Friday, December 20th 2019
I’ve written out all of our travel tips for people flying with dogs. We recommend every tip from our personal experiences. The list may seem long, but each tip has helped us enormously. I know people that fly with dogs and do not do half the things that we list; however, each person and dog is different. My goal is to give Bee the best chance at success, and these tips have enabled him to succeed.
Before the Travel
Purchase the Right Seat
The first step of success if having the right seat for your dog. This will depend on if your dog fits in a carrier or is outside the carrier. For dogs within carriers, you need to ensure your carrier fits the dimensions of the under-seat space. Space will depend on the aircraft, so you’ll need to do some research. When Bee flew in a carrier home, we bought one with expandable sides that we opened on the aircraft (PetsFit brand). For an ESA, they need to fit within your seat space and your seat space alone. So, since Bee is a larger dog, we buy first-class seats. We also recommend choosing the front row if possible. The front row supplies not only more legroom but also no seat to crawl under in front of you.
Paperwork
To fly with your dog, you will need paperwork. The exact paperwork will depend on your airline, and it is your responsibility to obtain the documents. Documents that we have brought in the past include a clean bill of health from our veterinarian, airline-specific therapist paperwork, our ESA letter and a behavioral form signed by the owner. We recommend submitting the paperwork as soon as you book your flight because some airlines have a limit on the number of animals allowed per plane. Once submitted you will need to be approved by the airline. Also, make sure to have a printed copy of all the paperwork because you will need to present it at check-in.
Packing
You will need to bring items for your dog in your checked bag; however, there are items you will need in the airport as well. For Bee, we packed a day’s worth of food in case of delays and a dog water bottle to avoid dehydration. We also bring treats because your dog will need to walk through the metal detector without a leash. We bring bones for take-off and landing to help with the pressure changes in his ears. We also pack a blanket or towel to wrap him in while he sleeps because the floors of airplanes tend to be cold and drafted. Lastly, we include our bathroom-accident bag.
Limit Water and No Food
Before the flight, do not feed your dog. Skip the meal. This will mean that the dog most likely will not have to poop during travel. Thereby, skipping a meal means a lower chance of an accident at the airport. It is helpful to limit water as well. Flying can be dehydrating, so you’ll want to still give your dog water. However, you should track it carefully to know if he/she will need to pee.
Bathroom Accident Bag
A potty accident bag is essential when flying with a dog. Even if you do everything right by withholding food and water, your pup may still have an accident. The last thing you want in an airport is to be empty-handed if an accident occurs in front of other people. The first step is to have poop bags attached to your leash. Next, the potty accident bag will come in handy. In ours, we pack 3 potty pads in case he won’t use the service dog bathroom (many dogs will not because it smells too strong of urine and foreign dogs). We also include paper towels in case the accident is pee or runny poop from anxiety. We have a little 3oz. spray bottle of cleaning solution in case an accident happens on a carpet. Last, we have plastic bags because if an accident occurs on a plane or at the airport, you’ll want to contain the smell before throwing away. I took these tips from how people fly with babies and diapers, and I feel safe knowing that I can manage well if an accident occurs.
During the Travel
Map the Service Dog Relief Station
Most airports have a service dog bathroom; however, you need to look into the location/quantity. Some airports will have only bathrooms before security. Thereby, once you go through security, you have no options. Some have one bathroom for the whole airport past security meaning you may have a long walk through other terminals to get to one if needed. We always have a map of service dog bathrooms in the airports that we travel through. Bee has only used outdoor bathrooms because the indoor ones have too strong of a smell of other dog’s urine.
The Privilege is the Dog
Having the ability to bring an ESA or dog on a flight is a privilege in itself; therefore, you should not expect other privileges. You should not need extra time to board the plane, you will not be given seat upgrades for a pet and you should not need others to accommodate for you. This is why it is so important for your pet to have good behavior.
People Might Move Away
Just like with babies, some people do not want to sit next to a dog. When buying a ticket, the person is not told if there is a pet next to them. Do not take it personally if someone chooses to move. They may be allergic to animals. They may have a fear of dogs. They may just not want to deal with it.
Go Potty ASAP
Your first priority when landing should be to get your dog to the bathroom ASAP. This is why you will need to know exactly where the closest service dog bathroom is located. When Bee flies, he holds it all through the airport and flight, but he has always gone upon landing. We go straight outside to where the service dog area is and let him go potty. Then, we go inside and collect our bags.
After the Travel
Adjusting Takes Time
Some dogs can adjust to change within minutes and some never fully adjust. You should remember that your dog may be sensitive and nervous. It is helpful to give them comfort and attention to ease the transition. To help with this issue, we recommend bringing as much familiarity as possible. If your dog sleeps in a crate, have a crate ready at the destination. If your dog loves a certain toy, bring it for comfort. If your dog is used to a certain potty/feeding schedule, keep to that rhythm. I also recommend bringing something that smells like home for your pup to sleep with at night.
Thank you so much for sharing this information. So helpful!😊
No problem, we’re glad that you liked the article!
What if the dog barks on the plane. And what can you do in this situation?
I don’t have great advice on this because we’ve never encountered it. However, I would say to try your best to have items on you to distract the pup if they bark (ex. scentless bones, treats or quiet toys). If you know your dog barks, you’ll need to do some training to prevent this, especially in the airport.