When you are booking the flight for your pets, it’s more than just starting at point A and finishing at point B. Especially if the layover creates delays. While people stretch their legs, eat food, and check their gate during layovers, sometimes airlines leave our furry friend in the most mysterious condition. As the pet moving company, we often get this question: What really happens to pets during Layovers & Leashes? This simple guide will help if the pet is travellingrst time.
Layovers & Leashes: Understanding the Logistics of Pet Transportation
When the pets travel by air, travellingwith
In the cabin, if they are small enough, they fit under a seat in a carrier.
When pets exceed the cabin weight limits, airlines transport them in the aircraft’s cargo hold in an IATA approved travel crate.
During a layover, the pet crew handles differently depending on where the pets are placed.
The cabin pets: How are they handled?
If the pets are traveling with you under the seat, then the layovers are basic. The pets are staying with you. Throughout your journey.
The pet owner can take them to the washroom in breaks at designated pet relief areas (most of the airport has these indoors and outdoors).
Offers a littlea little snack (as per the daily routine).
Keep them calm and comfortable by staying close with the pets.
The cargo pets: How are they handled?
Here are the simple procedures you need to know. When the pets are flying as cargo, airlines and airport staff are responsible during the layover. Here is typically what happens.
Here is the procedure for pets unloading from aircraft.
Once the plane has landed, the pet’s crate is offloaded from the plane carefully. The trained staff will take care of pets by transporting them to the holding area or animal handling facilities at the airport.
Health and welfare check
At major airports, there are pet vets. Here, airport staff may
Check your pet’s crate to ensure the pet’s safety.
Refill the water to keep the pets hydrated, or provide the hydration gel packs.
They will clean if there is any mess inside the crate.
Observe the pets for any signs of illness.
Not all airports have the animal lounges, but major hubs do. They are staffed by professionals trained in animal care.
Layovers & Leashes: Waiting time and surroundings.
During the longer layovers, the pets are usually kept in a temperature-controlled holding area to rest before being loaded onto the next flights. These areas are typically quiet areas away from the main cargo loading zones to minimize the stress.
In shorter layovers, the pets are usually kept near the aircraft, ready to be loaded onto the next flight, without the pets being transported to the animal lounge.
Do pets get walked through the layovers?
If the pets are traveling internationally for security reasons, the pets are not removed from the crate. In very rare cases, for specific reasons at particular airports, the trained professional staff remove the pets from the crate and allow the pets to take a simple walk or exercise. But this is not standard and shouldn’t be expected unless explicitly arranged.
Layovers & Leashes: How to Help Your Pet During Every Layover
As a pet parent, your responsibility is to make the preparation. Here is the simple step to ensure your pet’spet’s safety during a multi-hour journey.
- Use an IATA-approved standard crate; it should be properly ventilated on all three sides with a secure door lock.
- Attach clear instructions on the crate, including feeding time, emergency contacts, and medical description.
- Include an absorbent blanket or little bedding to prevent injuries from the little accidents.
- Choose the direct flights when possible; choose the reputed and greatest pet handling during the layovers.
- Time meals carefully: avoid feeding the pets during the time of departure.
- Avoid sedatives unless prescribed by the vet doctor; the medication may interfere with the natural ability of the pets to regulate stress and body temperature during the flights.
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