Traveling With Pets: Tips To Follow for Digital Nomads With Pets

Traveling With Your Pets by Airplane 

When traveling by plane is your only option and you want to take your pet with you, find out if they are allowed in the cabin with you. Usually, airlines let you take a small dog or cat in the cabin for an extra fee, but a lot depends on the size of your pet.  

Also, though some airlines are pet-friendly, others only let you travel with service pets. So, it is better to get in touch with the airline in advance to clarify the rules. Keep the following tips in mind when traveling with your pet by plane: 

• A few airlines let passengers travel with their pets in approved carriers on the plane, but others mandate the pets to fly in the cargo hold. 
• Based on your travel destination, you might need to carry a health certificate for the pet. 
• You will have to carry the latest pet records, including the most recent vaccinations and shots they have taken. It is mandatory in some countries, but you should carry it anyway in case there is an emergency. 
• Your pet has to be of a size that fits in a kennel. This kennel has to fit right below your seat on that plane. Usually, you are not allowed to remove the kennel until you reach your destination. 

Pets Traveling in the Cargo Hold 

If your pet has to travel in the cargo hold, keep the given tips in mind: 

Go for direct flights: It will help you avoid any possible mistake during an airline transfer and any delay in getting the pet off that plane.  

Notify the flight attendant: After boarding the flight, let at least the flight attendants know that the pet is traveling in the cargo hold. If they know that a pet is on board, they might take extra care and special precautions. 

Brachycephalic animals shouldn’t be in cargo holds: Brachycephalic animals like Persian cats, bulldogs, or Pekingese dogs should not be shipped in cargo holds. Their short noses make them extra vulnerable to temperature and pressure changes in the cargo hold.

Choose the right time: Choose early morning or late evening flights during summer, and afternoon flights during winter. The idea is to opt for flights when the outside temperature is moderate. 

Find the right kind of collar: The collar on your pet should not get caught in between carrier doors. Also, put two pieces of ID on that collar: 

• A permanent ID having your name, address, and phone number 
• A travel ID with the address and contact number of the place where you can be reached 

Put a travel label over the carrier: Put a travel label on the carrier over which you should write your name, contact number, and permanent address. Include the details of your destination where you or another reliable person can be reached. 

Clip their nails: Clipping your pet’s nails beforehand protects them from being hooked in the door of the carrier or any other crevice. 

Car Travel With Your Pets 

Are you not feeling confident enough to take your pet by airplane yet? Try going for a road trip to make things easier for both of you. If you’re planning to take a long road trip, make sure you take the given steps:

• Take enough toys, water, food, treats, and medications with you to keep them happy 
• Do not forget to buy a good pet restraint or kennel to stop your pet from roaming all around the car 
• Get the pets microchipped right before traveling so that you can easily identify them in case they get loose 
• When the plan is to make stops along the journey, get the route preplanned to book pet-friendly accommodations 

The Final Note 

As you can see, traveling with your pets is a lot simpler than it’s made out to be. Just a couple of easy precautions and you and your little buddy can travel the world together! So, where are you heading next?