Are pets checked baggage or cargo?

What is important to know is that you may only transport your pet as accompanied checked baggage if you are an adult passenger traveling on the same flight as your pet. If your pet is a very large animal or something other than a cat or dog or is traveling alone, it will travel as manifest air cargo.



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Most animals fly in the hold as checked baggage when traveling with their owners, or as cargo when they are unaccompanied. The AWA was enacted to ensure animals traveling in this manner are treated humanely and are not subjected to dangerous or life-threatening conditions.

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The whole process of flying can be stressful for a dog, but those levels of stress can be greatly reduced with a few simple home comforts and reassurances. Ensuring your flight is a non-stop flight rather than one with changeovers can be a huge benefit to your dog, as can looking to travel at a suitable time.

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Dogs and cats traveling with us will experience a similarly pressurized and climate-controlled aircraft compartment that our customers are used to in cabin. While your pet waits for their flight, they will be in a climate-controlled area until they are given a ride to their flight for departure.

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Our specialized shipping service Delta Cargo provides safe, reliable, year-round transportation, with service to address the needs of all pets that are shipped without their owners. Review the following before booking: A separate booking from their flight itinerary is required. Additional fees and charges may apply.

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In most cases, if the layover is under 3 hours and if your pet is traveling in the cargo hold as checked baggage or air cargo, it will be transferred from one airplane to the next as long as you are staying on the same airline. In this case, your pet is just transiting the country.

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How exactly does the airline treat a pet in the cargo hold? Be very careful about choosing your airline! Cats, dogs and other small animals are known to get lost and even killed via airline travel. Some airlines are more notorious than others.

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If your pet is too large to fly in the cabin, dogs and cats typically are transported as accompanied checked baggage if your airline offers this class of service.

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Pets may be shipped as cargo if unaccompanied, and many airline cargo departments employ specialists in the movement of animals. Animals must always be shipped in pressurized holds. Some airlines allow the kennel to be carried in the passenger cabin as carry-on luggage if it fits under the seat.

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Sometimes these terms, checked baggage or air cargo, create a false impression, but both describe humane ways of transporting animals. Animals traveling in the cargo hold are transported in the same pressurized and temperature controlled holds as those in the checked baggage system.

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If you aren't flying with your dogs, you'll need to organize for someone to take them to the departure airport and meet them upon arrival at the destination. This could be a friend, family member, or a hired pet travel agent.

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Several airlines do accept large dogs by storing them in the plane's cargo. The hold is temperature-controlled and pressurized, so it is a humane way to transport them. For most airlines, pets weighing 17 pounds or more qualify as large and must travel in the hold.

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Although your pet will most likely be fine, you will ultimately have to decide if flying your pet as cargo is worth the risk or if you can pursue any other options for traveling with your pet. Some dogs are naturally better suited to fly than others depending on age, breed, and other health conditions.

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Contrary to the myth, the cargo area on most flights that accept pets is climate-controlled, just like the passenger cabin above. Airlines have Weather Embargoes during extreme temperature months to protect pets during tarmac wait times, not because of cargo hold temperatures.

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We will reach out to you with our next available flight. Depending on the wait time for the next available flight, your pet may receive the following care: Watering and Feeding. All dogs and cats will be provided food and water per the USDA and IATA guidelines.

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Dogs' ears can be sensitive to changes in air pressure during flights, which can cause discomfort or pain. Providing your dog with plenty of water and a comfortable carrier can help alleviate these symptoms.

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Dog separation anxiety, more aptly termed as separation distress or panic is real. It can happen not only when you go on vacation but also when you need to leave them in general. It is a relatively common behavioural disorder, and it is a lot more than just “getting bored”.

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When it comes to flying with pets, one common question that pet owners often ask is whether they should sedate their pets during air travel. At PetRelocation, our straightforward answer is NO. Sedation carries various risks and is not recommended for pets during air travel.

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Explosives and flammable items, such as fireworks, gas, and aerosols. Poisonous and toxic substances, including pesticides and certain chemicals. Lithium batteries and other hazardous materials, as these can pose a safety risk if not handled properly.

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