SEE SPOT SAIL
Pets and their owners embrace alternatives to flying
In 2010, Pepper and Nikki Moustaki embarked on a European adventure that did not involve one plane ride. They sailed from New York to Southampton, England, on the Queen Mary 2 and bounced around Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands in cars and trains. During their two-month stay in Paris, they relied on their feet (or paws, in Pepper’s case) and the Metro to get around.
Pepper is a schnauzer and Nikki is his person.
“I’m not a fan of flying. Just the stress of thinking about what could go wrong in the air ruins the beginning of what could be a great trip,” said Moustaki, a dog trainer and author.
“But I love taking my dog with me wherever I go.”
Flying with four-legged family members is scary. A French bulldog puppy perished in the overhead bin on a United flight in March. The airline also sent a family’s dog to Japan instead of Kansas City and placed a dog named Dudley on the wrong connection from Newark.
United responded by suspending all cargo transport of animals and initiated a review of its PetSafe policy.
Animal rights advocates are not against the idea of pets on planes, but urge owners to consider all forms of travel before booking a flight.
“In general, air travel is safe for your pets, but it’s better to travel by train or car,” said Amy Nichols, vice-president of companion animals at the Humane Society of the United States.
“Think of what’s best for the animal and not what you prefer.”
However, if you can’t avoid flying, the experts offer tips to make the flight as safe and comforting as possible.
(Note: The critters discussed below are pets; the rules covering service animals are different.)
Not all pets travel well. Seniors, puppies and ailing dogs are better left at home, as are brachycephalic breeds, which often suffer from breathing difficulties. Most airlines ban them from the cargo hold.
You don’t want to expose your animal to extreme temperatures. Many airlines won’t fly pets in the belly of the plane if it’s too hot or too cold outside.
Also, remember that some international hotels prefer fans over air conditioning — not the best cooling device for an animal that doesn’t sweat.
“Summer is not a good idea for any pet,” said Susan H. Smith, president of PetTravel.com.
Learn entry requirements for animals at your destination. Some countries, such as Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia, quarantine incoming pets; others, such as Germany and Britain, ban certain breeds.
For all destinations, domestic and abroad, pack a copy of your pet’s most current health report. In Europe, you will need an EU health certificate that must contain vaccination and rabies records, plus proof of a tapeworm test, depending on the country. You must also microchip your pet, in case it decides to run off.
BY TRAIN
Since Amtrak introduced its pet travel program in 2013, roughly 66,000 dogs and cats have ridden. The US$25 service is available on 35 routes. Amtrak allows only five to eight animals weighing no more than 20 pounds (nine kilograms) per trip, so book early. The voyage can’t exceed seven hours.
Trains in Europe are incredibly generous to pets. Some countries let them ride free and even on their owners’ laps. Mark Smith, a British cat owner who founded travel website The Man in Seat Sixty-One, created an informative page about pet travel on trains and ferries.
“There are little problems and quirks,” he said about the various rules governing each country’s rail service.
For instance, Britain’s National Rail allows two animals per passenger for no charge. On the Caledonian Sleeper, which fans out across England and Scotland, passengers and their pets can bunk together in a cabin for about US$43, plus the people ticket fare.
However, the Eurostar — the high-speed train that links London to mainland Europe — does not permit animals.
As an alternative to flying, Smith recommends the Dutchflyer Rail & Sail combo: Take the train from London to Harwich in Essex, then catch the ferry to the Hook of Holland in the southwest corner of the Netherlands. Your dog can lounge in a kennel for about US$20.
From there, you and pooch can launch your Grand Tour, Canine Edition, by rail. One warning: Spain’s train system, Renfe, caps the animal’s weight at 22 pounds (10 kilograms).
BYSEA
Only one cruise line invites pets: Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. The ship, which sails between New York and Southampton, offers 24 kennels for $800 to $1,000. A full-time Kennel Master oversees feeding, walking and housecleaning of pets, who receive a gift bag including a QM2-monogrammed coat and Frisbee, among other treats.
Cunard prohibits some dogs because of size and others because of British restrictions (pit bull terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Braziliero).
Many ferries allow pets. Some companies require the animal to stay in the vehicle or a kennel. Others invite them to come on deck as long as they are leashed.
Pet-embracing operations in Europe include Brittany Ferries (FranceandSpain);Condor(France, Channel Islands); DFDS Seaways (France, Netherlands); Irish Ferries; P&O (Belgium, France, Netherlands); and Wightlink (Isle of Wight in England). Rates range from free to about US$100.
In the U.S., the list includes the North Carolina Ferry System, including the jaunt from Hatteras to Ocracoke Island; the Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket ferries; and the San Francisco Bay Ferry (carrier-only).
BY CAR
Moustaki and her dogs have travelled between New York and Miami more than 60 times over two decades, in addition to rambling car adventures in California, Nevada and the Gulf States.
Her advice: Restrain your dog in the back seat with a harness, with the leash clipped on, in case it darts out of the car during a pit stop. Pack a non-spill water dish, potty pads, plastic bags, a blanket and towel, paper towels, treats and your dog ’s regular food.
She also recommends a handsfree leash that wraps around your waist, so you can carry your luggage without losing your grip on your pet.
Drivers will need to stop every few hours for a bathroom and water break. Nichols recommends every four to six hours for adults and more frequent stops for younger and older dogs.
If your pet starts acting “spacey,” Nichols said it could be dehydration. In addition, though dogs love to stick their heads out, keep the windows shut. Debris could fly into their faces and eyes.
BY PLANE
Experts have been working to improve the environment for pets in airspace. After the puppy death, the Humane Society submitted several suggestions, including creating pet-friendly flights that allow more animals on board and carving out a designated space in the cabin for carriers and crates. The organization also recommended early boarding for passengers with carry-on animals and setting up a hotline or posting a knowledgeable airline employee at the gate to handle questions about pet travel.
Commercial air offers three ways to transport pets: as carry-on, cargo or checked luggage. Keeping your pet within close reach (meaning, at your feet) is preferable, of course. However, the airlines limit the size of the carrier and therefore the animal. In addition, some countries (South Africa, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Britain, for instance) do not permit animals in the cabin. They must fly as cargo.
Smith recommends a soft-sided carrier (vs. a hard case or whalesize purse) with a waterproof bottom, secure fasteners and good ventilation. The pet should have enough room to stand up and move. Choose a window seat so you can inoculate your pet from disturbances in the aisle and your seatmates’ bathroom needs. Also, many planes install entertainment boxes under the aisle-row seats, further limiting space.
In a match between checked baggage and cargo, the former wins.
“I would advise the less time in the possession of the airline, the better,” Nichols said, “so checking (your pet) with luggage would be preferred over handing them over hours in advance.”
Sending your crated animal as luggage is often less expensive and stressful for both of you. For the checked bag scenario, bring your pup to the airport check-in counter with the rest of your luggage shortly before going through security. You will retrieve your pet in the baggage claim area, among the other oversized pieces of luggage, such as golf clubs and skis.
If your pet travels as cargo, you will have to drop it off four or more hours before takeoff at a facility that is often separate from the main terminal. Your loved one could sit in an un-air-conditioned terminal for hours.
“Pets are at the greatest risk before they even take off,” said Smith.
In both scenarios, ask the gate agent before boarding if the ground crew has transferred your pet to the plane.
If the cargo hold is filled, the airline could place your animal on a later flight — a troubling idea, to say the least. To lessen the odds of bumping, Smith recommends travelling during off-peak times: Tuesday through Thursday, in the spring or fall.