When Aussies Can Fly

by Kathy Glaes, Conformation Editor
March/April 2005 Australian Shepherd Journal

You want to go to the USASA Nationals, but you only have 10 days of vacation time built up, and it is a three-day drive away. You sure don't want to waste six days on the road and miss half the fun at Nationals! You want to enter MVA with your talented performance dog, and your darling, correct bitch is a shoo-in for a class win and has a good shot at Winners Bitch. All your favorite Aussie people will be there--you just have to go to Nationals! So, why not fly?

Dogs and their people fly the friendly skies to big breed shows like Westminster, the AKC Eukanuba National Championship, Crufts, the IFC International Dog Show, and their breed specialty shows. They fly to agility and obedience championships, and they fly to training camps and doggie fun camps. Breeders ship puppies to buyers across the continent and across the ocean. Bitch owners ship their bitches to stud owners. It can be nerve wracking even for those who are experienced at flying with dogs or shipping them. There are any number of things that can go wrong, but for the vast majority of dogs, the flights are problem free.

There are three methods of flying dogs: in-cabin, checked baggage, and cargo. Flying a dog in-cabin means that a dog accompanies a ticketed passenger in the cabin of the plane. This is the norm for people with toy breeds or very young puppies. The dog or puppy must fit into a small crate or sherpa bag under the seat in front of the passenger's seat--like carry-on luggage. There is usually a small charge for the dog ($75–$100). Medium and large breed service dogs and “celebrity” dogs also may be allowed to fly in the passenger cabin with the purchase of a seat for the dog. Flying a dog as checked luggage means the dog, in a crate, is charged as excess baggage. A ticketed passenger responsible for the dog must be on the same flight. Shipping a dog as cargo is the standard means of flying an unaccompanied dog.

Each airline has its own rules and regulations for shipping dogs and for whether dogs are allowed in the cabin. Pricing and weather restrictions also differ from airline to airline. (See the box with website addresses for the major air carriers' pet shipping pages.) There is almost no area of the United States in which you cannot find at least one airline to ship your dogs or to allow you to fly with your dogs either in-cabin or as checked baggage.

All airlines will require that you have a proper-sized crate in which to ship your dog as checked baggage or cargo. Some airlines have a maximum crate size they will accept for an individual aircraft, based on cargo door size, so you must check the type of aircraft you will be flying in (usually on your ticket or itinerary) and call the airline cargo terminal. Not all crates are approved for cargo shipping. Crates approved by airlines will have a sticker on them stating so. Approved crates will have sufficient air circulation to keep the dog comfortable, a properly latching door to prevent escape, and wire mesh holes in the door and sides that do not allow the dog to fit its muzzle or paws through. For long trips, or trips with a layover and change of plane, experienced travelers and dog shippers recommend some sort of water dish attached to the crate door so the dog does not become dehydrated on the trip. Using ice instead of water can prevent spills that leave the dog lying on a damp crate pad.

To ship a dog by air you must provide health certification from your vet no more than ten days before departure, as well as proof of rabies vaccination. The requirements are similar across domestic U.S. airlines and are specified on each airline's cargo regulations web pages. International health certificate regulations may vary. The health certificate and airline routing information will be affixed to the crate at the cargo terminal or by the checked baggage handlers. If you are traveling or shipping a dog to another country you must find out whether the country has a mandatory quarantine for dogs. In United States, Hawaii has a lengthy quarantine to ensure that rabies will never be a problem there.

In her book The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting and Owning a Dog, Sheila W. Boneham, Ph.D., advises “Be sure to attach complete identification information to the crate. I always tape a statement to the top of the crate along the lines of this: ‘Hello. My name is Spot. I'm going on vacation with my family. I might be a little scared, so please be gentle with me.' I think that when the dog in the carrier has a name, he becomes more important to the baggage handlers who load and unload him from the airplane.”

Another good piece of advice Dr. Boneham offers is to select counter-to-counter service rather than cargo if you are accompanying your dog and you have to change planes. It costs more than straight cargo but “requires your dog to be loaded onto the airplane closer to departure time, to be off-loaded faster at the destination, and to be hand delivered from one plane to the next if a change is required.”

Nervous About Shipping?

If you do your research and choose your air carrier carefully, you have little reason to be nervous. Airlines ship hundreds of thousands of dogs every year and encounter problems in less than one percent of shipments. The problems encountered in that small number generally involve documentation, weather delays, and unapproved or wrong-sized crates. Fewer than ten shipments out of over 500,000 involve major problems such as death, injury, or escape, according to the Air Transport Association.

Many people worry that their pets will be put in an unpressurized cargo compartment. All modern commercial aircraft are pressurized throughout, except for the radar compartment, the tail compartment and the wheel wells. Neither pets nor people will be in any of those areas. Many major airlines have a heated cargo compartment that is kept at 60–75 degrees and can ship animals any time of the year. Some, though, do not have heated cargo compartments, although a temperature between 38 and 45 degrees is maintained to keep cargo and luggage from freezing. Those carriers restrict travel to specific dates within temperate seasons based on the origin and destination of the animal. Flying a dog within the southern tier of states in the winter would not be a problem with those airlines, but flying a dog within those states in the summer would be.

For international shipping, most carriers have heated cargo compartments--in fact, many carriers with long-distance routes have bunkrooms for airline personnel in the same heated cargo areas in which the pet crates are kept. If the cargo compartment is safe and warm enough for airline personnel to sleep in, your puppy or dog will be just fine!

According to a Northwest Airlines “advertorial” in the January 2005 AKC Gazette, high altitudes have a tranquilizing effect on pets as well as humans. High altitudes may lower respiration and blood pressure, and tranquilizers or sedatives will further suppress these functions, which could be dangerous. Although an animal may be stressed and anxious when first put on the plane, most will quickly settle and sleep through the rest of the flight. Always check with your veterinarian before giving your dog tranquilizers or sedatives before a flight.

Good News for Travelers with Dogs

Two major air carriers have recently announced programs to make flying with your dog as checked baggage easier and less expensive. From a September 2004 AKC press release:

The American Kennel Club (AKC) has announced a collaboration with United Airlines to offer discounted fares for fanciers and their dogs traveling to AKC events. Discounts will be available to anyone traveling to or from an AKC event with a 2-night minimum stay. Depending on class of service and how far in advance of the travel date tickets are purchased, United will offer 5% to 15% off published fares. Fanciers may obtain the discount by contacting United's Special Reservations at 800-521-4041 and using the code "515SP." The airline will maintain a database of the dates and locations of AKC events and the code will be provided to AKC Superintendents for inclusion in their Premium Lists.

For dogs, certificates for 50% discounted travel will be available through AKC parent clubs for any dog flying as "checked baggage" in medium to large crates (300 through 700 Vari-Kennel sizes) on United domestic flights. Passengers holding the certificates and with dogs in crates within these sizes will pay $100 each way (vs. $200 for non-AKC United customers) for the dog's travel within the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands on United, United Express and Ted.

United Airlines will distribute a limited number of one-way travel discount certificates to participants in AKC events. Available upon request, each Parent Club may receive 40 certificates at no charge. Parent clubs interested in taking advantage of the offer should send an e-mail message to Daphna Straus at dxs@akc.org with "United Travel Certificate" in the subject line. Indicate your Club's name, the total number of certificates you would like to receive for your Club, and a single delivery address.

The agreement runs through July 15, 2005. During this time, the AKC and United will also feature AKC programming and public service messages as part of the airline's on-air entertainment, as well as AKC advertorial content in United's Hemispheres in-flight magazine.

In another recent press release, United has begun a frequent flyer program for pets whose owners are members of United's Mileage Plus program. Details of that program are available on United's website (see sidebar).

From a Midwest Airlines press release:

Midwest Airlines is focusing on four-footed customers in hopes of wooing more of the two-footed kind. Midwest announced a program Monday that gives pets a free round-trip ticket for every three domestic round trip flights they take with their owners. By contrast, Midwest's human passengers get free round trips at 25,000 miles--a mileage requirement that frequently requires more than three domestic round trips. "While in the past their owners have been racking up miles on free trips, all the pets have been getting is a pat on the head," Midwest CEO Tim Hoeksema said Monday. The promotion follows a similar one announced last week by United Airlines, which is offering pet owners 1,200 bonus miles on up to two round-trip tickets when they fly with their pets before May 27. Midwest, which serves 50 U.S. cities through hubs in Milwaukee and Kansas City, Missouri, says it racks up about 3,000 one-way trips by dogs, cats, and other pets each year. Pets fly round trip with their owners on Midwest for $150 or one-way for $75.

Tales from the Sky

Aussies may not have tails, but their people sure have some tales of flying adventures! I'm sure most Aussie owners have a story or two about flying their Aussies to shows, trials, new homes and wherever else Aussies must fly. When I solicited stories about flying with Aussies I got some good ones!

Remember when I mentioned at the beginning of the article that medium and larger service dogs and “celebrity” dogs also may be allowed to fly in-cabin? Did you do a double take at “celebrity” dogs? Cindy Elliott of NorAust Kennel and Training in Groveland, Florida, adopted Sonic, now 10, as a rescue. “Sonic became renowned for his singing prowess,” Cindy relates, “and won the Regional Advantage Search for America's Best Singing Pet Contest. Once it was discovered that he was well-behaved and did all sorts of tricks, he was invited to appear on numerous TV shows. He's appeared on CNN, MSNBC, Ricki Lake, Regis & Kathy and many more shows and commercials. He was always flown (with me, his Mom) using the ‘celebrity pet' status to New York. We almost always got a bulkhead seat, and Sonic loved to curl up in his seat and watch out the window.” Cindy and Sonic were flown into New York to tape for Jay Leno and told to expect a car to pick them up. She expected a van of some sort, to accommodate Sonic's crate. The driver was waiting with a “Sonic Elliot” sign and, after they picked up the luggage, he asked them to wait while he brought the car around--it was a huge white stretch limo! “Sonic had a blast jumping from seat to seat, sniffing the liquor bottles and riding with his head out the sunroof.”

Okay, this isn't about an Aussie, but it's too good not to share. Mary Jo Lavin, the Journal's Agility Editor, was flying with her border collie True to the USDAA Nationals in Dallas from Hartford, Connecticut. They had a direct flight on American Airlines. She checked with the airlines for requirements, went through an experienced travel agent, and double-checked everything. She had a big enough crate so True could stand with his head up, turn, lie comfortably--and she had it modified with extra bolts for security. She had a letter and photo attached to the top with all the necessary information. When she got to the airport (two hours in advance), however, an American ticket agent told her the crate was too big for the plane. She went around and around with everyone from the cargo manager to the ticketing manager. The cargo manager told her she should have asked what size the cargo door was on the plane she was taking. They offered to sell her a smaller crate for $80 or send her dog on a different flight without her that would arrive much later than she did. She managed to negotiate a smaller crate, courtesy of American Airlines, and she and True arrived on the same flight.

On the return flight, what could possibly go wrong? She had the right-sized crate, all the right paperwork, got to the airport on time. Mary Jo left True at the cargo area and went to the departure gate. But the flight departure had been moved to a different gate across the aisle. When the passengers were boarded, she informed the crew that she was traveling with a dog, and could they please let her know when the dog was boarded. She went to her seat and stood there waiting. True wasn't aboard. The crew told her to sit down, that everything was fine. She courteously refused to sit and was told to leave the plane. She talked to the pilot and begged him to find her dog. He tried to, but the air traffic controllers told him that he had to get the plane out of the gate immediately. They told her to stay on the walkway and maybe something would happen at the last minute. Mary Jo said it was all she could do to stop herself from crying. “I stand there like Little Orphan Annie, clutching my bag and hoping I can find my dog. Then at the last second (literally), I see through the cabin window a cart driving my dog on the tarmac toward the plane. I pound on the pilot's window and they re-open the plane and let me in. A cabin steward slipped me two bottles of champagne for when we finally got home.” Mary Jo advises fliers never to sit down until you are certain the dog is properly boarded.

Kate Phillips-Ellis, Rainyday Aussies, would second that advice! Flying home from Westminster in 2002, she and her mother, Linda Phillips, had the trip from hell. Their flight was late leaving New York, and they arrived at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport with only 30 minutes to get themselves, multiple carry-ons, and a cranky three-year-old boy (Parker) from terminal A to terminal C, a separate building connected to the main building by a tram. Once there, they would have to go outside to climb into a small commuter plane--the last flight out of DFW to Lubbock that night. By the time they got to the tram, they were down to 10 minutes until take-off. They ran to the desk, with Parker slung over Kate's shoulder, and were greeted by the Ice Queen. Linda doled out the tickets and photo IDs and politely asked her if the she could tell them if their dog had been boarded yet. The Ice Queen eyed them over her horn-rimmed glasses and coolly informed them that they could enter the plane, but she had no idea where their dog was and didn't really care.

Kate and Linda attempted to reason with her and explained how important it was that the dog be located. The woman told them again that they had to board the plane immediately. Linda persisted about the dog and was told “This is the last flight to Lubbock tonight. You better get on the plane without the dog. In fact, if you don't get on now, you won't get on. The dog can come tomorrow.” As they found their seats, Linda called to one of the flight attendants and explained the dog dilemma. Other people on the plane asked what they were so worried about, and they explained that they were headed home from Westminster and that Merlot had been misplaced between terminals. The other passengers insisted to the flight crew that they should wait for the dog and insisted on holding the plane. The Ice Queen appeared and loudly informed Kate and Linda that if they were going to continue to make a fuss, they could get off the plane. The other passengers again insisted that they should wait for the dog. Eventually, the pilot announced over the intercom that Merlot was on her way and that they would sit tight and wait for her. When Merlot's crate was wheeled up to the plane, everyone on board cheered!

International flights with dogs can be even more stressful. Kim Waldron, Trailblazer Aussies, had a great experience with Northwest Airlines on her way to Japan to join her then-husband, an Army officer, in his tour of duty. Northwest Airlines sends someone into the plane with a notice that your dog has been safely boarded. Three years later, flying Delta home to the United States was a bit more stressful. Although most personnel at Narita International Airport in Tokyo spoke some English, Kim had some problems finding out what was going to happen with her dogs for the boarding process. She became anxious when an airport automobile showed up outside of the ticketing area. Two men came with a cart, checked her papers, looked at the dogs, loaded the crates on the cart and whisked them outside into the car and away. She began questioning every Delta employee she could find about where her dogs had gone because it appeared that the car had taken them away from the airport. She was pushed through Customs boarding, taken to a bus and driven across the airport to a terminal away from the other buildings. Her aircraft was there, but where were her dogs? She kept asking Delta personnel where her dogs were as other passengers began boarding. Her patience was reaching critical mass, and she approached an apparent supervisor and told him if he didn't have an answer for her “right now” that she would have no problem causing some kind of international incident and calling the American Embassy. She was not going to fly to the U.S. without her dogs! The supervisor got on the phone, and soon another man came and motioned to her to follow him. He led her down some stairs, outside to the tarmac where a vehicle was waiting. He asked her to get in the car. Slowly he drove her around the fuselage to the back of the airplane where a door was open with a conveyer belt that had luggage moving up the ramp. He stopped the car, rolled down her window and said, “There!” and pointed to the open cargo bay door. Sure enough, inside the door she could see the wonderful faces of her two Aussies. Assured, she turned and nodded to the driver, who drove her back to the terminal. The supervisor was waiting for her and personally escorted her to her seat on the plane before returning to the terminal. Kim is sure they celebrated once her flight left the ground!

Sheila Boneham, Ph.D., Perennial Aussies, had a bitch that missed a connecting flight on her way to be bred. Sheila spoke to the Northwest cargo people and was given the phone number to call the boarding kennel that picked her up and housed her overnight. Not only was she greatly reassured, but also the woman at the kennel was happy to know more about her bitch. She called Sheila personally the next day to tell her everything went well and that the bitch was on her way. Sheila said, “I do think it makes a difference when the airline employees and subcontractors know that this is someone's beloved pet, not ‘just' a show or breeding dog.”

I was talking to Sharon Fontanini of Myshara Aussies about her ad for this issue shortly after Simone and her handlers Ken and Amy had finally gotten out of Chicago on their way to the AKC Eukanuba National Championships. They were booked on American Airlines, but the plane did not have a heated cargo bay, and the temperatures were sub-zero. It was beginning to look like Simone wouldn't make it to the show, but in the end she was boarded on a United flight to Tampa that arrived only ten minutes after Ken's and Amy's American flight. Sharon was only beginning to breathe again!

Flying with Aussies or shipping them on their own can be stressful, but knowing that the major airlines really do care about the health and safety of our beloved dogs should be reassuring. In all my research and from all the stories shared with me, one thing comes through loud and clear: Even if you have an adventure or two along the way, you will find caring airline cargo personnel, and you will get to the Nationals with your dogs just fine!