Five Tips for Bringing Your Dog on a Charter Flight
Posted on: 2 June 2015
If you are flying somewhere with your dog and you don't want him or her to have to ride in the luggage compartment, consider booking a charter flight with a company like Broome Air Services. The inherent flexibility of many charter flights makes it possible to bring your dog on board in the cabin. Before taking off, however, keep these five tips in mind:
1. Gather proof of vaccinations before booking the charter flight
For the safety of the pilot and crew on your charter flight, you need to prove that the dog you are bringing with you doesn't have a risk of any serious illnesses. Most charter flight companies will want to see documentation of your dog's vaccines, and in particular, they will want proof of a rabies vaccine.
If you are taking the charter flight abroad, make sure that the dog is legally allowed in the destination country and that you have proof of any vet records that are needed for the border crossing. In many cases, dogs need to be quarantined before they are allowed to jump borders.
2. Bring pee pads
If you are taking a charter flight that is longer than a couple of hours, make a plan for your pup to be able to relieve him or herself mid-flight. for this purpose, you can buy special puppy pee pads that are basically a piece of fake grass. You simply lay these pads out on the cabin floor and let your dog do what he or she needs to do.
If your dog just pees, the pad absorbs it, and if he or she poops, you simply grab the waste in a plastic bag and seal it tightly until you can throw it out after your flight. If your dog has never used pee pads, train him or her before the flight.
To train, simply lay the pad underneath your dog when you are out in your yard. After he or she uses it a couple of times, he or she will get used to the concept.
3. Consider crating your dog
Even though your dog is going to be riding in the cabin of the charter plane, he or she doesn't have to be running free around the cabin. For the comfort of the other people on board, consider putting your dog in a crate.
If your dog finds being in the crate comfortable and secure feeling, he or she may actually prefer the crate during the flight.
4. Check the pet rules at the airports you are using
In some cases, you may be required to have your dog crated when you pass through airports. To avoid any unnecessary hassles or issues, make sure that you check the rules of any airports you will be passing through.
One of the beautiful things about using a charter flight is that you don't necessarily have to fly into major airports with lots of rules. Instead, you can fly into smaller airports with hopefully fewer rules.
In some cases, you don't even need to go into the airport; you can just exit the plane on the tarmac, put your dog on a leash, grab your luggage and be on your merry way. However, you need to investigate the rules and make a plan before departing.
5. Bring comforting toys or consider anti-anxiety medication
If your dog has never flown before or if he or she has had negative experiences on commercial flights, consider doing some things to destress your dog. Just as if you were packing for an anxious child, bring familiar toys and blankets from home to keep your dog soothed.
If your dog suffers from intense anxiety, consider talking with your vet about medicating him for the journey.
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