Flying With Your Dog? Don’t Just Wing It

Here’s a step-by-step guide, plus all the essentials, from airline-compliant carriers to calming chews.

by Rachel Davies | expert review by Dr. John Iovino, DVM

Updated November 21, 2023

Traveling with a pet can be a massively rewarding experience — when done right. Enjoying a new place is a whole lot more fun if you have your loyal companion with you, and bringing your pup along removes the need to worry about kennel conditions, dog sitters, or how much you’ll miss your pooch. Though traveling with a dog is fairly easy to navigate, the process does become more complicated if your canine is too large to travel in-cabin. We spoke with veterinarian Dr. John Iovino to get some tips for traveling with pups who can fit in an under-seat carrier (under or around 20 pounds).

Choose a carrier

Carrier choice can make or break your inflight experience, and Dr. Iovino warns the options can be overwhelming. “With so many types of carriers on the market, I can see how choosing one can be challenging,” he says. Thankfully, there are a few tricks to selecting the right one.

First up, check your specific airline’s carrier guidance to make sure that you’re getting the exact right size. “Each airline should include the dimensions they require on their website, and a good rule of thumb for the weight requirement is that the carrier plus the pet’s weight cannot exceed 20 pounds,” explains Dr. Iovino. “Knowing your pet’s weight and paying attention to how much the carrier weighs on the product is key.”

Look for something that your dog can move around in comfortably, so they aren’t cramped in one position during the entirety of your travels. Ideally, you can fit a small folded up blanket or little pillow in the carrier for their comfort. Dr. Iovino recommends soft carriers designed and advertised specifically for flying. “They have mesh walls on most sides to provide ventilation and a chance for you to see your pet to make sure everything is okay. I find them easier to position under the seat in front of you rather than using a plastic or ‘non-collapsible’ carrier,” he says. But possibly their biggest boon: “Soft carriers are easily cleanable, and they collapse down for easy storage when not being used.”

Train your dog to stay calm in a carrier

If your pup is uneasy during car rides or can’t handle staying in a crate for very long, you should practice leading up to your travel date. This practice can involve many different activities: crate training your dog, if they’re not already, being the most important. Get your dog comfortable with staying in their crate, or preferably the specific carrier they’ll be inside on the date of travel, by easing up to the amount of time they’ll spend in the carrier day by day. For example, if your travel time will be five hours, start at a low duration (say, half an hour, depending on existing comfort levels) and work up to the amount they’ll experience on their day of travel. If you live in a city, take your pup on the subway in a carrier to simulate the experience; if you’re car-bound, do the same in the car.

Your dog doesn’t need to be their obedience school’s valedictorian in order to handle flying, but basic training will make your day of travel a lot more manageable. When planning your trip, don’t forget to consider the entire day’s worth of travel — not just the flight, but the trip to the airport, and the amount of time you’ll spend in the terminal itself.

Find a calming treat

Your dog will certainly deserve a treat on your day of travel, and why not pick something that you think will aid them on their travel journey? Something with CBD or melatonin will help lower their anxiety levels. Whatever you choose, be sure to have your dog sample it ahead of the day of travel — you never know how a new food could affect your dog’s stomach, and it’s a lot easier to deal with a queasy stomach when you’re not 36,000 feet in the air. And if your trip is longer than six hours or so, pack a baggie of extra kibble for a quick meal when you land.

Pack an additional carry-on

In most cases, your pet’s carrier counts as one of the two carry-ons allotted with your booking. Because of this, you have to be strategic with the other carrier you bring on the flight. This largely depends on your own personal needs for in-flight comfort. If you’re someone who likes tons of options (iPad, book, neck pillow...what have you), you’re probably best checking a bag with all of the other belongings you’re bringing on your trip, rather than trying to get away with a rolling case plus the carrier. If you require less to stay entertained during a flight, it’s possible to fit your essentials in your own pockets and everything your dog will need inside the carrier pockets.

Don’t forget your pet’s vet records

You will be asked to show proof of vaccines when you check in, so remember to have your dog’s vaccination history handy, plus any other important paperwork, such as a rabies certificate and your vet’s contact info, says Dr. Iovino. “When flying domestic, a general health certificate is required and is done within ten days of your departure date. The requirement to obtain the general health certificate would be an exam done by a USDA accredited veterinarian in your state. It’s also essential to research the particular state’s entry requirements before traveling since all states have different rules.”

And while you may be focused on stocking up on calming chews and tinctures, remember to pack any medication your pet may need — it’s especially easy to forget if you need to administer it the morning of your trip when you’re rushing around.

Locate the terminal’s pet relief area

Airport pet relief areas are the traveling canine’s best friend. While the quality of pet relief areas vary from airport to airport, you’re sure to find someplace where your dog can stretch their legs and take a bathroom break pre-boarding. Don’t forget to pack poop bags and a leash so your pup doesn’t make a run for it as soon as they’re out of the carrier.

During the flight

Generally speaking, you’re not allowed to to remove your pooch from their carrier once you’ve boarded the flight, so make sure your dog is set up for comfort with their favorite toy (if it fits in the carrier) to keep them company. Though they can’t come out, you can reach into the carrier to give them a treat or a pet throughout the flight. Below, a few essentials for flying with with your dog.

Btw, our editors (and their pets) picked out these products. They’re always in stock at the time we publish, but there’s a chance they’ll sell out. If you do buy through our links, we may earn a commission. (We’ve got a lot of toys to buy over here, you know?)

Sherpa Original Deluxe Airline-Approved Dog & Cat Carrier

$70

This airline-approved carrier is nothing if not dependable. Its boxy shape ensures your dog will have plenty of room to move around, and its top and side-zippered doors allow your dog numerous options to get a look at you while in flight. Plus, the zippers lock, so there’s no need to worry about your pooch making their way out of the bag.

$70 at Amazon

Shed Defender Original Dog Onesie

$45

Not only does this onesie look super cute, thus providing a little comic relief during a stressful day of travel, but the cozy elastic construction soothes pet anxiety too.

$45 at Amazon

Wild One Travel Carrier

$125

This is a stylish, airline-compliant option that’s a lot less cumbersome than a full-size carrier for pet parents of tiny pooches.

$125 at Wild One

Zesty Paws Hemp Calming Supplement

$14

These treats are sure to soothe dogs in any anxiety-inducing situation — so while they’re useful for travel, they’re also great to have on hand for unforeseen fireworks or thunderstorms.

$14 at Amazon

Fable Biodegradable Wet Wipes

$15

You can feel good about cleaning your dog with these biodegradable and US-made wipes from Fable Pets. Made with only six ingredients, two of which are aloe vera and coconut oil, they’ll leave your pup smelling fresher than ever.

$15 at Amazon

Roverlund Out-of-Office Pet Food Travel Kit

$87

$69

This three-part kit makes it stress-free to feed your dog on the go and according to Dr. Iovino, it is a must. “Given my experience, an essential during plane travel would be collapsible food and water bowls! They take up little space in your bag and make it easy to provide food and water quickly on a trip,” he says. The fabric water bowl is waterproof and collapsible, so you don’t have to worry about your pup’s favorite dish taking up space or breaking; the kibble storage bag is foldable and can hold up to 10 pounds of dog food; and the pocketed travel bag has plenty of extra room for toys, treats, poop bags, and anything else your pup can’t part with.

$69 at Roverlund

Rachel Davies

Rachel Davies is a writer who has written for numerous publications including Vox, Wall Street Journal, and Architectural Digest and the parent of a beautiful Cocker Spaniel mix named Thea.