Pet Travel: Every Tip, Trick, and Warning I Know

My In-Depth Guide to Making Your Pet's Move as Safe and Stress-Free as Possible

Jake E. Lou in Portugal with Mama (me)

Intro

Hello all! For those of you who are new to my Substack, I’m Kimberly Anne. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone for being part of this adventure! I started writing on Substack in 2022 to share my journey but as with most things… my focus has shifted to help others achieve their dreams of moving abroad.

I’m a U.S. “expat” who moved to Portugal in 2022. I moved here solo, sight unseen and without a support group. Prior to moving to Europe, I traveled the US in a converted van for a year, also solo! To learn even more about me, please click here.

This newsletter and podcast are free, but donations are always appreciated! Paid subscriptions or one-time “buy me a coffee” contributions really motivate me to keep creating helpful content. If donating isn’t possible, liking or sharing makes a big difference too. Thank you so much for being a reader!

Before We Dive In: A Little Note About How I Can Help

It warms my heart to see how many of you are eager to share adventures with your beloved animal companions! I truly cherish being able to help with your questions about pet travel, and for years, I've poured my heart into offering free advice and sharing everything I know.

Lately, as I'm juggling four jobs to make ends meet, my time for individual responses has become quite precious. I'm still deeply committed to helping, so I've created this comprehensive article to address the question I hear most often, hoping it will be a wonderful resource for many. All the information I post here and elsewhere remains completely free for everyone to access.

For those moments when you might need a bit more personalized guidance or have questions that go beyond what's covered in my free posts, I've set up a couple of ways we can connect more deeply:

1. A Personal Chat: We can schedule a 30-minute consultation. I've set the fee at $45, mirroring the starting rate of my own wonderful vanlife coach, Holly Priestley (who I can't recommend enough!). She now charges $125, so I hope this feels like a fair and accessible option for dedicated support.

2. AMA: You can become a paid subscriber to my Substack. It's donation-based, and as a heartfelt thank you, subscribers can ask me anything, and I'll dive in with as much detail and care as I possibly can.

My deepest wish is to support this wonderful community. I value your time and understanding immensely as I navigate this busy time. Thank you for respecting the adventure I'm on. Now, let's dive into making pet travel a joyful experience for you and your furry companions!

How to Travel With Pets

First, please note that I am not an expert in this area. I did travel with my dog in cabin from San Francisco to Portugal and I researched it all myself.

That said… here’s what I do know (and all of this is subject to change). You have three options but you must check with the airline (call them) as each one has different requirements. You must also call ahead to let them know you’re bringing a pet and pay the extra fee (usually $125 to $150 per animal).

1. Fly in cabin with your pet, typically if they are 15 lbs or under. Normally only one pet per person is allowed unless they are the same breed and species and two can fit into one carrier. Then two may be allowed per person. Another option that some (not all) airlines offer is for you to purchase an extra seat. Then you can place the second carrier under the extra seat. If you have a service (assistance) dog (not an emotional support dog), you may be able to fly with them in cabin, no matter their weight, outside a carrier.

2. Bring a friend or family member to fly with your second pet in a crate under their seat.

3. Check the animal in cargo under the plane. I know most people don’t want to do this and I don’t blame you.

4. Charter a flight. Yes it’s expensive but if you have several pets and can find other people to split the cost with you, it may be worth it. I know one couple who brought five cats this way and another woman who brought three dogs this way. The dogs typically don’t have to be in carriers and can fly in-cabin. The cost was approximately $10,000 for all the animals and the human/s. (Resources below)

5. Take the Queen Mary 2 ship. This cruise line has a kennel though you may be able to keep your pet in cabin. They are set up specifically to transport pets with you aboard and have staff that walk and take care of your dog/s. The Queen Mary, unfortunately, doesn’t travel to all locations.

Pay attention to your check-in options! For example Lufthansa requires you to check-in online 30 hours before departure. And all passengers traveling with their animal in the cabin must collect their boarding pass in person at the check-in counter at the airport.

I don’t know of any other ways to transport your pet. If anyone reading this article does, and you want to add them in the comments below, we’d be appreciative!

Pet Carriers

Your pet carrier must be a specific size, it’s super easy to find out ALL this information yourself on the airline’s website. Just type into your search bar: the name of the airline + pet policy. Here’s an example: Lufthansa.

Most of the airlines will have similar pet carrier sizes but they’re always listed on their sites so check first before you order one.

If your animal is not already crate trained, I highly recommend getting the crate you’ll be taking on the plane and starting the training ASAP. You can check on YouTube for crate training videos.

Your old dog, who’s never been crate trained and is terrified of everything CAN STILL BE CRATE TRAINED! I did it with my fifteen year old dog who was terrified to be in the same room as the crate when we began. It took me about six months to fully crate train him but it worked! This is the one I used but again, please check on the airline website first to make sure of the size they allow and also know if it’s a tad too tall, you can usually smoosh it a little, that’s what I did.

Jake E. Lou enjoying sunset over the Douro River in Porto with Mom in his backpack “crate”.

Personal Story

Little Jake E. Lou Who had never flown before and while some suggested I take him on a test flight prior to flying with him for fourteen hours, I didn’t have the time or the finances to do that. He was fine in the San Francisco airport and he was fine in his crate but once we took off, he was a mess. The poor baby cried for six hours straight. Most airlines don’t allow you to remove your pet from its carrier but Air France begged me to do just that. However, once on my lap, he kept crying. I took him to the bathroom with a pee pad but he wouldn’t go.

There was a couple behind me traveling with two dogs who were used to flying and they had a homeopathic remedy for pet anxiety, which they gave me. Jake quieted down immediately after taking it. Whether this was due to the medication or due to him wearing himself out I don’t know and it doesn’t really matter.

My advice to you: bring something to calm your pet if they’re anxious. Even their favorite blanket or toy or a t-shirt you’ve worn… Jake was a very anxious little guy. Maybe your pet responds well to wearing a thundershirt. Perhaps your veterinarian can prescribe something or maybe you can try CBD, homeopathy or rescue remedy but please check with your vet first.

Once I arrived at the layover stop in Paris, I let him out of his carrier and he immediately peed and poo’d on the carpeted floor. I never saw any dog areas in Charles de Gaulle, like they have in San Francisco and Los Angeles. People tskd, harumfed and shamed me but I didn’t care. My dog had to go! He was a senior and he’d held it for twelve hours. Of course I cleaned it all up as best as I could. But then I was able to walk through the airport (for five miles no joke) and go through customs with him on leash.

Breed Restrictions

Unfortunately some breeds are not allowed on certain airlines or may require even more paperwork. These breeds are usually: fighting dog breeds and snub nosed breeds (both dogs and cats).

Certain countries as well, ban certain breeds. For example, these breeds are supposedly (check for yourself) not allowed in the U.K. —Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro.

For Pet Travel within Europe, the easiest thing to do is get a “Pet Passport” from a vet. This shows all their vaccines, their chip and other pertinent information.

Paperwork

You will have to check yourself to make sure you have all the correct paperwork. I cannot tell you what you will need for sure unless I am working with you as a client. It will depend on where you are flying from, and where you are flying to.

Each country will have different paperwork needs and restrictions.

When I flew from the U.S. to Portugal I needed:

1. A specific chip. My dog already had a chip but it wasn’t the correct one so I got him a second chip.

2. An updated rabies vaccine that must be administered after the chip and at least twenty-one days prior to flying.

3. An animal health certificate from a vet issued within 10 days from travel.

4. Paperwork from the USDA. —for this I had to send all the above paperwork into the USDA via FEDEX and include a self-addressed, pre-paid FEDEX envelope. This can only be done 10 days before you fly out and you must receive it back with the proper stamps and bring it with you in order to fly.

5. For me, I had to organize a meeting with an in-airport veterinarian when I landed in Lisbon who went over all the paperwork yet again.

Is it a huge pain to do all of this? YES of course it is, but it’s also 100% worth it!

Some countries may have other stipulations. For example, I read that Great Britain also requires a tapeworm treatment for dogs only, to be given 24 to 120 hours prior to entry.

Check all of this yourself. Look in Facebook or Reddit Groups. Call the airline.

Conclusion

"Whew, that was a lot of information, wasn't it? Navigating the world of pet travel can certainly feel like a big undertaking, with all its rules, paperwork, and planning. But I truly believe that with careful preparation and the right information—some of which I hope you've found here—bringing your furry family member on your adventures is absolutely achievable and incredibly rewarding.

My own journey with Jake E. Lou Who had its complexities, but the joy of sharing new sunsets and experiences with him made every step worthwhile. My deepest wish is that this guide empowers you to embark on your own travels with your beloved companions, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Safe travels to you and your precious pets – you've got this!"

Resources

Please note that I have not personally used any of these so do your due diligence.

• Queen Mary 2 Ship Pet Travel

• Share a Charter Flight: K9Jets - there may be others below but this is one I know for sure will let you share a charter.

• Pet Transport Services:

  • Pet Relocation

  • IPata: International Pet and Animal Transport Association

  • Pet Travel Transport

  • Woof Airlines

  • Pet Express

  • Feathers and Fur Express

• Australia and New Zealand only Pet Travel Charter

• British Airways Pet Travel

• Lufthansa Pet Travel

YouTubers:

• 3 Key Steps to Transporting your Pets Overseas with an International Dog Shipper

• MOVING with Your PET Internationally?? Here's How to FLY Your Dog/Cat SAFELY

• International Pet Shippers reveal benefits to Transporting Pets Overseas and IPATA!

• How to move my Pet Overseas? 🐕 FREE Quotes w/International Pet Shipper Feathers and Fur Express

Thank you so much for reading! If you don’t want to become a paid subscriber (my articles will always be free) but enjoyed this article, please consider a one time donation below.

I’m excited to help you make your dream of moving abroad a reality! 🎉 Book a video consultation with me to get personalized guidance for your big move, or check out my super affordable, self-paced class to learn key steps and strategies for relocating abroad. Let’s make it happen!

• Consulting Information: Discover how I can help make your move abroad smoother and stress-free.

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—If you want to learn another language before you embark (or after) on your new adventure, I highly recommend the platform Preply! It’s what I use to learn Portuguese and it’s also the platform I teach on. Please use my referral code for $17 off your first lesson!

—I use Wise to transfer money internationally between bank accounts and they also offer a free ATM card that can be used worldwide without fees. Please use my referral code for a free transfer of up to $600.

—I’ve started using Kindred Home Exchange in order to secure affordable accommodations! If you’re interested and want to sign up, you will get five nights with my referral code!

—I use SafetyWing for my travel medical insurance abroad. You can check them out here.

—For travel hacking, I use my Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card. I earn enough points by using the card regularly (with no foreign transaction fees) to get a “free” RT ticket from Europe to the US at least once a year.

—I use the eSim Nomad. I’ve tried several others, and Nomad is the only one that’s ever worked for me.

—If you’re traveling or moving to a new country, I highly recommend choosing ExpressVPN. It’s the VPN service that I use. Click here for more information and get three extra months on an affordable twelve month subscription.

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If you’re interested in my “Why I Left the US and Won’t Ever Return” Series, please check out..

1. Cost of living: Article here

2. Healthcare (or lack thereof) here.

3. Safety—article here.

4. Polarization—too much hate and anger

5. Community

6. Values

If you’re interested in moving abroad, check out my free Expat on a Budget pub or podcast on Substack

The How to Live Abroad Publication is here.

• Part 1—Want to move abroad? Start here!

• Part 2—Conquer your fears about moving abroad!

• Part 3—12 Minimizing Mistakes Part 1

• Part 4—12 Minimizing Mistakes Part 2

• Part 5—A Personal Case study (re: Minimizing)

• Part 6—Your Move Abroad: The Ultimate Checklist

If you’re on a budget (as am I) please like by clicking on the heart below and share this article with a friend. 

Your support (in all ways) is greatly appreciated! 

—Expat on a Budget (AKA) Living Abroad on a Budget and My Unknown Adventure by Kimberly Anne

*** This article contains a few affiliate links. Using my affiliate links is not required and does not cost you anything extra but I greatly appreciate it, if you do. It’s a (free to you) way to help support my writing.

***Disclaimer: My writing, and podcasts are based on personal experience and are for informational purposes only. I am not a lawyer. Please seek professional advice before making decisions about moving abroad. I am not responsible for any outcomes resulting from the use of this information.