What to Know Before you Fly with Fido-Part 3by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 05 Jul 2008 08:33 PM Now that you which airlines will allow your pampered pet to fly in style you should be aware of some of the restrictions that are associated with transporting animals on airplanes. Summer Travel If you are taking to the skies with Fido or Fifi during the summer months, it's important to remember that most airlines have temperature restrictions in place during that time frame (May through September). If it's over 85 degrees Fahrenheit, airlines will not fly pets as checked baggage - the same applies if it's below 45 degrees. In addition, some airlines have restrictions on certain types of pets. For example, many carriers won't allow short-nosed dogs - such as Boston Terriers, Boxers, English or French Bulldogs, King Charles Spaniels, Lhasa Apsos, Pugs, Shar-Peis and Shih Tzus as well brachycephalic (breeds with pushed in faces, and may have sensitive respiratory systems)-and short-nosed cats - such as Persians - to travel as cargo. The same restrictions don't apply if your short-nosed dog is flying in the cabin. Regardless, it's important to check the restrictions on your particular airline prior to making your reservations. High Tech Travel It costs quite a bit more to fly your pets in the cabin than it is to have them riding in the cargo area, and that is unlikely to change. However, advances in technology are making it possible for four-legged passengers to travel "cargo class" year-round without compromising their comfort or safety. A pet manufacturing company based in Revere, Massachusetts, called Komfort Pets recently patented a battery operated technology that allows their specially-designed carrier to automatically sense the ambient temperature and activate the carriers cooling or heating mode to provide veterinary-recommended traveling temperatures. The new computerized carrier has yet to hit the market so a price point has not been set, but it will likely cost you less to purchase the high tech carrier than it will to book your pet a space in the cabin on a roundtrip flight. Related Articles: What to Know Before you Fly with Fido-Part 2 What to Know Before you Fly with Fido Traveling with Your Pet: Fabulous Food Finds Part 3 Traveling with Your Pet: Fabulous Food Finds Part 2 Traveling with Your Pet: Fabulous Food Finds Travel Tidbits: Strap in Your Dog and Hide Your Camels Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevanttravel tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Discuss this article
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