Airlines are increasingly allowing pet owners to fly with their pets in planes, except for brachycephalic dogs. If you’ve ever tried to fly with a snub-nosed dog, the limitations can be frustrating, even for 2021. If you’re traveling with one, you should know what airlines allow snub-nosed dogs.
There aren’t many airlines that allow brachycephalic dogs in the United States, and those that do only cover a limited range. Aloha Air Cargo and Hawaiian Airlines all fly snub-nosed dogs within Hawaii, while Amerijet is the best for interstate travel in the US.
This article is a guide to traveling with brachycephalic dogs in the United States. Firstly, you’ll learn why most airlines usually don’t allow these dogs, and secondly, you’ll learn how to travel with a snub-nosed dog across and outside the US.
Why Most Airlines Don’t Allow Snub-nosed Dogs
Snub-nosed dogs are usually restricted on most airlines because snub-nosed dog breeds are the most prone to severe respiratory issues, even under normal circumstances. They can’t breathe as easily as other dogs, and they experience minor difficulties with temperature regulation.
Since most dogs travel in the airplane’s cargo, air travel is generally harmful to brachycephalic dogs. The temperature conditions and air pressure in the cargo compartment are usually worse than those in the cabin, making it even more unsuitable for dogs.
Airlines historically flew snub-nosed dogs. However, a wave of regular death of snub-nosed dogs due to extreme weather conditions or suffocation has made most airlines rethink their policies on transporting snub-nosed dog breeds.
Even with all these restrictions, several airlines allow snub-nosed dogs with fewer restrictions. If you can choose an airline that historically allows brachycephalic dogs, you should be able to transport your dog with no problems.
How to Travel with a Brachycephalic Dog Safely
Airlines don’t hate brachycephalic dogs. Most of the restrictions are primarily to keep the dogs safe. If you’re traveling with an airline that lets you bring your snub-nosed dog along, here are some travel tips that will keep your dog safe throughout the flight.
1. Choose the appropriate time.
Brachycephalic dogs usually have a problem with temperature regulation, especially in hot weather. If you’re traveling with a snub-nosed dog, try flying outside the winter season, as it’s usually too hot for the dog to survive an hours-long trip when it’s too hot.
If you must travel in the summer, try to make adequate reservations to ensure your dog doesn’t go down with hyperthermia during the ride.
2. Choose an airline that supports brachycephalic dogs
Booking a flight without checking their level of support for snub-nosed dogs could be your biggest mistake if you’re traveling with one. Regardless of their “pet-friendliness,” you shouldn’t just assume that an airline supports brachycephalic dogs because most don’t.
Even if an airline supports traveling with snub-nosed dog breeds, it’s important to check your dog’s weight to see if they allow airlines as big as yours. If you can’t find one that does, you may have to schedule ways to transport your dog safely.
3. Check-in with your vet
Before even scheduling the flight, it’s crucial to check in with your veterinarian to ensure your dog is fit for air travel. While this is usually required by most airlines anyway, many people buy the passes, but you should never do so, especially if you’re flying snub-nosed breeds.
If your dog is either obese or overweight, your vet can put the dog on a weight loss plan to make it easier for them to travel. Cutting down a few pounds from your dog’s weight can even make it eligible to travel on most airlines with weight restrictions.
4. Get the correct crate.
If you don’t know how to choose a crate for your snub-nosed dog, choose one that’s twice as large as what’s supposed to be the regular size. Since these dogs constantly have minor difficulties with breathing, they’ll need much more space than other dogs to get enough air.
After choosing the right travel crate for your dog, you may also want to train your dog to get used to it before you’re ready to fly. This step will make travel more convenient while providing a safe and healthy haven for the pet.
5. Consider hiring a pet relocation company.
If it seems too demanding to get all the variables right before your travel date, you can supercharge the experience using a credible pet relocation company. These companies have experts that help you transport your dog in the safest conditions quickly.
Pet relocations companies don’t charge too much to relocate your pets. If you carefully calculate the costs, you’ll discover you aren’t losing money by using a company. Just remember to add the costs of convenience.
What Airlines Allow Brachycephalic Dogs?
If you’re trying to fly your snub-nosed dog in the United States, your options are pretty limited. There are a handful of airlines that let you fly with a brachycephalic dog. Even those that support this do so with many conditions and seasonal restrictions.
With that said, here are a number of the airlines you should consider if you’re trying to fly with a brachycephalic dog.
1. Amerijet
Amerijet is one of the few airlines that will let you fly most snub-nosed dog breeds across the United States. If you’re not trying to travel during the hottest days of the summer, you should be okay with Amerijet.
2. Hawaiian Air
Hawaiian Air is also accommodating to most kinds of brachycephalic dogs but with a very glaring restriction. You can only travel within Hawaii. If you’re planning to move your dog out of the state, you’ll need yet another airline.
3. Aloha Air Cargo
Aloha Air Cargo works like Hawaiian Air because it only allows snub-nosed dogs to travel only across Hawaii.
Even as these airlines support flying with brachycephalic dogs, the destinations you can fly to are pretty limited. If you want to fly with your dog outside the United States, you’re out of luck, as all international airlines currently don’t support flying with brachycephalic dogs.