Flying With Kids And Pets
How can I purchase a ticket and prepare my child for air travel?
You do not have to purchase a ticket for your child every time. If you've got a child or a baby that's under two, then you can just keep them on your lap and save the price of the ticket. The best way to prepare your children for air travel is to let them know what it's going to be like. You don't want to tell them exactly how long the flight's going to be but you want to keep them prepared. Let them bring their own backpack full of their favourite toys, stuffed animals and comfort items. Maybe that's a blanket, maybe it's a favourite snack. You definitely want to have something for then to suck on or drink while on take-off and landing so it's easier on their ears.
Can I fly on a commercial airline with my pet and what is the cost?
Passengers can fly with their pets on commercial airlines. Sometimes you buy a ticket for them separately and they fly in kennels underneath in the cargo department, or, if you have a small enough pet, they can go in a little air carrier bag and fit right underneath your seat. If you're traveling internationally you want to be careful though because sometimes there's a quarantine period or an extra fee. Some airlines require that you purchase a plane ticket for your pet, but make sure you check with the airline because prices and restrictions vary from airline to airline.
What should I know before traveling with my pet?
Make sure you know the rules and restrictions when traveling with your pet, and always tell the airline that you are traveling with a pet at the time of booking. Then, they'll let you know what their specific restrictions are and what you're allowed to do and where the pet will go while you're in flight. Although you can check your pet beneath the plane as cargo, it's not really recommended. There are different temperatures and the restrictions on different planes vary. To be sure that your pet is going to be safe, check with the ASPCA and see what their guidlines and restrictions are for inflight travel.
