HonestPaws says that between 2010 and 2020, over 250 animal 'passengers' died either during or immediately after airline travel. Another 170 sustained injuries, while 20 animals were actually lost by airlines.
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Dogs and cats flying in cargo must travel in a well-ventilated, rigid (a.k.a. hard-sided) kennel. Soft-sided carriers are not allowed for safety reasons. Most airlines required that the kennel have a solid top and base (i.e. without ventilation openings) and at least three sides with ventilation.
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.
Most airlines ensure your pet boards and disembarks the aircraft on priority. The cargo hold has a special area for pets, and your pet's crate is secured in the plane in its designated space. During the flight, the lights are dimmed, and even the most anxious of pets tend to calm down after the plane takes off.
Kirsten Theisen, director of pet care issues for the Humane Society of the United States, believes air travel is simply too stressful for most animals, especially when they are placed in an aircraft's cargo hold. “Flying is frightening for animals,” says Theisen.
When categorizing incidents for the January 2015 to December 2020 time period, United logged the most pet deaths (45 of 112) and injuries (42 of 81). Delta followed, recording 27 deaths and 14 injuries. American Airlines also appeared at the bottom of the list, with 16 deaths and 11 injuries.
Undeniably, cargo is the more dangerous option for pet travel. The safest way for any animal to fly is in the cabin as carry-on luggage, provided that's an option.
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.
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.
So, yes you can survive. Stowing away in the wheel well is almost certain death. Some cargo holds are pressurized and some are not. people have survived in non-pressurized holds and people have died in non-pressurized holds.
CRATE TRAIN YOUR DOG.Keep the travel crate in a well-trafficked part of your home with the door open, and encourage your dog to relax, sleep, and play in the crate during the day. The more comfortable your dog is in the crate at home, the more relaxed he'll be in there when flying in the hold of the plane.
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.
According to the United States Department of transportation, over 2 million pets travel by air each year. Most often, pets that travel by air arrive safely at their final destination and are happily reunited with their owners.
Thanks for your questions/concerns about the safest method of travel for your dog! Many other pet owners have pondered the same question, and we're happy to provide some guidance. Having your pet travel via cargo instead of checked baggage would be best.
Does my pet get food and water in cargo? Yes, but every airline pet cargo policy differs. American Airlines Cargo, for instance, requires pet owners to provide two dishes (one for food and one for water).
Pets travel as cargo if they are not allowed to travel as luggage. This can be the case when they are either too large or too heavy; or because of the destination they are flying to, or because they are travelling on their own.
Many are surprised to hear that the cargo hold in the belly of an airliner is pressurized. Conditioned air is directed from the cabin, so the air tends to be a little cooler by the time it reaches the cargo areas, which are also less insulated than the cabin.