Rules for transporting animals in the cabin in 2021

Is it possible to take a dog on a plane?

Air transportation of dogs is, in fact, permissible and, as such, there is no prohibition. But there are certain rules for this. You can find them on the airline company’s website, or by calling a consultant and asking all your questions (usually the call is free). Animals are transported in the aircraft cabin or in the cargo compartment. To do this, animal owners must have a package of necessary documents.

Which dogs are prohibited from being transported on an airplane?

The following individuals are not allowed to fly:

• Brachycephalic breeds (bulldogs, sharpeis, pugs, Japanese chin). Due to their physical structure. Such breeds have a very short, graceful muzzle, but because of this, at altitude they will have difficulty breathing and may experience problems with the cardiovascular system.
• Animals with diseases (severe chronic diseases, especially heart, respiratory and brain diseases, as well as pets over 10 years old).
• Experimental animals.
• Dogs weighing more than 50 kg including carrier.

Don't despair, if your furry pet weighs more than 50 kg, you can still try taking it on a trip. Then you should contact an S7 airline company. Its specialization is the transportation of large animals, including animals from zoos and circuses.

In what other cases can they refuse?

There are a number of nuances, if not followed, the airline may refuse to transport your dog:

• The owner did not inform the airline company's employees about the dog in advance. When your four-legged friend is traveling with you, you must inform the airline no later than 36 hours before departure.
• Required documents are missing.
• There is no payment for the dog transportation service.
• The breed declared for transportation differs from the actual one.
• The animal poses a potential threat to company employees and other passengers.
• Carrying a dog does not comply with established rules.

Requirements for containers

All boxes, regardless of size, must be:

• made of durable plastic;
• have a quality certificate;
• equipped with ventilation holes at the top;
• with metal door;
• with smooth inner walls without protrusions;
• with a waterproof solid bottom;
• equipped with strong locks - padlocks are undesirable, as they can break during the flight;
• comfortable for the dog so that it can sit, stand, lie down, and turn around;
• with holes of optimal size - so that the dog cannot stick his paws or tail into them.

The box for transportation in the cabin should be no more than 115 cm in the sum of 3 dimensions. The minimum cage size for the luggage compartment is 155 cm.

Some carriers allow small dogs (up to 3 kg) to be carried as hand luggage. They are allowed to be placed in wicker baskets or bags for carrying dogs up to 135 cm in size.

The bottom of the carrier is covered with bedding, and the top with a moisture-absorbing diaper. The collar is put on the dog, and the leash is placed at the bottom of the cage.

Rules for transporting dogs on an airplane

There are two ways for dogs to travel on an airplane: in the cabin and in the cargo hold. Which location your animal will fly to depends on several criteria.

In the cabin

It is easier for an animal to endure a flight if it travels in an air show. But to allow four-legged animals into the salon, they must be small in size.

As a rule, airlines provide the opportunity to transport only certain breeds: miniature and decorative.

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For these breeds there is a set of mandatory conditions and restrictions:

• The presence of a box or carrying bag. Under no circumstances will you be allowed to keep your dog on your lap, or on the seat next to you.
• Do not forget about the physical needs of the animal; it is better to make sure the bottom of the container is secure in advance. If the animal wants to go to the toilet, then nothing should leak, the interior covering will remain clean and dry. Then the company will not have any claims against you.
• The pet's weight plays an important role. You can transport a puppy in the cabin. An adult is only allowed if its weight is no more than 8 kg. Otherwise, transportation is carried out in the luggage compartment.
• The volume of the container must not exceed 115 cm (in three dimensions: length, width and height).

Strict carrying place. The place of the box in the cabin is under the seat of the chair in front of the seat you occupy or on your lap. There is no point in violating these rules; they are designed to ensure the safety of aircraft passengers. It is not permissible for the container to be in the aisle, nor for the dog to move freely around the cabin.

Several dogs can be on board the plane at the same time: two adults or three young puppies. But they must be in the same carrier, and the weight of all dogs also cannot exceed the threshold of 8 kg.

Travelers should take care of a veterinary first aid kit. For an animal, flying is just as stressful; most animals experience inconvenience.

It's important to know where you can fit on board when traveling with pets. It is not possible to book tickets for first and business classes. Such passengers are allowed to remote places: near emergency exits or restrooms. Air travel with a dog can only be carried out in economy class (except 1st row)

You must not sit near an emergency exit, or near other animals or children. The exception is when both dogs live together and the child is a member of the family.

In the luggage compartment

Medium and large dogs (crossing the 8 kg threshold) fly in the cargo area. Dogs flying here are potentially dangerous for passengers and company employees - guard and fighting breeds (English bulldog, bull terrier).

Mandatory conditions for registering a dog as non-standard baggage:

• Veterinary papers that are drawn up in accordance with certain conditions. These conditions are established by Rosselkhoznadzor.
• Exclusively cage. The muzzle and harness are not taken into account; they will not be able to bring the animal on board.
• The size of the cage must correspond to the volume of the dog (but no more than 115 cm). The dog should be able to freely change position and lie comfortably. This criterion is important for the general condition of the animal. At high altitudes, the dog may experience discomfort, and being separated from the owner can make the dog feel sad. If the cage is too small, the animal will want to get out and will begin to rock the cage. It is better to purchase a crate with two locks; this approach will ensure that the dog is in the crate during the entire flight.
• Make sure the bottom is waterproof. After the flight, the compartment coverings must remain dry and clean. It wouldn't hurt to put a diaper on.
• In order for the animal to feel comfortable, it needs to be provided with sufficient ventilation. At least three sides must be made of metal mesh.
• It would be better to purchase a cage in a special store or borrow it from trusted friends. Homemade boxes are not allowed.
• It is important to provide the animal with water and food. Buy a travel feeder and water bowl. The owner himself takes care of this, not the company.

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When all conditions are met, the passenger checks in the baggage. A bar code is glued to the container with the dog; it is better to carefully double-check all completed documents. A barcode is needed for automatic baggage distribution.

Where to go with an animal at the airport

In order to be on time and correctly calculate the time and complete all formalities, you must arrive at the place 3-4 hours before the scheduled flight time. At the airport, the container goes through a scanner, and the animal and owner go through the frame. A leash and muzzle are a must.

Initially, they undergo veterinary control; there are often queues to see the doctor; one visit takes up to 40 minutes. When flying abroad, you can fill out the basic documents yourself and have them certified on the spot. Some airports do not have 24-hour veterinary control; this information is checked in advance.

Then they go to the registration desk. There, the pet's papers are checked and weighed. The owner must pay for transportation - an exception is provided by companies in which payment is made in advance. He must then return to the check-in counter and receive his boarding pass.

Important! If your pet is flying in the luggage compartment, then it must be escorted to the oversized baggage reception area. When flying on an international flight, before boarding you will have to go through customs control and declare the animal.

What documents will be needed

In order for your trip to be successful and without unforeseen situations, it is worth preparing all the necessary documents for air travel in advance. Ideally within 1-2 months.

For transportation within Russia

In order for your pet to be allowed on board, you must present 2 documents for air travel:

1. Veterinary passport. This document is filled out by the veterinary clinic doctor during the first vaccination. Important! All vaccinations must be given no later than 30 days before departure!
2. Veterinary certificate of state standard according to form No.1. It can be purchased from your veterinarian. This certificate confirms that your pet does not have dangerous diseases. Validity period: 5 days from the date of receipt! But that is not all. There will also be another veterinary check at the airport. The optimal testing time is 40 minutes.

For transportation abroad

There are general rules for taking dogs abroad:

• Veterinary certificate of international standard.
• The dog should not be listed as a breed value or be of a rare breed. In this case, a resolution is required from the canine service of the Russian Federation authorizing this procedure.
• Chip (microcircuit). If necessary, the chip will help you find an animal lost during a trip. A dog that is microchipped can be tracked through a scanner.
• Label with information in English located on the cargo cage.
• A month after the rabies vaccination and 12 weeks before departure, a blood test is taken to check for viruses.

It is worth understanding that in addition to the general rules, each country sets its own rules. For example, in order to move to specific states, additional certificates may be required confirming that the pet has received all vaccinations against diseases that are common in the given territory. All countries have a quarantine period ranging from 14 days to six months. During quarantine, the owner pays for the maintenance of the dog.

Of particular interest is the need to invite a customs broker to meet your pet. Unfortunately, this procedure cannot be accomplished without outside help. England has strict requirements in this matter: an animal in this country can only be met by a legally authorized representative of the company. An additional fee will be required for the provision of these services.

Documents for taking a pet abroad

Documentation for animals is based on the local veterinary passport. Most of the information is taken from it.

Veterinary passport

After issuing a veterinary certificate, it is exchanged for an international veterinary passport. It is issued at preliminary control points and is valid for one calendar month.

The certificate must be retained throughout the trip; it will be needed when flying in the opposite direction from anywhere in the world.

Chipping

There is a risk that your pet will get lost during the trip. Chipping helps in the search - a procedure in which a special capsule with a microchip is inserted under the skin of a four-legged animal. Each of them has an individual number, which is read using a scanner.

Important! The introduction of a chip is mandatory when transporting animals to foreign countries. Using it, services receive information about the owner.

Veterinary certificate

Export license

Mandatory documentation for purebred dogs includes a certificate from the canine organization (RKF). The certificate confirms that flying abroad will not cause damage and will not provoke the extinction of the species in the state.

Features of flying with guide dogs

Guide dogs are a special group of dogs. When determining whether tailed animals are to be transported to the air show of an airliner, the criteria of weight and breed do not have any influence. In addition, they do not need a special container. These dogs have the privilege of being able to fly without paying a fee. For this transportation, the owner must provide a certificate of disability. The person accompanying the dog may be a minor representative. The main thing is that the child is over 12 years old.

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Guide dogs are special dogs, therefore their placement rules are also special, different from ordinary pets.

The dog is brought in before the rest of the passengers begin boarding.

The dog's mouth must be covered with a muzzle and there is a leash by which they are tied to the chair occupied by the owner.

Dogs are prohibited from being placed in the aisle, near emergency exits, or occupying the seats of other guests.

They should not make unsafe alterations, harm other people's property, or relieve themselves.

Each air carrier has its own requirements

Before your flight, call the carrier and clarify the rules for transporting dogs. Because every company has its own rules. For example, the Russian air carrier Aeroflot allows a maximum of two dogs into the passenger cabin.

The Dutch concern KLM allows one pet weighing up to four kilograms to be carried in the cabin. Everyone else goes to the cargo area. Air France allows 4 dogs on board. The weight of each should not exceed five kilograms.

Other companies look at the dimensions of the cage. In the passenger cabin of the airliners of the German carrier Lufthansa, you can carry cages measuring 60x45x40 cm maximum. In the cargo compartment - 125x85x75 cm.

American Delta has set more stringent rules. The size of the cage for a flight in the cabin is a maximum of 53x22x33 cm. They can be purchased at the concern's representative offices for $35.

Can a dog go on a trip without its owner?

There are situations when the owner cannot fly with the animal. In this case, it is possible to take advantage of the offer of transporting an animal without an owner. To take advantage of this offer, you need to fill out all the required paperwork, including a power of attorney for the accompanying employee. The employee is provided by the company itself; there is no need to hire anyone else. Please note that not all airlines provide these services; it is worth checking in advance.

After the owner brings the dog to the airport on his own, he hands it over to the manager and writes a statement. In such an application you will need to enter information about the size and weight of the dog, the address of the end point, and the dimensions of the carrier.

How to buy a plane ticket for a dog, cat or other animal

The cost depends on several parameters:

• whether the pet is an exotic breed;
• its total weight including the cage;
• carrying dimensions;
• flight direction.

Important! Before traveling, you need to clarify the requirements of the company (Pobeda, S7 Airlines, etc.) and the final price for the ticket.

Animal ticket

The average price for flights with an animal within the Russian Federation does not exceed 2.5 thousand rubles (as of June 2021). A visit to a foreign country will cost more than $50.

How to prepare your dog for a flight

Take care of your four-legged family member and provide him with the most comfortable conditions for traveling. Do not allow your dog to become overly stressed or afraid; it is better to make the dog feel as comfortable as the unfamiliar environment allows.

It is very important that if you have not used a carrier before, you need to introduce the animal to it. In order for the dog to get used to the environment, before the flight you can take him on excursions to the airport several times and walk around the building. It will be a plus if the dog has previously traveled by car or train.

If you don’t want any unpleasant situations to arise during the flight, follow these simple rules:

• Do not give the animal food 4 hours before departure.
• Walk the animal the day before boarding so that it does not need to relieve itself.
• Do not water or give food to the dog on board (with the exception of if the flight lasts more than 5 hours, then you can give it water).
• Be sure to take a first aid kit.
• Remember that you will need diapers and wipes.

Now you have all the information you need to go on an exciting journey with your pet. You can pack your bags, not forgetting your pet’s favorite toys, and hit the road safely. Have a good trip!

Features of pre-flight processes

Proper preparation for travel is the key to a safe passage of control and flight. What you need to know about flying with an animal:

1. The possibility and requirements for transportation should be clarified and confirmed when calling the carrier (at least one and a half days before departure, and preferably three days).
2. You must make a separate reservation for your pet.
3. Transportation is paid. The size of the cost is affected by the dimensions of the container, the weight of the animal and the carrier’s tariffs. Even for a small animal you will have to pay.
4. You should arrive at the airport 3-4 hours before boarding.
5. You must visit the veterinary control service at the airport before check-in. Specialists will examine the animal, provide a boarding pass and make a note on the pet’s document. If the flight is made abroad, then a three-day veterinary certificate is obtained here. But it is issued on the basis of a veterinary certificate.

6. Then you can go to registration.
7. It is highly advisable to have a veterinary first aid kit with you. Animals sense pressure changes, changes in environment, and dangerous conditions more acutely. Therefore, you need to stock up on everything necessary to ensure maximum comfort for them.
8. The animal must be accompanied by an adult passenger.

By following the above recommendations and pre-flight processes, you will ensure an easy flight for yourself and your pet.