carriers in the year 2017 safely at an incidence rate of ~0.0048% (24 incidents total)

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At least one cargo hold in every plane is insulated, with temperature and pressure control.  In most airplanes, the cargo compartment has the same ventilating system as the passenger compartment.

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We work with major pet-friendly airlines. These major airlines have temperature-controlled waiting areas and temperature-controlled vehicles to transfer the pets from the waiting area to the aircraft. Also, these airlines ensure that the pets board last and disembark first.