Comfortable Worry-Free Travel With Your Pet

No doubt about it, Americans love their pets. A recent survey by the Pew Research Center shows that 85% of dog owners consider their dogs a member of the family. Cat owners are only slightly less cozy with their furry companions, with 78% reporting they feel their cats are family members. A quick look around the local pet store chain gives further evidence of the depth of our love for our pets. Aisles and aisles of products, many of which were unfathomable 20 years ago, stock the shelves. Services available for companion animals have likewise exploded. Doggie bakeries, pet spas, pet psychologists and pet sitters are common in even moderately sized towns.

Not surprisingly, many pets have become seasoned travelers. Major hotel chains have become “pet friendly”, allowing human travelers to bring along their furry friends. Many luxury hotels have added perks for the four-legged guests including toys, treats and pet beds with turn-down service. Pet-friendly travel websites direct vacationers to local dog parks, beaches where dogs are allowed off-leash, shops where pets are welcome and restaurants where patio tables await hungry humans and dogs alike.

The one area where people traveling with their feline and canine companions are undeserved is air travel. What do you do when making a car trip is not an option because of distance? Some airlines do offer the option of allowing cats and very small dogs, confined in carriers, to board planes with their humans. Carriers containing animals are treated as carry on luggage, and are usually placed under the seat of the human traveling companion. Larger dogs, if they are allowed at all, must be checked to fly in the cargo hold. Usually this is allowed only in certain times of the year when the weather is warmer. Almost universal opinion is that this arrangement is bad for the health of a dog, and it seems apparent that it is not a comfortable way to travel. Baggage holds are usually only temperature controlled during flight, and even then the temperatures can fluctuate alarmingly. Even worse, no ventilation system is provided in the cargo hold and air quality can be quite bad. Airline animal incident reports filed with the Department of Transportation show that even animals in top physical condition have died from respiratory distress.

A pet owner no longer has to be completely stressed during their trip wondering if their family pet is ok. One option available for pet owners not willing to brave the experience of flying commercially with an animal companion is flying on a chartered plane. Many charter services allow animals, regardless of size, to fly in the cabin as passengers close to their owners. This arrangement allows pets the safety of a lighted, temperature-controlled, well-ventilated trip, as well as the comfort of traveling with the people they rely on to keep them safe. Another perk: it is possible to avoid the long waits and security lines of the commercial terminal. This option provides the three things that travelers with pets want: less hassle, greater security and safety for their pets and peace of mind for themselves. Of course this option costs more than flying coach, but the benefits make it an option worth considering.