COMMON QUESTIONS

OWNERS ALWAYS PREFER TO TAKE THEIR PETS INSIDE THE PASSENGER CABIN.  But in most cases that is simply not possible. The first question is how my pet will behave in cabin. Then the different airline policy restrictions, The destination country may not allow it, weight, breed and pet on board behavior is taken into consideration. BUT….Don’t panic. If professionally handled aircraft life cargo compartments are perfectly safe

That said, pets travelling on most aircraft are not loaded with the suitcases or other commercial shipments. There is a special compartment named bulk or hull. This is temperature and pressure controlled from the cockpit.

EXCESS BAGGAGE is a passenger reservations issue with the airline. You or your travel agents book the reservation for the pet. We do not since we are not travel agents. As excess baggage, sometimes pets travel inside the passenger cabin with you inside a bag, depending on the destination country, pet weight, size, and selected airline policies.  Excess baggage pets go to the airport with the owners and are checked in as if they were and additional suitcase at the airline passenger counter.

If they are small, some airlines will allow they travel in flexible bags, under the seat, inside the passenger cabin. If they are bigger, they will most likely be placed in the cargo hull in a certified kennel and need to be properly kennel trained. If the kennel is huge the airline will probably not accept reservations. If they travel in the hull, the owners collect the pets as if it were a suitcase (in the baggage claim area) unless you are travelling to a country with different regulations. No Customs export process is necessary since this is not cargo.

To leave Brazil the only required documents is the CZI (Certificado Zoosanitário Internacional). This is a low cost option and also more comfortable for the pet. Unfortunately, airlines rarely allow for excess baggage. Although not a must we always suggest that passengers taking pets as excess baggage arrive at least one extra hour earlier than for normal check in.

In this option we only prepare the paperwork and hand it over to you. In this options we only prepare the paperwork, and can possibly furnishing the Sherpa bag or kennel and optionally give the owners check in assistance.

AIR CARGO – The pet travels as manifested cargo in the hull. An export process is necessary. Pets need be at the airport well in advance to go through all formalities at the Airport administration, Ministry of Agriculture and Customs (on both sides). Airlines in general require all live “cargo” to be available for export (Customs Cleared) no less than 5/6 hours before take-off so they can plan the loading.

This is called cargo deadline or LAT (Latest acceptance time). This is the most common way to ship pets. A cargo agent issues the AWB (Air waybill) and books the reservation etc.Again, cargo arriving at the destination country must be imported and one needs to go through all local formalities.

IATA stands for International Airline Transport Association.

There are no IATA certified kennels because IATA does not certify them. IATA does issue a LAR manual (Live Animal Regulations) that is updated annually and enforced by most airlines. Most kennels sold in pet shops and not LAR compliant.

Therefore, talk to one of our staff members before you purchase a travelling kennel!!

There is a lot of misconception on snub nosed pets. Most of them can travel perfectly well. In each case we talk to the owners and in general have a lot of questions to determine if your beloved one will be safe on board. The five golden rules are:

No. Countries and airlines have regulations that differ from passenger transit. And there are minimum resting times for our four-legged friends. They are handled by professionals and in some cases a photo can be sent to you. Chances are you will be on a connection flight your pet will not!