The word charge and immediate panic
In 10 years of aviation, I receive daily calls from the country of pets. In almost 90% of them the fear of the word “cargo” or cargo compartment comes up.
Especially when the parent owns a brachycephalic pet. Nowadays there are large groups on social networks, who end up setting up a support network for travelers parents of pets. However, much of this information ends up diverging from each other. Therefore, without considering exceptions, only certain companies and destinations allow small animals to travel in the cabin.
Every day thousands of pets travel in the bulk of “wide body” aircraft and it is indeed very rare to have a problem. The BULK is a separate cargo and luggage compartment with temperature control and pressurization equal to that of the passenger cabin.
Your pet's box will be attached by a net or a belt to the floor of the Bulk so that it does not move during takeoff, landing or even turbulence.
It is important to understand that we have three ways to do a travel process.
- Cargo (the most common)
- Excess baggage in the passenger cabin
- Excess baggage in the Bulk
There is a common fear that the pet will be transported along with general cargo, with other animals, from a spider to an elephant.
Bulk safely houses the transport kennel. This space is almost exclusive for live loads, it has air conditioning and, depending on the aircraft configuration, reduced lights, depending on the cabin.
Therefore, without considering exceptions, only certain companies and destinations allow small animals to travel in the cabin.
Why do I have to deliver my pet hours before the flight?
When the pet is shipped as cargo, it is necessary to comply with documentation check procedures in a restricted area of the airport.
Registration in the IRS system, inspection by the Ministry of Agriculture (government veterinarian), microchip reading, presentation of documents and clearance by the IRS, airport administration, payment of fees, etc.
After that, it is necessary to deliver all documents cleared to the cargo office of the airline. This in turn sends an employee to inspect the box and check that everything is in compliance. And all of this must be done before the live load deadline, which is usually 5 hours before takeoff.
The company uses this time to draw up the load and balance plan (load sheet).
While the airline does not ask us for the sealing in general we can walk with the pets and only in the dead line the sealing of the kennel is performed.
Obviously we don't take cats etc out of the boxes.
Your pet has privileges! He is the last to embark and the first to disembark. In the other two modalities as well.
The cargo modality benefits both your pet and you. There are hours to complete the process, with your pet out of the box, there are no queues and you would run. You travel peacefully and your pet in a comfortable way.