FAQ's

Before you fly your pet

Can my dog or cat have some toys in their crates?

No, Toys are classed as a choking hazard and so pets are not allowed toys or chews while on the planes. They can have a little piece of blanket or bedding in with them, but as Petair UK supply veterinary bedding in all our crates, the blanket is just for comfort purposes. You are allowed to put in a t-shirt or a towel from home or which smells of home. It just does not want to be too big.

Can my pets share a crate?

Yes, they can if they are under 14kg each and of similar size and used to co-habiting. Petair UK build a crate which is a single primary container and has mesh divider, so that the pets are together, but separate enough to keep them safe from each other!

Can my pet travel in the cabin with me?

It depends on the airline, but generally out of the UK no carriers will let them in the cabin to leave UK

How much room will my pet have?

Your pet will need enough room to stand up, turn around and lie down. All in all the dog or cat will have more room for their size than the humans on board. We ask you to measure dogs so that we can build them custom made crates. You can find out more about our crates here

Should I feed my pets before they fly?

If your dog or cat is flying on an evening flight, then a light breakfast is ok, but if they are on a morning flight, then don’t give them breakfast. What goes in has to come out and we don’t want them to pass any faeces while in their crates. They should have access to water at all times.

Can I sedate my pet before they fly?

No. No and No. Those clever folks in the USA did a study on deaths of animals after flying and veterinary grade sedatives were implicated in around half of them, so it is banned. Secondly, there are no drugs which will work for the full length of the journey and no-one can guarantee how they will work with the air pressure changes and if they make your pets excitable or too sedated we don’t want that to happen.

How can I keep my pet as safe as possible?

The main thing is to work with a pet shipper who has access to as many routes as possible. The key thing is that you want your pets’ flight to be as simple as possible, with a direct route always the best way. Make sure your pet is as fit and healthy as possible before the flight.

Can I be on the same plane?

Yes you can, but it is always better to book your pets' flight first and then you get on that flight as some flights cannot allow pets for a variety of reasons. Pets fly on regular passenger planes in the hold, if you’ve flown abroad before it’s likely the plane was also carrying furry passengers too! PetAir UK will book your pets’ flight to work with yours as you require. You don’t have to be on the same plane as your pets if you don’t want to – in fact, sometimes it’s quite handy to travel day or two ahead of your pet to get your new home in order and it’s less stress for you all.

Do they have to go into quarantine?

For most of the places we fly dogs and cats to, there is no quarantine on landing. Dogs and cats land at the destination airport and can be collected and brought home that same day. Out of the more common destiantions we fly pets to, Australia and New Zealand do impose quarantine restrictions of 10 days.

How do I ship my cat or dog?

Shipping your cat or shipping your dog is made easy and straight-forward with PetAir UK. We have been transporting pets since 2004 and cover over 295 destinations. Get in touch with us today for more information on shipping your pet.

How do I know what the requirements are for my pet to fly?

Just ask us! At Petair we are used to the current and ever changing rules and regulations and we know the latest rules for the countries where we fly dogs and cats to. You can have a look at our destinations section for an overview of the requirements for entry requirements for pets. Or you can contact the relevant authority in the country where you are going to.

My dog or cat will freeze to death?

Nowadays the dogs and cats who travel on planes travel in a separate hold which is heated and pressurised just like the area where we travel. So the pets are subjected to the same noises and feelings that humans would be subjected to. If the heating in the hold does not work, then the airlines will not accept your pets to fly.

My dog or cat won't die will they?

No they wont is the short answer. There are risks with travel by air for pets and humans alike, but the number of pets who become ill or die after a flight are very low indeed. Around 1 in 10,000 is talked about after some research done in USA.

Which pets do PetAir fly?

We fly cats and dogs and rabbits. We are very good at this and so we stick to what we know. Most pet shippers will fly all sorts of species, but we just feel that to be doing these little guys justice we need to be doing these exotic moves all the time and we are not. If you have a more exotic species then please do contact Petair UK and we can advise you the best people to contact.

While your pet is flying

Where does my pet go to the toilet?

Most dogs and cats will hold their urine or faeces while they are in a crate, this is just in their nature. If they need to pee, then Petair UK uses veterinary bedding and an absorbent pad to absorb any wee and keep the pets as comfortable as possible. If the pets poo, then they will be in the crates with the poo, which is a horrible thought, but it can be cleaned very easily on landing.

What happens to my dog or cat while they are on the plane?

Nothing really. A study was done in USA where some super clever folk flew 10 dogs and put cameras in the crates. The dogs spent 75% of the time lying down and at take off and landing was when they showed most action. Dogs and cats on planes will stay in their crates, some of them take 5 minutes to settle down, but some will take longer and this will depend on the personality of your pet.

Where on the plane does my pet fly?

Most planes have a specialised hold which can be heated and pressurised the same as our part, so the dogs and cats are protected from the extremes of airline travel. The hold is dimly lit which helps the dogs and cats to settle nicely during the flight.

Can my cat have a litter tray?

No, your cat cannot have a litter tray. PetAir UK do put veterinary bedding in the crates and an absorbent pad so that if the pets do have a wee on the flights, then the urine is absorbed.

After your pet has flown

I am worried my pet is ill after their flight, what do I do?

You need to decide if your pet is ill and needs medical attention or if your dog or cat is just a bit “put out” after having been on a plane. They are not used to plane travel and so it is quite normal for them to be a bit miffed for 24-48 hours after their flights. Any doubts go and see a local vet. That is always the safest option. Pet travel by air is very safe, but there are some recognised but rare consequences which definitely do need to be acted upon – older pets can become dehydrated, large breeds of dogs can develop bloat/twisted stomach as a result of the air changes within their stomachs – both of these require veterinary attention and to use your common sense to decide if they need medical attention of not.

How do I collect my pets after they have flown?

You would collect your pets from the cargo area of the airport. Petair UK give all our clients tracking details and phone numbers for the handling agents at the destination airport so that you can call them to discuss the best and quickest way to collect your pets. The cargo areas of airports are the slightly less well known parts and where the human areas are glass walled, well groomed areas; the cargo areas may be a bit less polished. Depending on where the dogs and cats have flown to you will have to clear customs with them, which involves a trip to the customs office to complete more paperwork before being allowed back to the cargo area to collect them.

Can i get some help collecting my pet from the airport after landing?

Of course. Airports can be daunting places if you are not familiar with them. Petair knows similar agents all over the world and we can engage them to clear customs for your pets and then collect them and bring them to your new home. Just ask us for a cost and we can put this into place.

General

How much does it cost for a pet passport?

Issuing a pet passport can cost anywhere from £20-£50, then a rabies vaccination can also cost about the same, but all vets will vary slightly. Feel free to give us a call on +44 (0)1725 551124 for more information on any of your queries.

How long does a pet passport last for?

A pet passport will last for as long as you keep the rabies vaccinations up to date! But the pet passport is not relevant any more as pets travelling to EU need an Animal Health Certificate instead.

Do you need a passport for a dog/cat?

If you are travelling within EU then, yes, you will need a pet passport. If you want to travel from UK to EU then you need an Animal Health Certificate rather than a passport. However, to travel outside the EU you do not. To find out exactly the requirements for your country then call us on +44 (0)1725 551124 or drop us an email.

How long does a dog have to be in quarantine for in AUS/NZ?

10 days is the minimum amount of quarantine for a dog travelling from the UK to Australia/New Zealand.

Can cats/dogs fly in the cabin?

It all depends on where you are flying from and the airline, but generally no unless you have an assistance dog.

How much does it cost to put a dog/cat on a plane?

Flying pets can be expensive, but the cost is related to the size of the pet. A cat is much cheaper to fly than a Great Dane, for example. Get a free quote with us online to find out how much flying your pets will cost.

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PetAir is proud to support the Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) which supports animal charities and non-profit organisations all over the world.

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