PetAirport Guide

How to prepare your pet’s travel crate for a flight

Six essential clearance steps for a safe, comfortable journey in the sky.

Cartoon: preparing a pet travel crate for a flightSix comic panels showing how to prepare a dog or cat transport crate for air travel: right-size crate, remove collars, soft bedding, attached frozen water bowl, latches and label, and a calm pet ready to fly. 1. Right-size crate Rigid, ventilated, roomy: stand, turn, lie down 2. Remove collars No collar, harness, leash or dangling tags 3. Soft, safe bedding z z Pad + familiar blanket; no loose toys or chews 4. Freeze water bowl ice Freeze water beforehand to prevent terminal spills 5. Lock and label LIVE ANIMAL Check every latch; add LIVE ANIMAL + phone no. 6. Ready to fly! Calm walk, light meal, vet papers in hand

The details that matter

Crate size

Your pet should stand without touching the top, turn around and lie down. Most airlines follow IATA standards: rigid, ventilated on several sides, secure door. Some countries require extra meashing on the crate.

Collars and harnesses

Remove them: they can snag on bars or the door and cause strangulation. Put contact details on the crate, not on the animal.

Bedding

An absorbent pad plus a thin blanket that smells like home. Avoid thick, loose or stuffed items that could be chewed or block ventilation.

Water bowl

The water bowl must be attched inside the grill. Must have enough water for the entire travel. If larger dogs 2-3 lites. You freeze the water bowl beforehand. This prevents spilling during transport from the freight area to the aircraft.

Final checks

Secure all latches, add “LIVE ANIMAL” labels with arrows showing which way is up, plus your phone number and destination address. If in manifest thhis will be done by your agent

Sedatives

No sedatives other than Homeopathic. They can be very risky at altitude.

AIRPORT Advisory: Airline rules vary. Always confirm the exact cargo and crate requirements with your carrier and destination country before travelling.