What Makes Pet Relocation During Peak Summer Travel So Complicated?

Pet carrier for animal relocation

Some paperwork, treatments and requirements need to be done within 48 hours of travel, for example, which may fall on your moving day, smack-dab in the middle of frantic last-minute packing and attempts to make sure you remembered absolutely everything.

Flight Routes and Carrier Space

• Some cities/airports get too hot in the summer for animals to travel through them, especially if they’ll be in areas that, though temperature-controlled, may not be as well-managed as the passenger cabin. You may have perfectly tolerable weather where you’re leaving from and at your destination, but be connecting through a city/airport that gets unbearably hot. Be sure to check: Does the airline take animals on your planned travel date(s)? If you have a connection, how long will the layover be, and is it OK for ground staff to leave carriers sitting outside in extreme heat? Would it be better to choose a different routing (e.g., more direct flight, or connecting through another city), or leave earlier, to minimize time spent in hot locations? Remember that a flight that is OK in a cooler month may be ruled out at the height of midsummer, even if there are plenty of available passenger seats!
• Some airlines limit the number of animals taken, and/or planes fill up for pets well before they’re full for passengers (particularly during peak travel times) – AirPets International is one specialist route to review. Given the size of some carriers, it may not be possible to book space for your pet even though you’ve been able to reserve seats for yourselves. Consider whether you might prefer to all fly together but with a connection or less-direct routing, versus leaving your pet on an earlier/later day. (As always, call the airlines for specific information. And sort this one out before booking temporary housing, agreeing to a move-out/move-in date, lining up pet sitters/babysitters for other animals, finalizing kids’ first school days, etc.)
• Being crammed into a carrier can be upsetting for any pet, more so if he’s already feeling stressed and unsettled from changes around him and travel plans. Having to suddenly jump into a strange carrier and endure a long journey in it would only add to that feeling of panic. By acclimating your pet to his carrier well in advance of moving/travel day (leave it lying around with all sides/doors open, encourage him to go in it voluntarily, place his bed and toys inside, don’t confine him in it unless for short positive experiences, make sure it’s always associated with good things rather than scary ones, never make a game of it…), you’re helping him to feel as safe and reassured as possible at a challenging time.

Airline pet travel carrier

What Happens During Connections?

• If you’ll have connections, be sure to find out how long they are, some are uncomfortably brief, leaving little leeway in case of delays, plane changes, etc. Animals are usually processed separately from luggage, may need to be checked, and could even have to be transferred from one airport building/facility to another. Even if your connection isn’t especially tight, find out where pets are kept between flights, whether areas are temperature-controlled, and who will be responsible for your carrier in the event of flight schedule changes, cancellations, etc. Insist on clear answers to all your questions, will your pet remain aboard the same plane? Are you able to book space for him on all segments, and is that booking assured?

Entry Requirements and Arrival

• Vet requirements, health certificates, proof of vaccinations/treatments (CNN covers this at cnn.com/2024/05/08/travel/cdc-dog-import-rules/index.html), test results, inspections, may have specific expiration dates/time limitations, which can influence travel plans. Carefully check current rules for your destination, and be aware of what time period animals are allowed to enter, flying in on another day could mean a waiting period at or near the airport (with attendant pet care costs), and complicate an already-complex travel day.
• After such a big ordeal, your pet will probably appreciate a quiet evening curled up on his (hopefully!) familiar bed in a calm, uncrowded room in the new house. Save the tour of the rest of the house for another day when everyone, human and furry, is a bit less harried. Offer fresh drinking water, but otherwise keep the first evening’s mealtime and other events as normal and relaxing as possible.

Traveling internationally with an animal is not impossible, but there are so many details to be aware of and lots of advance planning required. Start by gathering all your animal’s paperwork and reading up on your destination country’s requirements. Look into rules at connecting airports and figure out what travel dates/times of day will best accommodate everyone’s needs, human and four-footed alike, then book flights and make vet’s appointments accordingly. And be flexible! Chances are, your pet’s needs may end up determining the timing of your move more than the other way around.