The day is almost here for your pet to travel! Please make sure your pet is ready with the items below.
Please have your pet ready to go with the items below at the time of pick up:
- Airline-approved travel kennel
- Two (2) bowls that attach to the inside of the kennel door
- Thin blanket, t-shirt, or towel that smells like home
- Crate pad (no more than 3 inches thick)
- Pee pee pad (optional)
- Ziplock baggie with 2-3 servings of dry food
- Original paperwork (listed below) - Only required if your pet is flying domestically first
Please remember: DO NOT sedate your pet. If your pet appears to have been sedated, the airline can refuse them for travel.
If your pet will be flying domestically first, before heading to New Zealand, then these documents will be required:
- Signed, valid Rabies Certificate (this can be ink-signed or a copy)
- Domestic Health Certificate, dated 9 days or less before travel (Signed in original wet ink - blue ink preferred) *Some vets use Certified Vet Inspection certificates that are electronically
signed - **Temperature Acclimation form/statement (Signed in original wet ink - blue ink preferred) Note: An acclimation letter is only required when the outside temperatures are lower than 45°F at the origin, connection, or destination cities.
- American Airlines forms (Signed in original wet ink - blue ink preferred)
- Breed verification form
- Customer acknowledgment form
- Temperature acclimation form
American Airlines and Alaska Airlines will not fly pets if outside temperatures are 85°F or higher.
If a pet requires medication, airlines require a signed letter from your vet and their
prescription in its original packaging/labeling. The letter & prescription bottle must be labeled clearly with your pet's details, microchip number & dosage/administration instructions.
Travel Preparations
Click here for some other tips & tricks to prepare your pet for their travels.
Please make sure you ALWAYS make a copy of your pet's paperwork for your records and ours.
The Pet Travel Support Team will email you updates when your pet is checked in, departed, and landed (bearing in mind time zone differences).
Other tips to keep in mind:- Your dog would love a nice long walk, run, jog, canter, or generally active time before heading to the airport. This gives them a chance to stretch their legs before the big flight and tucker them out a bit so they are relaxed on the plane.
- As you are aware, cats can be quite the escape artists and quite stubborn when you want to catch them when you need to be somewhere. It's recommended that you keep your kitty in one room like a bathroom or bedroom before heading to the airport so it is easier to catch them when you need to head out the door.
- Don’t feed your pet a large meal within 4 hours prior to flight departure. Pets tend to travel better on a relatively empty stomach and you don’t want them to have an upset belly while in flight.
- No need to restrict their water intake but rest assured we will make sure the water bowl is filled at check-in.
- Check-in for pets on international flights is typically 4-6 hours prior to departure, so we will need to be on time so we do not miss the check-in cutoff and risk your pet being refused for travel.
- Once your pet is checked in for the flight, they will remain in the care of the airline. The airline staff will top off their water bowl and they will be the ones who bring your pet out to the aircraft and load them onto the plane. Please remember this is a restricted area, so no visitors are allowed.