How to Travel Long Distance in a Plane with Your Cat

Recently, I wrote about how to take your cat with you on a long road trip, the concerns and considerations you need to keep in mind to keep your fur baby safe, and what you should bring to make the trip as smooth as possible.

Sometimes, though, you aren't able to drive where you're going. Maybe it's far enough away that the only reasonable way to travel is by plane. Maybe you're crossing an ocean or flying to an island. Whatever the case may be, you need to hop on a plane, and to bring your furry feline friend with you, you need to bring them on the plane as well.

How do you fly with a cat, what do you need to know, and what should you bring? Let's talk about it!

Can You Fly with a Cat?

Let's start with the beginning: can you even fly with a cat?

The answer depends on the airline. Some airlines allow pets, while others do not. Some also place more restrictions on them than others. Here are a few of the rules from the most common airlines.

Southwest Airlines Pet Policies

Dogs and cats need to be at least 8 weeks old to travel, and they must be vaccinated. Small animals like cats also need to be kept in an appropriate pet carrier as a carry-on. The pet fare is $125 each way, per carrier, for mainland USA flights, though this can be subject to change. Each ticketed passenger is allowed one pet carrier, and each pet carrier can have at most two of the same species of cat or dog.

United Airlines Pet Policies

Pets can't be checked as cargo (which sounds crazy, but United used to have a pet cargo program that they have since discontinued outside of active-duty military members), and you can bring up to two pets per person; however, if you're bringing two pets, you need two tickets. Pet carriers need to be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you. Pet fare is $150 for each way and an additional $125 for each 4+ hour layover.

American Airlines Pet Policies

Pets can be transported as carry-on or as cargo through their cargo pet service, which is restricted to active-duty military. Carry-on is limited to cats and small dogs, with age, size, and destination requirements. Pet fares are $150 per pet carrier.

Most other airlines are similar. Cats need to be old enough to travel, vaccinated, and in a cat carrier that can fit under the seats. A cat carrier isn't taking the place of your carry-on (you still have space in the overhead bin), but if you have more than one cat to bring, you may need more than one ticket. Pet fares are around $125-150 for most airlines as well.

What to Know About Flying with Cats

There are a few key things to know about trying to fly with a cat.

The first and most important is that there are strict limitations on how many animals can be on any given flight. The airlines set these limits, and sometimes, they can fill up very quickly. For example, many flights only allow one pet carrier in a first-class cabin and up to five in a business-class cabin.

Even though there's technically plenty of space, they don't want to deal with too many animals on a flight, especially if those animals get irate at smelling, seeing, and hearing each other. It can cause a lot of problems and make a flight even more miserable than it already is for many people (and kitties).

Another thing to know is that the rules that allowed emotional service animals have been reversed. The loophole that let an emotional service animal fly was widely abused – and you probably saw stories about people bringing all kinds of animals, from fish to alligators to chickens, causing all kinds of problems – so the Department of Transportation removed that loophole.

Always make sure to triple-check with your airline that you have purchased fare for your kitty well in advance, and make sure you're aware of the size and space restrictions on the carrier you're bringing them in.

Do Cats Hate Flying?

Some do, and some don't. Just like with long car rides, some cats are adventurous and don't mind purring the time away while they doze in their carrier. Others are very sensitive to the noises, the people, the smells, the pressure changes, the vibrations, and everything else involved in plane travel and are going to be miserable the whole time.

Before flying with a cat, see if you can take them on a longer car ride to see how they feel about being cooped up for a while. Plane rides are generally shorter than road trips, but they can still prove irritating to many felines.

In particular, watch for the signs of kitty anxiety. If your fur baby is drooling, whining, excessively grooming themselves, or otherwise showing signs of stress, a flight might not be the best idea.

Of course, if you have to get from point A to point B, and you have to bring your kitty with you, it's probably better to take them on a miserable two-hour flight than an equally miserable ten-hour drive, right?

Tips for Making a Flight with a Cat Easier

What can you do to make your flight easier when you're bringing your fuzzy feline along?

Be very careful with sedation.When you're stuck on an airplane, if something goes wrong, you don't have any help. If your cat has bad anxiety, your vet can prescribe a mild sedative, but even then, be cautious about how you use it.

Know local laws and regulations.This is especially relevant for international flights. For example, the UK, by law, doesn't allow animals in the cabin either going to or coming from the country. Meanwhile, many US carriers don't check animals into their cargo anymore because of the risks and hassle involved.

Be prepared for security.United States airline security is largely theater, but that doesn't mean they can't make your life miserable if they want to. It's likely that you will need to extricate your fur baby from their carrier for the X-ray process and put them back in when it's done, which means you need to prepare for that. Make sure you have a good harness and that your fur baby is trained for carriers; otherwise, you're going to have a huge hassle on your hands.

Remember, too, that you generally can't use fast-track lines, online check-in, and other services when you have a pet with you. You'll need to go the long way around.

Consider using a soft carrier.Many airlines allow either a hard-shelled or a soft-shelled carrier as long as it fits under the seat in front of you. Soft-shelled carriers are more flexible and give your fur baby more room to maneuver and get comfortable, so they are often the better option.

Make the carrier a pleasant place to be.Since your fur baby is going to be spending a significant amount of time in the carrier on the flight, you want ways for them to be distracted. Something that smells like you and like home as padding, a toy to help distract them (preferably without noises that can disrupt other passengers), and other sources of comfort can help a lot.

Don't feed your cat before the flight.The absolute last thing anyone on a flight wants to deal with is the scent of a cat doing their business, whether out of fear, out of anxiety, or just out of natural digestion. If it happens, it happens, but you can minimize the chances by not feeding your furry friend before the flight and making sure they use their litter box before you board. Ideally, you can find an out-of-the-way corner of the airport and let your cat do their business in a portable, disposable litter box to get as close to the time of flight as possible.

Giving your cat some water is still important, though. Dehydration is much worse than a little hunger.

Pack your Cat Flight Essentials

Being prepared for anything is the key to a successful flight.

Here are some of the things you should have packed away.

• Cat treats. While you don't want to feed your fur baby on the flight, giving them the occasional treat can help keep them calm.
• A harness and leash, to make sure that your fur baby is secure and can't escape if you have to remove them from their carrier at any point.
• Spare clips and connectors. The last thing you want is for a broken zipper, a stuck carabiner, or another broken clasp to cause disruptions.
• Puppy pads to line the bottom of the carrier, in case your fur baby loses control of their bowels while they're anxious or scared in transit or if they vomit out of anxiety.
• Wipes and other supplies in case your cat does their business and you need to haul the carrier to the in-flight bathroom to clean up.
• A portable litter box. Especially for flights that last more than a couple of hours, it can be a good idea to bring a portable litter box with you so you can bring your cat to the bathroom, set it up, let them go, and ensure they're more comfortable for the remainder of the flight.

Finally, don't forget all of the relevant paperwork to prove things like ownership, recent vaccination status, and proof that you paid your pet fare in advance.

Flying with Cats FAQs

Now, let's wrap up by answering some of the more common questions we receive.

What is the most cat-friendly airline?

This can depend on where you're flying, but for domestic flights, the top three are generally Alaska Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. United and JetBlue have the worst ratings, largely based on limitations and pricing.

Are service animals allowed on flights outside of a carrier?

Yes.

Can cats be considered service animals?

No. A lot of people were abusing the "emotional support animal" designation, which could be purchased for a completely untrained animal with no oversight. The Department of Transportation issued a new ruling that allows airlines to no longer recognize emotional support animals. Only true, trained service animals are allowed outside of carriers, and they need to be certified. Cats generally can't be service animals.

How much does it cost to bring a cat on a flight?

The basic fee ranges from about $100 to $175, depending on the airline you're taking, the destination, and other factors. Sometimes, if you're hopping on and off a plane for a layover, you may end up with a secondary fee for the second leg of the journey.

That's not the only cost, either. You will probably have to pay other fees, such as:

• The cost of a carrier that fits under an airplane seat, which may be smaller than your cat's normal carrier. Many brands make airline-focused carriers that can temporarily attach to a suitcase or be worn as a backpack for added comfort.
• The cost of any medications or other methods for soothing your fur baby while they're stressed from the flight and travel.
• A possible checked bag fee added on top of your normal fee if you don't have space for a full carry-on anymore, though this can vary from airline to airline.

Overall, you should anticipate somewhere in the ballpark of $400 for everything you'll need, plus more for multi-leg flights.

Are there alternatives to bringing your cat on a flight?

While you can bring your cat on a road trip instead, it's much longer and more stressful than a comparatively shorter flight. Unfortunately, sometimes there's just no viable option to flying with a feline. As stressful as it is and as miserable as it can be for you, your fur baby, other passengers, and everyone else, it's still the best option. At least it's over relatively quickly!

Do you have any other questions about traveling with your cat on a plane? If so, be sure to leave those in the comments section! I'd be more than happy to help you out however I can!