4. Airline Guidelines for Pets

Commercial airlines understand that it's sad to leave your pet behind when you travel. That's why the airlines have created guidelines to accommodate people who want to bring their beloved pets along on the flight. However, if you plan to bring your pet as a travel companion on a domestic or international flight, you need to meet a number of travel requirements. These include completing required paperwork, having an airline-approved carrier and making reservations early. General Airline Procedures

• Most commercial airlines allow small pets in the cabin with you as long as they're crated. Acceptable carry-on animals include small dogs, cats, ferrets, parakeets, finches and canaries. Big dogs and other animals, including snakes, rabbits, amphibians, guinea pigs and hamsters, must fly in the plane's cargo area. When temperatures reach extremely hot or cold levels, most airlines either prohibit pets from traveling in cargo or limit travel to certain times of the day when temperatures are less problematic. Whether your pet accompanies you in the passenger cabin or in the cargo area, expect to pay pet and excess luggage fees. Furthermore, the animal's carrier counts towards your luggage allotment. You must also follow specific requirements for pets. All airlines require health certificates for any pets flying on a plane. The animal must be examined within 10 days of the planned flight. Provide the airline with a dated certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian. Your municipality or state might require additional health documentation or have other reentry requirements.

Traveling With Pets on Domestic Flights

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) oversees travel of dogs and cats on commercial airlines for flights within the United States. Along with the requirements of individual airlines, APHIS requires dogs and cats traveling on an airplane to be at least 8 weeks old and weaned. To ensure the animal's comfortl, APHIS established kennel requirements. In-cabin and cargo kennels must meet airline standards in terms of size, strength, sanitation and ventilation. They must also have enough room for the animal to sit, stand, rest comfortably and breathe. All carriers must be enclosed with proper ventilated openings and have a leak-proof, solid floor lined with an absorbent material. Kennels should be small enough to fit under the seat if you bring them on as carry-on luggage, or have handles or grips for easy handling by cargo workers. APHIS also requires pets traveling in cargo to have feeding, watering and medication instructions attached to the kennel for air travel over 24 hours.

Pets as Carry-On Luggage on Domestic Flights

• Commercial airlines limit the number of small pets that can travel in the passenger cabin, so reserve early. Here are the small pet limits by airline: American Airlines---2 pets in first class; 5 in the cabin per flight. Continental, Delta, U.S. Airways and United Airlines---2 pets per flight. American West Airlines---1 pet in first class; 2 in other seating. Alaska Airlines and Northwest Airlines---1 pet per flight or 6 if aircraft is a 747. Southwest Airlines prohibits pets on its planes.