Cargo travel is stressful for any pet, young or old. Senior pets, pets prone to anxiety, or those in general poor health are at increased risk of heart failure during travel. Please consult your vet before travel to ensure your dog or cat has a clean bill of health and is an appropriate candidate for cargo travel.
Example Estimate: Flying one small dog (like a Chihuahua) domestically via cargo with a pet-friendly airline, will likely cost between $275 USD to $300 USD. Larger dogs' airfreight (like a Great Dane) can go up to around $1000 USD for a domestic move, especially if you have a custom kennel.
Airfare For Domestic Pet Transport * Domestic airfare rates – $295.00 – $950.00 Very large pets can add to the airfare cost (over 150lbs with kennel) Airfare for International Pet Transport * International Pet Shipping Airfare rates – $395- $2,200.00 ** Many factors go into the airfare cost.
A pet may be transported as baggage if accompanied on the same flight to the same destination. Some air carriers may impose a special fee or “excess baggage” charge for this service. Pets may be shipped as cargo if unaccompanied, and many airline cargo departments employ specialists in the movement of animals.
Cargo travel is stressful for any pet, young or old. Senior pets, pets prone to anxiety, or those in general poor health are at increased risk of heart failure during travel. Please consult your vet before travel to ensure your dog or cat has a clean bill of health and is an appropriate candidate for cargo travel.
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.
Airline FeesAirlines frequently charge more for live animals than typical passengers since they need more care and attention when traveling. The majority of airlines base the cost of tickets for dogs traveling as cargo solely on the volume and weight of the pet's travel crate.
You can have your pet shipped through a licensed commercial shipper. You will be charged the cargo rate plus the pet shipper's fee. Many airlines now require this method unless your pet is small enough to fit in the cabin.
DHL Restricted ItemsThe following items are restricted within the United States: Animals (Non-venomous, frogs, insects, lizards, tortoises, sea life, and worms) Dangerous Goods (Hazardous or combustible materials including asbestos and ammunition)
In general, if your pet carrier (with your pet inside) can fit under the seat in front of you, your dog can ride in the cabin on flights that permit it. Typically, this would be a dog weighing up to about 20 pounds.
So long as your dog is crated, many airlines, such as Alaskan or American Airlines, allow large dogs to be checked baggage. As the pet owner, you will bring your dog to check in as you would normally with your other bags, and then they will be weighed and moved like the rest of your bags.
Most airlines also require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) issued within 10 days of travel. Federal regulations require pets to be at least 8 weeks old and they should be weaned at least 5 days before flying. Talk to your veterinarian about feeding schedules.