The U.S. Department of Agriculture – specifically their Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service – has the job of enforcing the regulations. As part of that effort, they have established minimum guidelines that airlines must follow for pet travel within this country. Each airline has the option to impose additional rules or limitations, so it is essential to research your particular airline’s requirements.
Every animal must be contained in travel kennel that meets USDA and IATA (International Air Transport Association) specifications. These specs are highly detailed, governing everything from materials and construction to ventilation and labeling. Because these kennels are designed to provide maximum safety and security, they are rigid and very sturdy. Soft-sided carriers are allowed only inside the cabin.
Key kennel requirements:
If your kennel doesn’t meet all these specs, your pet will not be allowed to fly.
In general, pets must be at least 8 weeks old and weaned in order to fly. However, many airlines and states have their own age requirements so this can change. Airlines can reject any animal that appears to be ill, in physical distress or violent. Except for guide dogs, every pet crossing a state border must have a current rabies vaccination and health certificate signed by a licensed vet. The certificate must be issued within 30 days of travel if your dog or cat is traveling by car or typically within 10 days prior to travel if they are traveling by plane.
Although the USDA doesn’t officially weigh in on the issue of sedation, airlines typically will not accept pets who have been tranquilized, for their own safety. Some may allow your pup or kitty to fly sedated, if you have a signed letter from your vet explaining that it is a medical necessity, but for the vast majority of pets, sedation is a no-no when flying. It reduces their ability to maintain balance and confuses them, and it can cause breathing and heart issues when up in the air at high altitudes.
Hawaii may be part of the U.S., but it is also one of the relatively few places in the world that does not have rabies. That means that traveling with your pooch or kitty to the Islands is more like going to a foreign destination when it comes to flight arrangements and documentation. Rabies-free countries are very strict, because the risks of inadvertently allowing rabies into their eco-systems could be catastrophic.
Among other things, Hawaii requires a quarantine period for all incoming animals. If you follow the specific rules for Direct Airport Release or the 5 Day or Less Program then they can be exempt from a long quarantine period. Details are available on the Hawaii Department of Agriculture website.
It’s important to understand that every state, country and airline also sets its own requirements regarding pet travel, so if you’re taking your cat or dog beyond American borders, you’ll need to research the regulations for your destination as well as the airline you’ll be flying. Ask about the airline’s pet-friendly procedures, not just the rules you have to follow.