4 Things to Think About When Traveling With Pets

Plan ahead to avoid some heartbreak

Traveling with pets, especially flying, can be a stressful experience. And there is no bigger heartbreak than arriving at the airport/train station/other only to be told that your pet can’t travel with you.

I live in England and my family lives in France. Therefore, I have traveled a number of times between the two countries with my cat, Sierra, and my dog, Ginny.

I have made some mistakes and come up with some tips to make the travel experience smoother.

Check, double-check, and triple-check your paperwork

In order to cross borders with pets, you need to have the right paperwork. The paperwork needed depends on the country you are coming from and the country you are going to. That information can be found on government websites.

For example, to enter France from the UK, you need a pet passport or health certificate that includes your pet’s microchip number and proof of rabies vaccination.

To enter the UK from France, you also need a pet passport or health certificate with the same details, as well as proof that your dog has received a tapeworm treatment 5 days to 24 hours prior to traveling.

You need to make sure that you have all of these documents, that they are done within the time frames required, and that they are completed correctly.

The last time we traveled between the UK and France, while we had all the required paperwork, the vet had forgotten to fill in a date on one page of our health certificate. We were lucky that it was a minor mistake and we were still able to cross the border. But we might have found ourselves in a tricky situation.

Make sure the mode of transportation you choose accepts pets

The rules concerning how pets are allowed to travel often seem a bit arbitrary.

Pets can travel on some airlines but not others. Sometimes they accept pets in the cabin and sometimes pets have to travel in the hold. Some airlines accept pets on some flights and not others.

Most passenger trains accept pets. However, Eurostar, the train connecting France and England, does not accept pets.

Before you chose to bring your pets with you, make sure to check that they are allowed on that mode of transportation.

Websites are usually really clear as to whether pets are allowed or not. However, I often recommend calling in advance.

For example, when I looked on the Lufthansa and KLM websites, I didn’t find any indications that pets are not allowed on flights from Europe to the UK. However, when I called, they told me that they couldn’t transport pets.

In fact, there is no way to fly pets from Europe to the UK, except through cargo, which is expensive and complicated.

Before you book any flights, trains, ferries, or rent any cars, double-check that your pets will be able to travel with you.

Ensure your pets’ safety and comfort

When flying with pets, you need to make sure that the crate they are traveling in ensures their safety and comfort.

Most airlines have very strict guidelines when it comes to what pets are allowed to travel in. Make sure to check those guidelines and adhere to them. Not only will that ensure that your pets will be allowed to travel with you, but it will also keep them safe and comfortable during their journey.

The most important factors are that pets can’t break out of their crates and that they are able to move freely in them.

The crates must therefore have the correct fastening mechanisms, including bolts joining the two parts of the crate and a centralized locking system.

Your pets must be able to stand in their crate with their head held up, turn around, and lie down comfortably.

When buying a crate, make sure it is the right size for your pet and that it meets all of the airline’s requirements.

If you are driving with your pet, make sure you do so safely. Use a seatbelt harness, pet carrier, cage, or dog guard to prevent your pets from getting injured if you have to stop quickly.

Give yourself ample time

Things will take longer when traveling with pets.

If you are flying, there will be additional checks that need to be done at the airport. Therefore, get to the airport with a lot of time to spare. The same is true for the Eurotunnel or some ferries.

When we fly with our pets, we try to arrive at the airport 3 hours in advance. If everything goes smoothly, we have to wait a bit longer at the airport, which is not a big deal. However, if anything goes wrong, or takes longer than we had anticipated, it saves us a lot of stress.

Driving with pets means more frequent stops. Make sure you take that time into consideration when planning your journey.

Overall, it’s important to give yourself plenty of time to avoid being stressed. Pets can sense stress. If you start your travel journey stressed and rushed, they will feel it and think that something is wrong. That will make an already confusing experience extra stressful for them.

Final thoughts

Traveling with pets adds a layer of complexity to any travel plan.

However, if you are properly organized and follow the rules, you can travel with your pets in a safe, stress-free way.

Make sure that you have all the paperwork you need and check it thoroughly.

Call the airline/train company/rental car agency/ferry company to confirm that your pets are allowed to travel with you.

And finally, make sure your pets are safe and comfortable by choosing the right systems to transport them.

Happy traveling!