We've all heard the horror stories about pets being flown on commercial aircraft. However, traveling by air is just as safe for your pet as it is for you. No, that's unrealistic. But a healthy pet, traveling on a well-planned itinerary, is as safe as walking with you in the park. So, let's take a moment to dispel some of the more common misconceptions about pet travel.
Aircraft are somewhat like balloons.
It is impossible to inflate part of a balloon and not the rest. The same holds true for aircraft. The air in the cargo hold and the cabin air are all one. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has strict guidelines that govern when an airline can or cannot accept pets in times of extreme temperatures. Consideration must be given to the amount of time pets remain in the cargo hold while waiting for luggage to be loaded and off-loaded and the fact that heat reflects off the tarmac into the cargo area.