Dog experts dispel myths about flying your pet in the cargo hold

Many pet owners go to great lengths when planning a trip to avoid having to send their furry family members in the ‘s cargo hold. Given the stress of and the uncertainty of entrusting your pet to strangers for hours, it’s completely understandable to fear flying with in the cargo hold.

Twwo pet travel experts at this year’s have debunked some misconceptions about the seemingly scary experience.

“It’s completely safe for a to travel cargo,” says Jonah Woodwards, a pet travel partner at Sky Kennels, a company that exports and imports pets worldwide, while also taking care of customs clearance, providing ground transport, and offering IATA specification crates.

When pets travel in an airplane, they are put in the pet cabin, which on most aircraft is up at the front of the aircraft, just below business class, Jonah explains. Moreover, the pet cabin is heated and ventilated, so they’ll be nice and warm while they fly.

“We don’t sedate animals,” says Jonah reveals. Nevertheless, some crates are sprayed with Adaptil for dogs, and Feliway for cats, which are pheromone-based products that help reduce stress and anxiety in pets.

“I wouldn’t do anything to another person’s dog that I wouldn’t do to my own dog,” says Nick Foden-Ellis, director of Sky Kennels. He says millions of animals fly across the world daily, and fatalities are extremely rare, often caused by external factors rather than the travel itself.

Pets flying on airplanes are transported in a temperature-controlled, pressurized cargo hold designed for their safety and comfort, Nick sayd. The temperature is kept between 7°C and 29°C, and the cargo area is secure with well-ventilated crates.

Additionally, airlines follow strict guidelines to ensure the pets’ safety, avoid extreme conditions, and provide trained staff for handling. “The cabin crew can even go check on the pets if they hear that something is off,” Nick says, confirming pilots and flight attendants can hear loud barks and are able to go down to the cargo area if necessary.

IATA-compliant crates, such as Sky Kennels, range from £102 to £390, with larger crates for bigger breeds being more expensive. These crates feature secure nuts and bolts for assembly, a double-locking door mechanism, and a large water bowl with a funnel, all made from durable plastic.

Optional puppy pads and VetBed bedding, designed to be water-absorbent, quick-drying, and machine washable, keep pets comfortable and dry during travel. “I would recommend any dog owners to introduce the crate gradually to their dog before travelling,” Nick says.

“You can lift the top of the crate off, so some time before the flight, you can make your dog use the crate like their bed, and then add the crate on so that they have their own space,” Nick shares. While the doesn’t have a blanket ban on specific dog breeds for travel, some airlines and certain countries within the EU restrict or ban certain breeds, particularly those considered “dangerous” or brachycephalic (short-snouted) breeds.

Dogs, cats and ferrets traveling to the EU from a non-EU country must have a valid EU pet passport, which includes rabies vaccination, microchip identification and tapeworm treatment.