How do airlines handle pets while traveling? For long haul flights, how do the animals get out and do their business?

Great question. I always wondered about that myself.

Each airline has its own policies on pets. There are several people that fly over from germany every year with their hunting dogs to hunt in SD. They don’t appear to suffer any from the trip.

The baggage handlers have a lot to do with it too, I think most will feed and water the pets. Some let them out to do their business, and some even take them out and walk them. Depends on how busy they are.

Even though the post only asks four questions, there are are too many If/Then scenarios that come into play. The Pet Travel site should be able to answer some of them in general, but it still comes down to the type and size of animal, domestic vs. international travel, length of travel, and airline.

I flew a cat to the USA with British Airways and she was very well looked after. They fed and watered her and she was well looked after. I had to get a vet to certify she was healthy before she could fly.

The airline was very strict about the type of cat carrier that would be acceptable. The internal US flight required a different cat carrier which meant I had to change her over at Houston, where she briefly escaped and had her food confiscated as it was a health hazard. She travelled with me in the plane from Houston and she coped very well with what was a difficult day (for us both)

You can find all the information you need on the airlines web sites.

They are put in their special cages. Nobody checks on them unless the plane makes a stop. They feed them but they don’t give them any space to move. At least those I used.

The travel cages for animals are fitted with a false bottom, and the waste falls through the grate. Please don’t send your animals on a commercial flight, but rather contract with a reputable Pet Transport company.