Transportation of animals on an airplane: rules and requirements

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Carrying animals on an airplane is subject to strict rules and regulations. Therefore, when you are going on a trip with a pet, you must adhere to them. A large number of procedures must be followed in order for your animal to be safely boarded and then unloaded. Indeed, due to ignorance and violation of the rules of transportation, you can lose money and time.

How to proceed?

So that your trip goes without unpleasant surprises? when transporting animals on an airplane, you must follow the following algorithm. To get started, be sure to carefully study the basic requirements, which are practically the same in most airlines.

If you are flying abroad, please check the rules for transporting animals on an airplane in the country you are traveling to. Contact a veterinary clinic to clarify the requirements of your particular region of Russia. The best thinggo to the government doctor. After that, call the airline and let them know in advance that you are going to travel with a pet, get verbal confirmation from them that no problems are expected in connection with this.

At the veterinary clinic, get the appropriate certificate, and at the airport, change it for a certificate that gives the right to transport animals on an airplane. Check in your pet for the flight, depending on its parameters and the rules of a particular airline, it can go in baggage or hand luggage.

General rules

When you are going to organize the transportation of animals on an airplane, the first thing you need to decide is whether you will do it yourself or hire a special agent. There are companies on the market that provide such services.

According to the general rules for transporting animals on an airplane, you can do this yourself if you are a capable and adult citizen, while transporting a pet whose weight, taking into account the cage, does not exceed the established standards. As a rule, it is 50 kilograms.

In all other situations, it is necessary to contact transport agents, who not only organize everything, but also prepare the necessary veterinary documents.

Please note that most airlines do not consider reptiles, rodents, arthropods, any creatures that need to be transported in water, untamed birds and animals as pets. Generally, only cats, dogs and ferrets are subject to transportation regulations.

Under strict ban

For the safety of the animals themselves, it is forbidden to transport puppies and kittens under the age of 4 months, pregnant females, old and sick animals, animals that have problems with respiratory organs, heart and brain activity.

Special requirements for the transportation of brachycephals. These are animals with flat muzzles and short skulls. In particular, they include Pekingese, bulldogs, pugs, boxers and several other similar breeds of dogs. Among cats, the most famous brachycephalic cats are Persians, there are several other exotic shorthair breeds.

On many airlines, for example, Aeroflot, the transportation of animals on an airplane is prohibited if they can be classified as brachycephalic dogs. But cats with the same skull structure cannot be transported only to the USA and then at certain times, for example, when it is too hot. This practice is due to the fact that brachycephalic people can have problems with pressure, because of this, a fatal outcome is possible right on board the aircraft.

Where are you taking the animal?

In advance, you need to study the rules of the country where you are going to bring the animal. For example, recently quarantine is mandatory for all animals imported into China and India, while Israel and Japan require titers for rabies antibodies to be presented.

It is difficult to bring an animal into an isolated state. These include Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, part of China. Some countries have certainindividual restrictions. For example, you can bring a dog or cat into Ireland only through Dublin Airport. In America, animals on board are quite loyal, but European-style chips are simply not read there.

Required documents

If you yourself are engaged in the transportation of animals by plane in Russia, then take care of the necessary veterinary documents. True, this will be required if you are taking the animal for commercial purposes, to another owner, or to participate in exhibitions. In all other cases, no veterinary accompanying documents are required for your pets.

From this it follows that for the transportation of animals by plane on Aeroflot and other domestic companies on domestic routes, a veterinary passport will be sufficient, in which all the necessary marks will be affixed.

Trip abroad

Requirements for transporting animals on an international plane are more stringent. When traveling to the countries of the Customs Union, you will need to issue an appropriate certificate, and for a trip to the countries of the former USSR, a certificate from a veterinarian in the form No. 1.

It will also be required for flights to the countries of the European Union. At the airport, you will need to exchange it for a certificate in form No. 5, as well as issue a European Union veterinary certificate and submit documents that you are not transporting it for commercial use.

Please note that Form 1valid for no more than 5 days from the date of export of the animal from the country. But Form 5 is only valid for 24 hours.

If you are traveling through several countries at once, you will need to take into account the requirements of all of them, especially if you leave the airport building.

Airline requirements

Never forget that individual airlines have special requirements. It is necessary to warn that you are flying with an animal at least two days in advance, and even earlier is better. This is especially important if you carry it not in the cabin, but in the luggage compartment.

You will need to obtain appropriate permission and be prepared to be denied without further explanation.

Carriage in cabin and luggage

Carriage of animals in the cabin is allowed if the total weight of the pet and its cage is no more than 5-10 kilograms (more specific weight parameters depend on the airline). One person cannot carry more than one cage.

At the same time, there can be several animals in one cage, provided that they feel comfortable and do not exceed the maximum weight. It is forbidden to open the cage in flight.

In the luggage compartment, the restrictions are different - the weight of an animal with a cage should not exceed 50 kilograms. Therefore, transportation of dogs on an airplane is usually carried out in this way. And here several animals can be kept in one cage.

If you are afraidfor the he alth of your pets, you can not worry in vain. In today's aircraft, flying in the luggage compartment is quite comfortable, it simply does not happen there that the temperature is too low. And the animal will behave calmer if it does not feel your excitement nearby. Cages with pets are loaded carefully and carefully. They are sent to the compartment last, and taken out immediately after landing.

What should be the transportation?

A dog cage on an airplane must meet certain conditions. Note that each company may have its own requirements for carrying, but there are general provisions.

In a mandatory case, the cage for the animal must be impact-resistant, and also have a waterproof bottom. Special ventilation holes will also be required, however, please note that animals are not allowed to be transported in rod cages.

The carrier must have a strong door with a secure lock. The animal should not be able to open it on its own. In the event that there are cells on the door, they should not be too large so that the pet does not get stuck in them.

At the same time, the carrying parameters should be such that the animal has the opportunity to stand up to its full height, turn around, and lie down comfortably. The bottom of the carrier must be made of absorbent, non-toxic material.

Note that the requirements for carrying both for the cabin and for the luggage compartment are generally the same. At the same time, soft carriers are allowed on some flights, provided that they have a waterproof bottom, and they consist ofabsorbent material.

Also note that the transportation parameters, if you are carrying a pet in the cabin, must fit the dimensions of hand luggage. Enhanced transportation may be required for dogs of fighting breeds. To do this, it is reinforced with metal bolts.

Without a container, service dogs and guide dogs are allowed.