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Planning to relocate your furry friend by air, whether across the country or internationally, naturally brings up the question: How Much To Fly With A Dog? Budgeting for pet air travel involves various factors, from mandatory vet checks to navigating customs regulations, and the total expenses can often exceed initial expectations.
Even if you decide against using a professional pet transport service to streamline your dog’s journey, the individual costs can accumulate significantly. To provide clarity on what to expect financially when flying your dog, we’ve compiled a detailed breakdown of potential expenses to consider as you plan your budget.
Continue reading to understand the costs associated with flying a dog. While some expenses, like the airline ticket itself, are obvious, others, such as specific veterinary requirements and import permits, may be less familiar.
Important Note: The cost estimates provided below are intended as a general guide for flying a dog without engaging a full-service pet relocation company. Utilizing a service provider or having complex travel requirements will influence the final price. For a personalized quote that reflects your dog’s specific travel needs, please contact a PetRelocation Consultant here.
Table of Contents
Understanding dog transport costs can be complex. This guide breaks down the expenses associated with flying a dog by category.
Travel Crate
Veterinary Expenses
Airline Ticket Costs
Ground Transportation and Pet Taxi Services
Government Endorsements and Approvals
Import Permit Fees
Customs Clearance Charges
Quarantine Costs
DIY vs. Professional Pet Relocation Services
Essential Dog Transport Service Costs
Whether your dog is traveling on a domestic flight or embarking on an international adventure, certain upfront costs are unavoidable. Here’s a look at some of the core expenses when transporting your dog by air.
Travel Crate: Ensuring Comfort and Safety
Whether your dog will be traveling in the cabin with you (if allowed by the airline and size regulations) or in the cargo hold, a compliant travel crate is mandatory. It’s crucial to select a kennel that meets specific airline regulations. For guidance on choosing the right crate size and type for cargo travel, refer to this resource.
Research travel crate prices in advance, and remember to factor in the cost of two attachable water bowls for the crate door. Regardless of the travel distance, a secure and appropriate pet carrier is paramount for your dog’s safety, comfort, and your peace of mind.
Example Cost Estimate: A standard PetMate Sky Kennel for a dog can range from approximately $50 to $400 USD, depending on the size required for your dog. If your dog is a large breed or has unique size needs, a custom-built crate might be necessary. Custom crate construction typically starts around $1,000.
Custom travel crates were essential for Freya and Odin due to their size, highlighting the importance of proper kennel selection.
Veterinary Check-ups and Health Certifications
From routine vaccinations to required blood tests and pre-flight health examinations, preparing your dog for air travel will necessitate at least one, and often multiple, visits to the veterinarian. For international travel, you may need to ensure your dog is examined by a government-approved or accredited veterinarian.
Consult the pet import regulations for your destination country and discuss all necessary procedures and associated costs with your veterinarian. Veterinary expenses are frequently underestimated when calculating the overall cost to fly a dog, yet they are a critical requirement for most airlines and international destinations.
Example Cost Estimate: The price for a basic domestic health certificate can vary considerably between veterinary clinics, with reported costs ranging from $75 to $250 USD or more. To potentially reduce costs, discuss with your vet the possibility of scheduling multiple required procedures within a single visit.
Airline Ticket and Associated Pet Fees
Unquestionably, the most substantial cost component for flying your dog will be the airline ticket itself. Airlines generally charge more for transporting live animals compared to standard passenger tickets due to the specialized handling and care required throughout their journey. For cargo travel, airline ticket pricing for pets is typically determined by the volume of the travel crate and the combined weight of the pet and the crate.
Furthermore, consider that flight routings involving layovers can increase the overall cost of flying your dog. Extended layovers may incur additional fees to ensure your pet is properly cared for at a pet hotel or animal handling facility during the stopover. While humans can often take advantage of discounted flights with multiple stops, careful routing is crucial for pets to ensure they only fly through airports equipped with pet-friendly airlines and handling services.
It’s also important to note that for international dog travel to certain countries, some airlines may require bookings to be made through a pet-shipping company rather than directly with the airline. This policy is in place to ensure that all import procedures and documentation are correctly completed, minimizing the risk of penalties or complications upon arrival.
Example Cost Estimate: For domestic cargo transport of a small dog (like a Chihuahua) with a pet-friendly airline, expect to pay between $275 and $300 USD. For larger breeds, like a Great Dane, domestic airfreight costs can reach approximately $1000 USD, particularly if a custom kennel is needed. International flight costs can be two to three times higher, depending on the specific origins and destinations involved.
Additional Dog Transport Service Costs
Beyond the core costs of airfare, crate, and vet visits, remember that your dog’s overall relocation expenses may include supplementary transportation services.
Ground Transportation Services
If you are moving within the contiguous United States, ground transportation might be a necessary consideration. Due to various factors, including airline restrictions and reduced pet acceptance on flights post-COVID-19, ground transport can be a viable alternative, especially for large or snub-nosed breeds that airlines may not accommodate.
Example Cost Estimate: Ground transportation costs are primarily determined by the journey’s duration. PetRelocation’s ground transport services, for instance, start at around $2200 – $2400 for a 10-hour drive and can increase to approximately $6000 – $6400 for cross-country transport.
Pet Taxi and Airport Transfer Services
Coordinating your dog’s airport logistics may require pet taxi services, particularly if your travel schedule doesn’t perfectly align with your dog’s flight. Hiring a professional pet taxi service with climate-controlled vehicles can ensure your dog’s comfortable and safe transport to and from the airport. While it might seem like an additional expense, consider the time saved, travel distances, fuel costs, and potential traffic delays when factoring in self-transport.
Furthermore, if you plan to have someone else check your dog in at the airport, the process can take several hours to ensure all paperwork is in order, and your dog is properly weighed and prepared for departure. Pet taxi services can manage this entire process professionally.
Example Cost Estimate: Animal transportation costs are variable, influenced by factors such as city location, distance to the airport, number of pets, and time of day. Transporting a single dog within a major US city like New York City during regular business hours to an airport within a 10-mile radius might cost up to $275 USD.
International Dog Transport Service Costs to Factor In
When considering how much to fly with a dog internationally, the costs can escalate significantly compared to domestic travel. Here are some unique expense categories specific to international dog transport.
Government Endorsements and Official Approvals
Depending on your destination country, your dog’s veterinary documentation may need to undergo government endorsement or official approval prior to travel. Some countries even mandate multiple endorsements, potentially requiring both Consular and USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) endorsements.
Thoroughly understanding the regulations for importing a dog to your specific destination is crucial to navigate these requirements effectively.
Example Cost Estimate: USDA endorsement fees are publicly available on their website here. For a single dog without requiring blood tests, the USDA endorsement fee is approximately $38 USD. However, this estimate excludes the time investment for scheduling and attending in-person appointments or the costs associated with mailing paperwork for endorsement processing.
Import Permit Acquisition Fees
Certain countries require an official import permit for pets to enter. Obtaining formal government authorization to bring your dog overseas can often involve substantial fees.
If your destination country necessitates an import permit, research the relevant government website for specific fee information.
Example Cost Estimate: Import permit fees for pets entering Australia can be found on the DAFF (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) website here. For a single dog, the import permit fees alone can cost around $480 AUD.
Customs Clearance and Arrival Processing Charges
Upon your dog’s arrival in a new country, customs clearance procedures are necessary. These may involve broker fees, applicable taxes, tariffs, and other country-specific charges that must be settled before your dog can be released to your care.
Most airlines can provide information regarding potential customs fees when you book your dog’s flight. If this information isn’t readily available, consult your destination country’s government website for details on customs-related fees.
Example Cost Estimate: New Zealand’s MPI (Ministry for Primary Industries), the governing body for pet imports, publishes its border clearance charges on its website here. Depending on the country of origin, these fees can range from a fixed charge of approximately $28.19 NZD to an hourly rate of $186.30 NZD.
Quarantine Facility Costs
If you are relocating to a country with mandatory quarantine requirements, such as New Zealand or Malaysia, you must budget for quarantine facility fees. These fees cover more than just accommodation; they typically include food, exercise time (outdoor access or walks), and veterinary supervision if required.
Example Cost Estimate: Quarantine fees for pets entering Singapore are detailed on the AVA (Animal & Veterinary Service) website here. For a dog undergoing a standard 10-day quarantine period (the typical minimum), the cost will be at least $336.50 SGD.
DIY Pet Relocation vs. Hiring Professional Services
While some pet owners opt to manage their pet relocations independently, many ultimately choose to engage a professional pet relocation service to handle the complexities. Coordinating all aspects of a pet move, from initial planning to final arrival, can be intricate and stressful. Hiring a comprehensive pet transportation company offers significant relief from these burdens. While it is generally more expensive to use a professional service, as you are paying for expert management of your dog’s entire relocation, it provides invaluable peace of mind.
Dacey and Radar successfully relocated to Australia with professional assistance, showcasing the benefits of expert pet travel services..
Consider the experiences of pet owners who chose PetRelocation to assist with their dog’s travel:
“High heels, lots of treats, and a smiling dog, as she pulled away, made me exhale and focus on the next 3,000 things I needed to do before I made a move the next day.” Read More
“We are so happy that we didn’t try to do this ourselves, and we picked PetRelocation, especially Evelyn and Kelcey, who helped us with everything.” Read More
“From the very first email we received from PetRelocation, the stressful process of moving our precious puppy back to Australia has been completely stress-free.” Read More
“Every question and concern was addressed immediately, and we became more confident that Maya would arrive and be released without any issues.” Read More
