Airfare for pet – How to travel peacefully with the animal?

Buying aair ticket for a pet is among the main doubts of those who want to travel with their dogs and cats in the aircraft cabin.

After all, air travel usually involves advance preparation and some bureaucracy. And when it comes to taking the pets, this is no different.

Therefore, you need to be aware of airline rules regarding the transport of dogs and cats before planning trips like this.

This is because there is no specific legislation for pets regarding this topic.

This way, each company determines which breed it will transport, the size and weight allowed, the value of the air ticket for the pet, among others.

Now, if you want to know more about this subject and, thus, travel peacefully with your animal, continue reading this content that PETFriendly Turismo has prepared for you.

Is a pet airline ticket really necessary?

Many questions arise when traveling with our pets, especially when it comes to buying tickets for them.

Unlike when traveling with children, it is not necessary to buy a pet airline ticket. 

That is, it is not necessary to buy a specific ticket or ticket for this.

However, you need to inform the airline about transporting your pet at the time you buy your ticket.

Also, if you want to travel peacefully with your dog or cat, you need to have a reservation and travel authorization. 

Both are mandatory and must be presented at the time of check-in at the airport, as the reservation is essential due to the limit of animals that each company can carry per segment. 

What are the main rules for traveling with PETs in the cabin?

Some airlines allow pets to travel in the cabin with their owner. 

However, there is a limit to the number of animals allowed per flight, usually two or three.

If the animal cannot go with the owner, due to its size, weight or other characteristics, they travel in the hold.

Although there are also rules and limits that vary from company to company.

Azul

The company allows three pets on its flights. However, each passenger can only take one animal.

In addition, the pet must be at least four months old and must be transported in its own packaging.

The rules for taking animals in the cabin of the Empresa Azul are:

• Permitted weight: 5 kg including the transport box;
• Size of the transport box (flexible or rigid): 43 cm long X 31.5 cm wide X 20 cm wide height;
• The fee for the air ticket for pet in the cabin is R$250 for domestic flights and $100 (dollars) for international flights. The amount is charged per segment.

The company did not provide information on its website about transporting animals in the hold.

Gol

Company Gol transports pets on its national and international flights, as long as they are at least four months old.

Rules vary for cabin and hold transportation. See:

Cabin:

• Allowed weight: 10kg, including the transport box;
• Flexible bag must be up to 24cm x 32cm x 43cm;
• Rigid box, must have a maximum of 22cm x 32cm x 43 cm;
• The fee to take the animal in the cabin is R$250 for domestic flights and R$600 for international flights. The amount is charged per segment.

Basement

• Permitted weight:10kg to 30kg, including the transport box;
• Box dimensions: 82cm x 114cm x 142cm;
• R$650 fee for flights national;
• International flights: R$ 800.

Although it allows the transport of animals, the service is not available on partner flights.

Air ticket for pets – Latam

A Latam allows transported animals to be at least eight weeks old, with the exception of trips to the United States. In this case, the animal must be four months old.

Therefore, the rules for bringing pets in the cabin are:

• Permitted weight: 7kg, including the transport box;
• If it is a bag, it must be 36 cm long x 33 cm wide x 23 cm high, in addition to having a a lock that ensures that the animal does not leave during the flight;
• The boxes can be a maximum of 36 cm long x 33 cm wide x 19 cm high. They must have a metal door with a double lock so that the animal does not pass its snout or legs through the openings.

Fees vary according to route, type of plane, fare class, among others.

So if you are thinking of traveling by plane with your pet, please contact the company to confirm the specifications.

What breeds are prohibited from traveling by plane?

Although airlines allow the transport of animals, some breeds are prohibited, including:

• American Bulldog;
• Boston Terrier;
• Boxer:
• Brussels Griffon;
• Pitbull;
• Pekingese;< /li>
• Among others.

Documents needed to buy the airline ticket for pets

When requesting theair ticket for pet, that is, the reservation and authorization, it is not necessary to present any document.

However, some are mandatory for your pet to travel with you, including medical certificate, proof of vaccination and CVI, in case of international travel.

Proof of vaccination

Proof of rabies vaccination is essential to show that your pet is not only healthy, but well cared for.

This document must be presented not only for international travel, but also for domestic flights.

The vaccine must have been applied more than 30 days ago and less than a year after shipment.

The receipt must contain the name of the vaccine producing laboratory, the type and number of the ampoule used.

Medical certificate

The animal must be in good health before traveling. Therefore, you will need to take your dog or cat to the vet, so that he can issue a medical certificate.

Azul, Gol and Latam require the validity of the document to be ten days after the date of issue.

CVI

International travel requires more preparation.

After all, we need to have a passport, tourist visa, proof of accommodation, among others.

This also applies when we travel with our pets. But instead of the international identification document, they must have the International Veterinary Certificate (CVI). 

This document is provided by the International Agricultural Surveillance System (Vigiagro) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply. It takes up to 30 days to be ready.

Other documents

In addition to the CVI, some countries have specific requirements on receiving “foreign” pets. 

Japan, for example, requests a microchip implant, a rabies vaccine, a blood test for rabies antibodies, and the completion of a form from the country’s Quarantine Service.

No Ministry of Agriculture website it is possible to check the requirement of each country regarding the reception of animals.

Is there an ideal airline to buy a pet airline ticket?

Each airline has its own particularities and rules. So choosing the best one will depend on several factors, including:

• size of your pet;
• breed;
• destination;
• travel connections.

Therefore, before buying your air ticket, check the rules of each airline.

If you are already planning to take a trip with your pet, read ours now Complete guide on how to travel with your dog by plane.