Flying with a pet can be a challenge -- in some cases dogs have even died en route. Chris Olsen has tips to help make your next flight with Fido safe and affordable.
Veterinarian Joe Impellizeri says travelling with pets is a serious matter.
"We want to make sure they're happy and healthy before subjecting them to any type of stress during transport," he said.
Consumer Reports' Shopsmart agrees that when the fur flies, there's a lot of planning involved.
"If you want to take your pet on the plane, keep in mind that most airlines allow only a few pets on board. So check ahead of time to make sure there's room for your Fluffy or Fido," Shopsmart's Amanda Walker said.
There are lots of rules and restrictions, such as:
- the size of the pet and the pet carrier, both in the cabin and in checked baggage.
- holiday black-out dates
- extreme heat or extreme cold restrictions
- required health certificates and rabies shots
- quarantine restrictions for some destinations such as the state of Hawaii
"If you're taking your pet as checked baggage, you should also see if you need an acclimation certificate from your vet. That's to certify that your pet can handle temperature changes," Walker said.
Also, make sure your pet has ID so it won't get lost. Fill out a card with your name, phone number, address and a recent pet photo, and attach it to the carrier.
Finally, realize airlines will only fly pets older than eight weeks and that don't need medical attention.
And how much will your pet's plane trip cost you?
- WestJet charges $50 dollars each way for pets in the cabin or in checked baggage.
- For in-cabin pets, Air Canada charges $50 each way in North America, and $100 on international flights.
- For pets in the baggage compartment, Air Canada charges $105 each way, $270 for international flights.
- Alaska Airlines charges $100 each way. Continental, Delta and United all charge $125 -- one way.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen
