Whether moving to a new location permanently, heading off on a work trip, or a trip for fun, if you have to travel with your pet, you’ve got a lot to think about. Not only do you have to plan the travel itself for both you and your pet, but you also have to arrange pet-friendly accommodation and arrange suitable travel between locations when you’ve arrived at your destination.
You have to consider the flight length and how your pet will handle travel, consider medical pet insurance, and work in time to let them exercise and relieve themselves — there are many moving parts!
What if we told you we could make things a lot simpler? Well, we can! We’ve got the low-down on traveling with a pet, as well as tips and checklists to help you ensure you don't miss anything so that you and your fur baby have the best trip possible.
Why are you traveling?
If you’re moving locations permanently, we advise you, the family, and your furry, feathery, or scaly children to take a flight and let freight deal with your luggage. Trying to take your whole home on a plane will only add to the stress and possibly result in you losing or breaking some important items. If you’re traveling for fun, you must decide whether you are reaching your destination and beginning the vacation or if your flight will be part of the holiday.
We recommend flying private with your precious pet because, really, what other way is there to fly? If you want your luxury vacation to start the second, you step out of your front door. The convenience of a private flight means that you travel on your own schedule and do it in the most comfortable manner possible.
Consider private air travel
Taking a private jet with your pets in tow might sound like something off the Kardashians — and it probably is — but when we explain how worthwhile it’ll be, you’ll understand why we love the idea! Since traveling with pets on commercial airlines has become such an extreme expense and comes with so much red tape and often a lot of stress for you and your pets, many pet owners partner with charter companies to find their own solution.
Some charter companies now offer pet-friendly flights that pet lovers have started booking to share. You get the whole private flight experience, but you also have your pet at your side rather than in a box in a dark cargo hold. You’ll share the cabin with other pet owners and their pets of various shapes and sizes, so it may be advisable to have your pet take a tranquilizer before the flight so that the new location and unfamiliar faces aren't a stressor.
If you want the full VIP experience, book the whole cabin for yourself, your family or friends, and your pets. This means no unfamiliar faces for them and an abundance of space for you all to move around the cabin and enjoy yourselves during the flight.
Checklists and tips
When scheduling pet-friendly travel, the first thing to consider is how this will impact your pet. Remember, even the biggest dog is still smaller than a human, and without the words we use to express ourselves in stressful situations or use to ask for what we need, they can be at a disadvantage.
Our pets are used to the routines of our daily lives: certain smells, sounds, faces, and locations. They’re used to eating in the same place at the same time every day. Any changes will likely confuse your pet a little, so be prepared for extra neediness, possible additional toilet stops or cleanups, and a lot of extra snacks and toys to keep them happy and distracted. Here’s the pet lover’s travel checklist:
- The appropriate vet or pet store-approved tranquilizers or anti-anxiety medication
- Travel bowls or food and water dispensers
- Snacks
- Chew and puzzle toys
- Clean-up equipment (bags, wet wipes, and sanitizer spray)
- Your pet’s favorite blanket or bed and a spare
- The appropriate travel case or leash
- A muzzle or blinders as needed
- A potty pad or litter box for your pet to use during the flight — don’t forget to get off the plane with them at the earliest opportunity for some exercise and a bathroom break!
- A bookmarked page, printed details, travel permissions, and allowances from the locations you’ll be traveling through/to. Remember to confirm beforehand what amenities your accommodation has for pets (groomers, parks, beds, etc.)
- Travel and vaccination documents and saved backups for you and your pet.
If your pet needs to be in their carrier for any length of time, give them a few training sessions at home in a stress-free environment that they’re used to. When you book your travel and accommodation, we advise that you double-check all pet policies and hold onto copies of your confirmations just to be safe.
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Wrap up
With all this information at your fingertips and all the pet-friendly travel options you now have to choose from, arranging your travel and taking the trip will be a breeze. Your checklist will give you everything you need and an incredible journey ahead. Bon voyage!