"Flight Faux Pas": Expert Warns Pet Owners of Key Mistake to Avoid

Preparing Your Pet for Air Travel

As more airlines allow pets on flights, pet owners might be considering taking their furry friends on an adventure. However, there are several important factors to consider before making the decision to travel with your pet.

Virgin Australia allows pets on flights if they weigh up to 8kgs, including the weight of the carrier. The pet must fit comfortably in the carrier under the seat in front of you and be older than eight weeks. But it's not as simple as just putting your cat or dog into a carrier and getting on the plane.

According to Petbarn's Head NSW Trainer, Chelsea Seddon, it can take up to a month of preparation and training to ensure your furry friend isn't stressed out during the flight. If there’s no other way to get to your destination, you’ll need these tips and tricks to make the experience as smooth as possible.

Understanding the Challenges

The biggest thing to note is that if you can get to your destination in any other way, it will be less stressful for your dog or cat. Even if they're used to their carrier, being in an unfamiliar environment and suddenly not being able to come out and be comforted by their owner can be challenging.

Seddon warned that you cannot simply put your pet into a crate and hop onto the flight – it takes up to a month of training before you even step onto the tarmac. Dogs and cats need to be familiarised with the crate they'll be flying in to minimize their stress.

Training Your Pet

“Leave the carrier somewhere in a place that the dog or cat likes to hang out, have the door open, make it comfortable by putting a bed in there,” Seddon said. “If you happen to see them investigating, you can give them some treats to encourage them to think the carrier is this awesome place that treats appear whenever they go near it.”

“You could feed them meals in there so that they want to go inside it, and they think it's this really nice place that's comfortable. Then eventually we get to the point where they're going in the carrier by themselves ... then you can start to close the door.”

Once the pet gets to that point, travel with them in the carrier in a car, so they get used to the idea of the carrier moving while they are in it. Seddon says she "absolutely does not" recommend just taking your pet onto the plane in a crate with no prior training, as it can cause severe stress for the animal.

Managing Stress During the Flight

If the training is skipped, you risk a noisy, potentially messy flight with a very stressed-out animal. “If you've got a pet that's really relaxed in general, [and is] pretty bold with new experiences, has a bit of genetic resilience, maybe you'll get away with chucking them in a carrier, putting them on the plane, and they'll be OK for an hour. But a lot of pets will find that very difficult.”

During the flight, the best thing to do is get them settled in their spot right away. You can also comfort them by talking to them quietly. “They are going to be somewhat sheltered in the carrier and then underneath the seat that they're under ... the visual stimulation is already reduced, but it's a possibility that some pets would react better having like a small blanket over the top of the crate as long as they weren't getting too hot.”

Packing Essentials

Preparation is key when it comes to packing for your pet. “Bring something that smells like home, like a blanket that you use, or you could even put a piece of your clothing in [the crate] if you don't care about it getting soiled by accident, or their favourite toy.”

For a smooth flight, Seddon says owners should try to let their pets go to the bathroom before getting to the airport. She also recommended against taking the animal for a massive walk or run to "tire them out" before the flight, as that can actually excite them mentally.

Additional Tips

Do something like a gentle walk where they do a lot of sniffing or give them some sort of chew toy at home or a chew treat that they can have for half an hour. These activities generally help them be a little calmer.

If your pet is the anxious type, owners can also speak to their vet about getting their animal an anti-anxiety medication for the flight. This can be a helpful option to ensure your pet remains calm and comfortable throughout the journey.