Perhaps we got it wrong, all this time. Icarus didn’t want to get close to the sun; he wanted to catch up with his pet parrot.

For
those of us who get the pleasure of having animal companionship, the
anecdote above doesn’t feel that unusual.

Bonding
with an animal of a different species is indeed a magical thing. It
will irrefutably make us feel special when a creature, unphased by
the language barrier, chooses us as its buddy. It’s a Snow White/
Dr. Doolittle type-situation.

When
you've been blessed with a friend that accepts who you are and loves
you as unconditionally as a pet does, you wish you could bring them
anywhere with you. Even if your pet is a cat and you sometimes feel
it judging your outfit choices, deep-down you know you’re
wholeheartedly their human. And that is unmistakable.

Is it a bird? Is it a
plane? Is it a bird IN a plane?

Whether
your buddy has four legs, three, two, or even eight of them, at some
point you might have wondered how to take them along with you if you
happen to need to go on a trip somewhere.

“Will
my dog be safe in an airplane?”, “Would Mr.Whiskers try to
scratch the cabin attendant's eyes off?”, “Should I sedate
my tarantula?” are some of the questions we reckon to have
crossed pet-owners’ minds. Rest assured you can obtain answers to
all of your concerns, especially now you have our help.

Firstly,
you should be aware of your options in terms of aerial
transportation. We advise you not to concoct wings out of wax, like
our mythological pal did, but rather make a thorough investigation on
different airlines and their policies on shipping animals.

There
are essentially two types of airborne travel: private and commercial.

Private jets

It
sounds delightfully fancy picturing you and your iguana with matching
sunglasses flying over the Pacific sunset. That is both idyllic AND
possible when it comes to private aircrafts.

Private
jets are undoubtedly the best way for you to take your pet with you
wherever you go. Why? Simple: your pet can travel comfortably by your
side, either it is an elegant five pounder or a 150-pound colossus.
This is of paramount importance for owners of brachycephalic animals.
Don’t believe you own those exquisite species? Think again;
brachycephalic is the scientific term for a snub nose, meaning if you
have a bulldog, a pug, a chihuahua, or a Persian cat, you’ve got
yourself a brachycephalic bud. Pets of this sort are not recommended
and sometimes not even allowed to travel in cargo because of their
respiratory issues. They have a hard time breathing through the
stress which embodies a whole array of risks. Better take Winston in
the seat next to you.

In
case your heart is spacious enough to hold more than one beloved pet,
do not doubt that a private jet will be just as roomy. With no number
limitations, it won’t be head nor tail choosing which pet to banish
to the cargo.

The
risks, the stress, and the inconvenience of flying an animal fades
away in chartered planes. You can attend to your pet’s needs
throughout the entire flight having the added bonus of being able to
fly any time of the year; your iguana would look just as nice in a
Christmas sweater. You will not be affected by breed restriction when
you choose this type of transportation, implying that your ferret
could also appreciate the sights in a funny attire.

Simply
put, if you have the possibility of booking a private plane, we
strongly recommend you do so, for your pet’s sake. There are
websites that can help you swiftly book the best
private jet charters (in which you certainly won’t
have a pesky seatmate).

Commercial Flights

When
opting to fly commercially, one must be aware of the several rules
you and your furry child will be subjected to - even if said child is
Caillou-esque.

If
the size restrictions suit your pet, they can come with you in the
cabin, bearing in mind that they must fit in a crate that will go in
front of your seat (some adult cats don’t fit this stipulation).
Your pet won't be doing any sight-seeing in the cabin, as they need
to be kept in their container at all times - with all the whining and
crying the situation insinuates.

It
is imperative to take into account the season of the year in which
you will be traveling. In hotter or colder climates, animal shipment
is ill-advised and often not allowed, for the shifts in temperature
can severely affect a pet in the cargo holder. For that reason, we
strongly advise you to investigate airlines’ reviews and exact
cargo and caring conditions. Prudence is always in-season.

Commercial
flights are unfortunately not ideal when it comes to taking your
sidekick with you, but that doesn’t equate with impossibility.
There are always precautions you can take to ensure your pet travels
safely and as stress-free as possible. Do not, we repeat, do
not sedate your pet unless a veterinary explicitly says so.
Potentially tempting, it’s a consideration you should delegate to a
professional.

To
alleviate you from the elephant sitting on your chest whenever you
think about your pet at 38,000 feet high, we’ll leave you with some
valuable tips by the Humane
Society.

In Conclusion

There
are a lot of things to scrutinize before embarking on an odyssey with
your dog (see what we did there?). The adaptation of your pet to its
crate, general health-checks, terms and conditions of airports,
countries, and airlines,... oof. If you cannot check all these boxes,
perhaps it would be best to leave your pet at home and arrive to a
cheerful, wagging tail.

No
one wants to subject their loved ones to stress and pain, hence why
private jet charters are the most agreeable forms of air transport:
your pet won’t be any less safeguarded than you.

No
matter what choice you make, we wish you and your pets the safest,
happiest trips, knowing at heart that the best journey of all is
having them by your side. Thanks for reading!