'I've flown with Murray a handful of times and it's always been fairly easy, aside from the one time he tore his carrier case - we had to jury-rig it shut with a shoestring,' TPG senior aviation business reporter David Slotnick recalled of his 4-year-old miniature goldendoodle. Not only does it need to be the right size, but make sure it's also strong enough to weather flights, especially if your pup tends to chew through carriers. Flying with your pets as cargo is doable, but certainly not recommended by most pet owners.īefore you decide to bring your dog on board, make sure to 'find a good pet carrier that's sturdy and small enough for all the airlines you fly,' says TPG senior writer Katie Genter.īy signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. If your pet cannot accompany you (or if they are flying solo), they'll be treated as cargo. Aircraft holds are ventilated and heated to help keep pets comfortable, according to Zoo Logistics. If your pet is flying with you as luggage, you'll either be able to keep them in the cabin with you or they will be flown as excess luggage in the hold of the aircraft.

You'll want to double-check the airline's policies on traveling with pets before you book your tickets. However, some do require all pets to fly as cargo. Most airlines will allow pets to fly in the cabin as luggage or in the hold as excess luggage so long as you'll be flying on the same flight and they meet size and weight restrictions.

'The options for your pet depend on a number of factors, such as the breed and size of your pet, the airline company, the type of aircraft, the destination and whether you will travel on the same flight as your pet.'

'Your pet can travel in three ways: as hand luggage in the cabin with you, as excess luggage in the cargo hold of the aircraft or as cargo in the hold of the aircraft,' according to Zoo Logistics, a company based in the Netherlands that helps people coordinate travel with pets. TPG senior aviation business reporter David Slotnick traveling with his pup Murray.

United airlines dog weight limit